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,…

And surely as for the hearty desire of the godly, even evil men have sometimes their mouths opened to speak some good things; Even so for want of this affection in the hearers, the good minister doth not speak so plentifully and fruitfully as were to be wished. Wherefore, standest thou in need to be comforted? standest thou in need to be humbled? standest thou in need to be exhorted? pray that thine heart may be prepared to conceive those things which especially concern thine estate, and that thy pastor may open his mouth to thy profit. For, for the prayers of the godly, the mouth of the ungodly shall utter profitable things: Balaam shall bless for Israels sake, and the Lord will be unto¹ them as an Unicorns horn, against Balaam's cursing: and Caiaphas shall prophesy good things of Christ. On the contrary, because the people are ill, David shall number them, and the Lord shall make dry & barren the graces of God in the minister, when the hearts of the hearers are not prepared. And as this preparing of our selves is necessary; so also meditation, and applying that to our selves which we have heard and prayed for, that we may see how the word belongeth to us, and what event our prayers have. For alas, what² precious seed is cast in the high ways side, because by meditation it is not laid up, but the devil is suffered to come and steal it from us? To what end is the word, if we hue not according to that which we have learned? If every man shall enter thus into himself, O Lord, how many sermons have I heard, but how little have I profited by them? how long have thy ministers preached? but how slenderly have I practised? then should he see what comfort he had in the life of JESUS CHRIST, when so many pearls have been cast to swine, and such holy things have been given to dogs. Likewise as needful is this examination of our selves in prayer; if that, after I have prayed I have obtained, mine heart may³ be enlarged to thanksgiving: if I have not received, I may search the cause in mine own conscience, & think, that the Lord would have me still to continue my prayers unto him.

And surely as for the hearty desire of the godly, euen euill men haue somtimes their mouthes opened to speake some good things; Euen so for want of this affection in the hearers, the good minister doth not speake so plentifully and fruitfully as were to bee wished. Wherefore, standest thou in neede to be comforted? standest thou in neede to be humbled? standest thou in neede to be exhorted? pray that thine heart may be prepared to conceiue those things which especially concerne thine estate, and that thy pastor may open his mouth to thy profit. For, for the prayers of the godly, the mouth of the vngodly shall vtter profitable things: Balaam shall blesse for Israels sake, and the Lord will be vnto