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,…

In the question of faith we have comfort¹ also from the works and effects thereof in our selves: For as the tree is known by the fruits; so faith wanteth not her fruits whereby she may be discerned. These are of divers sorts, sorrow for sin past, hatred of evil, care and endeavour to avoid it both in general and particular, the love of God and of his righteousness, desire and care with labour and contentation to please him, both in general and particular duties. And here again we have a lawful and necessary recourse unto time past. For albeit we have nothing to² glory in before God, when the question is of the cause of our salvation; yet the effects of the grace and favour of God towards us in the former fruits of our faith, may yield us no small comfort in the time of our heaviness and of the anguish of our spirits; hereof it is that the Prophet in the Psalms doth so often protest his obedience unto God▪ and care to do³ his commandments: hereof it is that Job, unto the comforting of his distressed conscience,⁴ remembereth the course of his former life, led in the fear of God and obedience of righteousness. For although we may not attribute any merit unto our works, but must give the⁵ whole glory of our salvation unto Christ alone; yet our works do witness for us, that we are the children of God, because we are guided by his spirit, & as the Apostle saith, though ⁶the body be dead in respect of sin, yet the spirit is life for righteousness sake. Also the gracious effects of Christ himself dwelling in our hearts by faith, are sure & certain testimonies that we are members of his body and do belong unto him, because as branches implanted into him which is the vine, we bring forth fruit according to the nature of the vine. It is said we do yet sin; our answer is, that that happeneth unto us not from the new⁷