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,…

And truly it is marvellous to see how the Lord layeth folly upon such men: so that although in their wisdom they think to blear the eyes of all men, the simple soul doth see their shifts to their discredit. Therefore, when thou hast done well, and yet art ill reported of, do not straight way storm against him which hath raised up this report against thee; neither do thou over hastily clear thy self: but rather before the Lord examine¹ thine own heart, and see with what affection thou hast done it. And if we find wickedness in our hearts, then let us be humble before the Lord, & know that he hath caused us thus to be spoken of: first to correct us, and secondly to try us. For when the Lord doth see us² like Scribes and Pharisees, seeking rewards, then he doth punish us with the loss of our labour,³ ⟨p. 265⟩and with shame amongst men, to see if thereby he can bring us to the sight of our sins, which before we neither would nor could see. And again when we have thus done, he doth try us whether there be any goodness in our hearts, which may move us to continue in well doing, notwithstanding we be evil spoken of▪ Here then we may see what⁴ fruit we must make of such reports: namely, they must first bring us to a sight and feeling⁵ of our sins: and secondly, they must cause us with greater uprightness to continue in well doing. True it is, a man may be accused to have this or that purpose in his doings, although he have done the thing in the simplicity of his heart. But when a man through examination doth find his heart upright, then he receiveth great comfort by it: then he may commend himself unto the Lord, and his cause into his hands. For the Lord maintaineth good tongues and hearts, but he will cut out the tongues of them that speak lies. He will cause the righteousness of the righteous to shine as the noon day, and as the⁶