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,…

but if he saw that men did glory in themselves, in their titles, & in their dignities, then he knew them not in the flesh, that is, he did not esteem them for those things, but so far he knew them in the spirit, as he could rejoice that they were new creatures. And therefore men must not think, that for these gifts we are all in all, but that the cross of Christ is the mark we shoot at, without the which all authority, learning, and knowledge is accursed of God. Nevertheless we see it is the weakness of judgement to reject all other things, in themselves being the good gifts of God, as our unadvised friends have done, as though the knowledge and practise of Arts, Sciences, tongues, and handicrafts did defile a man; or as though a man were the more holy for not using these outward means. But in our days few labour of this disease of such superstitious austerity, and in our careless times men are not so much overwise and benumbed in judgement in this behalf; but most men on the contrary rejoice either as much or more in these things, than in the cross of Christ: and this is the evil wherewith most men have surfeited, this is the evil whereat the Apostle striketh. For though men will grant, that Christ is to be rejoiced in, yet their works do show that they rejoice in some thing more than in the cross of Christ; and if they show any joy to religion, it is rather done to countenance their own gifts, than to gain any credit to Christ. How many, I pray you, in our days rejoice in open wickedness, as the adulterer in his lusts, the wrathful man in his revenging, the covetous man in his riches, the envious man in his emulation, and the ambitious man in his honours? Why do men learn but to get preferment? why do men so labour, but to attain to profit? why do men take such pains, but in the end to reap pleasure? So far are we off from rejoicing in Christ crucified, that men now rejoice in open sins, and that so manifestly, as covetousness & ambition creeping under the cloak of virtue, plead for ability and maintenance, for place and countenance, without which, as they say, a man cannot do good.

but if he saw that men did glorie in themselues, in their titles, & in their dignities, then he knew them not in the flesh, that is, he did not esteeme them for those things, but so farre he knew them in the spirit, as he could reioyce that they were new creatures. And therefore men must not think, that for these gifts we are all in all, but that the crosse of Christ is the marke we shoote at, without the which all authoritie, learning, and knowledge is accursed of God. Neuerthelesse we see it is the weaknes of iudgement to reiect all other things, in themselues being the good gifts of God, as our vnaduised friends haue done, as though the knowledge and practise of Arts, Sciences, tongues, and handicrafts did defile a man; or as though a man were the more holie for not vsing these outward meanes. But in our daies few labour of this disease of such superstitious austeritie, and in our carelesse times men are not so much ouerwise and benummed in iudgement in this behalfe; but most men on the contrary reioyce either as much or more in these things, than in the crosse of Christ: and this is the euill wherewith most men haue surfeited, this is the euill whereat the Apostle striketh. For though men will graunt, that Christ is to be reioyced in, yet their workes doe shew that they reioyce in some thing more than in the crosse of Christ; and if they shew any ioy to religion, it is rather done to countenance their owne gifts, than to gaine any credit to Christ. How many, I pray you, in our daies reioyce in open wickednesse, as the adulterer in his lusts, the wrathfull man in his reuenging, the couetous man in his riches, the enuious man in his emulation, and the ambitious man in his honours? Why doe men learne but to get preferment? why doe men so labour, but to attaine to profit? why doe men take such paines, but in the end to reape pleasure? So farre are we off from reioycing in Christ crucified, that men now reioyce in open sinnes, and that so manifestly, as couetousnes & ambition creeping vnder the cloake of vertue, pleade for abilitie and maintenance, for place and countenance, without which, as they say, a man cannot doe good.