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 let us hasten to the third part of our division, to show how Gods children being¹ fallen into this wound of spirit, may be helped out of it: which (God willing) we will also perform, after we have answered a necessary objection, which (in the former part) might seem to encounter against us. There is no man but will grant, that David, Job, and others of the Saints of God, had a sight of their sins, a sorrow for their sins, and a taste of the remission of their sins: how then cometh it to pass, that these men were so troubled in mind? To this I answer, that their trouble so befell them, either for failing in some of these former things; or else they were rather afflicted for trial of their faith, than for punishing of sin in them. And therefore be it always provided, that we think not every conflict of conscience, continually and chiefly to be for the pursuing of our sins: but sometimes and principally, that it cometh for the trial of our faith: and yet secondarily, or less principally, for the scourging of sin, as we may see in Job. Whereupon let all² men be admonished, when they see good men thus humbled & thrown down in mind, to lay their hands on their mouths from saying; Surely these men are but hypocrites, doubtless these men be great sinners, the Lord hath found out their hypocrisy. For good reason there is, that such silence should be used: for that the Lord may as well make trial of their faith, as take punishment on their sins. For if such affliction should always and chiefly be sent for sin, then it should follow that all others as they exceeded them in sin, should also exceed them in the punishment of sin.

Now let vs hasten to the third part of our diuision, to shew how Gods children being¹ fallen into this wound of spirit, may be helped out of it: which (God willing) we will also performe, after we haue answered a necessarie obiection, which (in the former part) might seeme to incounter against vs. There is no man but will graunt, that Dauid, Iob, and others of the Saints of God, had a sight of their sinnes, a sorrow for their sinnes, and a taste of the remission of their sinnes: how then commeth it to passe, that these men were so troubled in minde? To this I answere, that their trouble so befell them, either for failing in some of these former things; or else they were rather afflicted for triall of their faith, than for punishing of sinne in them. And therefore be it alwaies prouided, that we thinke not euery conflict of conscience, continually and chiefly to be for the pursuing of our sinnes: but sometimes and principally, that it commeth for the triall of our faith: and yet secondarily, or lesse principally, for the scourging of sinne, as we may see in Iob. Whereupon let all