A02178:2122
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 works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: revised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as love the truth, and desire to know the power of godliness. By H.H.The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: reuised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as loue the truth, and desire to know the power of godlinesse. By H.H.
London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for William Welby, 1612London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for VVilliam VVelby, 1612
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now because men do suffer very much discredit, and are very ill reported of amongst men, it shall be good to consider what profit and use we may make of such reproaches and evil reports. And this shall we do the better, if we know upon what grounds those reproaches do arise. First therefore we must learn, that men may be evil reported of,1 either for evil, or for well doing. When men therefore are ill spoken of, they must first2 try whether it be for evil or for good: and if it be for evil, then must they go a degree3 further, to find whether it be for some evil work which they have committed, or for some occasion which they have given. When a man is evil reported of for some evil dee•e which he hath done, that evil deed of his is either manifestly known, or else it is veknowne. And surely it is a thing most common amongst men to suffer discredit for open and gross sins, yet very few do rightly profit by it: for some are shameless and care not what men say of them, and therefore indeed they are unfit to receive any profit by such reproaches. Therefore after the most sharp & severe censure of the Church, they must becon mitted to the hand of the Magistrate, to be punished in the purse and in the body. And yet surely such are their whorish faces, that there is small hope of their amendment:4 for it doth often come to pass, that they which will not profit by the Church, cannot receive profit by the Magistrate. Therefore after all this they must be left unto the Lord, to work, if it be his will, by some extraordinary means upon their hearts which are exceedingly hardened.
Now because men doe suffer very much discredit, and are very ill reported of amongst men, it shall be good to consider what profit and vse we may make of such reproches and euill reportes. And this shall wee doe the better, if wee knowe vpon what grounds those reproches doe arise. First therefore we must learne, that men may bee euill reported of,1 either for euill, or for well doing. When men therefore are ill spoken of, they must first