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,…

so now he findeth no peaceable entrance, but a strong and mighty resistance, & therefore there yet remaineth such part of the former work, which he could not hitherto overthrow, nor shall be able for ever, which is the secret seed of faith still sustained and nourished by the spirit of God in us, when we would think it were utterly extinguished. For as the fire when it wrestleth with the water thrown upon it, ceaseth not till it have overcome: so this resistance of the spirit against the flesh, will not cease until the full victory be obtained, and Satan himself trodden under our feet. Neither is there any more sure testimony, either of our present deliverance begun, or of our full & perfect victory in time to come, than this, that by the word of God we do (though but weakly) resist the temptations of the enemy, and continue in the battle against him: mourning indeed and travailing under the burden of affliction, but yet standing upright before the enemy, so that he cannot fully prevail against us, much less overthrow & destroy us. But here one thing must carefully be looked unto, that we be not so far discouraged, either with want of feeling, or overborne with desire of that we have not, as we forget what mercy hereto fore we have received. When Job so earnestly, and (as one would think) impatiently wisheth the good things he had sometimes enjoyed, he doth not only express the great affection he had to be restored unto his former estate, but also giveth the attentive reader to understand a secret work of that grace of God; from the remembrance of that which had been, insinuating an hope ⟨p. 874⟩of that which should be, as the event it self afterward declared; which issue of his troubles S. James would have us diligently to consider when he saith: Ye have heard of the sufferings of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord. But it fareth in this case with the afflicted soul many times, as it doth with those that greedily strive for the goods of this world; their affections¹ of having more is so strong, and doth so violently possess and carry them, as it not only depriveth them of the use of that they have, but also maketh them forget the same, and which is yet more, protest against it, as if they had it not at all.

so now he findeth no peaceable entrance, but a strong and mighty resistance, & therfore there yet remaineth such part of the former worke, which he could not hitherto ouerthrow, nor shal be able for euer, which is the secret seede of faith still sustained and nourished by the spirit of God in vs, when wee would thinke it were vtterly extinguished. For as the fire when it wrastleth with the water throwne vpon it, ceaseth not till it haue ouercome: so this resistance of the spirit against the flesh, will not cease vntill the full victorie be obtained, and Satan himselfe troden vnder our feet. Neither is there any more sure testimonie, either of our present deliuerance begun, or of our full & perfect victory in time to come, than this, that by the word of God we doe (though but weakly) resist the temptations of the enemy, and continue in the battaile against him: mourning indeede and trauailing vnder the burthen of affliction, but yet standing vpright before the enemie, so that he cannot fully preuaile against vs, much lesse ouerthrow & destroy vs. But here one thing must carefully be looked vnto, that we be not so farre discouraged, either with want of feeling, or ouerborne with desire of that wee haue not, as wee forget what mercie hereto fore wee haue receiued. When Iob so earnestly, and (as one would thinke) impatiently wisheth the good things hee had sometimes enioyed, he doth not onely expresse the great affection he had to be restored vnto his former estate, but also giueth the attentiue reader to vnderstand a secret work of that grace of God; from the remembrance of that which had been, insinuating an hope