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,…

These properties of prayer are necessary, for certain Heretics, which reason, either God will give, or not give; and if he will, we need not ask; if he will not, it is vain to ask. But we might answer, that then the prayers of Gods children in the Scriptures, and the precepts of prayer are not in vain. Again, the promises of God were in vain, which are made to our prayers: or else they might be fed without bread, and do other things without means. But God hath appointed us to pray, that he might try our obedience, and that he might give his blessing to us: so that we must use that, if we will attain his mercy.

These properties of prayer are necessarie, for certaine Heretikes, which reason, either God will giue, or not giue; and if he will, we need not aske; if he will not, it is vaine to aske. But we might answere, that then the prayers of Gods children in the Scriptures, and the precepts of prayer are not in vaine. Againe, the promises of God were in vaine, which are made to our prayers: or else they might be fed without bread, and doe other things without meanes. But God hath appointed vs to pray, that he might trie our obedience, and that he might giue his blessing to vs: so that we must vse that, if we will attaine his mercie.

His fervency is noted by crying, which noted the earnestness of the affection, not the loudness of the voice. The voice is loud when it cometh to God, as Anna and Samuel are said to cry, and yet they speak not: so the blood of Habel cried Paul Rom. 8 teacheth what this crying is, namely, the earnest desire of the hart, which is the prayer in the spirit: Ephes. 6. and 1. Thes. 1. he prayeth for the spirit, as the most secret part of their heart, as Mary: My soul rejoiced, and my spirit &c. And thus it ought to be, because God is a spirit. James in the last chapter noteth it by ferventness, which is commended