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,…

A TREATISE OF HYPOCRISY.

A TREATISE OF HYPOCRISIE.

There are two things required in Religion, the substance and the ceremony¹ or visard, and we have but one of them. The first is a marvellous hard thing to circumcise our hearts, to make them bleed; we think it enough to hear, for opinions carry the common people: for they be like children, if they see a face in a glass, they think it is a man, and begin to talk of it and to it. This ceremonial hearing in times past it would now and then (as they say) do good: but now as one saith, is nothing but to hear, eat, drink, and talk. That a show is sufficient to move the multitude, it appeareth by Absalom, who although he were a beast; yet when he had made a vow, and Jezebel had proclaimed a fast, the people followed them, and said the Queen was become religious, & Absalom was worthy of a kingdom, and so the like hypocrites have an opinion of just men. The duty of reprehending is the duty of a good man, and under the law it was thus: the accuser was wont to throw the first stone: the thief on the cross said; Thou being in the same condemnation, darest thou reprove? Here is a case of premunire, which what it is on earth we know, and what it is in Heaven we shall know at that day: examples we have in Aaron, N•dab, Ab•hu, Uzza, and Ahaziah.

THere are two things required in Religion, the substance and the ceremonie¹ or visard, and we haue but one of them. The first is a marueilous hard thing to circumcise our hearts, to make them bleede; we thinke it enough to heare, for opinions carrie the common people: for they be like children, if they see a face in a glasse, they thinke it is a man, and begin to talke of it and to it. This ceremoniall hearing in times past it would now and then (as they say) doe good: but now as one saith, is nothing but to heare, eate, drinke, and talke. That a shew is sufficient to moue the multitude, it appeareth by Absolom, who although he were a beast; yet when he had made a vow, and Iesabel had proclaimed a fast, the people followed them, and said the Queene was become religious, & Absolom was worthie of a kingdome, and so the like hypocrites haue an opinion of iust men. The dutie of reprehending is the dutie of a good man, and vnder the law it was thus: the accuser was wont to throw the first stone: the theefe on the crosse said; Thou being in the same condemnation, darest thou reproue? Here is a case of premunire, which what it is on earth we know, and what it is in Heauen we shall know at that day: examples we haue in Aaron, Ndab, Abhu, Vzza, and Ahaziah.