The necessity of an upright heart is thus by these consequents thereof proved.

The necessitie of an vpright heart is thus by these consequents thereof proued.

Notes of a true and upright heart.

Notes of a true and vpright heart.

1 When we are persuaded that God the Father, by the blood of Jesus Christ, and the working of the holy spirit doth cleanse us from our sins. 2 When we are persuaded that the spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, doth by the word thus cleanse us, and therefore make conscience of all things in the said word, without respect unto mans advice, counsel or commandment, without the same or contrary to the same word of God▪ Respecting, I say, all the Commandments of God, without preferring one before another, labouring to know them, if we do not: and if we do, to do after them according to the measure of grace we have received. 3 When we are truly desirous, and labour to avoid all the outward occasions which might either bring on, foster, or bring us back to any sin we have fallen into, or may fall into hereafter. 4 When we mourn for the very first motions of sin whereunto we have yielded, or we fear we may yield unto hereafter. 5 When we are desirous and labour to use all and every of those means, which God hath ordained in his word to bring us unto purity of heart. 6 When we do all those former things as well secretly by our selves, as before others. 7 When in doing these things we simply and singly seek to approve our selves unto God, without either looking for praise or profit, rebuke or loss from men, not seeking chiefly these outward things at Gods hands: but principally his kingdom and the righteousness thereof. Matth. 6.

1 WHen wee are perswaded that God the Father, by the blood of Iesus Christ, and the working of the holie spirit doth cleanse vs from our sinnes. 2 When wee are perswaded that the spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne, doth by the word thus cleanse vs, and therefore make conscience of all things in the said word, without respect vnto mans aduice, counsell or commaundement, without the same or contrarie to the same word of God▪ Respecting, I say, all the Commandements of God, without preferring one before another, labouring to know them, if we doe not: and if wee doe, to doe after them according to the measure of grace we haue receiued. 3 When we are truly desirous, and labour to auoide all the outward occasions which might either bring on, foster, or bring vs backe to any sinne wee haue fallen into, or may fall into hereafter. 4 When we mourne for the very first motions of sinne whereunto we haue yeelded, or we feare we may yeeld vnto hereafter. 5 When wee are desirous and labour to vse all and euery of those meanes, which God hath ordained in his word to bring vs vnto puritie of heart. 6 When we do all those former things as well secretly by our selues, as before others. 7 When in doing these things wee simply and singly seeke to approue our selues vnto God, without either looking for praise or profit, rebuke or losse from men, not seeking chiefly these outward things at Gods hands: but principally his kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof.

FINIS.

A PROFITABLE TREATISE CONTAINING A DIRECTION FOR THE READING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES: BY MASTER Greeneham.

A PROFITABLE TREATISE CONTAINING A DIRECTION FOR THE READING AND VNDERSTANDING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTVRES: BY MAISTER Greeneham.

Those things which God hath joined together, no man may sever a sunder. Therefore preaching and reading of the holy Scriptures being of God joined together in the work of our salvation, may not be severed asunder. In all Sciences, Arts and Trades, teachers and masters are requisite ordinarily for the sound learning and practising of them: we must be persuaded much more that it is necessary to have guides to go before us in the way to salvation. That preaching is the most principal means to increase¹ and beget faith and repentance in Gods people, must be granted, Deuteron. 18. 18. 33. 10. Levit. 10. 11. Mal. 2. 6. 7. 2. Chron. 36. 15. Isaiah. 50. 5. 57 8. 53. 1. 55. 10. 11. 57. 19. 58. 1. 61. 1. 62. 15. 6. 7. Mat. 13. 3. 28. 19. 20. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. 14 Rom, 10. 14. 15. 1. Cor. 1. 21. 1. Pet. 1. 23. 25. And where this ordinary means of salvation faileth, the people for the most part perish: Prou. 29. 18. Hos. 4. 6. 2. Chro. 15. 13. Isaiah. 56 9. Matth. 15. 14 Luk. 11. 52

Reading rather establisheth than derogateth from preaching▪ for none can be profitable hearers of preaching, that have not been trained up in reading the Scriptures, or hearing them read. Many inconveniences come from the neglect of reading, as that the people cannot tell when a sentence is alleged out of the Canonical Scriptures, when out of the Apocrypha, when out of the Scriptures, when out of other writers, that they cannot discern when he speaketh his own, or a sentence of the Scripture.

Reading rather establisheth than derogateth from preaching▪ for none can be profitable hearers of preaching, that haue not been trained vp in reading the Scriptures, or hearing them read. Many inconueniences come from the neglect of reading, as that the people cannot tell when a sentence is alleadged out of the Canonicall Scriptures, when out of the Apocrypha, when out of the Scriptures, when out of other writers, that they cannot discerne when he speaketh his owne, or a sentence of the Scripture.

Again, reading helpeth mens judgements, memories and affections, but especially it serveth for the confirmation of our faith: which may be proved by the example of the men of Beroea, Act. 17. 13. It serveth to discern the spirits of men, 1. Joh. 4. to make sounder confession of our faith, to stop the mouths of our adversaries, and to answer the temptations of Satan and the wicked.

Againe, reading helpeth mens iudgements, memories and affections, but especially it serueth for the confirmation of our faith: which may be prooued by the example of the men of Beroea, Act. 17. 13. It serueth to discerne the spirits of men, 1. Ioh. 4. to make soūder confession of our faith, to stop the mouthes of our aduersaries, and to answere the temptations of Sathan and the wicked.

But because men sin, not only in neglect of hearing and reading, but also in hearing and reading amiss: therefore the properties of reverent & faithful reading and hearing, are to be set down, which are these that follow: they be eight in number.

But because men sinne, not onely in neglect of hearing and reading, but also in hearing and reading amisse: therefore the properties of reuerent & faithfull reading and hearing, are to be set downe, which are these that follow: they be eight in number.

1. Diligence. 2. Wisdom. 3. Preparation. 4. Meditation. 5. Conference. 6. Faith. 7. Practise. 8. Prayer.

1. Diligence. 2. Wisedome. 3. Preparation. 4. Meditation. 5. Conference. 6. Faith. 7. Practise. 8. Prayer.

The three first go before reading and preaching. The four next come after them. The last must go before, and be with them, and come after them.

The three first goe before reading and preaching. The foure next come after them. The last must goe before, and be with them, and come after them.

1 If diligence be necessary in reading profane authors, then much more in reading¹ the Scriptures. Diligence maketh a rough way plain and easy, and of good taste, which otherwise is hard and unsavoury. In our diligence we must keep an even course, and not to be like those who upon some sudden good motion, or by reason of some good company, or by reason of some good action draw near, or for fear of danger, &c. read for a time, and soon after give over again. Read Prou. 2. 12. Matth. 13. 54.

1 If diligence be necessarie in reading prophane authors, then much more in reading¹ the Scriptures. Diligence maketh a rough way plaine and easie, and of good taste, which otherwise is hard and vnfauourie. In our diligence we must keepe an euen course, and not to be like those who vpon some sudden good motion, or by reason of some good companie, or by reason of some good action draw neere, or for feare of danger, &c. reade for a time, and soone after giue ouer againe. Reade Prou. 2. 12. Matth. 13. 54.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.

2 With diligence must be joined wisdom, which is in choice of

2 With diligence must be ioyned wisedome, which is in choise of