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,…

so that though the Lord be the supreme worker, yet Satan is the instrument. What shall we say of the rage of sin in these days? what shall we say how Satan daily bewitcheth us in Paganism, Atheism, Machiavellism, Anabaptism, &c? Is not all this sufficient to prove, that Satan taking up the wisest men of the world to his service is a spiritual wickedness? Whereof comes it that suddenly a poor man becomes a cunning Artist? or that an ignorant man presently should speak with divers tongues? or that silly souls should be subtle disputers? What is it that sin is now adays so subtly, so closely, so wittily dispatched? Why do men to maintain Papism forgo all their goods, suffer their bodies to be whipped? Do not all these prove, that Satan is a spiritual wickedness? Again, if we look to the height and shamelessness of sin, to see how men prostitute themselves to sin, we must say Satan hath been mighty, powerful in deluding mens minds, in hardening mens hearts, so that no word can pierce them: therefore it is, that Paul saith men are blinded in their minds; therefore Paul would have us to tolerate and suffer such as Satan doth hold in chains, 2. Tim. 2. Here let us see a difference of the sins of the godly and ungodly. The wicked rage and devise platforms; the godly for a time may be under Satan. 2. Timoth 2. but they sin of infirmity, not of wilful selling themselves to sin. So great a cause of thankfulness we have, that we are not raging in hellish sins, in that we are simple, & bunger like sinners. Besides, the godly are silly, the wicked subtle in sin. So great a cause of thankfulness we have, that Christ the stronger man hath overcome. The Devil hath power, but by derivation, he hath a strength, but by limitation, he hath force, but in darkness. So great a cause of thankfulness we have, seeing Christ hath wisdom enough in God to overcome the wisdom of Satan in evil. Though then Satan be strong, yet none is greater then the Father, none mightier then Christ, who hath captivated Satan under his feet. So great a cause have we to be thankful, that Christ will not only in his presence himself, but in us by his power also he overcometh. A further use of this is to try when our temptations come of the natural corruption, or of Satan's malice. To this we answer, that as our enemies are described by power & policy;

so that though the Lord be the supreme worker, yet Satan is the instrument. What shall we say of the rage of sinne in these dayes? what shall we say how Satan daily bewitcheth vs in Paganisme, Atheisme, Macheuillisme, Anabaptisme, &c? Is not all this sufficient to proue, that Satan taking vp the wisest men of the world to his seruice is a spirituall wickednes? Whereof comes it that sodainely a poore man becomes a cunning Artist? or that an ignorant man presently should speake with diuers tongues? or that silly soules should be subtill disputers? What is it that sinne is now adayes so subtilly, so closely, so wittily dispatched? Why doe men to maintaine Papisme forgoe all their goods, suffer their bodies to be whipped? Doe not all these proue, that Satan is a spirituall wickednes? Againe, if we looke to the height and shamelesnes of sinne, to see how men prostitute thēselues to sinne, we must say Satan hath bene mighty, powerfull in deluding mens minds, in hardening mens hearts, so that no word can pierce them: therefore it is, that Paul saith men are blinded in their minds; therfore Paul would haue vs to tolerate and suffer such as Satan doth hold in chaines,