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,…

First therefore we must believe, that Christ is made to us wisdom, because naturally (Ephes. 4. 18.) our cogitation is darkened, and we are strangers from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in us. How blind we are by nature, and what need we have of the Spirit of Christ to enlighten us, the Prophet David even in that image of a new creature, Psal. 119. by his often praying for the same, doth plentifully declare. And when it shall please God thus to enlighten us, then must we labour for a certificate in our consciences, to have our sins clearly discharged in the death of Christ, and to assure us that Christ his righteousness in his resurrection is as surely imputed unto us, as if we had done all righteousness, and though we have been sinners as others, yet that our sins shall not be laid to our charge. This the Philosophers and wise men could never see by the light of nature, because it is a mystery of mysteries, undoubtedly to be persuaded that for Christ his sake we shall appear righteous before God his judgement seat, as though we never had sinned, but had fulfilled the whole law of God. For we are imputed righteous, as Christ was an imputed sinner, and as we hope for the joys of heaven even as we had committed all the righteousness, which Christ alone did; so he did bear the pains of hell even as he had committed all the sins, which we alone did commit. Besides, he must be our holiness, that is, our flesh must be so crucified in his flesh, and his holiness must so be communicated unto us, as of profane worshippers, we may become truly religious; of blasphemers of the name of God, pure users of the name of God; of breakers of the Sabbath, observers of the Sabbath; of careless governors, careful governors: of disobedient, obedient; of cruel, meek; of unchaste, chaste persons; of unrighteous, righteous persons; of evil speakers, coverers of the infirmities of others; of such as have let their thoughts run uncontrolled, careful watchers even over our least affections. The want of the knowledge hereof is punished by the devilish vermin of the Family of love. They say Christ in them is their new birth, we say new birth is wrought in us by the Spirit of Christ engrafting us into Christ;

First therefore we must beleeue, that Christ is made to vs wisedome, because naturally (Ephes. 4. 18.) our cogitation is darkened, and we are strangers from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in vs. How blinde we are by nature, and what neede wee haue of the Spirit of Christ to enlighten vs, the Prophet Dauid euen in that image of a new creature,