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,…

Moreover we are to be circumspect that we require not a daily fast? for as in Physic¹ it is a thing most absurd to prescribe a continual use of violent vacuation, & seldom of ordinary food: even so it is as absurd divinity, to say, it is sufficient that preaching be used at sundry times, in sundry places, and that fasting should be daily used: when as the ministry of the word of God is as often to be used, as milk for babes to be nourished; or as meat for strong men to grow up to the fullness of the age of Christ: & fasting is to be admitted, but as letting of blood, or purging some corrupt humour, when some great cause urgeth the same. We lament the want of diligent Preaching, which some without a continual course whereof think to be sufficient: A Christian heart may appeal to Gods blessed² word, the true judge of all them that are teachable, but the judge of all, even of the froward in the last day; yea, we may appeal to the great inquest of all Gods children which know their own sins; yea to the experience of twenty * years, which is a witness so sufficient, that no exception can be made against it whether to work all and every point of that³ knowledge, with a care to practise it, in any sufficient measure, in all places, so few Sermons so little preaching in most places, be not very insufficient? The Law saith, that the mouths of the Priests should always keep knowledge, both that they might teach the people by public doctrine and exhortation; and that the people might require of them by private conference▪ The Prophets are commanded to cry and not to cease; and the Lord is said by their Ministry to rise up early, and to stretch forth his hand all the day long: and the Kingdom of God is like to the father of an house, that bringeth forth of his treasury things new and old for the daily food of the family. What is this that every true Minister is charged with, as he will answer it before the judgement seat of Jesus Christ to preach the word in season and out of season? Surely once in a quarter, and once in a month, may soon seem to be out of season, or scarce in season: But sure I am that twice on the Sabbath, (if Gods word be the judge) can be termed no more but in season: and to preach longer and oftener on the fasting days, may not be called in the Apostle his sense, out of season.