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,…

Think moreover and besides, that such is the efficacy of sin, that they who are now¹ no Papists, Heretics, Adulterers, or Thieves, may for their secure contemning & foolish passing over of these temptations sent unto them, suddenly, shortly after fall into them; because they would not seek to make some use of them, nor confess before the Lord both their proneness and worthiness to fall into them. But if we will humble our selves in such temptations, & learn by them meekly to discern the corruptions of our harts, we shall not only presently deliver our selves from peril, but be also further enabled to assist others hereafter, in the like danger.

Thinke moreouer and besides, that such is the efficacie of sinne, that they who are now¹ no Papists, Heretikes, Adulterers, or Theeues, may for their secure contemning & foolish passing ouer of these temptations sent vnto them, suddenly, shortly after fall into them; because they would not seeke to make some vse of them, nor confesse before the Lord both their pronenesse and worthinesse to fall into them. But if we will humble our selues in such temptations, & learne by them meekely to discerne the corruptions of our harts, we shall not onely presently deliuer our selues from perill, but be also further enabled to assist others hereafter, in the like danger.

1. 1Note.

But some will oppose against these things which we have delivered: Do you think it a remedy to cast down them that are already humbled? This is rather to be a butcher than a builder of a mans conscience. To whom I answer, that I desire preachers to be builders, and not butchers; and it is one thing generally to apply, and another particularly to lay the medicine unto the wound. It is good to begin with searching first, and to purge the sore by the vinegar of the Law, & after to supple it with the oil of the Gospel. Both which must be done in wisdom, using them to some in greater, to some in lesser measure. For as some having nothing but a decay of nature, & no mortal humour, need rather restorative, than purging medicines: so some rather troubled for some spiritual wants, than for grosser sins, need not so much the sharp threatenings of the Law, as the sweet promises of the Gospel. As the body, through some extraordinary repletion, having gotten some great surfeit, not so much to the weakening of nature, as to the threatening of imminent death, and therefore requireth rather some strong purgation, than comfortable and cordial medicines: even so the soul brought almost to deaths door with some extraordinary sin, is rather to be bored and pierced with the denouncing of Gods judgements than otherwise. But because we would deal more plainly and less confusedly, it is good in our access to afflicted consciences, to lay these two grounds. First, we must persuade the persons humbled, that their sins are pardonable, & their sores curable. And