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,…

9 I find mention in divinity of two kinds of joy, the one lawful, the other qualified with circumstances. The first, Chrysostom calleth angelical joys, and Hilary calleth them joys of the Palace, or such joys as are in the court. These are the best, & in these we may be secure, if ye separate not joy from the glory of God. There be four angelical joys. The¹ first is the touchstone, whether we rejoice truly or no, Psal 1 7. Let me tongue clean to the roof of my mouth, if I forget, nay, if I perferre not Jerusalem in my mirth! Gods glory flourisheth most, when the Church flourisheth, & therefore that is the true joy: but there are some that can fatten their hearts, when Jerusalem lieth in the dust. The second joy is angelical indeed;² so our Saviour Christ calleth it when a sinner returneth to the Lord, then the Angels rejoice, and this also is a safe joy. When the prodigal Son returned, his Father did well to receive him with such joy, though his brother did hang the groin at it: & one of the Fathers saith, though it were but a homely speech, that it was the best calf that ever he killed, the best piece of veal that ever he bestowed. At this day there is but small turning of •inners, & small rejoicing for it, and I think this to be the cause of that poverty, for that they being come home, none will give them a ring, a gown, &c. Luke 15. The third joy is. Psal.³ 122. I reioyce• when they said, come let us go to the house of the Lord First, to rejoice in the means of salvation, as in Sermons, in Preachers, and such like; this is angelical, & Davids joy: I rejoiced when one told me there was a Sermon in the Lords house, and said, come let us go. A Father saith, thou makest hast to a banquet, but not to the Temple: thy mirth is not good, thy life is not good. Thou canst watch all night in dicing, but not in meditation. The fourth kind of joy, is