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,…

Thus we see the justice of God will not suffer him to punish, until sin be come to the full, and the love of God will not leave to correct his, until there grow some profit; and yet so, as in the mean time the children of God sustain no loss, because whatsoever they outwardly lose, they inwardly gain. Wherefore seeing the Lord hath promised,) that the rod of the wicked shall not fall on the lot of the righteous: and that our temptation shall not be greater than we shall be able to bear; we must know, that when the godly once begin to faint, and the wicked think they are come to their height, even then it is due time with the Lord to send happy deliverance to the one, and a speedy overthrow of all the coun••ls of the other.

Thus wee see the iustice of God wil not suffer him to punish, vntill sinne be come to the full, and the loue of God will not leaue to correct his, vntill there grow some profit; and yet so, as in the meane time the chilren of God sustaine no losse, because whatsoeuer they outwardly lose, they inwardly gaine. Wherefore seeing the Lord hath promised,) that the rod of the wicked shall not fall on the lot of the righteous: and that our temptation shall not bee greater than wee shall bee able to beare; we must knowe, that when the godly once begin to faint, and the wicked thinke they are come to their height, euen then it is due time with the Lord to send happie deliuerance to the one, and a speedy ouerthrow of all the coun••ls of the other.

The man of God then having these effects in him, was near his deliverance: but the wicked being in their pride were near Gods vengeance. How necessary this doctrine is, common practise may admonish us: for thus reasoneth flesh and blood in time of adversity: We have thus long kept a good conscience, neither have we done against the will of God; we have served the Lord this while, yet this is our gain, our cause is not heard, our enemies cruelty is nothing diminished, but much increased, as though the Lord either heard us not, or hath forgotten us. But let us learn to reason with the Prophet on the contrary: Our enemies, O Lord, are near to hurt us: but thou art as near to deliver us: what do we but obey thee? what do they but disobey thee? wilt thou then forsake the godly: and canst thou suffer the wicked to prosper? No, thou art the Judge of the whole world, it cannot be, for thy deliverance and salvation is ready and near for them, who labour to keep faith, and to join thereunto a good conscience. We see then when flesh and blood would persuade us, that all time of deliverance is past, even then faith beholdeth it to be near at hand: for when we think that we are at the last cast, then we see salvation and help is nearest.