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,…

The second cause why we should watch over our hearts, is, because it maketh or marreth¹ all our actions: for if our heart be pure, then all our actions be pure and accepted of through Christ, though some want be in them: and contrariwise, if our hearts be not sound, but corrupted and unpure; the things that in their own nature and kind are good, yet do become evil & sinful through us. This may be perceived in all the parts of our life: let us then a little fee how our corruption deceiveth & defileth us in many things. First this is without all controversy, that is only the corruption of our own hearts, which causeth us to be slack in doing good, or to leave it altogether undone, or else to do that which is evil and odious in the sight of God. For albeit many causes may be pretended, which sometime may have a show of goodness: yet those causes are but corruptions, there is no goodness in them. Some men are kept back from doing good to their family by catechizing them, because they would not have all me••• talk of them, and because they would not hazard the credit of their name. Some are […] back from being zealous in godliness: because they might still use their liberty, in buying and bargaining, whereby they might provide for their selves and families. And for every thing they do, they will have a colourable excuse, they will do nothing without a reason. But their excuses are but colours, their reasons are very raw, not seasoned with the word. They are deceived through the deceitfulness of sin, their corruption deceiveth them, they are beguiled because they make no trial of their hearts. The same thing cometh to pass even in those things which in their kind are good. To leave sin is a very good thing: yet if we do not herein take heed unto our hearts, we may before deceived: for when we be minded and do purpose to leave sin, let us consider the cause why we purpose and go about such a thing, and we shall often find that it is not the conscience of sin, but the fear of punishment, or the shame of the world, which moveth us so to do. The adulterer doth many times abstain from his filthy adultery, not because that sin is odious in the sight of God, but because it will bring him to open shame among men.

The second cause why we should watch ouer our hearts, is, because it maketh or marreth¹ all our actions: for if our heart bee pure, then all our actions bee pure and accepted of through Christ, though some want bee in them: and contrariwise, if our hearts bee not sound, but corrupted and vnpure; the things that in their owne nature and kinde are good, yet doe become euill & sinfull through vs. This may be perceiued in all the parts of our life: let vs then a little fee how our corruption deceiueth & defileth vs in many things. First this is without all controuersie, that is onely the corruption of our owne hearts, which causeth vs to be slacke in doing good, or to leaue it altogether vndone, or else to do that which is euill and odious in the sight of God. For albeit many causes may be pretended, which sometime may haue a shew of goodnesse: yet those causes are but corruptions, there is no goodnesse in them. Some men are kept back from doing good to their familie by catechizing them, because they would not haue all me talke of them, and because they would not hazard the credit of their name. Some are backe from being zealous in godlinesse: because they might stil vse their libertie, in buying and bargaining, whereby they might prouide for their selues and families. And for euery thing they doe, they will haue a colourable excuse, they will doe nothing without a reason. But their excuses are but colours, their reasons are very rawe, not seasoned with the word. They are deceiued through the deceitfulnes of sinne, their corruption deceiueth them, they are beguiled because they make no triall of their hearts. The same thing commeth to passe euen in those things which in their kinde are good. To leaue sinne is a very good thing: yet if wee doe not herein take heede vnto our hearts, we may besore deceiued: for when wee be minded and doe purpose to leaue sinne, let vs consider the cause why wee purpose and goe about such a thing, and we shall often finde that it is not the conscience of sinne, but the feare of punishmēt, or the shame of the world, which moueth vs so to do. The adulterer doth many times abstaine from his filthie adulterie, not because that sinne is odious in the sight of God, but because it will bring him to open shame among men.