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,…

This might seem to be able to discourage them▪ but contrariwise through the blessing of God his spirit they espied their own wants in themselves, and began to seek a new Ministry. Now if they had taken the matter too much to heart, they might have become unprofitable, but they meekly passing over the offence, and wisely looking to the counsel of God, thought themselves to be but men, and that they could not infinitely be occupied or busied in many things, ordained Deacons in the Church. This then we must make a special use of, when for some good means used, or otherwise much unkindness is offered us even of our friends, or we find little thanks for our travel, nay sometime reap reproaches at their hands for our reward; that then we grow not slacker in our duties, or wax cold in love, and droop in our affection towards them; which if we do, we shall bewray that our affection was merely and only natural, and not spiritual. True it is and cannot be denied, that a kind heart and liberal mind is most broken with reproaches, but yet this offence must be overcome, and striven against in us, after the example both of Peter in our present text, and of the rest of the Apostles in that former place, Acts 6. who rather took occasion to accuse themselves, than to cease to be profitable to the Church of Christ. Neither is it, neither ought it to seem to us a strange thing, that the graces and gifts of God have found such cold entertainment, yea which is a thing more contrary, great repulses and reproaches. Much learning, saith Festus, Acts 26. 24. maketh Paul mad: the works of God his spirit here are counted drunkenness. Ezekiel is thought to sing a fond song; Christ was thought to cast out devils by the power of the devil: John Baptist was thought but a melancholic man; Jehu being threatened, called the Prophet a mad brain (for so they judged of the Prophets, digressing somewhat from the set order and compositions of words and precepts of their art.) So that the graces of God seem often to men to be clean contrary. If this hath been always the judgement of the world, that, because they could no longer hear men, or further see into things, than either reason or art did guide them, they thought the Prophets, and Apostles railing spirits and barren soils; we must not think it a new thing.

This might seeme to be able to discourage them▪ but contrariwise through the blessing of God his spirit they espied their own wants in themselues, and began to seeke a new Ministerie. Now if they had taken the matter too much to heart, they might haue become vnprofitable, but they meekely passing ouer the offence, and wisely looking to the counsell of God, thought themselues to be but men, and that they could not infinitely bee ocupied or busied in many things, ordained Deacons in the Church. This then we must make a speciall vse of, when for some good meanes vsed, or otherwise much vnkindnes is offered vs euen of our friends, or we find little thankes for our trauell, nay sometime reape reproches at their hands for our reward; that then we growe not slacker in our duties, or waxe colde in loue, and droope in our affection towards them; which if we doe, we shall bewray that our affection was meerely and onely naturall, and not spirituall. True it is and cannot be denied, that a kinde heart and liberall minde is most broken with reproches, but yet this offence must be ouercome, and striuen against in vs, after the example both of Peter in our present text, and of the rest of the Apostles in that former place,