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,…

What maketh young men so loose, and profit so little by all the admonitions, which are used to them, but only their corrupt reason, which on this sort deceiveth their souls: Why, is not this lawful? do I any body harm in so doing? do not all others this as well as I? Well, if they will not bid war against these corrupt imaginations, they shall never prevail against their evil affections. Whereof is it, that the wisest men become whore-hunters, and the wisest women often become whores? is it not because the Lord punisheth the pride of reason with filthiness, and whilst they will not fight against corrupt reason, they cannot get the victory over their filthy affection? they will thus reason, I have been thus long married, and have no children, my wife is never quiet, she is a shrew; I will see if I can have children with another, and have quietness abroad. Bid battle then to reason, if you will fight against sin, for judgement being convinced, we may the better encombate with affection. Let us then take heed to those conceits, which are not yet in the bowels of the brain; for then the devil is brought to infect reason, and so draweth near to corrupt affection. All idle thoughts & discourses coming but to the mind, must make us afraid, least we become corrupted. And let us remember, that we must love the¹ Lord, with all our hearts & minds, & that he taketh up to his glory all our cogitations. And therefore though we yield not to lust in affection, we must strike at concupiscence at the first motion, because our thoughts have not been wholly with the Lord: We must destroy the brood, whilst it is in hatching, and wound sin before it have received a perfect shape. For it is better to strive against sin, whilst reason is on our side; than when both reason and affection are conspired against us. Now let us examine our selves, & every man search his own heart, whether we be grieved for the sudden discourses and glancing imaginations in us, or rather whether they be not sweet unto us.

What maketh young men so loose, and profit so little by all the admonitions, which are vsed to them, but onely their corrupt reason, which on this sort deceiueth their soules: Why, is not this lawfull? doe I any body harme in so doing? doe not all others this as well as I? Well, if they will not bidde warre against these corrupt imaginations, they shall neuer preuaile against their euill affections. Whereof is it, that the wisest men become whore-hunters, and the wisest women often become whores? is it not because the Lord punisheth the pride of reason with filthinesse, and whilest they will not fight against corrupt reason, they cannot get the victorie ouer their filthie affection? they will thus reason, I haue beene thus long married, and haue no children, my wife is neuer quiet, she is a shrew; I will see if I can haue children with another, and haue quietnesse abroad. Bid battell then to reason, if you will fight against sinne, for iudgemēt being conuinced, we may the better encombate with affection. Let vs then take heede to those conceits, which are not yet in the bowels of the braine; for then the diuell is brought to infect reason, and so draweth neere to corrupt affection. All idle thoughts & discourses comming but to the mind, must make vs afraide, least we become corrupted. And let vs remember, that wee must loue the