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,…

There is a second kind of working of the spirit, which is a more thorough & effectual¹ working, which can never be taken away from them that have received it. This the Apostle Peter describeth when he saith, That the chosen of God, are begotten again of the immortal seed of the word. This is not a bare receiving, or a light tasting of the word: but it is a deep taste of the same, whereby we are begotten and borne again. The Apostle S. John setteth down another note of it, saying, That they that are thus borne again, cannot sin: that is, they cannot make an occupation of sin, they cannot fall flat away by sin: and why? Even because the seed of God abideth in them, even that seed, wherewith they were begotten to a lively hope of life, even that seed doth abide, and will abide unto the end. Who so is begotten again by this seed, and hath this seed abiding in him, the spirit hath wrought that in him, which shall not be taken from him: and therefore our Saviour Christ saith, The word that I speak, is spirit and life. And in another place he saith, That none shall take his sheep from him, for the father is mightier than all: and therefore in another place he saith, That it is impossible that the elect should be seduced.²

There is a second kinde of working of the spirit, which is a more thorough & effectuall¹ working, which can neuer be taken away frō them that haue receiued it. This the Apostle Peter describeth when he saith, That the chosen of God, are begotten againe of the immortall seede of the word. This is not a bare receiuing, or a light tasting of the word: but it is a deepe taste of the same, whereby we are begotten and borne againe. The Apostle S. Iohn setteth downe another note of it, saying, That they that are thus borne againe, cannot sin: that is, they cannot make an occupation of sinne, they cannot fall flat away by sinne: and why? Euen because the seede of God abideth in them, euen that seede, wherewith they were begotten to a liuely hope of life, euen that seede doth abide, and will abide vnto the end. Who so is begotten againe by this seede, and hath this seede abiding in him, the spirit hath wrought that in him, which shall not be taken from him: and therefore our Sauiour Christ saith, The word that I speake, is spirit and life. And in another place he saith, That none shall take his sheepe from him, for the father is mightier than all: and therefore in another place he saith, That it is impossible that the elect should be seduced.