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,…

5 Herein hath also every man to discern his temptation: a man is sick, and yet not altogether cast down; a man is poor, and yet not oppressed therewith, even here doth the Lord try him whether he love him or no, whether he worship him in truth or not. Herein doth the Lord tempt every one of us still, when he commandeth us to pray but only for daily bread, we ought therefore herein to take a trial of our selves, but the over •• hardness of our nature is such, that we can never look to our own estate present, wisely to think of that, but if we be in poverty, oh then we would serve God indeed if we were rich: if we be in sickness, we would serve God if we had our health, Again, being in health, we think we would serve God if we were somewhat tamed with sickness: if we be rich, we think we should well serve God if we were in poverty; in the mean time not studying to glorify God in sickness, riches, & health, by thankfulness for them, and the right usage of them, to that end, for which he hath given us them, neither yet regarding in our sickness and poverty, with faith and patience to wait on the Lord, being contented to serve and¹ worship him with whatsoever he shall lay upon us: for by the want of these things the Lord doth prove us, whether we worship and serve him for these outward things, or for the loving zeal that we have of his name and glory: so that if we cannot willingly come to read and hear Gods word, to pray, and receive the Sacraments, though we be pinched² with want of things, but we bestow more study, care, and time upon them, then of this worship of God, it is a manifest sign, that for these things we serve the Lord, or else we would³ not.

5 Herein hath also euery man to discerne his temptation: a man is sicke, and yet not altogether cast downe; a man is poore, and yet not oppressed therewith, euen here doth the Lord trie him whether he loue him or no, whether he worship him in truth or not. Herein doth the Lord tempt euery one of vs still, when hee commandeth vs to pray but only for daily bread, wee ought therefore herein to take a triall of our selues, but the ouer •• hartnesse of our nature is such, that wee can neuer looke to our owne estate present, wisely to thinke of that, but if we be in pouertie, oh then we would serue God indeed if we were rich: if we be in sicknes, we would serue God if we had our health, Againe, being in health, we thinke we would serue God if we were somewhat tamed with sicknes: if wee be rich, wee thinke we should well serue God if we were in pouertie; in the meane time not studying to glorifie God in sicknes, riches, & health, by thankefulnes for them, and the right vsage of them, to that ende, for which he hath giuen vs them, neither yet regarding in our sicknes and pouertie, with faith and patience to waite on the Lord, being contented to serue and