ABSTRACT
From 1581 to 1584 Richard Greenham's student recorded many instances of troubled people - distressed in mind, body or spirit - who sought out the pastor of Dry Drayton for words of comfort, assurance and admonition. These encollnters illustrate a religious vision filled with uncertainty and anguish, tempered by the hope and promise of profound spiritual consolation. The spiritual conflict in and around them seemed tangible and touched them personally. Greenham's achievements in 'spiritual physick'l rested on his ability to use the fundamental principles of a shared world-view to help his 'patients' understand their anxiety and pain. His 'experimental divinity' proved a convincing response to troubled consciences alltoo willing to find sin in their lives, and reluctant to claim the presence of the Holy Spirit and the working of God's grace in the midst of their troubles. While Greenham expressed frustration and sadness that few responded to the message of salvation preached,2 his success as a spiritual physician rested on a self-selected clientele -. the godly. This fact is crucial, for his ability to effect eures depended on shared assumptions about human nature, God, satanic temptation, the loci of authoritative teaching, and the reasons why some believe and others do not. Working out these assumptions, which will be explored in the next chapter, Greenham assessed the situation of each afflicted conscience. These took the form of physical illness, doubts about the state of one's soul, fears of things to come, and tragedies like the death of a child or a natural dis aster. Considering each case in context, Greenham comforted, guided and admonished as each circumstance required.
