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,…

7 The Church is to fear and expect some notable affliction, when long ease and prosperity¹ have bred either superstition or profaneness.

7 The Church is to feare and expect some notable affliction, when long ease and prosperitie¹ haue bred either superstition or prophanenesse.

1. 1Church.

8 Think not with thy self, if I were in such a place, if I were in such a calling, or if it¹ were such a time, if I had obtained such a thing, or if such a trouble were past, then I would serve God, then I would take another course: though the time were changed, and ⟨p. 45⟩these things changed, yet if thy mind were not changed, thou wouldest be of the same opinion still; and though these lets were removed, yet the devil would put more great impediments into thy mind to hinder thee still, but redeem the time present, do good while thou mayest: serve God to day, for who knows whether thou shalt live till to morrow. God hath left to man the time past to repent of it, and the time present to² consider of it, but the time to come he hath wholly taken to himself, to dispose of it. Thou mayest imagine the time to come; but if thou hast been deceived in the time past, art deceived of the time present, much more thou shalt be deceived of the time to come. Say not then I will do such a thing, and such a thing hereafter; do something now; for art thou a Papist? Hast thou free will? If thou find thy self unfit now, thou shalt find thy self more unfit hereafter: if there be many occasions to hinder thee now, there will be moe occasions to hinder thee hereafter.