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,…

11 Many think it to be easier to confess their sins to God, than to acknowledge¹ them unto men: but it seemeth to be contrary: for he that refuseth to confess his sin before man, in whom is but a drop of the indignation against sin, which is fearful in the Lord, will not willingly open them and strip them naked before the majesty of God. And he that can frankly stand as a penitent before God and his Angels, he will not stick to confess his sin before the face of men. Behold our father Adam whilst there was no man to fear him, the Lord cometh at the first to him by prick of conscience, he hideth himself with figtree leaves: to this prick of conscience the Lord sendeth a voice or a noise that is heard: Now not content with a few leaves, he goeth into the thicket of wood: at the length the Lord to draw him out of his hypocrisy, bringeth him into the plain, & urgeth him with substantial questions: he not able to hide himself any longer, hideth •• sin, and shifteth it off to Eva. Why doth the holy Ghost thus orderly & particularly set down this matter, but to show that though we have a prick of sin by nature in part to confess sins, yet nakedly to uncase thy sins before God, is a hard thing to flesh and blood, the Devil lying by, prompting us, that in so doing we shall bring our selves to despair, we shall run out of our wits, we shall kill our selves, and never live merry day again? In that notable Psalm of instruction, 32. we are taught, that then there is hope our sins are forgiven, when God emptying our harts of all guile, we can be content freely to give God the glory, and to shame our selves before men. We see when his great affliction could not bring him to confess his sin, yet no comfort came to him, until by Gods grace he grew to this issue, that he reckoned up the whole catalogue of his great sins: so² hard a thing it is to confess our sins before God.

11 Many thinke it to be easier to confesse their sinnes to God, than to acknowledge¹ them vnto men: but it seemeth to be contrary: for he that refuseth to confesse his sinne before man, in whom is but a drop of the indignation against sinne, which is feareful in the Lord, will not willingly open them and strip them naked before the maiestie of God. And he that can frankly stand as a penitent before God and his Angels, he will not sticke to confesse his sinne before the face of men. Behold our father Adam whilest there was no man to feare him, the Lord commeth at the first to him by pricke of cōscience, he hideth himselfe with figtree leaues: to this pricke of conscience the Lord sendeth a voyce or a noise that is heard: Now not content with a few leaues, he goeth into the thicket of wood: at the length the Lord to draw him out of his hypocrisie, bringeth him into the plaine, & vrgeth him with substantial questions: he not able to hide himselfe any longer, hideth sinne, and shifteth it off to Eua. Why doth the holy Ghost thus orderly & particularly set downe this matter, but to shew that though we haue a pricke of sinne by nature in part to confesse sinnes, yet nakedly to vncase thy sinnes before God, is a hard thing to flesh and blood, the Diuell lying by, prompting vs, that in so doing we shall bring our selues to despaire, we shall runne out of our wits, we shall kill our selues, and neuer liue merrie day againe? In that notable Psalme of instruction, 32. we are taught, that then there is hope our sinnes are forgiuen, when God emptying our harts of all guile, we can be content freely to giue God the glorie, and to shame our selues before men. We see when his great affliction could not bring him to confesse his sinne, yet no comfort came to him, vntill by Gods grace he grew to this issue, that he reckoned vp the whole catalogue of his great sinnes: so