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,…

Secondly, whether when we could keep the sin close, we can yet with David freely confess and say, Against thee O Lord have I sinned? This if we can do, it is a sure argument that our sorrow is godly, and that we have well profited by that reproach which our sin did bring upon us. As the sin is sometime so evident that it cannot be covered, so indeed the sin may be committed,¹ and yet either not known nor suspected at all, or else by probable suspicions. When the sin is in this case, the Lord may cause a man that hath so sinned, to be accused or evil spoken of for that sin. Here the party offending must first learn to deal wisely and in such manner, as the sin may be kept close still, if it may be done without another sin:² But if an oath of the Lord be required, then ought we to give God the glory, though it be³ with our own shame, and confess the fault. Secondly, for the profits which may be made⁴ by such reports, we must learn with thankful hearts to receive this merciful chastisement of the Lord, and acknowledge it to his praise: for he might have punished us for those sins which were manifest, yet he hath passed over them: he might have made these known, but he spared our name and our credit. Therefore for a second fruit this mercy of the Lord must lead us to repentance, and to an earnest sorrow for all our sins: for it were too too gross that we should continue in sin, because we cannot be convicted of sin: for if the Lord did not mislike thy sin, why should he raise such a report of thee? Why should he save thy good name, if he were not minded to show thee mercy? And if he would not have thee with all thy heart to repent thee of thy sin, why doth he whip thy naked conscience for sin? Therefore if by this loving kindness we be not led unto repentance, verily it will be a sin that shall not escape unpunished. Thus we have heard how an evil name doth arise of sin committed, and what profit must be taken hereof.

Secondly, whether when we could keepe the sinne close, we can yet with Dauid freely confesse and say, Against thee O Lord haue I sinned? This if wee can doe, it is a sure argument that our sorrow is godly, and that we haue well profited by that reproch which our sin did bring vpon vs. As the sinne is sometime so euident that it cannot be couered, so indeede the sinne may be committed,