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,…

Thirdly, if all means be wanting to us, then will the devil move us to despair, and therefore great need have we to pray, that we may be delivered from the darkness of despair, by the lantern of Gods word. We see how necessarily the man of God prayed: not to be tempted above his strength, and that the rod of the wicked should not fall on his lot, least he should put his hand unto wickedness; and therefore craved wisdom in Gods word, faith in his promises, and patience in his goodness. We see then the plain meaning of the man of God in this verse, if we call to mind in this word very sore afflicted, that which we have heard before, that his eyes failed, his heart fainted, his spirit panted, his natural powers melted, and to be brief, that he was an image of death. As a man cannot abide great prosperity, no more can he abide great adversity. For as we are puffed up with the one, so we are cast down with the other, by mistrust in Gods providence, and despair of his promises. Experience teacheth us, that as a little prosperity maketh us to forget God, so many inconveniences by affliction may befall us, as either dullness, deadness, blockishness, or wicked shifts, or ungodly doubts. Wherefore the man of God here teacheth us, that if he used such remedies in the greater troubles, then how much more should we use them in the less. We are here besides to accuse our unbelief, bewrayed in small things, seeing the Prophet in so great extremities exercised his faith, against all the reasons of flesh and blood. As the Lord giveth not so great graces unto us, as to him; so he will not press us with so great temptations, as he did him. And if the Lord did help his Saints in great afflictions, surely he will also help us, if we likewise strive against mistrust. We may see, the Saints of God were never so delicately brought up, that they never wanted; so that if the Lord hath so dealt with his most excellent and faithful servants, what will he do to us unfaithful ones? if he did so to them which were under the law, to whom were made greater promises of outward things; what will he do to us, to whom are promises made of spiritual things under the Gospel, as of the forgiveness of sins, of the renewing our hearts,¹ of spiritual joys, of the kingdom of heaven?

Thirdly, if all meanes be wanting to vs, then will the diuell moue vs to despaire, and therefore great neede haue we to pray, that we may be deliuered from the darkenesse of despaire, by the lanterne of Gods word. We see how necessarily the man of God praied: not to be tempted aboue his strength, and that the rod of the wicked should not fall on his lot, least he should put his hand vnto wickednesse; and therefore craued wisedome in Gods word, faith in his promises, and patience in his goodnesse. We see then the plaine meaning of the man of God in this verse, if we call to minde in this word very sore afflicted, that which we haue heard before, that his eyes failed, his heart fainted, his spirit panted, his naturall powers melted, and to be briefe, that he was an image of death. As a man cannot abide great prosperitie, no more can he abide great aduersitie. For as we are puft vp with the one, so we are cast down with the other, by mistrust in Gods prouidence, and despaire of his promises. Experience teacheth vs, that as a little prosperitie maketh vs to forget God, so many inconueniences by affliction may befal vs, as either dulnesse, deadnes, blockishnes, or wicked shifts, or vngodly doubts. Wherfore the man of God here teacheth vs, that if he vsed such remedies in the greater troubles, thē how much more should we vse them in the lesse. We are here besides to accuse our vnbeleefe, bewrayed in small things, seeing the Prophet in so great extremities exercised his faith, against all the reasons of flesh and blood. As the Lord giueth not so great graces vnto vs, as to him; so he will not presse vs with so great temptations, as he did him. And if the Lord did helpe his Saints in great afflictiōs, surely he will also help vs, if we likewise striue against mistrust. We may see, the Saints of God were neuer so delicately brought vp, that they neuer wanted; so that if the Lord hath so dealt with his most excellent and faithfull seruants, what will he do to vs vnfaithfull ones? if he did so to thē which were vnder the law, to whom were made greater promises of outward things; what will he do to vs, to whom are promises made of spirituall things vnder the Gospel, as of the forgiuenes of sins, of the renewing our hearts,