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,…

Wherefore to show some properties of true zeal, whereby we may try our selves, let us first know that our zeal must be grounded on knowledge: for otherwise it will carry¹ us further to destruction, as it did them who oppressed the truth, and persecuted the dear servants of God, and yet thought that they did well. Wherefore in true zeal it is requisite, to have knowledge going before. We see the zeal of the Prophet did arise here of the contempt of the law of God. For seeing it to be •o exquisite, perfect, everlasting, powerful, & comfortable, it is a manifest argument that he was well grounded on the word. This zeal then (that we may the less be deceived with the contrary) hath these few rules: first, as we have already said, it must be agreeable wholly with the word of God, to begin where it beginneth to end, where it endeth. Therefore we may thus try our true zeal: If first, and especially, we make conscience of the principal matters of the word, as of prayer, of the Sacraments, of discipline, of charity: and then of the less things that are commanded,² if we will do them; if any be forbidden, we also avoid them, yet ever tolerating through love, little things, as they that would not trouble the Church of God▪ Wherefore the Apostle saith, 1. Cor. 11. 1. 10. If any man lust to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the Churches of God: as if he should say, If any man will strive about matters³ of less importance, we, according to the order of the Church, will not strive with them, but rather will bear many things in love, and yet so, as still we use this caveat, That we account nothing small or little which is Gods word.

Wherefore to shewe some properties of true zeale, whereby we may trye our selues, let vs first know that our zeale must be grounded on knowledge: for otherwise it will carrie¹ vs further to destruction, as it did them who oppre••ed the truth, and persecuted the deare seruants of God, and yet thought that they did well. Wherefore in true zeale it is requisite, to haue knowledge going before. Wee see the zeale of the Prophet did arise here of the contempt of the law of God. For seeing it to be o exquisite, perfit, euerlasting, powerfull, & comfortable, it is a manifest argument that he was well grounded on the word. This zeale then (that we may the lesse be deceiued with the contrary) hath these few rules: first, as we haue already said, it must be agreeable wholy with the word of God, to begin where it beginneth to end, where it endeth. Therefore we may thus trie our true zeale: If first, and especially, wee make conscience of the principall matters of the word, as of prayer, of the Sacraments, of discipline, of charitie: and then of the lesse things that are commaunded,