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,…

1. First, a good estimation: So that it may be well said, that the righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour; and that of all other, they are the most glorious people, that¹ have the spirit of Grace and of glory dwelling in their hearts. For they are precious in Gods sight, as being his chief Treasure: precious in the eyes of his people: precious in the account of the Angels: yea, reverent in the sight of the very wicked, who esteem them to be honest men, & dare trust them before any other, many times with their goods, with their children, and their portions▪ yea, and with their souls also. For when they are in any extremity, lying upon their death-beds, or the like, oh then they cry out! Send for such a Preacher: send for this or that good man or woman: now their prayers and their speeches might do me good, which heretofore I have rejected, or lightly esteemed: and then none is to be compared to them, none to be sought unto in respect of them. And when they labour to disgrace and vilify them, by terming them Dissemblers and Hypocrites,² even then against their wills, they highly commend them; for it is in effect, as if they should say: These men pretend they have many virtues in them, but I would not have men think, that they are so good and godly, as they seem to be: If they be, then they must needs be an excellent people indeed; (for there is none that hath any civility in him, but he will acknowledge that it is a good thing to hear, and read, and confer, and to spend much time in prayer, as Gods servants do; but they cry out, that they do not these things well, nor with a good heart.) Now, if Christians consciences do bear them witness, that they do perform these duties in uprightness, then they have the testimony of ungodly men themselves on their sides: and till they can disprove the soundness of their hearts, they must, whether they will or not, justify their behaviour.

1. First, a good estimation: So that it may be well said, that the righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour; and that of all other, they are the most glorious people, that¹ haue the spirit of Grace and of glorie dwelling in their hearts. For they are precious in Gods sight, as beeing his chiefe Treasure: precious in the eyes of his people: precious in the account of the Angels: yea, reuerent in the sight of the very wicked, who esteeme them to be honest men, & dare trust them before any other, many times with their goods, with their children, and their portions yea, and with their soules also. For when they are in any extremitie, lying vpon their death-beds, or the like, oh then they crie out! Send for such a Preacher: send for this or that good man or woman: now their praiers and their speeches might doe me good, which heretofore I haue reiected, or lightly esteemed: and then none is to bee compared to them, none to be sought vnto in respect of them. And when they labour to disgrace and vilifie them, by terming them Dissemblers and Hypocrites,