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,…

This I am sur• of, that even now adays the devil hath persuaded many Christians newly come to Christ, that if they eat any thing either in quality more delicately, or in quantity more liberally than bare necessity doth require, they have sinned. And yet in these men there is, no doubt, a general good meaning: but yet in this particular they hold an error. In this exampl• the Apostle setteth down the stronger part, and the weaker; the stronger part is prefixed, which is a work of faith: the weaker part followeth after, which is the weakness of faith. For mark, he saith, One believeth that he may eat all things: here is a work of faith, because •• hath the word for his warrant: and then he saith, another eateth herbs, ^*he saith not he believeth, that may eat herbs, for he doth it in weakness of faith, and hath not the word for his warrant, neither doth he believe that he can use other meats. This example inferred, the Apostle useth this exhortation; Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not: as if he should have said, let not him that is so strong in faith, therefore think him to be no Christian, that hath this error, to think himself more holy, i• he eat nothing but herbs. It is added, Let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth, and this is ⟨p. 150⟩very necessary. For it is much incident to the young ones in Christianity to judge others,² who are not so abstinent as they are. Here is not then the person so much condemned, as the fact. For though we may judge his sin, and rebuke his error, yet must we not judge his person, as though God were not able to recover him. Now to prove this, the man of God bringeth an argument only for confirmation of the doctrine immediately going before, & it is drawn from the greater to the lesser. This man esteemeth one day above another day, and another man accounteth every day alike. Which reason is thus much in effect: although there should be some so weak in knowledge, that they should make no difference of days in respect of their uses, which undoubtedly is a great error: yet I would not that for this respect a man should count him for no Christian, much less then must this be done to one, that of infirmity eateth herbs, which is a less error than the other. The stronger opinion is set in the first place, the weaker in the last.