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,…

Now for a man not only to be greatly chargeable, but also to have great troubles, many battles betwixt the flesh and the spirit, this is a sore and a great temptation, thou must fight with all thy affections, with thine own reason, thou must be prepared to fight with fleshly joy, Love, Fear, sorrow, Anger, Meekness, Softness: neither is this conflict as the passion of anger, which endureth but for a moment, but this combat against affections is to be taken in hand divers and sundry times, and continueth a long time, even during the whole life. And though we receive many blows, and are sometimes (as it were) drawn back, yet we must to it again. Those (I say) which mean to inherit the kingdom of heaven,¹ must renounce their own reason, and fight against their own judgement. As for example, in anger many will burst out to fighting; and why? because that their own reason teacheth them that they are abused, contemned, and despised, and this is it which deceiveth many, because they do not strive and contend with their own reason: but rather do thus think with themselves according to the manner of men, what is the reason why we should do this? or why we should do that? why we should lose our wives, children, goods, and lands? this reason then of ours must be fought against and overcome.

Now for a man not onely to be greatly chargeable, but also to haue great troubles, many battels betwixt the flesh and the spirit, this is a sore and a great temptation, thou must fight with all thy affections, with thine owne reason, thou must be prepared to fight with fleshly ioy, Loue, Feare, sorrow, Anger, Meekenesse, Softnesse: neither is this conflict as the passion of anger, which endureth but for a moment, but this combat against affections is to be taken in hand diuers and sundrie times, and continueth a long time, euen during the whole life. And though we receiue many blowes, and are sometimes (as it were) drawne backe, yet we must to it againe. Those (I say) which meane to inherit the kingdome of heauen,¹ must renounce their owne reason, and fight against their owne iudgement. As for example, in anger many will burst out to fighting; and why? because that their owne reason teacheth them that they are abused, contemned, and despised, and this is it which deceiueth many, because they doe not striue and contend with their owne reason: but rather doe thus thinke with themselues according to the manner of men, what is the reason why we should doe this? or why we should doe that? why we should lose our wiues, children, goods, and lands? this reason then of ours must be fought against and ouercome.