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,…

Now the remedy against this trouble is, willingly and wittingly not to cherish sin,¹ to wish that the Minister should touch our most privy and secret sins, to be glad privately to be admonished, to profit by our enemies when they do reproach us: and rather to desire (in such a case) to be humbled, than to suffer our selves to be flattered. This trying of² ourselves must yet stretch it self further, not only to the committing of evil, but also to the omitting of good. As when (after some good working and feeling of the spirit) we begin to fight and conflict with our own consciences, saying: though I must pray, I must have time also to provide for my family: if I go to hear the word of God, surely I shall be in danger to loose this profit: if I thus attend upon the exercises of religion, I shall be cut short in the use of my pleasures. Wherefore it shall be good to search our harts, not only in the careless not using of the means; but also in the negligent watching over the fruits of the means: saying to ourselves in this manner: I have heard a Sermon, but (alas) without any feeling or working upon my affections; I have been praying, but with no power of the spirit; I have received the sacrament, but without those joys glorious and unspeakable, which I was wont to taste of; I saw the discipline of the Church executed, but without any fear of sin at all in my self, or compassion to the member censured.

Now the remedie against this trouble is, willingly and wi•tingly not to cherish sinne,¹ to wish that the Minister should touch our most priuie and secret sinnes, to be glad priuatly to be admonished, to profit by our enemies when they do reproch vs: and rather to desire (in such a case) to be humbled, than to suffer our selues to be flattered. This trying of² ourselues must yet stretch it selfe further, not onely to the committing of euill, but also to the omitting of good. As when (after some good working and feeling of the spirit) we begin to fight and conflict with our owne consciences, saying: though I must pray, I must haue time also to prouide for my familie: if I goe to heare the word of God, surely I shall be in danger to loose this profit: if I thus attend vpon the exercises of religion, I shall be cut short in the vse of my pleasures. Wherefore it shall be good to search our harts, not onely in the carelesse not vsing of the meanes; but also in the negligent watching ouer the fruites of the meanes: saying to ourselues in this maner: I haue heard a Sermon, but (alas) without any feeling or working vpon my affections; I haue beene praying, but with no power of the spirit; I haue receiued the sacrament, but without those ioyes glorious and vnspeakable, which I was wont to taste of; I saw the discipline of the Church executed, but without any feare of sinne at all in my selfe, or compassion to the member censured.