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,…

Furthermore, in all these exercises both public and private, both concerning faith, and the duties of love, both with our selves and with others, two things especially of us must be observed. First, we must at night try our hearts, with what truth, with what care, and with what sincerity we have done these things: because as God abhorreth hypocrisy in every thing, so especially he cannot abide it in his own worship. Secondly, we are to examine our selves, with what profit either to our selves or to others, with what comfort, with what increase of good things we have been conversant in these duties, that we rest not in the work wrought, but that we may offer up the fruits of our holy increase in a good conscience to the Lord. The first thing then is to travail with our hearts for sincerity, because though generally all the commandments require spiritual obedience, yet those more peculiarly which immediately do bind us to our God. This we shall do, if we do the duties¹ of faith faithfully, the exercises of repentance carefully, & the duties of love lovingly. On this manner then may we expostulate with our selves: Hath the Lords increase of mercy brought me a days increase of holiness? how is my knowledge increased, my affections touched, my faith strengthened, my repentance renewed, the love of the Saints in me confirmed? How did the word prick my heart? how were my affections quickened by prayer? how much was my faith strengthened in the Sacraments? Hath the Sabbath been our delight? are we nearer to God in faith and repentance? are we nearer our brethren in love and benevolence? are we better affected to the glory of God? is sin more grievous unto us, than it hath been? If it be, give God the glory in Christ; if not, let our losses cause us to make some godly recovery in time to come. These things little thought of, is the cause why for the most part and almost generally we rest in the ceremonial use of the Sabbath. Now let us consider a little of the goodness of God in giving so holy a variety of good things, the consideration whereof partly may humble us, and partly comfort us. For in so rich and princely vicissitude, though we do many things, yet some duties private or public,² with our selves or with others, may be left undone; if we do the outward actions, we fail in inward affections: & this ought to humble us.

Furthermore, in all these exercises both publike and priuate, both concerning faith, and the duties of loue, both with our selues and with others, two things especially of vs must bee obserued. First, we must at night trie our hearts, with what truth, with what care, and with what sinceritie we haue done these things: because as God abhorreth hypocrisie in euery thing, so especially he cannot abide it in his owne worship. Secondly, wee are to examine our selues, with what profit either to our selues or to others, with what comfort, with what increase of good things we haue been conuersant in these dueties, that wee rest not in the work wrought, but that we may offer vp the fruits of our holy increase in a good conscience to the Lord. The first thing then is to trauaile with our hearts for sincerity, because though generally all the cōmandements require spiritual obedience, yet those more peculiarly which immediatly do binde vs to our God. This we shall do, if we do the duties