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,…

Wherefore we are to pray that we may so have our hearts rectified by the spirit of God, as not only the substance of false religion may be avoided, but also the appurtenances thereof, whereby we may the better provide both for God his glory, and our own peace. Whereas he saith, the sorrows of them that offer to another God shall be multiplied, he showeth, how besides the comforts which he had in the Saints, he so much the more hated the idolaters, because he saw the more they inwrapped themselves, the more their spirits were troubled in them, and then they could find least rest when they had most trouble. So that as the man of God commendeth true religion by this effect, that it yieldeth peace of mind, and comfort of conscience in trouble; so he discommendeth false religion by the contrary: because howsoever in prosperity it bringeth a swelling joy, yet in adversity it maketh men cry to the rocks to cover them, & to the mountains to fall upon them. This must cause us more narrowly to search our hearts whether we have this love of true religion or no, against the which neither the gates of hell, nor terrors of Satan, nor troubles of conscience can prevail; for this religion is no less comfortable than true, when we feel our selves assured thereby of our justification by Christ, of the ministry of God his Angels watching over us, and that we offering our selves to be governed by him, he will work in us heavenly things: and howsoever we are evil by nature or custom, yet by grace we are kept safe in him. This is that which helpeth in trouble of conscience, this comforteth in banishment, this relieveth us in poverty, this is the fruit of true religion. In false religion there appeareth not like effects, not being able to deliver us, much less to comfort us in time of trial, but it leaveth us in a mazed spirit, and troubled mind. Wherefore in respect of the issues of both these compared together, we see how dear true religion ought to be to us, and how we must abhor the contrary. The very heathen men by the instinct of nature did most labour for those things which would in death bring peace of mind, and assuage their inward troubles, who never had this remedy: how much more then ought we to embrace this pure religion, having such effects;

Wherefore we are to pray that we may so haue our hearts rectified by the spirit of God, as not only the substance of false religion may be auoided, but also the appertinances thereof, whereby we may the better prouide both for God his glory, and our owne peace. Whereas he saith, the sorrowes of them that offer to another God shall bee multiplied, hee sheweth, how besides the comforts which he had in the Saints, he so much the more hated the idolaters, because hee sawe the more they inwrapped themselues, the more their spirits were troubled in them, and then they could find least rest whē they had most trouble. So that as the man of God commendeth true religion by this effect, that it yeeldeth peace of mind, and comfort of conscience in trouble; so hee discommendeth false religion by the contrarie: because howsoeuer in prosperitie it bringeth aswelling ioy, yet in aduersitie it maketh men cry to the rocks to couer them, & to the mountaines to fall vpon them. This must cause vs more narrowly to search our hearts whether we haue this loue of true religion or no, against the which neither the gates of hell, nor terrours of Satan, nor troubles of conscience can preuaile; for this religion is no lesse comfortable than true, when wee feele our selues assured thereby of our iustification by Christ, of the ministerie of God his Angels watching ouer vs, and that we offering our selues to be gouerned by him, hee will worke in vs heauenly things: and howsoeuer we are euil by nature or custome, yet by grace we are kept safe in him. This is that which helpeth in trouble of conscience, this comforteth in banishment, this relieueth vs in pouertie, this is the fruite of true religion. In false religion there appeareth not like effects, not being able to deliuer vs, much lesse to comfort vs in time of triall, but it leaueth vs in a mazed spirit, and troubled mind. Wherefore in respect of the issues of both these compared together, wee see how deare true religion ought to be to vs, and how wee must abhorre the contrarie. The very heathen men by the instinct of nature did most labour for those things which would in death bring peace of minde, and asswage their inward troubles, who neuer had this remedie: how much more then ought we to imbrace this pure religion, hauing such effects;