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 And no marvel though our nature be so hard to pray, as thinking it a thing painful, seeing among many exercises it is most profitable. The word maketh known to us the riches of Gods love, and strengtheneth faith: prayer feeleth the power of it, and confirmeth with feelings. The word telleth us that God hath a care of his people, prayer proveth that¹ God hath a care of his people. The word saith, God is merciful: prayer findeth by practise that God is merciful. The word speaketh of the majesty, power, and goodness of God: prayer obtaineth the experience of the majesty, power, and goodness of God. If a man cometh to knowledge, faith, and comforts by hearing, it is rather an infusion from God into man, than an action proceeding from a man to God: but if we taste of the power of these things by prayer, as there is an infusion from God as the author, so there is an action from man as the agent & instrument. This gift of prayer is also a nurse of repentance, because our prayers look with bloody cheeks, as ready to blush, when with guilty consciences we come before the Lord. If we should have a suite to a prince, we would be loth he should have a just complaint of our rebellion to lay against us, for fear of repulse or of a worse thing, we would not willingly have our accuser stand before him, when we are suitors unto him: much² more are we to fear our hypocrisy, if we presume in wilful disobedience, to pray unto the prince of the spirits, and searcher of all mens hearts. And if we can be bold to pray in the hypocrisy of our hearts to such a God; we must needs either be abashed without comfort, or astonied without feeling, we shall find our prayers either accused, or accursed, or both.

4 And no maruell though our nature be so hard to pray, as thinking it a thing painfull, seeing among many exercises it is most profitable. The word maketh knowne to vs the riches of Gods loue, and strengtheneth faith: praier feeleth the power of it, and cōfirmeth with feelings. The word telleth vs that God hath a care of his people, prayer proueth that¹ God hath a care of his people. The word saith, God is merciful: prayer findeth by practise that God is mercifull. The word speaketh of the maiesty, power, and goodnes of God: praier obtaineth the exprience of the maiesty, power, and goodnes of God. If a man commeth to knowledge, faith, and comforts by hearing, it is rather an infusion from God into man, than an action proceeding from a man to God: but if we tast of the power of these things by praier, as there is an infusion from God as the author, so there is an action from man as the agent & instrument. This gift of praier is also a nurse of repentance, because our praiers looke with bloody cheekes, as ready to blush, when with guiltie consciences we come before the Lord. If we should haue a suite to a prince, we would be loth he should haue a iust complaint of our rebellion to lay against vs, for feare of repulse or of a worse thing, we would not willingly haue our accuser stand before him, whē we are suters vnto him: much