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,…

Hereupon he so much authoriseth his Apostles, telling them, whatsoever they bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever they loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Neither doth this or such like promises only concern them, which in every point of doctrine and discipline are sound, and without error, but even them also, who holding carefully the foundation, which is Christ ⟨p. 377⟩Jesus, through some infirmity of judgement build timber, hay, or stubble, as we may see 1. Cor. 3. Wherefore, if a man preach that we are all condemned through sin, and that there is no salvation without Christ, and no condemnation to them that believe in Christ, and teacheth that we must be crucified to the world, and become new creatures, though he doth not all other things perfectly and absolutely, yet keeping this foundation, he shall find mercy. But if a man destroy the Temple of God, that is, labour more about the establishing of ceremonies, and maintaining of errors, than he doth to maintain and establish the power of the Gospel, the Lord will surely destroy him. As then we dare not say, that a man purely preaching Christ crucified, though he fail in some smaller points of discipline, shall be damned: so we affirm, that a man maintaining corruptions, and nothing labouring to preach the cross of Christ, and neglecting the doctrine of being crucified to the world, and of becoming a new creature, is to fear, least that if he repent not, the Lord destroy him. For if they destroy the Temple of God, that is, the people of God by not teaching the truth, and by keeping out from entering into the truth, not only themselves, but others, the Lord will undoubtedly destroy such. This place maketh much also for our comfort against heresy and popery, because as God promiseth peace and mercy to them that preach and embrace the doctrine of our salvation by Christ; so he threateneth on the contrary his curse and vengeance both to the preachers and followers of the contrary doctrine, howsoever they hope for a day, or contemn the flock of Christ. For the same God that made the Israelites a valiant people in pursuing their enemies, so long as they continued in the rule he had appointed them; brought them low, and made them fly before their enemies, when they forsook this rule, so as one chased ten of them, and ten put to flight an hundred of them.

Hereupon he so much authoriseth his Apostles, telling them, whatsoeuer they bind on earth, shall be bound in heauen, and whatsoeuer they loose on earth shall be loosed in heauen. Neither doth this or such like promises only concerne them, which in euery point of doctrine and discipline are sound, and without error, but euen them also, who holding carefully the foundation, which is Christ