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,…

The man of God goeth on forward in showing his unfeigned affection to the word, and therefore here he showeth, both how he longed for it, and also how in the mean time he slayeth himself. It might seem a general speech, & of less importance which he useth here: for who is so far gone, and hath so small hope of recovery, that cannot say, he longeth for his salvation? for we read that even Balaam desired to be saved, and the most wicked in their life time will have many wishes of their salvation. What notable thing then is there here in the man of God? true it is, that the Lord wringeth out thus much often even out of the mouth of the wicked, unto whom he imparteth so much of his right and goodness, that they see what they should do & desire, but yet in truth they do it not, in that their desire is so short and slender. When we see then that all their wishing and praying cometh to nothing, it is sure they are but hypocrites. Again, they will say they long for salvation, but they will not use the means thereunto: as if one should say he longed for bread, and pray daily, give us this day our daily bread; and yet they will either walk in no calling, or else get it by fraud & rapine, not staying themselves at all on Gods providence, but they long rather for other things joined with Gods glory, than for God his will, howsoever in the mean season they make the help of God their pretence: so it is in the spiritual estate of the soul; for although Idolaters, heretics, and hypocrites say, that they long for their salvation: yet they long indeed for their profit, pleasure, glory, and self-love. For if they longed for that salvation which is of God, they would not so follow their own dreams, revelations, and superstitions, but use those means of the word, which the Lord himself hath appointed. As for profane Professors, they will indeed say as much as the other: but bring them to the word, to prayer, to the Sacraments, and to discipline, ye ⟨p. 605⟩shall see they have no sound longing, but are carried away with the desires of their own flesh and blood. Wherefore we see how this longing of the man of God differeth from the longing of other men, as we may see by the sequels; for my delight is in thy word. Where we see, that as he longed after salvation, so he delighted in the means thereunto.

THe man of God goeth on forward in shewing his vnfained affection to the word, and therefore here he sheweth, both how he longed for it, and also how in the meane time he slayeth himselfe. It might seeme a general speech, & of lesse importance which he vseth here: for who is so farre gone, and hath so small hope of recouerie, that cannot say, he longeth for his saluation? for we reade that euen Balaam desired to be saued, and the most wicked in their life time will haue many wishes of their saluation. What notable thing then is there here in the man of God? true it is, that the Lord wringeth out thus much often euen out of the mouth of the wicked, vnto whom he imparteth so much of his right and goodnes, that they see what they should do & desire, but yet in truth they do it not, in that their desire is so short and slender. When we see then that all their wishing and praying commeth to nothing, it is sure they are but hypocrites. Againe, they will say they long for saluation, but they will not vse the meanes thereunto: as if one should say he longed for bread, and pray daily, giue vs this day our daily bread; and yet they will either walke in no calling, or else get it by fraude & rapine, not staying themselues at al on Gods prouidence, but they long rather for other things ioyned with Gods glory, than for God his will, howsoeuer in the meane season they make the help of God their pretence: so it is in the spirituall estate of the soule; for although Idolaters, heretikes, and hypocrites say, that they long for their saluation: yet they long indeed for their profit, pleasure, glorie, and self-loue. For if they longed for that saluation which is of God, they would not so follow their owne dreames, reuelations, and superstitions, but vse those meanes of the word, which the Lord himselfe hath appointed. As for prophane Professours, they will indeed say as much as the other: but bring them to the word, to prayer, to the Sacraments, and to discipline, yee