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,…

PORTION 22. TAV.

Vers. 169. Let my complaint come before thee, O Lord, and give me understanding according unto thy Word.

Vers. 169. Let my complaint come before thee, O Lorde, and giue mee vnderstanding according vnto thy Word.

The argument of that which hath been before, is still continued, which was briefly contained in these two things, either that he prayed for a clearer understanding of Gods word, or else that with his good understanding he might have a more godly life. So that the brief sum of this octonarie is, that he first prayeth for the true direction of himself in his judgment; then for the true fruit of his knowledge in his life. For in the four former verses he prayeth for soundness of judgment, & in the four latter, that the issues of Gods promises might appear in a godly life. In the two first verses he prayeth for understanding; in the two next, he promiseth to be thankful. In the first verse, he desireth to be truly directed in the word; in the second to be rid from all straits & hindrances of his knowledge. In the first part of the first verse, he asketh not his suite simply, but earnestly, ⟨p. 597⟩as with complaint. What meaneth this, that he should pursue his old argument• it seemeth that either he was very blockish in understanding, who still prayed for his direction in judgement, and that we are very quick in the knowledge of the word, who use so few prayers; or that we are very blockish in seeing our wants, and he quicksighted in his own corruptions. For it must needs be confessed, if the man of God could not without using of so many means, attain to the pure understanding of Gods word, and we persuade our selves that we with fewer means can attain unto it, that there was either a marvellous dullness in him, and there is some wonderful freshness in us; or else, that he saw much, what an hard matter it is, either to come to, or continue in the true knowledge of the law, which we see not. But seeing it is manifest, that he was a man of God, & as a Prophet governed by the spirit of God, and yet so reverently and carefully used all the means, then we are in a blockish blindness, and senseless deadness, who having in no measure the like graces, in no degree use the like means: And that as on him was Gods great blessing: so unto us is due the resting of his deserved curse. It is a manifest token that he had a marvellous sight and feeling of his wants, in that he so often reneweth his request to be taught, and as may evidently appear, by his doubling of his prayer, at the least in every portion.