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,…

There are two kinds of calling of more difficulty, the one by sea, the other by land, the¹ one of Mariners, the other of posts. For men being on the Seas, cannot come conveniently to the public places of religion, and in civill matters there are often great necessities and unknown to private men. Concerning the first, we say they are either in necessary affairs, or they are not; if not, they are to be counted as flat breakers of the Sabbath; if they be in their lawful and necessary callings, the times must be so divided, that their bodies may be cased, and their souls refreshed. Howbeit, if the present necessity grow to be more violent, then holds the general rule of things that cannot be done before or after. To this we add, that in some respect, because the Mariners have intermissions by reason of their oft² changing, there might be means appointed for the worship of God privately. For there be vicissitudes of labouring spent in quaffing, drinking, and sleeping; which leisure they might have as free for the worship of God privately, as any on the land. Besides the proportion of six and seven observed, that they may do some one day in seven, which they should do on the Sabbath it self. For then the Lord accepteth the equity of the law when upon necessity we cannot observe the prescript time of the law. Furthermore, when their³ ships lie at road and at anchor, when they either are stayed by tempest, or mend their tackling, or wait long at havens for their traffic, then what time hath before been lost, it is now to be redeemed; if it be not at the set times, yet as we said, at some times observing the proportion of the law. Thirdly, if they were as prudent in heavenly things, as politic in earthly, though they cannot so conveniently have access to the public means, yet in the whole company (for fear of pirates they go for stronger fence many together) by a general contribution they might allow a Minister among them. Again, considering that the Mariners are either such as be of the richer fort, or such as be of a meaner condition; we say, that the richer and more wealthy Merchants swim so in their gains, as if they⁴ have but hearts to pay the tithe of their increase, they may not only conveniently find a Minister in the ship, but also liberally provide for the worship of God on the land.