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,…

This is the doctrine which our Saviour Christ also taught us, that if we would see well to pull out the more of sin in another man, we should first labour to take away the beam of sins in our selves. Why calleth he it a beam in us, and more in others? because our own corruptions are or ought to be far better known to us, than the corruptions of other men, we should be best acquainted with our own infirmities, and know that there is in us a bottomless pit of corruptions. Which Paul saw when he said, that of all sinners, he was the chiefest: that is, he had the greatest light of his own wants, and was most familiar with his own corruptions.

This is the doctrine which our Sauiour Christ also taught vs, that if we would see well to pull out the more of sinne in another man, we should first labour to take away the beame of sinnes in our selues. Why calleth he it a beame in vs, and more in others? because our owne corruptions are or ought to be farre better knowne to vs, than the corruptions of other men, we should be best acquainted with our owne infirmities, and know that there is in vs a bottomlesse pit of corruptions. Which Paul saw when he said, that of all sinners, he was the cheifest: that is, he had the greatest light of his owne wants, and was most familiar with his owne corruptions.

Wherefore we must first judge our selves, and cast the first stone at our selves, we must labour to remove this mountain of sin in our selves: so finding how ugly a thing sin is, and that by experience in our selves, we shall neither flatter others in their sin, nor yet rebuke them too rigorously. For he that doth so travail with his own heart, shall love that good thing in another which he liketh in himself, and shall be grieved for that sin in another, which he hath found grieving before in himself. For as we having been in sickness and are recovered, can by the smart which we have felt, pity the smart of mother, and can tell how comfortable health is to another, which we have found comfortable ⟨p. 546⟩to us: even so we can show compassion to them, which are stung with sin, as feeling the burden thereof in our selves, and can rejoice at the liberty of conscience & peace of mind in others, which we have rejoiced at in our selves, because in suffering misery, we have learned to offer mercy: let us see this doctrine more plainly.