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,…

Reason persuadeth, how the things in the world must needs be governed, and that we owe love unto him by whom they be guided. Nature teacheth that mens lives must be maintained: common civility abhorreth adultery, oppression and backbiting. But if ye ask how this God is to be worshipped, and what times we must sanctify to that use: we shall see how many Countries, so many religions; how many men, so many devises. Thus we see how necessary it was that the Lord should provide for his own glory, and captivate all mans inventions, se•ing all these Commandments do most fight against the reason of man, and by reason have most been oppugned. So in the pure observing of these, consisteth the sincere keeping of the rest of them. For how shall we know how to walk in pure worship with an upright heart before the Lord? how shall we give him the honour due unto his glorious name? how shall we be instructed rightly and reverently to deal with the dignity of our brethren, faithfully with their lives, purely with their bodies, righteously with their goods, or tenderly with their credit; but by those ways and rules which the Lord hath prescribed in his word? and when should we learn those rules, but at such times as he himself hath appointed and sanctified for that purpose? Again where these two commandments are not rightly understood, there true Religion goeth to wrack. For admit that we should not carefully follow the word of God, how many religions would then start up? Let this be granted, that every man should have what day he would for the worship of God, and then see how many days men would bestow on the Lord.

Reason perswadeth, how the things in the world must needes be gouerned, and that wee owe loue vnto him by whom they be guided. Nature teacheth that mens liues must bee maintained: common ciuilitie abhorreth adulterie, oppression and backbiting. But if yee aske how this God is to be worshipped, and what times wee must sanctifie to that vse: we shall see how many Countreys, so many religions; how many men, so many deuises. Thus wee see how necessarie it was that the Lorde should prouide for his owne glorie, and captiuate all mans inuentions, se•ing all these Commaundements doe most fight against the reason of man, and by reason haue most beene oppugned. So in the pure obseruing of these, consisteth the sincere keeping of the rest of them. For how shall wee knowe how to walke in pure worship with an vpright heart before the Lord? how shall wee giue him the honour due vnto his glorious name? how shall wee be instructed rightly and reuerently to deale with the dignitie of our brethren, faithfully with their liues, purely with their bodies, righteously with their goods, or tenderly with their credit; but by those waies and rules which the Lord hath prescribed in his word? and when should wee learne those rules, but at such times as hee himselfe hath appointed and sanctified for that purpose? Againe where these two commaundements are not rightly vnderstood, there true Religion goeth to wracke. For admit that wee should not carefully follow the word of God, how many religions would then start vp? Let this bee graunted, that euery man should haue what day he would for the worship of God, and then see how many dayes men would bestow on the Lord.