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,…

For as this is the stronger, one believeth that he may eat all things: so this is the weaker, another eateth herbs: as this is the work of faith, this man esteemeth one day above another: so this is the weakness of faith, another counteth every day alike. He that observeth the day, saith Paul, he doth it not without knowledge and judgement, but observeth it to the Lord: so that the Sabbath day is the Lord his day. This is the strong opinion, I say, to distinguish one day from the residue, which was unknown to the Gentiles, who although they had many holy days through a corrupt imitation of the Jewish observation, which they had heard of, yet were they ignorant of the true day. But now hearing of the Lord his day, some among them began to doubt of it, with whom the Apostle willeth the stronger to deal in love. In our days we see that because there hath bin much crying out against holy days, some also will not stick to cry out against the Sabbath. Well, if a papist in all other general points of doctrine should be truly converted unto Christ, and for want of instruction doubteth of the Sabbath, we are in love to deal with him, and for a season to support his weakness. How be it we must remember that the weak must not always be borne with, as appeareth by the Apostles words chap 15. 2. Let every man please his neighbour in that, that is good to edification. So long then as the error is of weakness, and that it is but an infirmity in the man, from which by the knowledge of the truth he would be rid and be delivered, he must be borne with. But if it proceed of illusion, obstinacy, & of a prefract judgement as deceived by the devil, then he must not be borne with, no not even now a days: nay, if we be herein faulty, the error is not so tolerable in us, as it was in them, in that they wanted the old and new Testament, both which are so abundantly opened unto us. But if one truly repenting him of his sins, & faithfully believing in Christ, shall through ignorance be afraid of the Sabbath, as of a servile ceremony, he is so far to be borne with, as he desireth to come to the truth, & if he come once to be obstinate, he is no longer to be borne with. But how prove you that this is the stronger opinion to esteem one day above another day, and that this is the weaker to count all days alike?

For as this is the stronger, one beleeueth that he may eate all things: so this is the weaker, another eateth herbes: as this is the worke of faith, this man esteemeth one day aboue another: so this is the weakenes of faith, another counteth euery day alike. He that obserueth the day, saith Paul, he doth it not without knowledge and iudgement, but obserueth it to the Lord: so that the Sabbath day is the Lord his day. This is the strong opinion, I say, to distinguish one day from the residue, which was vnknowne to the Gentiles, who although they had many holy dayes through a corrupt imitatiō of the Iewish obseruation, which they had heard of, yet were they ignorant of the true day. But now hearing of the Lord his day, some among them began to doubt of it, with whom the Apostle willeth the stronger to deale in loue. In our dayes we see that because there hath bin much crying out against holy daies, some also wil not stick to cry out against the Sabbath. Wel, if a papist in al other general points of doctrine should be truly cōuerted vnto Christ, and for want of instruction doubteth of the Sabbath, we are in loue to deale with him, and for a season to support his weakenes. How be it we must remember that the weake must not alwayes be borne with, as appeareth by the Apostles words chap 15. 2. Let euery man please his neighbour in that, that is good to edification. So long then as the errour is of weaknes, and that it is but an infirmitie in the man, from which by the knowledge of the truth he would be rid and be deliuered, he must be borne with. But if it proceede of illusiō, obstinacie, & of a prefract iudgement as deceiued by the diuell, then he must not be borne with, no not euen now a dayes: nay, if we be herein faultie, the errour is not so tolerable in vs, as it was in them, in that they wanted the old and new Testament, both which are so abundantly opened vnto vs. But if one truly repenting him of his sinnes, & faithfully beleeuing in Christ, shall through ignorance be afraid of the Sabbath, as of a seruile ceremonie, he is so farre to be borne with, as he desireth to come to the truth, & if he come once to be obstinate, he is no longer to be borne with. But how proue you that this is the stronger opiniō to esteeme one day aboue another day, and that this is the weaker to count all daies alike?