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,…

We see in time of Popery, how holy men would be at their solemn feasts, as at Christ his tide, Easter, Candlemas as they call it, Holy thursday and Al-saints day. Were they so superstitious in ill, and shall we be cold in good things? were they so fervent in idolatry? and shall we be so zealless in the Lord his days, wherein we have all things? doth not this day teach us the benefits of Christs birth, the profit of his Passion, the fruit of his Resurrection, the glory of his Ascension, the joy of the coming of the holy Ghost? doth it not teach us, how in this world, we may praise God with his Angels, and how hereafter we shall be occupied in heaven? Wherefore let us pray often in that day, let us examine our hearts what sins we have done, what benefits we have received; let us prepare our selves before the congregation is gathered, when they are assembled let us so pray and hear, that after the departure we may examine our hearing by meditating, applying, and conferring the prayers by the effects of them. Thus in private and public exercises in matters of religion and practises of love, we are to spend the whole Sabbath. Alas, how far are they now from praising God, now seven times in the day, who pass it over in pleasures, and so end it in their own delights? who no marvel must needs slip in common life, who fall so deeply into God his course.

We see in time of Poperie, how holy men would be at their solemne feasts, as at Christ his tide, Easter, Candlemasse as they call it, Holy thursday and Al-saints day. Were they so superstitious in ill, and shall we be cold in good things? were they so feruent in idolatrie? and shall we be so zealeles in the Lord his dayes, wherein we haue all things? doth not this day teach vs the benefits of Christs birth, the profit of his Passion, the fruite of his Resurrection, the glorie of his Ascension, the ioy of the comming of the holy Ghost? doth it not teach vs, how in this world, we may praise God with his Angels, and how hereafter we shall be occupied in heauen? Wherefore let vs pray often in that day, let vs examine our hearts what sinnes we haue done, what benefits we haue receiued; let vs prepare our selues before the congregation is gathered, when they are assembled let vs so pray and heare, that after the departure we may examine our hearing by meditating, applying, and conferring the prayers by the effects of them. Thus in priuate and publike exercises in matters of religion and practises of loue, we are to spend the whole Sabbath. Alas, how far are they now from praising God, now seuen times in the day, who passe it ouer in pleasures, and so end it in their owne delights? who no maruell must needes slip in common life, who fall so deepely into God his course.