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,…

Let us here try our faith, which persuade our selves to have such faith, behold here is a trial. True it is, that to all is not given the like measure of faith: unto some are given ten talents, unto some five, unto some two: neither have all grounds like measure of seed, nor render again like measure of increase: for some ground according as it hath received, bringeth fourth one an hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty fold, according to the good will and wisdom of our God. Neither must we think that it is required of us, that we cannot otherwise be faithful and zealous, unless we even consume away, or our eyes gush out with rivers of waters: for we must not think that it was so in the Prophet himself, as though rivers of tears were in his head, or that he was utterly pined away: but rather they are figurative speeches, to show some rare zeal, and notable kind of sorrowing in him.

LEt vs here trie our faith, which perswade our selues to haue such faith, behold here is a triall. True it is, that to all is not giuen the like measure of faith: vnto some are giuen tenne talents, vnto some fiue, vnto some two: neither haue all grounds like measure of seede, nor render againe like measure of increase: for some ground according as it hath receiued, bringeth fourth one an hundreth fold, some sixtie, some thirtie fold, according to the good wil and wisedome of our God. Neither must we thinke that it is required of vs, that we cannot otherwise be faithfull and zealous, vnlesse we euen consume away, or our eyes gush out with riuers of waters: for we must not thinke that it was so in the Prophet himselfe, as though riuers of teares were in his head, or that he was vtterly pined away: but rather they are figuratiue speeches, to shew some rare zeale, and notable kinde of sorrowing in him.

Now whatsoever exhortation is to be drawn from hence, it will little avail us, unless we believe that there is no one thing here in this Psalm, but in some measure it is to be performed of every Christian. For politic men cannot profit by such things, because they do not think that it containeth any general doctrine, but rather that it is a particular doctrine. But seeing this Psalm is the type and image of a regenerate man, and no one treatise so fully and wholly (though peradventure some whole book may do it) expresseth the same; and yet so, that neither the man of God as with a trumpet doth blow forth his own praise, nor womanishly painteth fourth his own miseries by moans and complaints; but advanceth Gods glory, and putteth us in mind, what graces of God should be in us, and humbleth himself and showeth us what infirmities reign in us. What then (will some say) mean these speeches? My soul fainteth, mine eyes failed, mine heart breaketh,