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,…

AS if he should say: I believe that thou wilt thus quicken men, because the very beginning of thy Word is most just and true; and when thou diddest first enter into ⟨p. 576⟩covenant with me, I did find that thou diddest not deceive me, nor beguile me▪ and when by thy spirit thou madest me believe thy covenant, thou meanest truth •• I know that •s thou diddest promise, thou wil• perform: for thou art no more liberal in promising, than faithful and just in performing, and thy judgement will be as righteous, as thy promise is true; wherefore as soon as thou speakest, trueth proceedeth from thee; so • know that thou wilt defend and preserve me, that thy judgements may s•••e as righteou, in thee.¹ And as this was particular to him: so is it general to all for where the Lord doth in mercy promise, there in righteousness he will perform: and where the Lord in w•••h do threaten, there in judgement he will righteously execute. For where he […], he showeth himself true; and when he performeth, he executeth righteousness & when the Lord threateneth, he manifesteth himself to be just; & when he executeth, he proveth himself to be righteous. So the speech of the man of God containeth thus much: Though all men be liars, I know thou, O Lord, art true; thou doest promise that thou wt watch over thy children, and that no temptation shall overcome them; I know this promise is true, and therefore as thou diddest promise in truth in the beginning, so wil thou perform in righteousness in the ending. For both in beginning and in ending, thou like and true. How injurious then are we to the Lord, who will doubt of Gods promises, that in prosperity he will renew our hearts, and put into us a good spirit? And why do we doubt of his providence in adversity, seeing his promise hath ever his issue in truth and verity? and seeing the Lord will not leave us, until every word that he hath spoken come to pass: for heaven and earth shall pass, but not one word of his mouth shall fail. And as the consideration hereof doth comfort us in his promises, so also must it humble us in his threatenings. Seeing then he hath pronounced, and given out his sentence, that no unrighteous persons, nor fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulteres, nor wantons, nor buggerers, r thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor alers, nor extortioners, shall inherit then his kingdom: