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,…

Hence observe three uses. First, we must come to know the word. For the devil moveth this fearful question unto many: How knowest thou this is the word, rather than any other doctrine? To leave gross heresies, I answer by an interrogatory. Whose words, if he were but a man, and spake as a man alone, did ever drive thee to hell? whose words, did ever rip up thy secret and close sins? who hath drawn tears out of thine eyes and sorrow out of thy heart with a conscience of thy sin, at which thou wert wont to laugh? Whose words have taken thee from the hell of thy conscience, to heaven? who hath given thee joy in sorrow, comfort in trouble? What words of Philosophers can make of a Leopard a Lamb, of a viper a child, of a lecher a chaste person, of a covetous carle a liberal man? All eloquent Orators without the word, are bare Physicians to a troubled mind.

Hence obserue three vses. First, we must come to know the word. For the diuell moueth this fearefull question vnto many: How knowest thou this is the word, rather than any other doctrine? To leaue grosse heresies, I answere by an interrogatorie. Whose words, if he were but a man, and spake as a man alone, did euer driue thee to hell? whose words, did euer rip vp thy secret and close sinnes? who hath drawne teares out of thine eyes and sorrow out of thy heart with a conscience of thy sinne, at which thou wert wont to laugh? Whose words haue taken thee from the hell of thy conscience, to heauen? who hath giuen thee ioy in sorrow, comfort in trouble? What words of Philosophers can make of a Leopard a Lambe, of a viper a childe, of a leacher a chast person, of a couetous carle a liberall man? All eloquent Oratours without the word, are bare Physitions to a troubled minde.

Secondly, the word needeth none other helps. 1. Cor. •. and 2, and 3. 2. Cor. 2. and 3. and 4. Howbeit we may use other words besides the bare phrase of the Scripture: but we must beware of humane inventions, & take heed we use not uncertain phrases for certain. If we use the authority of Heathen men, we do ill. We may allege them, but most sparingly, and not naming them, but by way of an argument we may show, that the Heathen saw this and that, and therefore we should not be ignorant of it. Similitudes may be used, if they be natural, and not constrained. We must use them as sauce to prepare us for better things. We must not strain them, least we press out corruption. The milk in the breast not strained is pure, too hard pressed it is corrupt.