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,…

Daniel concerning outward things was an happy man as being near to the Crown: and yet when he saw the God of Israel his glory to be defaced, and an abominable Idol to be erected, he could content himself with nothing so much, as with weeping, fasting, and prayer. And Paul being in bonds for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and concerning his outward man in a miserable case, rejoiced greatly, and as it were revived, when he heard that the Gospel prospered; and howsoever he was in bands, he never felt them grievous unto him, for the joy which he had, that the Gospel was at liberty. If this zeal were in us, that the word of God were so exact, pure, and holy in our eyes, that when we are most aloft, we could be sorrowful, if the word of God hath a fall; and when we were in our greatest downfall, yet we could be glad that the word of God were set aloft: then surely we would labour to sanctify the creatures of God which we use, with the word and by prayer, and at the least give the tenth part of the day to the worship of the Lord. But if we cannot bestow on him the tithe, it is a token that we labour more for the body than for the soul. And if our souls be far more precious than our bodies, and it is an harder thing to provide well for the soul than for the body, we must divide our times the better, that daily we may bestow some part of our time in the word and prayer: if we would truly espy our thrivings and proceedings in our several callings, and take a diligent view of our selves in our vocations, we should undoubtedly see the plentiful blessing of God, when in truth we use the word and prayer, and his fearful curse to be upon it, when we use it not.

Daniel concerning outward things was an happie man as being neere to the Crowne: and yet when he saw the God of Israel his glorie to bee defaced, and an abominable Idoll to be erected, hee could content himselfe with nothing so much, as with weeping, fasting, and prayer. And Paul being in bonds for the testimonie of Iesus Christ, and concerning his outward man in a miserable case, reioyced greatly, and as it were reuiued, when hee heard that the Gospell prospered; and howsoeuer hee was in bands, hee neuer felt them grieuous vnto him, for the ioy which he had, that the Gospell was at libertie. If this zeale were in vs, that the word of God were so exact, pure, and holy in our eyes, that when wee are most aloft, wee could be sorrowfull, if the word of God hath a fall; and when wee were in our greatest downefull, yet we could bee glad that the word of God were set aloft: then surely we would labour to sanctifie the creatures of God which we vse, with the word and by prayer, and at the least giue the tenth part of the day to the worship of the Lord. But if wee cannot bestow on him the tithe, it is a token that wee labour more for the bodie than for the soule. And if our soules bee farre more pretious than our bodies, and it is an harder thing to prouide well for the soule than for the body, we must deuide our times the better, that daily wee may bestow some part of our time in the word and prayer: if wee would truly espie our thriuings and proceedings in our seuerall callings, and take a diligent view of our selues in our vocations, we should vndoubtedly see the plentifull blessing of God, when in truth wee vse the word and prayer, and his fearefull curse to be vpon it, when we vse it not.