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,…

Whosoever then will be truly religious, and make a conscience of sin in sincerity, he must thus walk in the fear of God; and though he might so do, as no man could ever touch him for his outward conversation; though he did not run into the hand of the Magistrate; and no man though he would, could say, Black is his eye: he must submit himself to what peril soever, and overcome all fear of mans power, with fear of Gods punishments. And we must know, that if there be some sin in us, on which the civill law can take no hold; yet the fear of the law of God must be in stead unto us of all laws; knowing that though we escape the court of men, we cannot escape the judgements of God; who will judge us, not according to the law of man, but according to his own law. So that the children of God are so far off from flattering themselves in these sins, where mans laws fail, ⟨p. 580⟩and which they do not punish, that they labour the more against them, fearing that God will punish those sins more grievously in the world to come, which by the law of man in this world he doth not correct: And because by mans punishing we are oft brought to repent of those sins, wherein now oft times we die without any repentance. So that we see how effectual an instrument of God this fear of his law is, against all kinds of sin whatsoever. For though in politic laws, there be no laws against swearing, breaking of the Sabbath, or filthy speaking; yet Gods children are not for that cause such as cast off all fear; but such, as by so much the rather fear and suspect such sins.

Whosoeuer then wilbe trulie religious, and make a conscience of sinne in sinceritie, he must thus walke in the feare of God; and though he might so doe, as no man could euer touch him for his outward conuersation; though he did not run into the hand of the Magistrate; and no man thogh he would, could say, Black is his eye: he must submit himselfe to what perill soeuer, and ouercome all feare of mans power, with feare of Gods punishments. And we must know, that if there be some sin in vs, on which the ciuill law can take no hold; yet the fear of the law of God must be in stead vnto vs of all lawes; knowing that though we escape the court of men, we cannot escape the iudgements of God; who will iudge vs, not according to the law of man, but according to his own law. So that the children of God are so far off frō flattering themselues in these sinnes, where mans lawes faile, ⟨p. 580⟩