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,…

Great complaint is made of the wickedness of these days, and all the blame is laid upon the heart. I think indeed it deserveth a great part of it, but the sight of the eye is not to be excused: for the hart is a spring, and hath spouts to send out as a conduit, and pipes wherewithal it is fed, which may be gathered out of the nature of the holy tongue, where one word^* signifieth both an eye and a spring, and it is as commonly taken for the one as for the other: and therefore Hierome calleth the eyes the streams or springs of lust. Though the heart had no pipes to convey in, yet it would overflow, such is the measure and abundance of corruption which lieth in it, breaking² forth continually. It is not only true, that from the abundance of the hart the mouth speaketh, the hand worketh, &c. but also from the abundance of the senses, the heart thinketh. Therefore as the tongue must be blamed and that justly, so the eyes ought to weep, because of the evil which they convey unto the heart; and so much the rather, for that the tongue doth disclose what evil proceedeth into it, but the eye keepeth it close, which is a thing more perilous. Again, the sight of the eye stirreth up the thoughts of the heart, though they be a sleep, when as good things should rather be conveyed by the eye into the heart, seeing no goodness groweth there naturally.

GReat complaint is made of the wickednesse of these dayes, and all the blame is laide vpon the heart. I thinke indeed it deserueth a great part of it, but the sight of the eye is not to be excused: for the hart is a spring, and hath spouts to send out as a conduit, and pipes wherewithall it is fedde, which may be gathered out of the nature of the holie tongue, where one word^* signifieth both an eye and a spring, and it is as commonly taken for the one as for the other: and therfore Hierome calleth the eyes the streames or springs of lust. Though the heart had no pipes to conuey in, yet it would ouerflow, such is the measure and abundance of corruption which lieth in it, breaking² forth continually. It is not onely true, that from the abundance of the hart the mouth speaketh, the hand worketh, &c. but also from the abundance of the senses, the heart thinketh. Therefore as the tongue must be blamed and that iustly, so the eyes ought to weepe, because of the euil which they conuey vnto the heart; and so much the rather, for that the tongue doth disclose what euil proceedeth into it, but the eye keepeth it close, which is a thing more perillous. Againe, the sight of the eye stirreth vp the thoughts of the heart, though they be a sleepe, when as good things should rather be conueyed by the eye into the heart, seeing no goodnes groweth there naturally.