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,…

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.

Againe, what is the cause of such halting betweene two professions, and of such mammerings in religion? surely the want of choise, and a purpose not resolutely set in any part, in that whilest we will be betweene the flesh and the spirit, betweene the Church and the world, betweene God and the diuell, we know not which side to cleaue vnto. For if our choise were made, we must not seeke Gods glory, and our glory; the honour of the Gospell and our owne commendation. For vndoubtedly, if God his children thus walke in a mammering, as though they would giue the Lord the halfe part of their profession, and part stakes with his glory, shall for their pleasure be sure to seeke paine, and seeking sport, they shall find smart: when they looke for profit, they shall haue losse; when they sow for glory, they shall reape shame. This is the singular mercy of God in this world to his children, to punish them here, and to saue them from the great iudgement to come. And as the Lord vsed in mercy these meanes to his, to schoole them in their choise, so also when they are come to their choise, he also in wisedome will trie them.

Again, with permitting the world to offer on the one side preferment, or if that serve not, on the other side imprisonments, he suffereth Satan either to illude them with fair promises, or to terrify them with fearful threatenings: and giveth leave to the flesh, to assault them with delights, or to oppress them with calamities, that he may in truth prove their constancy, whether they have so chosen, as they will not repent them, or whether their choice be as sure as free. For many if they might be basted with glory and estimation, and might maintain still their credit, & wallow in wealth, would not care greatly to serve God; but without this resolute purpose, we shall surely find, that when trouble cometh we would shrink away. Wherefore the Lord trieth his in the furnace of affliction, and in the floods of temptations he gageth them, to try their hearts, to find their faith, to scour them from the dross of infidelity, the dross of security, the dross of hypocrisy; as the furnace is not only for the trial of gold, but after the trial had, to purge it throughly from corruption.