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,…

The other question following is of gathering a saffron. If men be wise and provident to¹ serve God, the Saffron grounds, I think, may also be so kept, as that there will be no such loss as worldly men pretend. But if the nature of it be such, as some do affirm, that on that day it perisheth, if it be ungathered, on which day it cometh forth; then I do think, that by the law of necessity this thing happening, it may be gathered on the Sabbath: yet with these conditions, that as many gather as can conveniently be gotten, that no public exercise of the worship of God be omitted, that their minds be holy and spiritually occupied that gather it. Now if some will object, that there is somewhat in the order of nature, which fighteth with the ordinance of this law: I answer, for as much as this thing cometh on the Lords day but seldom times, that therefore it is not a thing ordinary, but as a work of necessity. Now to fold up this question, we required in gathering that we should be spiritually minded, which they may show in giving it a mark of separation, that is, that they bestow it on the poorer, if the be of they more wealthy sort: if they be of meaner condition, yet they may impart something to their more needy brethren, as testifying thereby that they seek not their gain, but the glory of God.

The other question following is of gathering a saffron. If men be wise and prouident to¹ serue God, the Saffron grounds, I thinke, may also be so kept, as that there will be no such losse as worldly men pretend. But if the nature of it be such, as some doe affirme, that on that day it perisheth, if it be vngathered, on which day it commeth foorth; then I do think, that by the law of necessitie this thing happening, it may be gathered on the Sabbath: yet with these conditions, that as many gather as can conueniently be gotten, that no publike exercise of the worship of God be omitted, that their mindes be holy and spiritually occupied that gather it. Now if some will obiect, that there is somewhat in the order of nature, which fighteth with the ordinance of this law: I answere, for as much as this thing commeth on the Lords day but seldome times, that therefore it is not a thing ordinarie, but as a work of necessitie. Now to fold vp this question, we required in gathering that we should be spiritually minded, which they may shewe in giuing it a marke of separation, that is, that they bestow it on the poorer, if the be of they more wealthie sort: if they be of meaner condition, yet they may impart something to their more needie brethren, as testifying thereby that they seeke not their gaine, but the glorie of God.