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,…

But if the Lord take us a degree lower, and leave his own presence to persuade us, and shall come to our own private practise: if we put not our own common meat, our profane meat (for so I think I may call it, and worse too, in respect of that holy mystery)¹ into an unwashen platter, nor a drop of drink into a cup uncleansed; then he that shall put the things exhibiting the very body of Christ into an unprepared heart, and unsanctified soul, shall be most guilty of that judgement which is pronounced for him, that is, He is guilty of the body and blood of Christ: yea, as our Saviour Christ, and the Prophets complain² that men are too skilful in sky points and in humane statutes to take the best advantage they can, but the matters of the law are strange unto them: so may he complain that this is vile meat, and which he himself saith is after cast into the draught, receiveth such estimation at our hands, that we prepare so diligently the very instruments of them; yet when we come to sanctified things, we show our selves as careless in them, as in the knowledge of his commandments. Thus then we see how in these respects the Lord may require due reverence in regard of the things pertaining to him, comparing them especially with the care that we have in our own things.

But if the Lord take vs a degree lower, and leaue his owne presence to perswade vs, and shall come to our owne priuate practise: if we put not our owne commo• meate, our prophane meate (for so I thinke I may call it, and worse too, in respect of that holy mysterie)¹ into an vnwashen platter, nor a drop of drinke into a cup vncleansed; then he that shall put the things exhibiting the very body of Christ into an vnprepared heart, and vnsanctified soule, shall be most guiltie of that iudgement which is pronounced for him, that is, He is guiltie of the body and blood of Christ: yea, as our Sauiour Christ, and the Prophets complaine² that men are too skilfull in skie poynts and in humane statutes to take the best aduantage they can, but the matters of the law are strange vnto them: so may he complaine that this is vile meate, and which he himselfe saith is after cast into the draught, receiueth such estimation at our hands, that we prepare so diligently the very instruments of them; yet when we come to sanctified things, we shew our selues as carelesse in them, as in the knowledge of his commandements. Thus then we see how in these respects the Lord may require due reuerence in regard of the things pertaining to him, comparing them especially with the care that we haue in our owne things.