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,…

2 Riches are in question whether they be good or no; When the Scripture speaks of riches, they join always somewhat to them: to take away our hearts from them, as the deceitfulness of riches, the uncertainty of riches, the riches of this world, and therefore like the world; now here, & now gone, they either have their own end, or our end. They make no man good, but they are even like a penny purse, which is worth as much as the money that is in it: but the money taken out, it is nothing worth: even so is the man that hath his good in his riches. When they are taken from him, he is worth nothing, he hath no good in him.¹ God hath them not, and yet he wanteth no good thing. It is the common complaint, that the worst men do most abound with them. David was fain to go to Nabal for them. Esau had four hundred men; when Jacob lay down at his feet with a few. Sometimes indeed they do good, but that is not sufficient to ground a Maxim; they are good: for that which is good doth always good. They have a mixed nature retaining some use as a blessing of² their creation, and much evil by the fall of Adam. And they have been ever greater causes of harm then of good by occasion. And therefore saith a Father on the Prayer, Prou. 30. Lord give me neither riches nor poverty. Poverty (saith he) hath been the decay of many a man, but riches of a far greater number.

2 Riches are in question whether they be good or no; When the Scripture speaks of riches, they ioyne alwayes somewhat to them: to take away our hearts from them, as the deceitfulnes of riches, the vncertainty of riches, the riches of this world, and therfore like the world; now here, & now gone, they either haue their own end, or our end. They make no man good, but they are euen like a penie purse, which is worth as much as the money that is in it: but the money taken out, it is nothing worth: euen so is the man that hath his good in his riches. When they are takē from him, he is worth nothing, he hath no good in him.¹ God hath them not, and yet he wanteth no good thing. It is the common complaint, that the worst men doe most abound with them. Dauid was faine to goe to Nabal for them. Esau had foure hundred men; when Iacob lay downe at his feet with a few. Sometimes indeed they doe good, but that is not sufficient to ground a Maxime; they are good: for that which is good doth alwayes good. They haue a mixte nature retaining some vse as a blessing of