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 I have chosen thy precepts: that is, I know I am but a man, I have many injuries offered me, which may hale me this way and that way; yet I prefer thy word before all these troubles. We must not think now, as the world doth judge of Gods children, that he chose these as a Mome, or of silly simplicity: but his election was with judgement, which proceeded from consultation, which consultation proceeded of reasons, used on both sides of his causes: so that he made his choice advisedly, considerately, and after long deliberating of the matter, he preferreth the word of God before all the pleasures of this life. It was not then a foolish preciseness of puritanism, it was no childish simplicity, as of a man who chose this because he knew no other things, but it was of wisdom. Wherefore the man of God here teacheth that it is not with Gods children as the world deemeth them, that is, that they be silly souls, simple men, and Gods fools, who know not what the world meaneth; but as the world is of it self too wise, so it thinketh too hardly of Gods children: For it is not to be doubted, but that he had many temptations, and that he debating them by the wisdom of Gods spirit, chose the word of God.

For I haue chosen thy precepts: that is, I know I am but a man, I haue many iniuries offered me, which may hale me this way and that way; yet I preferre thy word before all these troubles. Wee must not thinke now, as the world doth iudge of Gods children, that hee chose these as a Mome, or of silly simplicitie: but his election was with iudgement, which proceeded from consulation, which cōsultation proceeded of reasons, vsed on both sides of his causes: so that he made his choyse aduisedly, considerately, and after long deliberating of the matter, he preferreth the word of God before all the pleasures of this life. It was not then a foolish precisenes of puritanisine, it was no childish simplicitie, as of a man who chose this because he knew no other things, but it was of wisedome. Wherefore the man of God here teacheth that it is not with Gods children as the world deemeth them, that is, that they be sillie soules, simple men, and Gods fooles, who knowe not what the world meaneth; but as the world is of it selfe too wise, so it thinketh too hardly of Gods children: For it is not to be doubted, but that he had many temptations, and that he debating them by the wisedome of Gods spirit, chose the word of God.