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,…

Here may seem at the first to be some contrariety between fear and love, sith love causeth not, but casteth out fear. For he had said in the verse going before, that he loved the testimonies of the Lord; and here he saith, that his flesh trembled for fear. Wherefore at the first sight here is some show of contrariety, but indeed there is none. For he saith, My flesh trembleth, &c. whereby he showeth, that as he loved the law of God in his inward man, and with his part regenerate: so it is the outward and old man, and the part unrenewed, which is full of corruption, that did fear. So that as he had Gods spirit to renew his mind, he had this witness in him, that he did love the promises of God: but because his flesh rebelleth against the Spirit, and he found many corruptions of nature remaining in him, and threatening him, that after he was like to fall again, if the Lord, yea but a little should leave him: he saith, I am afraid, least for my unthankfulness, and unworthy refusing of thy mercy, thou shouldest leave me to my self, and so shouldest make a way to thy judgements. Thus there is an harmony in the Prophet: for because as the flesh hath a trembling fear, so the spirit rejoiceth.

HEre may seeme at the first to be some contrarietie betweene feare and loue, sith loue causeth not, but casteth out feare. For he had saide in the verse going before, that hee loued the testimonies of the Lord; and here he saith, that his flesh trembled for feare. Wherefore at the first sight here is some shew of contrariety, but indeed there is none. For he saith, My flesh trembleth, &c. whereby he sheweth, that as he loued the law of God in his inward man, and with his part regenerate: so it is the outward and olde man, and the part vnrenued, which is full of corruption, that did feare. So that as hee had Gods spirit to renue his minde, hee had this witnesse in him, that he did loue the promises of God: but because his flesh rebelleth against the Spirit, and hee found many corruptions of nature remaining in him, and threatning him, that after hee was like to fall againe, if the Lord, yea but a little should leaue him: he saith, I am afraid, least for my vnthankfulnes, and vnworthie refusing of thy mercie, thou shouldest leaue me to my selfe, and so shouldest make a way to thy iudgements. Thus there is an harmonie in the Prophet: for because as the flesh hath a trembling feare, so the spirit reioyceth.