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,…

But what meaneth the Prophet, to desire to be taught? was he not well seen in the word? had he not learned much, as becometh a Prophet? what teaching doth he here mean? knowledge puffeth up and is void of humility, confessing our wants. This is the teaching of the spirit. For it is no doubt but he had eyes to see as well as others, he had ⟨p. 601⟩cares to hear, he had an hear to conceive, he was a man of God. Howbeit, we are to know, that though our eyes be upon our book, and the word be sounded in our ears; yet it is the spirit of God that maketh us teachable in judgement, and frameable in our affections. What have we which we have nor received? it is the gift of God, and to you it is given, saith our Saviour Christ to his Disciples, to understand the mysteries of God. This then being given of God by his spirit, must cause us to be thankful. Why do so many excel in knowledge? and why do so few give thanks? surely because they are taught by the letter, and not by the spirit▪ For a man may attain to the knowledge of the word, as others attain to the knowledge of human arts, but to his juster condemnation. Wherefore in a word we may conclude, if the man of God might have achieved such knowledge without such means, he was either too much busied in that wherein he needed not have troubled himself▪ or else an hypocrite.

But what meaneth the Prophet, to desire to bee taught? was hee not well seene in the word? had he not learned much, as becommeth a Prophet? what teaching doth hee here meane? knowledge puffeth vp and is voide of humilitie, confessing our wants. This is the teaching of the spirit. For it is no doubt but he had eyes to see as well as others, he had ⟨p. 601⟩cares to heare, hee had an heare to conceiue, hee was a man of God. Howbeit, wee are to know, that though our eyes be vpon our booke, and the word be sounded in our eares; yet it is the spirit of God that maketh vs teacheable in iudgement, and frameable in our affections. What haue we which we haue nor receiued? it is the gift of God, and to you it is giuen, saith our Sauiour Christ to his Disciples, to vnderstand the mysteries of God. This then being giuen of God by his spirit, must cause vs to bee thankefull. Why doe so many excell in knowledge? and why doe so few giue thankes? surely because they are taught by the letter, and not by the spirit For a man may attaine to the knowledge of the word, as others attaine to the knowledge of humaine arts, but to his iuster condemnation. Wherefore in a word we may conclude, if the man of God might haue atchieued such knowledge without such meanes, he was either too much busied in that wherein he needed not haue troubled himselfe or else an hypocrite.