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,…

Besides, the spirit of God is eternal, and endureth for ever: but all the doings and devices of men they perish, and in time they have an end. Therefore though a man have wisdom with great knowledge, though in wit and skill he pass and excel the common sort of men: yet, if from above he hath not been enlightened; if from heaven his wisdom hath not been sanctified, his knowledge shall decay, his wisdom shall wither like grass; he hath not as yet tasted of the spirit of God, that endureth for ever. And therefore saith Saint Paul: We teach the mysteries of God, which none, no not the Princes, and the men of this world, which are above others most excellent, are able to understand.

Besides, the spirit of God is eternall, and endureth for euer: but all the doings and deuices of men they perish, and in time they haue an end. Therefore though a man haue wisedome with great knowledge, though in wit and skill he passe and excell the common sort of men: yet, if from aboue he hath not been inlightened; if from heauē his wisedome hath not been sanctified, his knowledge shall decay, his wisedome shall wither like grasse; he hath not as yet tasted of the spirit of God, that endureth for euer. And therefore saith Saint Paul: We teach the mysteries of God, which none, no not the Princes, and the men of this world, which are aboue others most excellent, are able to vnderstand.

Secondly consider, whether there be in thee any alteration or change. For the wise men¹ which were expert in nature, could say, that in every generation there is a corruption. And we see, that the seed sown is much changed before it grow up and bear fruit: Then needful it is that in regeneration, there be a corruption of sin, so that as seed in the ground, so sin in our mortal bodies may decay, that the new man may be raised up, the spirit of God taking possession of our souls. Therefore the Evangelist John doth make this, the first work of the spirit, that it shall rebuke the world of sin: and this is so needful, that without it, there is not the spirit of God, neither yet can Christ come and enter into that man. Here of it was that Christ compared the Jews to children in the market place, who would not dance, though they were piped unto: and the reason was, because they had not first learned with John to mourn: for they that by the preaching of John, learned to lament their sins, and for their sins were pensive in their own souls, they received Christ, they danced and did rejoice to hear the joyful tidings of the Gospel. Therefore Christ saith, That whores and harlots entered into the kingdom of heaven, seeing they lamented their