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,…

It is a great temptation to Gods children, which have walked uprightly and kept a good conscience, that the wicked should still be near their necks. Wherefore if any such thing hereafter happen to us, we must not be discomforted, or think it very strange, seeing we see this man of God was not without it: it is no new thing, we must be content seeing ⟨p. 569⟩God hath so dealt aforetimes with many of his children. On what great cause of thanksgiving now have we, that having much more deserved to have our enemies trample upon us, than others of Gods Saints, have notwithstanding so long time been delivered? And if it come to pass that in time we come to the like temptation, let us labour to be profitable in the like meditation. For flesh and blood think it strange, that wicked men should flourish in the defending an ill cause, and that good men should be trodden down for maintaining a good cause. This troubled Job, David, Jeremiah and Habakkuk, to see that Gods people should be so tempted. Wherefore when we see the generation of Gods children condemned, and the generation of the wicked justified, we must call to mind this or such like meditations: Seeing thou hast borne with mine enemies so long, it is now the day time to punish. The cause now why the wicked flourish so long, and why the Lord deferreth to help his children is, that the wicked may either by his long suffering come to repentance, or else be left excuselesse: Yea after he often stayeth to pour forth his vengeance, because¹ their sins are not accomplished, and their iniquity is not come to the full height, measure and number, and that his children might have their secret sins punished here, that is, to humble them, to allure them to obedience, to try their faith, to prove their patience, to work in them a contempt of this world, and a desire of the world to come: so that that which they suffer unjustly of men, justly they suffer of God. And when Gods children do not thus profit, the Lord in mercy will let the rod still tarry upon them, until they have profited in some good measure.

It is a great temptation to Gods children, which haue walked vprightly and kept a good conscience, that the wicked should still be neere their neckes. Wherefore if any such thing hereafter happen to vs, we must not be discomforted, or thinke it very strange, seeing wee see this man of God was not without it: it is no new thing, wee must bee content seeing