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,…

3 The third rule is, that we keep a tenor of zeal in both estates, as well in adversity¹ as in prosperity. Many in peace are professors, who in time of troubles are persecutors, who loving the peace of the Gospel, not the Gospel it self, do more bewray that they were never truly zealous. Others, whilst they be under the Cross are very demure and devout, who if once they come aloft, forget the simplicity of the Gospel, and fall to the security of the world. Hereof comes that fearful complaint, that men hot in preaching and professing, while they are under, are choked in their zeal when they come to preferment. Such men are glad not of the gospel, but of the prosperity of the gospel; such men will be sad, not for the want of the Gospel, but for the adversity which followeth the persecutors of the Gospel. Our trial herein may be thus, if our private estate be prosperous,² we lament with David, the estate of the Church, being ruinous: or if our private estate being perilous, we can rejoice with Paul in the estate of the Church being prosperous, our zeal is according to truth. David near the Crown for his happiness, fasted for the estate of the Church, lying in abominable filthiness. Paul a prisoner in bonds, thought himself at liberty, so long as the Gospel was free.

3 The third rule is, that we keepe a tenor of zeale in both estates, as well in aduersitie¹ as in prosperitie. Manie in peace are professors, who in time of troubles are persecutors, who louing the peace of the Gospell, not the Gospell it selfe, doe more bewray that they were neuer truely zealous. Others, whilest they be vnder the Crosse are very demure and deuout, who if once they come aloft, forget the simplicity of the Gospell, and fall to the securitie of the world. Hereof comes that fearefull complaint, that men hote in preaching and professing, while they are vnder, are choked in their zeale when they come to preferment. Such men are glad not of the gospell, but of the prosperity of the gospell; such men will be sad, not for the want of the Gospell, but for the aduersitie which followeth the persecutors of the Gospell. Our triall herein may bee thus, if our priuate estate be prosperous,²