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,…

The Prophet Habakkuk saith chap. 2. 4. He that lifteth up himself, his mind is not right in him. Where the Prophet showeth, that though a man for a time swell, not having an upright heart, yet afterward he suddenly vanisheth away, as a bubble of water: for as a bladder with the wind is soon drawn out; so the ungodly with conceit of his reason seemeth to be puffed up, but all is but inconstancy.

The Prophet Abacuk saith chap. 2. 4. Hee that lifteth vp himselfe, his minde is not right in him. Where the Prophet sheweth, that though a man for a time swel, not hauing an vpright heart, yet afterward he sodainely vanisheth away, as a bubble of water: for as a bladder with the wind is soone drawne out; so the vngodly with conceit of his reason seemeth to bee puft vp, but all is but inconstancie.

The just man saith the Prophet shall live by faith, not by works (as some would dream) for all the shift of them that will be righteous in themselves, will be as a bubble of water; but the just man believing the forgiveness of sin, looking for everlasting life, staying himself on the promises and providence of God, hath true soundness in him. He shall live, saith the Prophet, noting perpetuity of time. So the man of God his meaning is, I shall live. i. perpetually and for ever. We see then the great mercy of God, that cometh by the knowledge of the Word, in that we find how he delivereth us from wrath, and taketh us into his favour: he rescueth us from sin, and clotheth us with righteousness: he taketh from us death, and restoreth to us life. But mark who speaketh these words; doth this man of God attain to such an heroical spirit, as to cry, grant me understanding? and shall we think ourselves sufficiently rich, well sighted, and that we are so well clothed, that we need no such prayer? We are like the Laodiceans, who hearing the word were neither hot nor cold: Seeing then we are rather Laodiceans, than Davids; we must cry, Lord give us understanding, that we may live.

The iust man saith the Prophet shall liue by faith, not by workes (as some would dreame) for all the shift of them that will be righteous in themselues, will bee as a bubble of water; but the iust man beleeuing the forgiuenes of sinne, looking for euerlasting life, staying himselfe on the promises and prouidence of God, hath true soundnesse in him. Hee shall liue, saith the Prophet, noting perpetuitie of time. So the man of God his meaning is, I shall liue. i. perpetually and for euer. Wee see then the great mercie of God, that commeth by the knowledge of the Worde, in that wee finde how hee deliuereth vs from wrath, and taketh vs into his fauour: he rescueth vs from sinne, and clotheth vs with righteousnes: he taketh from vs death, and restoreth to vs life. But marke who speaketh these words; doth this man of God attaine to such an heroicall spirit, as to crie, graunt me vnderstanding? and shall wee thinke ourselues sufficiently rich, well sighted, and that wee are so well clothed, that wee neede no such prayer? We are like the Laodiceans, who hearing the word were neither hote nor cold: Seeing then we are rather Laodiceans, than Dauids; wee must crie, Lord giue vs vnderstanding, that we may liue.