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,…

If then either our Princes shall be ungodly, or their under officers unfaithful, we must not thereupon grudge to pay tribute, to give task, and to yield subsidy: but we must do them even with conscience, as to the ordinance appointed of God, knowing and acknowledging, that the hand of Gods wrath in their corrupt Government, is justly laid upon us for some sin. Wherefore the holy Ghost saith, Eccl. 10. 20. Curse not the King, no not in thy thought: neither curse the Rich in thy bed-chamber: for the fowl of the heaven shall carry the voice, & that which hath wings shall declare the matter. If then our Princes should use all their tribute to sensuality, or take up all their taxes for pleasure, without either fear of God, or love of their Common-wealth; yet curse not the King, saith the Wise Man, no not in thy bed-chamber. So that if flesh and blood should move us to murmur, that we should be ready to think evil of them that are in authority, the holy Ghost here warneth us that we use no such speeches, and put away such thoughts, because, both our speeches and thoughts stand at the controlling of God his judgements: but we must humbly ascribe it to our sin, that he withdraweth his grace from them, and pulleth his wrath upon us. Wherefore if we think, as many worldly men do, that thoughts are free, and are not called into the Court, and that every man is a King in his privy chamber: the spirit of God chargeth our conscience here before the Court of heaven, and telleth us, that our chambers are the Lords chambers also; and therefore as true Israelites, even in secret we should think no guile, for the Lord will reveal it, and punish it openly: yea, even the fowls of the air shall bewray our unfaithfulness.

If then either our Princes shall be vngodly, or their vnder officers vnfaithfull, we must not therevpon grudge to pay tribute, to giue taske, and to yeeld subsidie: but we must doe them euen with conscience, as to the ordinance appointed of God, knowing and acknowledging, that the hand of Gods wrath in their corrupt Gouernment, is iustly layd vpon vs for some sinne. Wherefore the holy Ghost saith, Eccl. 10. 20. Curse not the King, no not in thy thought: neither curse the Rich in thy bed-chamber: for the fowle of the heauen shall carrie the voyce, & that which hath wings shall declare the matter. If then our Princes should vse all their tribute to sensualitie, or take vp all their taxes for pleasure, withour either feare of God, or loue of their Common-wealth; yet curse not the King, saith the Wiseman, no not in thy bed-chamber. So that if flesh and blood should moue vs to murmure, that wee should be readie to thinke euill of them that are in authoritie, the holy Ghost here warneth vs that wee vse no such speeches, and put away such thoughts, because, both our speeches and thoughts stand at the controlling of God his iudgements: but we must humbly ascribe it to our sinne, that hee withdraweth his grace from them, and pulleth his wrath vpon vs. Wherefore if we thinke, as many worldly men doe, that thoughts are free, and are not called into the Court, and that euery man is a King in his priuie chamber: the spirite of God chargeth our conscience here before the Court of heauen, and telleth vs, that our chambers are the Lords chambers also; and therefore as true Israelites, euen in secret we should thinke no guile, for the Lord will reueale it, and punish it openly: yea, euen the fowles of the ayre shall bewray our vnfaithfulnes.