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,…

75 It is good still to attend upon hearing the word, although we feel not that inward joy and working of God his Spirit, which either we have felt, or desire to feel. The preaching¹ of the word is God his ordinance: if it hath no• wrought heretofore, though it work not presently, it may work hereafter. And because we know not who is the man, what is the time, where is the place, which is the sermon that God hath appointed to work on us, let us in all obedience attend on the ministry of every man, watch at all times, be diligent in every place, and run to every sermon which we can conveniently, because though the Lord touch us not by this man, in this place, at this time, through such a sermon, yet he may touch us by another. Let every one therefore thus meditate with himself: Though I hearing am as dead as a stone, and feel as little as a block, yet I must hear still, because it is God his ordinance, I will hear, that I may obey his ordinance, and though I go an hundred times without any profit, yet I shall never go without some peace, because though I have not that which I desired, yet I have done that which God hath commanded. This I am sure of, so long as I am under the dressing hand of the Lord, I shall not perish, but in his good time I shall bring forth fruit. But thou wilt reply, I may happily sometime feel, but it is so short and so little, and so many have fallen away before me, that I fear I shall fall, and of a natural vine I shall prove wild and an unnatural branch. Well, the Lord by his word will purge thee and prune thee, he will dress thee, if ever thou hadst any working, thou shalt have more: thou shalt not only bring forth Christ being grafted into Christ, but much fruit also being trimmed by the word. Only seek thou God in his word, he will not fail to be found of thee, use thou the word which is his pruning knife, and he will work on thee at one time or at another.

75 It is good still to attend vpon hearing the word, although we feele not that inward ioy and working of God his Spirit, which either we haue felt, or desire to feele. The preaching¹ of the word is God his ordinance: if it hath no• wrought heretofore, though it worke not presently, it may worke hereafter. And because we know not who is the man, what is the time, where is the place, which is the sermon that God hath appointed to work on vs, let vs in all obedience attend on the ministerie of euery man, watch at all times, be diligent in euery place, and runne to euery sermon which we can conueniently, because though the Lord touch vs not by this man, in this place, at this time, through such a sermon, yet he may touch vs by another. Let euery one therefore thus meditate with himselfe: Though I hearing am as dead as a stone, and feele as little as a blocke, yet I must heare still, because it is God his ordinance, I will heare, that I may obey his ordinance, and though I goe an hundred times without any profit, yet I shall neuer goe without some peace, because though I haue not that which I desired, yet I haue done that which God hath commanded. This I am sure of, so long as I am vnder the dressing hand of the Lord, I shall not perish, but in his good time I shall bring foorth fruite. But thou wilt replie, I may happily sometime feele, but it is so short and so little, and so many haue fallen away before me, that I feare I shall fall, and of a naturall vine I shall prooue wilde and an vnnaturall branch. Well, the Lord by his word will purge thee and prune thee, he will dresse thee, if euer thou hadst any working, thou shalt haue more: thou shalt not only bring forth Christ being graffed into Christ, but much fruite also being trimmed by the word. Onely seeke thou God in his word, he will not faile to be found of thee, vse thou the word which is his pruning knife, and he will worke on thee at one time or at another.