The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

For the first, the grievousness of this malady is seen, either by some due consideration¹ of the persons that have felt it, or by some wise comparison made between this grief of mind, and other outward griefs incident unto man.

For the first, the grieuousnes of this maladie is seene, either by some due consideration¹ of the persons that haue felt it, or by some wise comparison made betweene this griefe of minde, and other outward griefes incident vnto man.

1. 1Parts to be considered.

The persons in whom we may consider this wound of spirit, are either merely natural¹ men, or such as be renewed by the spirit of God. The men merely natural, are either the Heathen, such as never knew God in Christ, or carnal professors, such as have not professed Christianity aright. If we look among the Heathen, how many of them have willingly gone under all poverty, & have been content to unburden themselves of all worldly treasures? How some of them (whilst their minds were not dejected) have suffered imprisonment, exile, & extreme tortures of body, rather then they would betray their countries? How many of them have devoured many injuries, and borne outward troubles, with some ease, and with no resistance, whilst their minds were at liberty? And yet look not into the meanest, but the best and most excellent men among them, even their wise Philosophers, sweet Orators, and exquisite Poets, who in bearing and forbearing, thought the² chiefest point of virtue to consist; and ye shall see when once some great distress of mind did wound them, some would make an end of it by preparing a cup of deadly poison: some would violently and voluntarily run on the enemies pikes: some would throw down themselves from high Mountains: some would not stick to stab most monstrously