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,…

It followeth in the Psalm, The sorrows of them that offer to another God shall be multiplied: their offering of blood I will not offer, neither make mention of their names with my lips. Here the man of God declareth himself to be no lukewarm professor, and therefore as in the third verse he showeth the profession of his faith concerning the communion of Saints, so in the fourth verse be protesteth his hatred to the false worshippers, and he teacheth that none can truly love the Saints, but he must also hate the wicked. God cannot abide to be worshipped in part, or by mixture of religion, as though the Ark and Dagon, God and Mammon, Christ and Belial should be joined in worship together. Many are not so fully contented with the Saints, as that they are throughly discontented with the wicked, who so long as they see matters of civill authority and good order have success, can love the word to serve time and season, whose liking of it is so small, that when other religion cometh, they find not themselves much discontented. But we must learn so to believe in the true religion, as our faith may draw out of us an unchangeable love, and this true love must be free from all appearance of idolatry, and contrary religion whatsoever. If ever this doctrine was necessary, it is now most needful, sith true religion so decayeth, false religion so aboundeth, heathenish profaneness so groweth; all which no doubt arise o• so little esteeming, and small liking of the truth. For whereof first did spring heathenishness? Even from hence, men were contented that every nation should worship as they listed and liked whereupon they did grow to have both their country gods, and household gods; for we read that the Senate of the Romans would receive Christ as their God, yet so, as they would also maintain their own gods. Not much unlike is our family of love, and common sort of Protestants, both which can easily tolerate any kind of religion, come what profession come will. Wherefore we may see how this Psalm fitly may be used, when we will accuse our selves of want of love to the Saints, or when we will accuse our selves of wa•t of hatred to idolaters, seeing the spirit of the man of God so earnest, and our selves so cold herein.

It followeth in the Psalme, The sorrowes of them that offer to another God shall bee multiplied: their offering of blood I will not offer, neither make mention of their names with my lips. Heere the man of God declareth himselfe to bee no lukewarme professor, and therefore as in the third verse hee sheweth the profession of his faith concerning the communion of Saints, so in the fourth verse be protesteth his hatred to the false worshippers, and he teacheth that none can truly loue the Saints, but he must also hate the wicked. God cannot abide to be worshipped in part, or by mixture of religion, as though the Arke and Dagon, God and Mammon, Christ and Belial should bee ioyned in worship together. Many are not so fully contented with the Saints, as that they are throughly discontented with the wicked, who so long as they see matters of ciuill authoritie and good order haue successe, can loue the word to serue time and season, whose liking of it is so small, that when other religion commeth, they find not themselues much discontented. But we must learne so to belieue in the true religion, as our faith may drawe out of vs an vnchangeable loue, and this true loue must be free from all appearance of idolatrie, and contrary religion whatsoeuer. If euer this doctrine was necessarie, it is now most needefull, sith true religion so decayeth, false religion so aboundeth, heathenish prophanenes so groweth; all which no doubt arise o so little esteeming, and small liking of the truth. For whereof first did spring heathenishnesse? Euen from hence, men were contented that euery nation should worship as they listed and liked whereupon they did grow to haue both their country gods, and houshold gods; for we reade that the Senate of the Romans would receiue Christ as their God, yet so, as they would also maintaine their owne gods. Not much vnlike is our familie of loue, and common sort of Protestants, both which can easily tolerate any kind of religion, come what profession come will. Wherefore we may see how this Psalme fitly may be vsed, when we will accuse our selues of want of loue to the Saints, or when wee will accuse our selues of wat of hatred to idolaters, seeing the spirit of the man of God so earnest, and our selues so cold herein.