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,…

For between the one and the other, God sendeth often cross things in the way to try us, whether we will wait or no. Indeed at the first, whilst our faith is but tender, it pleaseth him to feed us as it were with pap, and to perform his promises plentifully unto us: but when we are grown to some strength, he will not still deal with us as with children, but will often prove us by suspending for a while his promises. If we consider how Abraham waited ten years, until the promise was accomplished, and how Jacob stayed himself one and twenty years, until he also obtained: and if we call to mind how long the Lord proved Joseph, after he had dreamed, and how he tried David with many troubles, and yet notwithstanding after so many temptations and dangers they believed, we shall see approved witnesses of this true effectual faith. And as it is the nature of¹ true faith to wait; so it is the nature of incredulity to be hasty, so that if we have not things presently to help us, we cannot be merry, we must make some shifts to help our selves. For how common a fruit of our unbelief is it, that we so often have in our troubles, and bring forth of the rotten stock of our corrupt nature, when help is a little deferred, to say, I have prayed, I have asked counsel of Physicians, I have used all the means I can, I have stayed thus long, I may wait indeed until my heart break, I have made hue and ⟨p. 592⟩cry, I can find no release, I am never the better, I must needs go seek out, I must ask counsel abroad, I must needs go to some wise man, I think now the Lord would have me to use some means for my relief. Thus Satan, after our Saviour Christ had long fasted, thinking that after so long waiting, his temptation should come in some good season moved our Saviour Christ to seek out, and to make some shift to help himself, and as he was the Son of God, so he might the better and more easily provide for himself.

For betweene the one and the other, God sendeth often crosse things in the way to trie vs, whether we will waite or no. Indeed at the first, whilest our faith is but tender, it pleaseth him to feede vs as it were with pap, and to performe his promises plentifully vnto vs: but when we are growne to some strength, he will not still deale with vs as with children, but will often proue vs by suspending for a while his promises. If we consider how Abraham waited tenne yeeres, vntill the promise was accomplished, and how Iacob staied himselfe one and twentie yeeres, vntill he also obtained: and if we call to minde how long the Lord proued Ioseph, after he had dreamed, and how he tried Dauid with many troubles, and yet notwithstanding after so many temptations and dangers they beleeued, we shall see approued witnesses of this true effectuall faith. And as it is the nature of