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,…

If they do either convert and win men to the word, or confirm them in the word who are already won: if they be agreeable to the word, and bear the same majesty in them, as doth the word, then may they be received as from God. But when they agree not with these rules, though the thing wrought be miraculous; yet they are much to be suspected as the miracles of old time were with reverence to be received. For God in his secret judgement doth suffer some times such to be wrought, that the wicked and unbelievers may the more effectually be deluded. Again, we know that Antichrist cometh with signs, yea and the same so effectual, that even the very elect, if it were possible, should therewith be deceived. In like manner do we say of dreams and visions, until the Gospel came and had gotten credit in the hearts of men, there were visions and prophecies of things to come: but these being now ceased, it is not ordinary, that the Lord should make all Prophets, or teach by visions and dreams. But what do we stand longer to prove that this place cannot be so taken and understood, as the words at the first show might seem to give, especially seeing that the devilish overthwarters both of Papists and of the Family of love are so gross and palpable in this point▪ For such is the spirit of these men, and so contrary to the good spirit of God, that where the Scripture ought simply, and without any trope or allegory to be interpreted, they will there turn it into allegories, as we see many places perverted by the Papists, and almost the whole Scriptures by the Family of love: and whereas the Scripture by conference of places doth show, that it ought tropically to be understood, they stick bluntly to the bare letter, as in these words, Hoc est corpus meum▪ The Papists here would have no trope, & yet the whole course of the Scriptures doth enforce the same. The Family of love will in no place almost admit the natural sense, as it floweth of the words, and yet here they do bitingly abide by the word, notwithstanding all the former reasons. And this surely cometh to pass by the righteous judgement of God, that seeing they would neither acknowledge, nor yield to the natural sense, when they might, therefore they cannot see where a trope should have his place.

If they doe either conuert and winne men to the word, or confirme them in the word who are alreadie wonne: if they be agreeable to the word, and beare the same maiestie in them, as doth the word, then may they be receiued as from God. But when they agree not with these rules, though the thing wrought be miraculous; yet they are much to be suspected as the miracles of olde time were with reuerence to bee receiued. For God in his secret iudgement doth suffer some times such to be wrought, that the wicked and vnbeleeuers may the more effectually be deluded. Againe, we know that Antichrist commeth with signes, yea and the same so effectuall, that euen the very elect, if it were possible, should therewith bee deceiued. In like manner doe wee say of dreames and visions, vntill the Gospell came and had gotten credit in the hearts of men, there were visions and prophecies of things to come: but these being now ceased, it is not ordinarie, that the Lord should make all Prophets, or teach by visions and dreames. But what doe we stand longer to proue that this place cannot be so taken and vnderstood, as the words at the first shew might seeme to giue, especially seeing that the deuillish ouerthwarters both of Papists and of the Familie of loue are so grosse and papable in this point For such is the spirit of these men, and so contrary to the good spirit of God, that where the Scripture ought simply, and without any trope or allegorie to be interpreted, they will there turne it into allegories, as wee see many places peruerted by the Papists, and almost the whole Scriptures by the Familie of loue: and whereas the Scripture by conference of places doth shewe, that it ought tropically to bee vnderstood, they sticke bluntly to the bare letter, as in these wordes, Hoc est corpus meum The Papists here would haue no trope, & yet the whole course of the Scriptures doth inforce the same. The Familie of loue will in no place almost admit the naturall sense, as it floweth of the words, and yet here they doe bitingly abide by the word, notwithstanding all the former reasons. And this surely commeth to passe by the righteous iudgement of God, that seeing they would neither acknowledge, nor yeelde to the naturall sense, when they might, therefore they cannot see where a trope should haue his place.