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,…

nearer, I say, for he is come already unto you (or it may be he never went from you) because to be grieved and humbled with blindness of mind and hardness of heart, to believe certainly the truth of God his promises in general, and to reverence the servants of God, which bring the glad tidings of salvation, and to long after comfort, using the means of the Word and Prayer, the Sacrament of the Supper, and the company of God his children, contrary to hope under hope, yea, without any present feeling; all this is a certain argument that God his spirit is with such, and therefore with you. This estate though it may be very grievous, yet it is never dangerous, much less is it fearful, unless any be so wilful that they do persevere and continue in desperate refusing all good means: unless they persevere, I say, for that through the subtle sleight of the spiritual adversary, and his forcible power, whereby God suffereth him sometimes for a season to winnow them as Wheat, they are so bewitched and intoxicated, that they are carried by violent force of temptation to wax weary of, or to refuse all means of comfort by fits: yea almost to have no desire at all unto them: yea sometimes, even to speak evil of them. But all this is but in temptation, and therefore God will be merciful unto them for Christ his sake. Thus Job cursed the day of his birth, and wished to be strangled: Jeremiah also repented that ever he preached in the Name of the Lord: both scarcely abstained from blasphemy. David moved with the spirit of ambition, though dutifully admonished, wilfully went on in numbering the people. Peter also vaingloriously presuming of his own strength, being most wisely and effectually premonished of his weakness even by our Lord Jesus, yet wittingly rusheth, as an horse into the battle, and then very cowardly yieldeth, yea, doubly denieth, yea, strengtheneth his sin, with a threefold cord, and fasteneth it with banning and cursing. And yet all these obtained mercy most bountifully. For why? as Satan had desired to winnow them; so our Lord JESUS CHRIST prayed for them, that their Faith though it were vehemently assaulted, yet should not be overcome, although it was battered, yet that it should not be destroyed, and though it were sore oppressed, that it should not be extinguished. And here be you fully persuaded, that though (Luk. 22. 32.)

neerer, I say, for he is come already vnto you (or it may be he neuer went from you) because to be grieued and humbled with blindnes of minde and hardnes of heart, to belieue certainely the truth of God his promises in generall, and to reuerence the seruants of God, which bring the glad tidings of saluation, and to long after comfort, vsing the meanes of the Word and Prayer, the Sacrament of the Supper, and the company of God his children, contrarie to hope vnder hope, yea, without any present feeling; all this is a certaine argument that God his spirit is with such, and therefore with you. This estate though it may be very grieuous, yet it is neuer dangerous, much lesse is it fearfull, vnlesse any be so wilfull that they doe perseuere and continue in desperate refusing all good meanes: vnlesse they perseuere, I say, for that through the subtill sleight of the spirituall aduersarie, and his forcible power, whereby God suffereth him sometimes for a season to winnowe them as Wheate, they are so bewitched and intoxicated, that they are carried by violent force of temptation to waxe wearie of, or to refuse all meanes of comfort by fits: yea almost to haue no desire at all vnto them: yea sometimes, euen to speake euill of them. But all this is but in temptation, and therefore God will be mercifull vnto them for Christ his sake. Thus Iob cursed the day of his birth, and wished to be strangled: Ieremie also repented that euer he preached in the Name of the Lord: both scarcely abstained from blasphemy. Dauid moued with the spirit of ambition, thogh dutifully admonished, wilfully went on in numbring the people. Peter also vaingloriously presuming of his owne strength, being most wisely and effectually premonished of his weaknes euen by our Lord Iesus, yet wittingly rusheth, as an horse into the battell, and then very cowardly yeeldeth, yea, doubly denieth, yea, strengtheneth his sinne, with a threefold corde, and fasteneth it with banning and cursing. And yet all these obtained mercie most bountifully. For why? as Satā had desired to winnow them; so our Lord IESVS CHRIST prayed for them, that their Faith thogh it were vehemētly assaulted, yet should not be ouercome, although it was battered, yet that it should not be destroyed, and though it were sore oppressed, that it should not be extinguished. And heere be you fully perswaded, that though (