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. LXVI. Of Gods worship, and of Religion true and false.

ALthogh the word of God is alwaies in season to be ministred: yet mens harts (because of their corruptiō) are not alwaies in season to receiue it.

2 The Diuell doth oftentimes bring men to superstition in a good* 1.1 thing, that afterward hee might procure them to leaue it off vtterly.

3 Superstition doth breake off loue in all estates.* 1.2

4 ••is a great and secret offence through the corruption of nature, to perswade our selues that we may goe to see idolatry, though in heart we consent not vnto it. But doubtles as by the iudgment of God we often fall into that sinne, which before we did not know, so the offence is great. First, in respect of our corruption which naturally is giuen to superstition, Secondly, in respect of our brethren, if they bee strong, to grieue them; if they be weake to offend them. Thirdly, in respect of Gods glo∣rie, the zeale whereof should make vs with heroicall spirits, to crie out against such sinne.

5 In the first Commandement the substance of Gods worship is set downe, in the se∣cond* 1.3 the meanes, in the third the ende; and in the fourth, is the time prescribed, wherein these things especially are to be practised.

6 God requireth the body to worship him as well as the soule, and therfore let him that hath an eare to heare, heire: he that hath a tongue to speake, let him speake; hee that hath hands to lifte vp, let him lift them vp: and hee that hath knees to bow, let him bow them. There are strāge speeches to this end in the scripture that not only they that haue tongues should praise the Lord, but euery thing that hath breath; yea, hee requireth to be praised of euery bone in the bodie. The right & title whereby God chalengeth this seruice of our members, is because wee are his, and when we were not his, hee redeemed vs with a price. First, the clay whereof we are made was his, by creation of right he may claime vs: he fin∣deth* 1.4 vs here at his own charge, cost, and expences, and so by the testimony of the booke of his prouidence we are his. The LORD by bleeding from his heart by the speare, from his hands & feete by the nailes, from his head by the Thornes purchased vs to his seruice, and therefore his title to the bodie is good: wherefore against the Anabaptists & Familists we say, that as God is the God of the spirit, so he is the God of all flesh; and though he will be worshipped in spirit, yet not in spirit only, but in truth also, which truth (being his word) re∣quireth the seruice of the bodie. So many then as refusing the congregation, making the corners of their chambers only witnesses of their religion, detract from the Lord his wor∣ship. But they excuse themselues with fearing the suspition of hypocrites, an easie slander, a thing that none can purge himselfe of, a case therfore to be referred to the Lord himself. But these men of all other do euill in speaking against hypocrisie: for if they be no more inward than they are outward, if their Chamber-holines, be no more than their Chappell∣godlines, then are they of all men most miserable. Reade Psal. 122. and 84. and 68. and we shall see the Prophet Dauid highly to magnifie that which they smally account of.

7 Many carnall men thinke they can trust in God and in riches too: they will carrie* 1.5 two bowstrings into the field, that if one faile another may serue. But we must serue God either euer or neuer, either in all or in none, either euery where, or no where. These mē will not say with Christ, one thing is necessary, but they will serue God and the world. Thus some pray to God, and perform their vowes to the diuel, some are only retainers to Christ and beare his liuerie, but are indeed the seruants of sinne and their owne corruption, some beare the marke of God in their foreheads and in profession; but they beare the marke of the beast in their hands and conuersation: wee dare and must credite the Lord with our soules, why should we not credite him with our bodies also? God knoweth that wee are but fraile, and he hauing made vs, will surely preserue vs.

8 The place where God is worshipped, is called in the Scriptures, The presence and face of the Lord. It is oftentimes said in the Psalmes, that we must come before the face of the

Lord, and they that eate of the sacrifices are said to eate with the Lord. Therefore when we come to heare the Word, to or pray, to receiue the Sacraments, we come euen before the Lord, where he sheweth his presence more cleerely, although wheresoeuer we be we are in his presence: for as the power of the Prince is ouer all the land, yet his chiefe presence ••••••••* 1.6 the Court; so is the presence of the Lord chiefly in the house of prayer, though he be euery where: which if men would rightly consider of, then would they also take heede with what feete they enter into the house of the Lord, and would not ••e so bolde as to come thither* 1.7 without preparation, nor to passe away without any meditation of that which they haue* 1.8 done or heard. The want of this perswasion causeth all carelesnes, both before and after, and when wee are present. If this kinde of dealing will not bee liked nor allowed of any worldly Prince; that men should bee admitted to the Chamber-of-presence, and yet care not what they speake, nor how they b••lieue themselues: surely the Lorde will not alwayes beare with such as abuse the house of praier, and ••••reuerently behaue themselues in his ho∣ly presence: though for a time hee suffer them, yet certainly in the ende he will be sure to punish it most grieuously. Therefore we had neede to be watchfull ouer our selues both soules and bodies, least by abusing our selues before the face of the Lord, we prouoke him* 1.9 vnto anger, and cause his displeasure to fall vpon vs.

9 In the beginning of our gracious Soueraigne her raigne, it was vsually said, that the dearths that then were, was for the New learning. Afterwardes the Lord sent peace and wealth, as wee doe now see: whereby he giueth vs to vnderstand, that it is he that brought them from poperie, so that now hereafter none can complaine. Wherefore they doe sinne* 1.10 very grieuously that shall say the Gospell hath brought dearth, diseases, and warre▪ For we can all testifie, that the Gospell hath brought peace, plentie, and health, which if wee will not belieue, then the Lorde will roote vs out, though for his Name and glories sake, and for his Sonne Christs sake, he will raise vp a seede after vs, that shall confesse this to his glo∣rie, as we see in the example of the Israelites, which had a Iosuah and a Caleb. But as hee pu∣nished the Aegyptians because they were ignorant, and the Israelites because they abused knowledge; as hee punished the Israelites because they would not worship him, and puni∣shed the Aegyptians because they would not suffer them to worship him: so he hath puni∣shed the Papists because they were false worshippers, and the Protestants for that they a∣buse* 1.11 the true worship: and as hee punished the Papists, because they would not suffer the Lord to be worshipped; so will hee punish the Protestants, if they will not worship him in spirit and truth, for there is like proportion.

10 Some will say, what can we gaine by hearing the Word, can we liue by prayer? Our* 1.12 household must be prouided for: if we could come by our liuing so easilie as some doe, or if wee were as well to liue as such a man is, we would serue God then as well as any of them, they may serue God freely, and without any cares to hinder them, we must take p••ines for our liuing, necessity calleth vpon vs to follow our labour. But dost thou not know••ô man, that the Lord leauing thee in this neede, doth now proue thee, whether thou serue him for thine owne ease, or for his glorie sake? If thou doe not now discerne of thy temptation, and applie thy self to the seruing of God, in hearing, praying, reading, & thinking of his Word, but doest in a greedy care seeke after earthly things, be sure that if thou be his sonne▪ he wil at one time or other correct thee, & by one way or other waine thy minde from these out∣ward things: but if thou belong not to his couenant of Grace, hee may perhaps giue thee thy desire, and leaue thee also without correction, which is a signe of a Bastard, but at the last he will cut thee off from the things that thy chiefe delight is in, and finally, thou shalt perish euerlastingly in hell.

11 When men will not harken vnto the Truth, then will hee giue them vp to belieue* 1.13 lyes, and when they will not regard his faithfull ministers, that labour with them to bring them to holinesse, then will he leaue them to such deceitfull workers as shall please them in prophanenesse. And as it fared with Pharaoh and his people▪ that would not belieue Moset, but hearkened to the sorcerers of Aegypt, so shall it fare with all those that will not belieue Gods faithfull seruants, the true Preachers and ministers of the Gospell, but will be* 1.14 led & headlongly caried away with popish seminaries, and such wicked guides as sowe false

doctrine, and leade them into all errors and heresies. The Sorcerers could not take away the plagues of the Frogges, &c. but indeed they caused moe to come, wherby the King and his people were the more troubled: so is it in all false religion, they will bring men ••••to many troubles, but they cannot helpe them out of one, they will helpe to perfect sinne in men, but they cannot rid men out of one sinne. It is proper to the word of God onely, and to the true doctrine deliuered out of the same, that ministreth comfort to Gods people in their troubles, and stayeth them in their distresses, as Dauid saith, Except thy law had been my delight, I had perished in my troubles, Psalme 119. 92. Wherefore if in death, and in troubles wee will bee quickned and comforted, let vs delight in the statutes of the Lord, and wholy depend vpon the doctrine of his word.

12 Moses was not so well when he was in Madian, as if hee had beene in Canaan, yet bet∣ter* 1.15 than when hee was in Aegypt: for though Iethro had not the worship of God pure in euery respect yet was not he an Idolater. For then Moses would not haue dwelt with him, nor yet haue sacrificed with him, if he had offered to a strange God. Whence we learne two things; the first, that if we haue the chiefe and principall points of religion with vs al∣though there may be some wants and defects, yet that we make much of Gods great bles∣sing therein, and labour carefully & diligently to vse them, shewing our selues thankful to God for them: so wil the Lord in his due time bestowe moe blessings vpon vs, & minister that which is wanting vnto vs▪ Secondly, that the Lord will alwayes haue some to keepe his truth, to the glorie of his own name, and the condemnation of the wicked. Iethroes re∣ligion* 1.16 may be tried by these notes. 1. That he reioyced more for the deliuerance of Gods people, than for the promotion of his sonne. 2. Because he was carefull to confirme his faith, by the experience of them which had receiued greater graces. 3. Because his ioy did breake out into an open profession of sacrifice. 4. His diuine speech and good counsaile which he gaue to Moses, doth testifie that he was a pure worshipper of God: at the least he held the chiefest, and was not a nouice in religion. By Iethro his example we may learne to trie our religion, if it bee pure, then it worketh in vs a care to vse all the meanes. 2. We take ioy in them. 3. We expresse the fruites of it in our life. 4. We reioyce more at the prospe∣ritie of Gods people, than at our owne preferments or commoditie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sathans po∣licie.
• * 1.2

  Superstition. To be pre∣sent at the Masse how dangerous.
• * 1.3

  God requi∣reth the vse of the bodie in worship∣ping him as well as the soule.
• * 1.4

  How iustly God may challenge of vs to serue him in bodie and soule.
• * 1.5

  We must not be of a darke and close Re∣ligion, or of a double pro∣fession.
• * 1.6

  Gods pre∣sence.
• * 1.7

  Simile.
• * 1.8

  Eccles. 4. 17.
• * 1.9

  Mal. 1.
• * 1.10

  Popish obie∣ctions against the Gospell.
• * 1.11

  Note this proportion.
• * 1.12

  Mal. 3. 14. 15. 16.
• * 1.13

  How God pu∣nisheth such as receiue not his truth in loue.
• * 1.14

  1. Thess. 2. 11.
• * 1.15

  Iethro no Idolater.
• * 1.16

  Triall of Religion.