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.

CHAP. X. Of Care, Couetousnesse, and Contentation.

IT is no great thing for a man liuing on another mans charges, not to be couetous: but* 1.1 for one that hath wife and children, &c. for to rest vpon Gods prouidence, and to vse onely lawfull meanes with patience, this is an argument of Faith. So if death or age make vs carefully couetous and vnfit for heauenly exercises, we may soone see what faith is in vs. This triall must be diligently taken in prosperitie, least if we neglect it, our Faith* 1.2 doe faile vs in aduersitie. For if we doe not in the good day store vp our selues with com∣forts, we shall be emptie in the euill day when it commeth. If in prosperitie we set our de∣light on heauenly things, wee shall easily want earthly things, because wee neuer set our hearts on them. But if our delight be in riches••, then assuredly when they are taken from vs, our Faith must faile vs, because our ioy is taken away with our riches. Beware then of* 1.3 couetousnes, which is a sinne when all other sinnes waxe olde, this waxeth young in thee: for we see daily manie freed from other vices, yet fouly spotted with this.

2 We must take heede that we indent not with the Lord, but simplie giue vp our selues to him, and seeke the grace of God at all times, & with all our hearts, and let vs aske other things as it pleaseth him. For when we giue these outward things to the Lord, then will he soonest giue them vs againe. Salomon desired Wisedome, and God gaue him wisedome which his heart desired, and riches which his heart desired not. O happie man, if withal he desired the feare of the Lorde. Abraham gaue the Lord his sonne Isaak; the Lorde then gaue Isaak to Abraham againe: So the readyest way to obtaine outward things at Gods* 1.4 hand, is to giue them vp to the hands of the Lord, not that we must commit them to the Lord with this condition, for that were to mocke the Lord, but with Abraham wee ought to giue them to him freely, without hope to receiue them againe; and yet being content in respect of the Lordes glory and will, with the want of them: and then if they bee good for vs wee shall haue them, or else some spirituall grace, which with the better shall sup∣plie* 1.5 the want. Therefore the carking and greedy care of these things, is left to the godlesse

which are ignorant of the forgiuenesse of sinnes, and of Gods prouidence.* 1.6

3. Wee may not aske earthly blessings as signes of Gods fauour: neither must wee e∣steeme the wants of these things as tokens of his displeasure. Againe, the Lord often kee∣peth these things from vs, for that wee would abuse them, and set more by them than by spirituall things: yea the Lord holdeth vs without these, that wee might esteeme his spir∣tuall graces the more, that so in his good time we may haue both together.

4 Wee must vse and not loue, that is, wee may not set our hearts on the creatures of God, 1. Cor. 7. 31.

5 Seeing saluation is our ende, all that hinders saluation, must bee cast off, whether it* 1.7 be marriage, farming, trying of oxen, or any other thing lawfull in it selfe, if euer it presse vs downe, Heb. 12. 1. 2. The soule is made for God, and therefore considering the very na∣ture of the obiect, we had need haue a speciall vigilancie of our loue to any other thing. It is like a purgation which must be taken in quantitie, & in a certaine measure, that it purge not out as wel good humours as bad, and as there was first a couering of gold in the Arke, and then of Badgers skins; so our more precious loue must be bestowed on God, his loue must chiefly possesse our heart. It is said, in the first Epistle to the Corinths. Doth God care for oxen? Nay this is written for our instruction: and yet it is certaine that God doth care for oxen, but in respect of that care which he hath for man it is no care. So are wee to take no care of oxen in respect of him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Parēts to rest ••n Gods pre∣uidence.
• * 1.2

  Triall of our faith in Gods prouidence.
• * 1.3

  Couetousnes, how dange∣rous.
• * 1.4

  The readyest way to obtain temporall blessings.
• * 1.5

  Carking care
• * 1.6

  Carking care. Earthly bles∣sings no signs of Gods fa∣uour.
• * 1.7

  Wee must take heec•••••••• & to what end we vse things law∣full in them∣selues.