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,…

Well, to go forward, we see how this verse is inferred after them that go before. For having showed that the Lord was righteous, and that his judgements were righteous, and that every part of his testimonies contained special Truths, this was the thing that made him so to love the word, and loving it to have so fervent a zeal unto it. His meaning then is thus much: Seeing the word of God hath in it such exquisite goodness, such wonderful truth, such rare perfection, such Eternity, such efficacy, that in the time of trouble, when all other comforts forsake a man, this will be a special comfort to him, and giveth even¹ life to a man half dead, and without it I see a man is but as a beast. I cannot but love, and bear an hearty zeal unto it, and when I enter into the consideration hereof, I am even pined away, and grief even eateth me up, when I see it is not esteemed, and that the word of God can have no more honour. And seeing the word of God was so exquisite, so unchangeable, so glorious, and so comfortable, what a grief was it to the man of God, that men should be so carried away, some to the pleasures of the flesh, some to the profit of the world, some to vain superstitions, and in the mean time the Word little regarded. This was it that pricked him at the heart, this touched him at the quick. He teacheth us then thus much: If the glory of God be dear to us, the contempt of it will surely grieve us: if the salvation of our brethren be precious to us, we will be grieved for the contrary. Now let us see what true zeal is.

Well, to goe forward, we see how this verse is inferred after them that goe before. For hauing shewed that the Lord was righteous, and that his iudgements were righteous, and that euery part of his testimonies contained speciall Truths, this was the thing that made him so to loue the word, and louing it to haue so feruent a zeale vnto it. His meaning then is thus much: Seeing the word of God hath in it such exquisite goodnes, such wonderfull truth, such rare perfection, such Eternitie, such efficacie, that in the time of trouble, when all other comforts forsake a man, this will bee a speciall comfort to him, and giueth euen¹ life to a man halfe dead, and without it I see a man is but as a beast. I cannot but loue, and beare an heartie zeale vnto it, and when I enter into the consideration hereof, I am euen pined away, and griefe euen eateth me vp, when I see it is not esteemed, and that the worde of God can haue no more honour. And seeing the word of God was so exquisite, so vnchangeable, so glorious, and so comfortable, what a griefe was it to the man of God, that men should be so carried away, some to the pleasures of the flesh, some to the profit of the world, some to vaine superstitions, and in the meane time the Word little regarded. This was it that pricked him at the heart, this touched him at the quicke. He teacheth vs then thus much: If the glorie of God be deare to vs, the contempt of it will surely grieue vs: if the saluation of our brethren bee precious to vs, wee will be grieued for the contrarie. Now let vs see what true zeale is.