The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: reuised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as loue the truth, and desire to know the power of godlinesse. By H.H.

Vers. 138.

Thou hast commanded iustice by thy testimonies and truth especially.

HE sheweth that in all the holy writings, the Lord had set downe speciall mercies and speciall iudgements, and that the iustice and truth which the Lord hath taught in his word is a speciall iustice, and a speciall truth, and euery part thereof is iust and true, yea and if there could be degrees therein, they are most iust and most true according to that Psal. 19. 9. The iudgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. So that without* 1.1 exception, all the threatnings of the Lord are iust, and all his promises true.

Sure it is then, that he will performe his wrath threatned, and fulfill his couenants pro∣mised, for there is nothing in the word, which is not truth and iustice it selfe.

Thus we must learne when we are in trouble, to looke to God his word, and to knowe that euery title thereof is righteous and true, and though heauen and earth doe passe, yet

not one io•• of it shall faile. This is necessarie for vs to beleeue, for from hence springeth faith. Wherefore the Prophet seeing that this would hardly be beleeued, and that euen Gods children sometime, are slacke in faith, hope and loue, and are not so soone perswaded that euery man must performe this, but rather that it was a speciall thing: the Prophet (I say) reciteth this word fiue times in the compasse of eight verses, being but one portion.* 1.2 So much doth he shew incredulitie to raigne in Gods children, and declareth it the more vehemently because the wicked will not be brought to beleeue this. For what is the cause of sinne, either in failing of doing those things which are to be done, or in failing to doe those things, which ought not to be done, in omitting of good things or committing of euill, but onely incredulitie? Could we beleeue the word of God? Oh happie were we!* 1.3 can we not beleeue? oh cursed are we! We shall see, as the wicked in all things, so Gods children in many things discredit the word of God: as the wicked beleeue not at all; so the godly beleeue but in part, & see but in a glasse. And doubtlesse they want the comfort which they should haue, in that although they consent generally to the truth, yet when they come to particulars, they reason this with themselues: How can this be? by what meanes possible should this be so? and therefore the Lord suffereth them to miscarrie in iudgement, and punisheth them in their affections.

Thus we see, how the man of God doth strengthen him and vs by faith, in beleeuing that God is righteous, and his iudgements to be righteous, and that euery part of them is most righteous, iust, and true: wherefore our Sauiour Christ in his holy Gospell vseth so often, Doest thou beleeue? beleeue and thou shalt be made whole: according to thy faith be it done vnto thee: which he doth to shew vs our incredulitie. Wherefore we must pray, Lord, I beleeue, helpe my vnbeleefe: Lord increase my faith, that beleeuing thy iudgements, I may feare thee; beleeuing thy mercies & promises, I may be comforted; beleeuing the things thou com∣mandest, I may do them; beleeuing the things which thou forbiddest, I may auoide them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Matth. 5.
• * 1.2

  Incredulitie in Gods chil∣dren.
• * 1.3

  Beleeuing the word.