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,…

This then is the third rule, that we keep a right course & tenor of zeal in both estates.¹ We must especially look to that, whereunto we are most ready, that is, whether we be more zealous in prosperity, and fall away in adversity; or whether we are more fervent in affliction, and overwhelmed in abundance: whether by the one we are not puffed up with security and secret pride; or whether with the other we be not too far humbled and abased. For many in time of peace are religious, who seeing persecution to follow the Gospel, slide back and fly from it. Jobs wife whiles her husband was in prosperity could worship God, and show her self in outward things as zealous as Job himself: but when affliction came, she was ready to curse God. We know in prosperous times, many were very forward in religion, who in time of trouble shrinked from the truth: some so long as they may have credit by giving countenance to the Gospel, go far; but when discredit comes they will leave all. But the Prophet saith, I am small and despised, yet do I not forget thy word. O ther'on the contrary part, so long as God exerciseth them with any cross, are zealous professors, who being set aloft and coming once above, begin to be secure. We see many in time •f their misery to be much humbled; and whilst they want livings and preferments, we see both preachers and people very godly, who when they have gotten them some living, & obtained that which they sought for, have their zeal choked. Do not many pray for the continuance of the peace of the Gospel, that they themselves might continue in peace and prosperity? Do not many mourn in the adversity of the Gospel, because they mourn for their own adversity? Oh great corruption of our hearts! Oh bottomless pit of hypocrisy! If we were ashamed that we are no more grounded on the word, and that we can be no more holy and upright in our hearts, surely the Lord would so govern us, that he would not suffer either prosperity to quench and carry away our zeal, to be buried in the grave of security; or adversity too much to dismay and discourage us.

This then is the third rule, that we keep a right course & tenour of zeale in both estates.¹ We must especially look to that, wherunto we are most ready, that is, whether we be more zealous in prosperitie, and fall away in aduersitie; or whether we are more feruent in affliction, and ouerwhelmed in abundance: whether by the one wee are not puft vp with securitie and secret pride; or whether with the other we be not too farre humbled and abased. For many in time of peace are religious, who seeing persecution to followe the Gospell, slide backe and flie from it. Iobs wife whiles her husband was in prosperitie could worship God, and shew her selfe in outward things as zealous as Iob himselfe: but when affliction came, she was readie to curse God. We know in prosperous times, many were very forward in religion, who in time of trouble shrinked from the truth: some so long as they may haue credit by giuing countenance to the Gospell, goe farre; but when discredit comes they will leaue all. But the Prophet saith, I am small and despised, yet doe I not forget thy word. O ther'on the contrarie part, so long as God exerciseth them with any crosse, are zealous professors, who being set aloft and comming once aboue, begin to be secure. We see many in time f their misery to be much humbled; and whilest they want liuings and preferments, we see both preachers and people very godly, who when they haue gotten them some liuing, & obtained that which they sought for, haue their zeale choked. Do not many pray for the continuance of the peace of the Gospell, that they themselues might continue in peace and prosperitie? Doe not many mourne in the aduersitie of the Gospell, because they mourne for their owne aduersitie? Oh great corruption of our hearts! Oh bottomles pit of hypocrisie! If wee were ashamed that wee are no more grounded on the word, and that we can be no more holy and vpright in our hearts, surely the Lord would so gouerne vs, that hee would not suffer either prosperitie to quench and carrie away our zeale, to bee buried in the graue of securitie; or aduersitie too much to dismay and discourage vs.