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,…

Conference is either with

Ministers of God. Our equals. Or others.

This rule must be kept, that conference with our equals must be of those things which we heard of our Ministers, as it must be kept also in meditation, which is a conference with our selves. We must for a time like babes hang at the mouths of the Ministers, because we cannot run before we go: nay we cannot go without a leader. No man may ⟨p. 176⟩presume to understand above that which is meet to understand, but labour to understand according to the measure of sobriety, as God hath dealt to every one the measure of faith: and when they have laid the foundation, then build the walls and pillars. The Eunuch would not interpret the word without a guide, but he laid it up in his heart, as the Virgin Mary did. For want of true humility conference is slandered, because it is used after an evil manner, as before they be surely grounded in principal points of religion, to talk of other matters above their capacity and knowledge. Secondly, we must come in love without anger, envy, or desire of victory: therefore in conference we must use the preparation spoken of before: the want of which maketh much •anglings and wranglings in company.

This rule must be kept, that conference with our equals must be of those things which we heard of our Ministers, as it must be kept also in meditation, which is a conference with our selues. We must for a time like babes hang at the mouthes of the Ministers, because we cannot runne before we goe: nay we cannot goe without a leader. No man may ⟨p. 176⟩