Section 140: The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus… by Richard Greenham | AskReformation

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This we see to be in every kind of love. For a man that truly loveth his wife ▪ cannot abide to see his wife contemned and discredited: nor the woman that truly loveth her husband can abide to see him rejected and despised. When we love our friend, we are grieved to see any contempt offered unto him. This then we see in the nature of true love, to rejoice to see the person loved, advanced, or the thing which we love, esteemed; and grieved, to see either the person or thing so loved, to be cast down and contemned. It was a grief even to the Heathenish Philosophers to see their doctrine not regarded: were they so moved for the small regard of that earthly doctrine, which had no exact truth in it, but was mingled with infinite errors and untruths, and shall not we much more be moved, to see the word of God, which hath so exact a truth, and no untruth, contemned and little set▪ by? wherefore when we have not this godly grief in us, it is a manifest argument, that our love is very cold. For as our love is the greater, so undoubtedly our grief will be the greater; and so as our love is the less, so will our grief to see the thing defaced, be also the less. When we have much delight in any thing, we are much grieved, and who are more grieved to see the word of God trodden down, than the godly? because of all other, their delight is most in it. Not without cause then is this love commended unto us, to be a token of our zeal, and therefore we see Psalm 67. the Church praiseth and provoketh all the world to praise God, when the word had free success: such is the love of it to the word of God. O let thy people praise thee O God, yea let all the people praise thee. Oh l•t the nations rejoice and be glad, &c. As then the children of God think themselves in joy and prosperity, when the word of God is in prosperity; so it being in any trouble, death is not troublesome to them, so that by their death and suffering they may any thing confirm the truth, and give countenance to it.

This we see to be in euery kinde of loue. For a man that truly loueth his wif• ▪ cannot abide to see his wife contemned and discredited: nor the woman that truly loueth her husband can abide to see him reiected and despised. When we loue our friend, we are grieued to see any contempt offered vnto him. This then we see in the nature of true loue, to reioyce to see the person loued, aduanced, or the thing which we loue, esteemed; and grieued, to see either the person or thing so loued, to be cast downe and contemned. It was a griefe euen to the Heathenish Philosophers to see their doctrine not regarded: were they so moued for the small regard of that earthly doctrine, which had no exact truth in it, but was mingled with infinite errors and vntruths, and shall not we much more be moued, to see the word of God, which hath so exact a truth, and no vntruth, contemned and little set▪ by? wherefore when we haue not this godly griefe in vs, it is a manifest argument, that our loue is very cold. For as our loue is the greater, so vndoubtedly our griefe will be the greater; and so as our loue is the lesse, so will our griefe to see the thing defaced, be also the lesse. When we haue much delight in any thing, we are much grieued, and who are more grieued to see the word of God troden downe, than the godly? because of all other, their delight is most in it. Not without cause then is this loue commended vnto vs, to be a token of our zeale, and therefore we see Psalme 67. the Church praiseth and prouoketh all the world to praise God, when the word had free successe: such is the loue of it to the word of God. O let thy people praise thee O God, yea let all the people praise thee. Oh l•t the nations reioyce and be glad, &c. As then the children of God thinke themselues in ioy and prosperity, when the word of God is in prosperitie; so it being in any trouble, death is not troublesome to them, so that by their death and suffering they may any thing confirme the truth, and giue countenance to it.

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How necessary a thing therefore it is to know godly zeal, all men may see: for as we have said, that the Lord threateneth Revel. 3. that unless the Laodiceans would be more zealous and amend, he would spue them out, that is, he would have no delight in them. […] the Lord would as lief have us of another religion, as to be so luke-warm in his true religion. For as a stomach is easily brought to provoke a vomit by receiving somewhat that is lukewarm: so the Lord spueth as it were out of his stomach luke warm professors, as them whom by no means he can brook, which is a most fearful thing. We know that the good father Ely 1. Sam. 3. although otherwise no doubt he was the dear servant of God, was grieved for the sins of his sons, and mourned when the Ark of God was taken, was reproved by the holy Ghost, that he should love the glory of his sons more than the glory of God▪ because he did not more severely, and more zealously rebuke his sons, and in that there wanted in him that fervency of spirit, whereby he should have cut off his sons from their office; wherefore the hand of God did cut off his life, and deprived all his posterity of the Priesthood. Although this good man was offended, and grieved with the evils of his sons; yet his coldness in zeal brought upon him this plague.

How necessary a thing therfore it is to know godly zeale, all men may see: for as we haue said, that the Lord threatneth Reuel. 3. that vnlesse the Laodiceans would be more zealous and amend, he would spue them out, that is, he would haue no delight in them. 〈…〉 the Lord would as leeue haue vs of another religion, as to be so luke-warme in his true religion. For as a stomacke is easily brought to prouoke a vomite by receiuing somewhat that is lukewarme: so the Lord spueth as it were out of his stomack luke warme professors, as them whom by no meanes he can brooke, which is a most feareful thing. We know that the good father Elie 1. Sam. 3. although otherwise no doubt he was the deare seruant of God, was grieued for the sinnes of his sonnes, and mourned when the Arke of God was taken, was reproued by the holy Ghost, that he should loue the glorie of his sons more than the glorie of God▪ because he did not more seuerely, and more zealously rebuke his sons, and in that there wanted in him that feruencie of spirit, whreby he should haue cut off his sonnes from their office; wherefore the hand of God did cut off his life, and depriued all his posteritie of the Priesthood. Although this good man was offended, and grieued with the euils of his sonnes; yet his coldnes in zeale brought •pon him this plague.

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We need not here speak of the great zeal of Moses, Phinehas, and other of the servants of ⟨p. 549⟩God. We see and know the cause of this love in the man of God, was the pureness of the word. We heard in the first verse, that the judgements of the Lord were righteous, we have heard in the second verse, that the testimonies of the Lord contained a special righteousness, we shall hear in the sixth verse, that the righteousness of the Lord is an everlasting righteousness, we may see in the seventh verse, that it made him delight in trouble, and in the eight verse, that the righteousness of the Lord is everlasting. Wherefore doth he this? as we have already said to strengthen his Faith: for after he had said, that the rivers of tears through zeal and grief burst out of his eyes, he addeth and rehearseth these things. What shall we say, they are vain repetitions? Nay, we know the holy Ghost reproveth¹ them Math. 6. We see then that in so oft commending the word of God, the Prophet showeth to us our unbelief, which he felt so much in himself. When do idle repetitions so much displease the Lord? Surely, when our tongues walk idly, and in our prayers we speak we know not what. But when a mans heart is full of sorrow, and fraught with grief of his sins, or earnestly longeth after a thing, then let us cry, Lord have mercy upon me, then let us pour out our spirits, & say: Son of David have mercy upon me: Lord I believe, help my unbelief. Thus when the heart is loth to be overcome of unbelief, and when it desireth to show forth his sorrow, or when Gods children would exercise their Faith, or feel in themselves any rare joy, which they would gladly express, then they use many repetitions, as we may see both in the book of Chronicles and the Psalms, Praise ye ²the Lord, because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever: where we shall see in 26. verses this still repeated: for his mercy endureth for ever. What shall we say now, that here is any needless repetition? No: well, we see here then, that we must not speak simply against repetitions, but in great wisdom of the Spirit, because the heart of the godly cannot satisfy it self with Faith and feeling of Gods promises, unless it breaketh forth as a fire into many speeches.

We need not here speake of the great zeale of Moses, Phinees, and other of the seruants of ⟨p. 549⟩God. We see and know the cause of this loue in the man of God, was the purenesse of the word. We heard in the first verse, that the iudgements of the Lord were righteous, we haue heard in the second verse, that the testimonies of the Lord contained a speciall righteousnesse, wee shall heare in the sixt verse, that the righteousnesse of the Lord is an euerlasting righteousnesse, wee may see in the seuenth verse, that it made him delight in trouble, and in the eight verse, that the righteousnesse of the Lord is euerlasting. Wherefore doth hee this? as we haue alreadie said to strengthen his Faith: for after hee had said, that the riuers of teares through zeale and griefe burst out of his eyes, hee addeth and rehearseth these things. What shall we say, they are vaine repititions? Nay, we know the holy Ghost reproueth¹ them Math. 6. We see then that in so oft commending the word of God, the Prophet sheweth to vs our vnbeliefe, which he felt so much in himselfe. When do idle repetitions so much displease the Lord? Surely, when our tongues walke idlie, and in our prayers wee speake we know not what. But when a mans heart is full of sorrow, and fraught with griefe of his sinnes, or earnestly longeth after a thing, then let vs crie, Lord haue mercie vpon mee, then let vs powre out our spirits, & say: Sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon me: Lord I belieue, helpe my vnbeliefe. Thus when the heart is loth to bee ouercome of vnbeliefe, and when it desireth to shewe forth his sorrow, or when Gods children would exercise their Faith, or feele in themselues any rare ioy, which they would gladly expresse, then they vse manie repetitions, as wee may see both in the booke of Chronicles and the Psalmes, Praise yee ²the Lorde, because hee is good, for his mercie endureth for euer: where wee shall see in 26. verses this still repeated: for his mercie endureth for euer. What shall wee say now, that here is any needlesse repetition? No: well, we see here then, that wee must not speake simplie against repetitions, but in great wisedome of the Spirit, because the heart of the godly cannot satisfie it selfe with Faith and feeling of Gods promises, vnlesse it breaketh foorth as a fire into many speeches.

1Our unbelief is showed us in the often repetitions of the commendatious of the word.Our vnbeleefe is shewed vs in the often repetitions of the commendatious of the word.
2No idle repetitions in this Psalm.No idle repetitions in this Psalme.

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Proved true. What could deceive it? could the Serpent in Paradise? No. What could wash it away? could all the flood in the deluge? No. What could consume it? could all the fiery furnace of Gomorrah, of Egypt and of Babylon? No▪ Look from the first father of all, Adam unto this day, and how many servants the Lord hath died and sound pure; so many examples we have of the pureness of the word. This then we see is a word pure by proof. We esteem greatly of armour of proof, which neither the spear could pierce, nor the shot of gun batter, nor dart in any battle could bruise? oh how hath the word encountered with Satan, and with all his adherents? How many darts of the worldlings hath it sustained, and never yielded? but as a sword of proof hath not only stricken off the heads of Satan, and of all heresies and schisms, but also hath mightily prevailed against powers, and authorities, and principalities in heavenly things. When we have an approved medicine, we think it a thing of great price, being such a one as never failed; but wheresoever it was laid, it wrought the feat: so, here is a tried medicine for the soul, which never did deceive any that use it a right. This is a most rare medicine and sovereign salve. For never sore was so great in mans soul, never malady so grievous, never corruption of sin so fare gone, never was there any wound of conscience so desperate, which either this did not cure being used, or might have cured if it had been used.

Proued true. What could deceiue it? could the Serpent in Paradise? No. What could wash it away? could all the flood in the deluge? No. What could consume it? could all the firie furnace of Gomorrah, of Egypt and of Babylon? No▪ Looke from the first father of all, Adam vnto this day, and how many seruants the Lord hath died and sound pure; so many examples wee haue of the purenes of the word. This then we see is a word pure by proofe. We esteeme greatly of armour of proofe, which neither the speare could pearce, nor the shot of gun batter, nor dart in any battaile could bruise? oh how hath the word encountered with Sathan, and with all his adherents? How many darts of the worldlings hath it sustained, and neuer yeelded? but as a sword of proofe hath not onely striken off the heads of Sathan, and of all heresies and schismes, but also hath mightily preuailed against powers, and authorities, and principalities in heauenly things. When wee haue an approued medicine, we thinke it a thing of great price, being such a one as neuer failed; but wheresoeuer it was laid, it wrought the feate: so, here is a tried medicine for the soule, which neuer did deceiue any that vse it a right. This is a most rare medicine and soueraigne salue. For neuer sore was so great in mans soule, neuer maladie so grieuous, neuer corruption of sinne so fare gone, neuer was there any wound of conscience so desperate, which either this did not cure being vsed, or might haue cured if it had been vsed.

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This hath been tried, and is approved by all the sick souls that ever were, since the beginning¹ of the world to this day, whereof some were delivered from many sores of their conscience, & many even rescued from the depth of their sorrows. We count him a tried friend and approved, which in no troubles that ever did befall us shrunk from us, and failed us, but stood us in all stead possible: but whom, I pray you, hath the Lord ever deceived us, that put their trust in him? or in whom hath the word of the Lord ever failed? which will stick with us to the end, which will save us from all evils, accompany us in all dangers, recover us in all infirmities, pity and relieve us in all miseries, which will save us from hell, and will speak for us before the ludge, and plead our cause, and even whilst life lasteth, will still stand us in stead. Wherefore seeing the word of God hath in it such excellency, that it taketh up all the delights of Gods children, and the contempt thereof taketh up all the sorrows of the Saints of God; seeing for being eaten up with the zeal of Gods word, whatsoever we lose in the outward man, we gain and are recompensed for it in the inward man; contrary to the eating zeal in all other things whatsoever, seeing the nearer we come to God in his word, and the further we go from our selves, though we were thrown to the ground, we should be reedified; seeing, if we were tried in the furnace, we should find such an happy exchange, that as the gold we should lose no weight, but become more pure; seeing it only reneweth us in trouble, and we cannot more discredit the word of God, than ever to suffer it to be contemned, or not sufficiently esteemed, as becometh a thing of such perfection, glory, eternity, and exact righteousness; seeing it is such an armour of proof, so tried a medicine, so approved a friend: let us crave of God that he would open our eyes, and clear our understanding, that we loving it for these causes, may zealously be set on fire, and truly be grieved to see it contemned.

This hath been tried, and is approued by all the sicke soules that euer were, since the beginning¹ of the world to this day, whereof some were deliuered from many sores of their conscience, & many euen rescued from the depth of their sorrowes. We count him a tried friend and approued, which in no troubles that euer did befall vs shrunke from vs, and failed vs, but stood vs in all stead possible: but whom, I pray you, hath the Lord euer deceiued vs, that put their trust in him? or in whom hath the word of the Lord euer failed? which wil stick with vs to the end, which will saue vs from all euils, accompany vs in all dangers, recouer vs in all infirmities, pitie and relieue vs in all miseries, which will saue vs from hel, and will speake for vs before the ludge, and pleade our cause, and euen whilest life lasteth, will still stand vs in stead. Wherefore seeing the word of God hath in it such excellencie, that it taketh vp all the delights of Gods children, and the contempt thereof taketh vp all the sorrowes of the Saints of God; seeing for being eaten vp with the zeale of Gods word, whatsoeuer we lose in the outward man, we gaine and are recompenced for it in the inward man; contrarie to the eating zeale in all other things whatsoeuer, seeing the neerer wee come to God in his word, and the further we go from our selues, though we were thrown to the ground, wee should be reedified; seeing, if we were tried in the furnace, wee should finde such an happie exchange, that as the gold wee should lose no weight, but become more pure; seeing it only reneuth vs in trouble, and we cannot more discredit the word of God, than euer to suffer it to be contemned, or not sufficiently esteemed, as becommeth a thing of such perfection, glorie, eternitie, and exact righteousnes; seeing it is such an armour of proofe, so tried a medicine, so approued a friend: let vs craue of God that he would open our eyes, and cleere our vnderstanding, that we louing it for these causes, may zealously be set on fire, and truly be grieued to see it contemned.

1The word of God a tried friend in troubles. Simile.