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,…

So must it be in the simplicity of our speech, for unless our words be according to our hearts, we delude our selves. For if in the Church we shall have an Amen, a great praising of heaven, and a large cursing of sin, and yet no regard of this simplicity, all is but an illusion. When men shall publicly sing out of the Psalms, that nothing is more precious than the word of God, and yet we set by nothing less: this is plain mockery to bear the world in hand that we love the word, and yet our thoughts are more large and deep, and attentive to the world. So that we have false hearts and dissembling words: and truly though we dare not show this to the world, and though in our hearts we care not for a Sermon once in seven years, yet if we were asked how we stood affected to the word, what great credit and commendations would fly out of our mouths? But now let us come to the truth of our actions in steadfastness of life, that a man may bind on our word: the overthrowing of our lives, do so much drown the voice of our mouths, that whatsoever we protest in word, we spoil in our works. The blood of Habel was an action, and it cried up to heaven: our Amen in our mouths is drowned by the blood of our actions¹ crying so loud before the Lord. For our actions bewray men, for there is such ⟨p. 819⟩wringing, going, overgoing, and encroaching, that there is no Truth in our lives, in respect of the concordance of the tongue. And whatsoever their bonds are, we must have² other forfeiture upon forfeitures, to proclaim their falsehood to the world. Now come to the Truth of the Common-wealth, we see, as the Prophet saith, Judgement is turned in to Worm-wood, (that is) a man had as good eat a hand-full of Worm-wood, as have our cause pleaded in the Court. Let Noble-men be never so wise to open the Truth, yet the Devil hath made many wiser in breaking of the Truth, then any can be wise in setting it down. It is known too well, that many grievances have been, for that men have grown more cunning in overthrowing of Justice, then many have been able to establish Justice. But every man would be content to bear this burden, because it concerns another Court. But what say you to the Truth of Religion that is among us? why, our Doctrine is sound enough, that needs not to be spoken of. No? Yes surely, very needful it is to speak of