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,…

There remaineth the third effect, which is in these words, I am wiser than the ancient, &c. Oh notable wisdom! that made him wiser than grey hairs, which are of longer experience. He doth not compare himself with dotish old men, but the wise Ancients, in whom though not the quickness of wit, yet the pith and marrow of knowledge remaineth. Neither doth he speak this so much to praise himself, as to stir up others. If then we shall see a comely old man, speaking law on the bench, and desire to hear some wise experience, the man of God here telleth us the way, how before those times we may attain unto it. And through the blessing of God on those means, the graces of God shall be greater in young years, if we labour for knowledge, and with knowledge join conscience, and with conscience practise. For the high way to knowledge is to meditate with our knowledge, and to tremble in our hearts, at the majesty of the word, not ceasing to labour with our selves, until by musing we have felt some comfort. Here of it proveth, that they which have heard the word of God but a year, have more profited than they which have heard it six years. For unto him that hath, more shall be given, and from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him. If we observe it, we shall find profane Protestants, who now have seen three Governments, which both are ignorant in knowledge,¹ and have gotten many placards and curtains for their gross sins. This may teach us to see into Gods judgement, who punisheth so severely the decay of faith; as also the mercy of God towards them, that lay up in their hearts, the meditation; and in their lives, the practise of that which they have heard. I see no more fearful^* tokens of the desolations of our times, than that men promising whole worlds unto themselves, seek so much for themselves, that they neither desire Gods glory, nor the Churches profit.

There remaineth the thrid effect, which is in these words, I am wiser than the ancient, &c. Oh notable wisedome! that made him wiser than gray haires, which are of longer experience. He doth not compare himself with dotish old men, but the wise Ancients, in whom though not the quicknes of wit, yet the pith and marrow of knowledge remaineth. Neither doth he speake this so much to praise himselfe, as to stirre vp others. If then we shall see a comely old man, speaking law on the bench, and desire to heare some wise experience, the man of God here telleth vs the way, how before those times we may attaine vnto it. And through the blessing of God on those meanes, the graces of God shall be greater in young yeares, if we labour for knowledge, and with knowledge ioyne conscience, and with conscience practise. For the high way to knowledge is to meditate with our knowledge, and to tremble in our hearts, at the maiestie of the word, not ceasing to labour with our selues, vntill by musing we haue felt some comfort. Here of it proueth, that they which haue heard the word of God but a yeare, haue more profited thā they which haue heard it sixe yeares. For vnto him that hath, more shall be giuen, and from him that hath not, euen that which he hath shall be taken from him. If we obserue it, we shall finde prophane Protestants, who now haue seene three Gouernments, which both are ignorant in knowledge,