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,…

50 Many say, they can profit by some, and not by others It is their infirmity, and they¹ must be humbled. Yet thus much for our comfort, it is God his mercy if we profit any way; howbeit stay not here, for either thou must at the least desire to profit by both, or else in the end it will come, thou wilt profit by none. It is unnatural for an old man in Christ to be fed again with the dug of the first doctrine, as it is unseemly to offer the strong mysteries of faith to a child and novice in Christ. We must learn not only to discern good from evil, but better from good. Some can dance, when Christ doth pipe; some can sorrow, when John doth mourn; some can tremble when Paul preacheth of judgement; some can rejoice to hear him preach the promises; some can entertain him when he cometh with a kiss; some can profit more when he cometh with a rod. Some will say, if doctrine be much used, we cannot understand, he is too profound: some, if persuasion be urged, we can learn little, he is always about one matter: some, when one is vehement, say, he is an Hermit too precise for us to follow, he had need of a new world: some, if the Preacher be comfortable, think, he is a clawbacke and seeketh for living: some say, if they hear one for the peace of the Church tolerating some ceremonies, that he is a time-server and man-pleaser: if they hear one zealous and unwilling to give any little credit to superstitions, then they say, he is factious: if he be young and vehement, then they say, he will grow wiser and colder in time: if he be old and still faithful, then he wants wisdom and is but a doting fool. But wisdom is justified of all her children; if doctrine be used, we learn; if persuasion, we are moved; if threatenings, we are humbled; if promises, we are comforted; if lenity, we think God calleth us in mercy; if severity, God calleth us ⟨p. 60⟩out of security, and so we profit by all in something, though by some in more things and oftener.

50 Many say, they can profit by some, and not by others It is their infirmitie, and they¹ must be humbled. Yet thus much for our comfort, it is God his mercie if we profit any way; howbeit stay not here, for either thou must at the least desire to profit by both, or els in the end it will come, thou wilt profit by none. It is vnnaturall for an old man in Christ to be fed againe with the dugge of the first doctrine, as it is vnseemely to offer the strong mysteries of faith to a childe and nouice in Christ. We must learne not onely to discerne good from euill, but better from good. Some can dance, when Christ doth pipe; some can sorrow, when Iohn doth mourne; some can tremble when Paul preacheth of iudgement; some can reioyce to heare him preach the promises; some can entertaine him when he commeth with a kisse; some can profit more when he commeth with a rod. Some will say, if doctrine be much vsed, we cannot vnderstand, he is too profound: some, if perswasion be vrged, we can learne little, he is alwaies about one matter: some, when one is vehement, say, he is an Heremite too precise for vs to follow, he had neede of a new world: some, if the Preacher be comfortable, thinke, he is a clawbacke and seeketh for liuing: some say, if they heare one for the peace of the Church tolerating some ceremonies, that he is a timeseruer and man-pleaser: if they heare one zealous and vnwilling to giue any little credit to superstitions, then they say, he is factious: if he be young and vehement, then they say, he will grow wiser and colder in time: if he be old and still faithfull, then he wants wisedome and is but a doting foole. But wisedome is iustified of all her children; if doctrine be vsed, we learne; if perswasion, we are moued; if threatnings, we are humbled; if promises, we are comforted; if lenitie, we thinke God calleth vs in mercie; if seueritie, God calleth vs