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,…

4 By this time all is almost marred. But flesh loveth ease, and it grieveth her that God and Mammon are no better friends, and we could be content every one of us to be Dives, whilst we be alive, so we might be Lazarus when we be dead: we could willingly go to heaven, but it would be in a convenient broad way then, but in such a way▪ where we might drive a sumpter-horse before us. This is a disease where with we are all tainted, as that wily Serpent knoweth right well, and such thoughts as these doth he make oft arise in our hearts; Seeing other estates live the days of heaven, glut themselves in the pleasures of this world, and that the world sets them in her lap, and makes them her cockneys, seeing they wax wealthy and fat, so that as Job saith, they have collops in their flank, seeing them clothed in soft raiment, flaunt it out, and seeing them carry the crest aloft, and to have a great range, and not such straitness required of them; and seeing them never to drink of the waters of troubles: we straight-way think, it is no better then madness to abridge¹ our selves of these delights, and to become a Pillar of salt. As for this estate (say men) it is but a dead melancholic calling, but a dumpish kind of life, no joy of heart, we must live in it like petty-Angels, as if we dropped out of the clouds, or else we shall be offensive. But especially this temptation may come unto a minister; for often we see when all is done, great learned Augustine shall get but little Hippo; but if it be so you come to get Carthage, to be a Priest of the highest chair, sit you never so well, ye sit not fast: and see the girts be sure, that hold you in your saddle. For if the Sun go down, and it be a dark night, that all the beasts of the field creep forth, whereas other callings may make a little elbow-room for policy, and reserve themselves to an indifferent Interim, and it will be well taken, yet these men, these must be killed all the day, and be counted as sheep appointed to be slain. The Devil will hold the sponge of vinegar and gall too at their noses, the Flesh is queasy-stomacked, and cannot away with these powdered meats, she must have it fresh.

4 By this time all is almost marred. But flesh loueth ease, and it grieueth her that God and Mammon are no better friends, and we could be content euery one of vs to be Diues, whilest we be aliue, so we might be Lazarus when we be dead: wee could willingly goe to heauen, but it would bee in a conuenient broade way then, but in such a way where wee might driue a sumpter-horse before vs. This is a disease where with we are all tainted, as that wilie Serpent knoweth right well, and such thoughts as these doth he make oft arise in our hearts; Seeing other estates liue the dayes of heauen, glut themselues in the pleasures of this world, and that the world sets them in her lap, and makes them her cockneyes, seeing they waxe wealthy and fatte, so that as Iob saith, they haue collops in their flancke, seeing them cloathed in softe rayment, flaunt it out, and seeing them carry the crest alofte, and to haue a great range, and not such streightnesse required of them; and seeing them neuer to drinke of the waters of troubles: wee straight-way thinke, it is no better then madnes to abridge