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,…

There be many men which now in this time of the Gospel, do account themselves very religious, and they will bear a countenance with the best, and will outwardly appear very forward: but because they resting in their profession, do not examine their heart, their hope faileth them, and they fall away. For when the state of the Common-wealth shall be changed, when religion shall be altered, when the truth shall be persecuted, when the Lord shall take from them the light of his word, and shall suffer Satan to tempt them with heresy; then their corruption will overcome them, and cause them to believe lies. Likewise men that have been brought up by godly parents, and men that have the company of good men, may seem to be sure settled in sound religion: but whilst they rest in these outward means, and labour not after some inward truth, their hearts do deceive them, and in time they show themselves to be but hollow hearted hypocrites: for when the benefit of good company is taken from them, and when they light upon wicked company, their former godliness is forgotten, they will frame themselves unto that company. Therefore if they be tempted unto theft, they will prove thieves: if occasion of filthiness or other vices be offered, they will take the occasion, and stay themselves with many sins. Thus do temptations try what is in the heart of man. Thus do afflictions find out the hypocrisy of the heart, so that he may well be counted a sound hearted man indeed, which is not overturned by temptations, and which falleth not away by the vehemency of afflictions: for even Gods children for want of examining their hearts, do oftentimes take the foil in temptations. Lot no doubt was no common drunkard, and yet the forcible temptations of his daughters caused him twice to commit that sin: his daughters were no common harlots, for then they might have had great pleasure in Sodom. But the devil deceived them with a show of godliness, and brought them to that filthy sin of incest: for when they saw there was none to continue their fathers name upon earth, they thought it good to lye with their father, that so his name and seed might be continued. Very needful it is therefore to examine our hearts, and often to take a trial of them, least the covertness of our corruption deceive us, and make us hypocrites:

There be many men which now in this time of the Gospell, doe account themselues verie religious, and they will beare a countenance with the best, and will outwardly appeare very forward: but because they resting in their profession, doe not examine their heart, their hope faileth them, and they fall away. For when the state of the Common-wealth shall be changed, when religion shall be altered, when the truth shall be persecuted, when the Lord shall take from them the light of his word, and shall suffer Sathan to tempt them with heresie; then their corruption will ouercome them, and cause them to beleeue lyes. Likewise men that haue beene brought vp by godly parents, and men that haue the companie of good men, may seeme to be sure setled in sound religion: but whilest they rest in these outward meanes, and labour not after some inward truth, their hearts doe deceiue them, and in time they shew themselues to be but hollow hearted hypocrites: for when the benefit of good companie is taken from them, and when they light vpon wicked companie, their former godlinesse is forgotten, they will frame themselues vnto that companie. Therefore if they be tempted vnto theft, they will proue theeues: if occasion of filthines or other vices be offered, they will take the occasion, and stay themselues with many sinnes. Thus doe temptations trie what is in the heart of man. Thus doe afflictions finde out the hypocrisie of the heart, so that he may well be counted a sound hearted man indeed, which is not ouerturned by temptations, and which falleth not away by the vehemencie of afflictions: for euen Gods children for want of examining their hearts, doe oftentime take the foyle in temptations. Lot no doubt was no common drunkard, and yet the forcible temptations of his daughters caused him twice to commit that sin: his daughters were no common harlots, for then they might haue had great pleasure in Sedome. But the diuell deceiued them with a shew of godlinesse, and brought them to that filthie sinne of incest: for when they saw there was none to continue their fathers name vpon earth, they thought it good to lye with their father, that so his name and seede might be continued. Very needfull it is therefore to examine our hearts, and often to take a triall of them, least the couertnes of our corruption deceiue vs, and make vs hypocrites: