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,…

The second remaineth to be declared: and that is a godly jealousy over a mans own¹ doings, that they may not breed suspicion of evil. For it doth often come to pass, that albeit a man do not that which is simply evil, he may justly be suspected, and suffer some blemish in his good name. And for this cause doth the Apostle charge us to procure honest things in the sight of God and man. For this cause he commandeth us, that if there be any thing honest or of good report, that we must follow, and that we must embrace. It is not enough therefore that men did say, I did think no evil, I did mean no harm: for if through want of care or discretion thou hast ventured upon the occasion, thou hast given great matter of evil speeches to thy great discredit. If then we will avoid this evil name,² as our proverb is, we must avoid all things that bring it. For when men will care little to give occasion, then the Lord causeth an evil name to be raised upon them, that those which indeed are desperate may suffer just discredit, and they that are otherwise may be reclaimed from the same. And surely such is the crookedness of mans nature, that if the Lord should not take this course, even his children would fall into many sins. Therefore it is most requisite that men be mindful to avoid occasions, and so much the rather, because it is commonly said, either God or the devil standeth at their elbow to work upon them. Let us see this in some example of our common life. Thou art accustomed to³ walk abroad at inconvenient times, at that time some thing is stolen, and thou art burdened and charged with it Again, thou usest to deal too familiarly and lightly with a maid, she is gotten with child, & the fault is laid on thee. Hereof thou hast given suspicion, because thou hast been a night goer, and such an one as hath dealt want only with the maid, albeit thou be free from the very act. Now if thou be the child of God, and if thou be guided by his holy spirit, then will he teach thee to take profit by this false report, and to say with thy self, Lord thou knowest that I am free from this v•ry act: yet it was my sin to give any such occasion whereby men might suspect me: this sin, O Lord, I am guilty of, and I know thou for this sin hast justly afflicted me.