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,…

Now in that he saith, my oppressors are many: he showeth that he had not to do with one man or two, but with many. It is a matter, as we have showed before, to be godly among the godly. but he is a devil, that is evil among Angels, and therefore was he worthily cast down into hell: and he is a sinner, that will sin among Saints, and therefore justly was Adam thrown out of Paradise. If we live among the godly, what praise is it to be godly? nay, what an horrible thing were it not to be godly? If the Church discipline were truly executed, it were a small commendation to do well, and to abstain from sin; yet now in this want, it is praise-worthy to abstain from sin for fear of God. But it may be we taste not of such troubles, as the Prophet tasted of, because we live not so careful of godliness, as he did, which if in truth we did, we should have troubles as he had. Well, we are in this world as sheep among wolves, to try us, whether we will be corrupted with the evil examples of this world, or whether we will swerve from the Lord our God, whilst he proveth us.

Now in that he saith, my oppressors are many: he sheweth that he had not to doe with one man or two, but with many. It is a matter, as wee haue shewed before, to be godly among the godly. but he is a diuel, that is euil among Angels, and therefore was he worthily cast downe into hell: and he is a sinner, that will sinne among Saints, and therefore iustly was Adam throwne out of Paradise. If we liue among the godly, what praise is it to be godly? nay, what an horrible thing were it not to be godly? If the Church discipline were truly executed, it were a small commendation to do well, and to abstaine from sinne; yet now in this want, it is praise-worthie to abstaine from sinne for feare of God. But it may be we taste not of such troubles, as the Prophet tasted of, because we liue not so carefull of godlinesse, as he did, which if in truth we did, we should haue troubles as he had. Well, we are in this world as sheepe among wolues, to trie vs, whether we will be corrupted with the euil examples of this world, or whether we will swarue from the Lord our God, whilest he proueth vs.

Their carnal reasoning cometh to nothing, which say, the world is set on evil, the world was never so wicked, charity was never so cold, a man cannot now profess without taunts, scoffs, and troubles. For we see here, that the Prophet, in his time, had many and great persecutors, whom notwithstanding so manifold corruptions could nothing move. Wherefore we must learn, although sometime we are slandered, though sometime we are evil spoken of, taunted and troubled, our estate is not worse than our forefathers hath been, and the beloved Saints of God have had before us. So long as we are well entreated of God and man, we will keep the law: but when we suffer reproaches, taunts, injuries, loss or discredit we then run either to evil means, or to revengement, or to despair. Where many injuries have been offered, many have been rendered again: if they have not requited injury for injury with revenge, they have used some ill means to escape out of their trouble: if they have not used ill means, yet they have secretly begun to mistrust God his promises and providence, and have gone to wizards and witches: if they could do nothing in malice, they would do something in policy; if they could prevail with neither, they would fall to despair.