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 might seem strange to some, that he should swear to keep Gods judgements: but we must know, that this keeping is not so much in outward show as in inward virtue. Again we see, that as in making this holy oath Gods children do not exclude, but include the forgiveness of sins: so they do it not, but first presupposing the grace of God, by prayer to be obtained for the keeping of it. Besides, no particular or accessory covenant can take away the principal and general, because the one includeth the other. But here we must note, that then no secondary cause can take away the first, when we sin but of humane frailty, and not of presumption, and when we so crave for mercy, that our hearts be set to recover our selves, and we will not be sluggish in our sins hereafter, because then is the oath broken, and covenant disannulled, when we make a final breach. We must therefore fight against scrupulosity herein, knowing that God will spare us as a father doth his children, in that the whole breach of our covenant is a general relinquishing of the same. When then there ariseth a fear in our hearts to come so near unto the Lord (although it may be good) no more to pour this precious liquor into frail consciences, than to put new wine into old bottles, and rather appertaineth to them of greater graces: yet we must consider, that there were great infirmities in this man of God, against which he would strive by this mean, and so provoke himself to come nearer to the Lord. So that as we must not undertake this thing without advice: so we must not always please our selves in these beginnings, and when as concerning the time we should be teachers, we¹ should need to have the first foundation of religion laid again. Wherefore we must needs acknowledge, that the cause of our long absence from the Lord, is our want of the defiance of sin, and love to the word, as the Prophet had; neither must we ever, when occasion wall be given, neglect this mean, which may keep us from sliding back. And here we are to observe, that wicked or foolish vows, which hinder Christian religion, and those wicked vows of wicked religion, as the ridiculous vows of chastity, or such as may hinder us in our callings (as that a man should never eat flesh, or should not wear some kind of apparel) are to be avoided;

It might seeme strange to some, that he should sweare to keepe Gods iudgements: but we must know, that this keeping is not so much in outward shew as in inward vertue. Againe we see, that as in making this holy oth Gods children doe not exclude, but include the forgiuenes of sinnes: so they doe it not, but first presupposing the grace of God, by prayer to be obtained for the keeping of it. Besides, no particular or accessorie couenant can take away the principall and generall, because the one includeth the other. But here we must note, that then no secondarie cause can take away the first, when we sinne but of humane frailtie, and not of presumption, and when we so craue for mercy, that our hearts be set to recouer our selues, and we will not be sluggish in our sinnes hereafter, because then is the oath broken, and couenant disanulled, when we make a finall breach. We must therefore fight against scrupulositie herein, knowing that God wil spare vs as a father doth his children, in that the whole breach of our couenant is a generall relinquishing of the same. When then there ariseth a feare in our hearts to come so neere vnto the Lord (although it may be good) no more to powre this pretious licour into fraile cōsciences, than to put new wine into old bottels, and rather appertaineth to them of greater graces: yet we must consider, that there were great infirmities in this man of God, against which he would striue by this meane, and so prouoke himselfe to come neerer to the Lord. So that as we must not vndertake this thing without aduice: so we must not alwaies please our selues in these beginnings, and when as concerning the time we should be teachers, we