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,…

See here I beseech you the good profit which a good child of God, through Gods spirit, will take of this slanderous reproach, after he had received some godly sorrow for giving the occasion of that report. But behold the contrary work of Satan in the heart of unbelievers, for he will soon teach them this lesson, and cause them to say thus: What? doth the churl accuse me without a cause? doth he father such a villainous act upon me, who never deserved it at his hands? surely he shall not say so for nought, I will make his sayings true, and will do the thing indeed. Consider then this ye that fear the Lord, and see in how fickle a state they do stand which have given occasion, and in what great danger they be to be brought to commit the same or the like sin afterward▪ Therefore if any will be sure to keep his good name, then must he be sure to avoid all such occasions as might in any wise impair and hinder it. And thus much for the second step, whereby we arise to a good name. Thus we have heard of two degrees toward a good name, in the avoiding of evil, and the occasions thereof. And these indeed have a great force to stay an evil name,¹ but sure they be not able to build up a good name and credit among men.

See here I beseech you the good profit which a good child of God, through Gods spirit, will take of this slanderous reproch, after he had receiued some godly sorrow for giuing the occasion of that report. But behold the contrary worke of Satan in the heart of vnbelieuers, for hee will soone teach them this lesson, and cause them to say thus: What? doth the churle accuse me without a cause? doth he father such a villanous act vpon mee, who neuer deserued it at his hands? surely he shall not say so for nought, I will make his sayings true, and will doe the thing indeede. Consider then this yee that feare the Lord, and see in how fickle a state they doe stand which haue giuen occasion, and in what great danger they be to be brought to commit the same or the like sinne afterward▪ Therefore if any will be sure to keepe his good name, then must he be sure to auoide all such occasions as might in any wise impaire and hinder it. And thus much for the second step, whereby we arise to a good name. Thus we haue heard of two degrees toward a good name, in the auoiding of euill, and the occasions thereof. And these indeed haue a great force to stay an euill name,