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,…

They are not ignorant, what it is, to have worldly wealth, and pleasures, and earthly commodities, but comparing these with the wealth of the soul, the pleasures of the spirit and commodities of the world, they by judgement and sufficient advice, prefer the word of God. And herein is their blessed wisdom, that they seeing and weighing both in the balance, being moved on one side by carnal reason, and sustained on the other side by spiritual wisdom, they refuse the worst, and choose the best, contrary to the folly of the world, ⟨p. 603⟩who also hath some sight of them both, and yet refuseth most cursedly the word, and chooseth most foolishly the pleasures of this life. For as the preferring of good things is the blessing of God in the godly; so it is a fearful judgement in the ungodly, in preferring these transitory pleasures, before eternal treasures.

They are not ignorant, what it is, to haue worldly wealth, and pleasures, and earthly commodities, but comparing these with the wealth of the soule, the pleasures of the spirit and commodities of the world, they by iudgemēt and sufficient aduice, prefer the word of God. And herein is their blessed wisedome, that they seeing and weighing both in the ballance, being moued on one side by carnal reason, and sustained on the other side by spiritual wisdome, they refuse the worst, and chuse the best, contrary to the folly of the world, ⟨p. 603⟩who also hath some sight of them both, and yet refuseth most cursedly the word, and chuseth most foolishly the pleasures of this life. For as the preferring of good things is the blessing of God in the godly; so it is a fearefull iudgement in the vngodly, in preferring these transitorie pleasures, before eternall treasures.

Again, what is the cause of such halting between two professions, and of such mammerings in religion? surely the want of choice, and a purpose not resolutely set in any part, in that whilst we will be between the flesh and the spirit, between the Church and the world, between God and the devil, we know not which side to cleave unto. For if our choice were made, we must not seek Gods glory, and our glory; the honour of the Gospel and our own commendation. For undoubtedly, if God his children thus walk in a mammering, as though they would give the Lord the half part of their profession, and part stakes with his glory, shall for their pleasure be sure to seek pain, and seeking sport, they shall find smart: when they look for profit, they shall have loss; when they sow for glory, they shall reap shame. This is the singular mercy of God in this world to his children, to punish them here, and to save them from the great judgement to come. And as the Lord used in mercy these means to his, to school them in their choice, so also when they are come to their choice, he also in wisdom will try them.