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,…

Then to return to our purpose, if we will avoid an evil name, we must avoid all evil¹ surmises and devises against others. And this the Scripture doth also forbid us: for the Wiseman from the mouth of God doth forbid us to think evil of the King in our bedchambers,² because birds and other dumb creatures shall disclose the thing, rather than it shall be kept close. This then must make us afraid to do evil, or to imagine ill in our beds, or to declare our deep counsels even to them that lie in our bosoms. And this, as it is a good means to provide for a good name, so it is a special rule of all godliness, not when we be afraid of open sins alone, but of secret evils: not of acts alone, but even of the secret cogitations and thoughts of our hearts. Thus we have heard the first step that leadeth to a good name.

Then to returne to our purpose, if we will auoide an euill name, we must auoide all euil¹ surmises and deuises against others. And this the Scripture doth also forbid vs: for the Wiseman from the mouth of God doth forbid vs to thinke euill of the King in our bedchambers,² because birds and other dumbe creatures shall disclose the thing, rather than it shall be kept close. This then must make vs afraid to do euil, or to imagine ill in our beds, or to declare our deepe counsailes euen to them that lie in our bosomes. And this, as it is a good meanes to prouide for a good name, so it is a speciall rule of all godlines, not when we be afraide of open sinnes alone, but of secret euils: not of acts alone, but euen of the secret cogitations and thoughts of our hearts. Thus we haue heard the first step that leadeth to a good name.

1. 1Evil surmises.Euill surmises.
2. 2Eccles. 7.