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,…

It was a foolish & mad part of the Israelites, to desire to return into Egypt the house of their bondage, that they might eat of their flesh-pots, and of the leeks & onions, that in time past they had there enjoyed: but much more void of sense & reason are they, that when they have bin once delivered from that spiritual servitude, will cast themselves into thraldom again: & when they have been pulled out of the snares of the devil, wherein they were held at his pleasure, will return again to folly, & entangle themselves the second time. Wherefore let this put strength into us in all conflicts, that we may stand resolutely, as against other assaults, so against that of the example of great & mighty men, who usually take their liberty in all voluptuous and licentious kinds of living. This consideration (I say) should arm us against it: The Lord hath pronounced them blessed that work none iniquity: and if ⟨p. 392⟩I •ee of the number of them, I shall be more happy in renouncing sin, then the greatest Potentate on the earth, is, or can be in committing of sin. And therefore let us deal as Eliphaz did in the book of Job: I have seen the foolish well rooted (saith he) and suddenly I cursed his habitation: not by way of imprecation, but of denunciation of Gods¹ judgements due unto them for their evil works, showing that they took such courses as did make them and theirs accursed, and bring the vengeance of God upon them: the meditation whereof was a strong bulwark, to fence him against all temptations, unto the like sinful and vile practises.

It was a foolish & mad part of the Israelites, to desire to returne into Egypt the house of their bondage, that they might eate of their flesh-pots, and of the leekes & onions, that in time past they had there enioyed: but much more void of sense & reason are they, that whē they haue bin once deliuered frō that spirituall seruitude, wil cast thēselues into thraldome againe: & when they haue bene puld out of the snares of the diuel, wherein they were held at his pleasure, will returne againe to folly, & intangle thēselues the second time. Wherefore let this put strength into vs in all conflicts, that we may stand resolutely, as against other assaults, so against that of the example of great & mighty men, who vsually take their liberty in all voluptuous and licentious kinds of liuing. This consideration (I say) should arme vs against it: The Lord hath pronounced them blessed that worke none iniquitie: and if