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,…

they say they be so, and they show it in their crosses, altars, holidays, mètallish gods, banners, roods, resurrection, in finger crosses, in crosses at their lying down, in crosses at their rising up▪ in their oil▪ salt, wafer-cakes, pans, ashes, and such like. Here is their rejoicing. Well, suppose we had to deal with the more learned Papists, the Jews did not only now rejoice in their ceremonies and circumcision, but they thought it good policy to retain these things with the preaching of the Gospel, and our more subtle Papists will confess, that their traditions are not specially and only to be rejoiced in, but they will have them mingled with the Gospel as necessary helps, and furtherances thereof. But in what order soever they are placed, of them Paul here remembereth them to make nothing for a new creature. And as in civill matters fools to avoid one extreme run into another, some seeing the superstitions of these men, and that popish religion is more ceremonious than the Jewish religion, straight affirm, that neither Baptism, nor want of Baptism; neither receiving of the Sacrament, nor want of it; neither hearing, nor not hearing; praying, nor not praying, is available to a new creature. And these Anabaptists, and heretical family of the doctrine of love so far reject holidays, that they take away the Lords day also; and as under the pretence of the Gospel they take away the set days of fasting, which were to the Jews, they reject fasting altogether, and wholly relinquish that exercise, unless they maintain a Sabbath in resting from sin, and continue the fasting in fasting from sin. Thus we see how we sail between two rocks, and between two flats, and therefore need the stern of God his spirit and government of the word to sail aright. We must not think that the Apostle in speaking of a new creature excludeth, but rather includeth the means to come to this new creature. For both our Saviour Christ, and the Apostles teach as well by practise as by precept, that we must hear the word, offer up our prayers, receive the sacraments, & reverence true discipline. First, our Saviour Christ exhorteth us to search the Scriptures, which testify of him, and commandeth them that have ears to hear, speaking most sharply even against them that hear not fruitfully. Paul 1. Thess. 5.

they say they be so, and they shew it in their crosses, altars, holidaies, mètallish gods, banners, roodes, resurrrection, in finger crosses, in crosses at their lying downe, in crosses at their rising vp in their oyle salt, wafercakes, pannes, ashes, and such like. Heere is their reioycing. Well, suppose wee had to deale with the more learned Papists, the Iewes did not only now reioyce in their ceremonies and circumcision, but they thought it good policie to retaine these things with the preaching of the Gospell, and our more subtill Papists will confesse, that their traditions are not specially and only to be reioyced in, but they will haue them mingled with the Gospell as necessarie helps, and furtherances thereof. But in what order soeuer they are placed, of them Paul here remembreth them to make nothing for a new creature. And as in ciuill matters fooles to auoide one extreame runne into another, some seeing the superstitions of these men, and that popish religion is more ceremonious than the Iewish religion, straight affirme, that neither Baptisme, nor want of Baptisme; neither receiuing of the Sacrament, nor want of it; neither hearing, nor not hearing; praying, nor not praying, is auaileable to a new creature. And these Anabaptists, and hereticall familie of the doctrine of loue so farre reiect holidaies, that they take away the Lords day also; and as vnder the pretence of the Gospell they take away the set dayes of fasting, which were to the Iewes, they reiect fasting altogether, and wholy relinquish that exercise, vnlesse they maintaine a Sabbath in resting from sinne, and continue the fasting in fasting from sinne. Thus we see how we sayle betweene two rocks, and betweene two flats, and therefore neede the sterne of God his spirit and gouernment of the word to sayle aright. Wee must not thinke that the Apostle in speaking of a new creature excludeth, but rather includeth the meanes to come to this new creature. For both our Sauiour Christ, and the Apostles teach as well by practise as by precept, that we must heare the word, offer vp our prayers, receiue the sacraments, & reuerence true discipline. First, our Sauiour Christ exhorteth vs to search the Scriptures, which testifie of him, and commandeth them that haue eares to heare, speaking most sharply euen against them that heare not fruitefully. Paul