The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

IN the second particular effect, the Prophet saith, he did excel his teachers, which he doth not to brag or boast of himself, but commending the free graces of God, he stirreth up himself to make other men not only to content themselves, with a care of hearing the word, but also to make conscience of meditation. This then is le•t of the Spirit of God for our comfort, in that we may find the like fruit, using by prayer the like means; so that if we bring not forth an hundred fold, yet threescore, or at the least thirty fold, according to Gods wisdom.

IN the second particular effect, the Prophet saith, he did excell his teachers, which hee doth not to bragge or boast of himselfe, but commending the free graces of God, he stirreth vp himselfe to make other men not onely to content themselues, with a care of hearing the word, but also to make conscience of meditation. This then is le•t of the Spirit of God for our comfort, in that we may find the like fruite, vsing by praier the like meanes; so that if we bring not forth an hundreth fold, yet threescore, or at the least thirtie fold, according to Gods wisedome.

True it is, that the scholar often becometh better learned than the teacher, which is a singular blessing of God, that the learned man should ascribe nothing to himself, and to give God the glory, he enlighteneth where he thinketh meet, and increaseth when he seeth it good. Now we may see this by experience even in heathen men. Aristotle was wiser than his Master Plato, in whom this blessing of God appeared, in that they joined study and meditation with their learning. In Law & Physic they are most frequented, who with much reading have used much musing and practising. None either in peace or war¹ have ever governed excellently, but they were great musers, and did often sequester themselves from company, then more freely to attend on meditation. This doctrine shall be taught in a contrary thing. We know there is a special kind of musing, whereby Satan doth often teach and communicate things to many in greater measure, than they can receive by all the books in the world; so also there is a special meditating, whereby the spirit of God communicateth to us more heavenly things than either we hear or read. As when Satan will polish a mans wit to any evil, he will have him to wait on him: so God would have us to fill our judgements in the particular meditation of things heard, to see how all circumstances hold and fail. This is then the wit which experience confirmeth, that when we are taught any thing, which by reason is conceived, we can add, if this be true, then that is false; if it holdeth in the lesser, then it holdeth in the greater. On this sort