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,…

If we do this, then shall we not be in the number of those which beginning in the spirit, end in the flesh; or of those which serve God for a season, and in the end fall away from him, and his service. Doubtless it is a strange thing to see some who have bin themselves a light unto others, so now to shrink from Gods truth, as that they should become Papists, or of the Family of love, or of some other heresy. The cause of this is, because their inward stuff was corrupt, and not fully cured by effectual repentance. And thus much of gross sins. Now of the infirmities of nature which remain ever in the best, this inward¹ corruption must be sold also: for it is not enough to leave outward and gross sins, except also we beat down the inward corruption of our own nature: and although² we cannot altogether blot out this our natural corruption, yet the righteousness of Christ may be so resident and dwell in us, that it shall not only keep us from gross outward outrages and offences, but also will hold down & keep short our natural corruptions, neither must we think it enough to sell the fruits of our corrupt nature, but we must also sell the corruption it self: for as we see, so long as the tree remaineth, there will always spring forth some buds; even so of the children of God, so long as the corruption ⟨p. 306⟩of the nature reigneth in them, so long do they burst out into some offences or other: but most men make either little or no conscience at all of these little faults; but it must be otherwise with us, or else we cannot but displease God greatly. For as a river drieth up unto the fountain, yet if we do rest from all emptying of it, it will increase again: So except the children of God do keep down their natural corruption, although they offend not³ as the reprobate and wicked, in monstrous sins against God, yet they cannot but have great downfalls. Wherefore we must not with the woman, whereof the Poet speaketh, see, and behold good and lawful things, and follow that which is evil; neither must we be as⁴ the Philosophers, whose reason fighteth with their appetite, but we must fight both with reason and appetite, we must be as new creatures borne again, and we must be more willing to endure all shame and reproaches, than to fall and offend to the dishonour of God. Being grieved that we see our selves ready to displease the Lord.