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,…

Now that it cannot be literally understood (& there is great danger if it be not rightly understood) it is proved thus: Because there was never any age at one time, wherein all were Prophets, yet this saying was true and fulfilled in the Apostles time, and yet not so literally, that we can perceive, that all the Apostles prophesied and saw dreams. Peter and Paul indeed saw dreams: but where shall we find, that all the other Apostles did so? and yet this were not so fulfilled, unless the hearers also should prophesy. But this was not so even at that time, and therefore it was not literally fulfilled in them, that all sorts of men had all these gifts: and therefore it must needs follow, that it was never so universally fulfilled, because either at that time it was fulfilled or never. For even in the Apostles time all were not Teachers, neither shall it ever be in any time hereafter, because God is a God of order, and not of confusion, and hath appointed and purposed this diversity, that some should be Teachers, and some learners. Wherefore the Apostle, after he hath set down the divers callings of Christians for edifying of the Church, 1. Cor. 12. he addeth vers. 29. Are all Apostles? are all Prophets? are all Teachers? Yea Paul proveth, that it was not then so. For as there be divers members in one body, & all members have not the same office: so it is in the Church of Christ. For all are not Prophets, all are not Apostles, all are not Teachers. As if he should say: We see it is not so, but God hath otherwise disposed it. Ephes. 4. it is said, that Christ when he ascended did ordain divers offices, some to be Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the gathering together of the Saints for the work of the ministry, and for the edification of the body of Christ, until the number of the elect be fulfilled, and not until men become perfect in this life, as some men have foolishly dreamed. Here we see some Teachers, and the rest the work of the ministry. Again, Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians intituleth his Epistle to the Saints, which was the Church, and to the Bishops and Deacons, which were the Ministers of the Church: all the Saints were not Bishops, all the Saints were not Deacons.

Now that it cannot be litterally vnderstood (& there is great danger if it be not rightly vnderstood) it is proued thus: Because there was neuer any age at one time, wherein all were Prophets, yet this saying was true and fulfilled in the Apostles time, and yet not so literally, that we can perceiue, that all the Apostles prophecied and saw dreames. Peter and Paul indeede saw dreames: but where shall we find, that all the other Apostles did so? and yet this were not so fulfilled, vnlesse the hearers also should prophecie. But this was not so euen at that time, and therefore it was not literally fulfilled in them, that all sorts of men had all these gifts: and therefore it must needes follow, that it was neuer so vniuersally fulfilled, because either at that time it was fulfilled or neuer. For euen in the Apostles time all were not Teachers, neither shall it euer be in any time hereafter, because God is a God of order, and not of confusion, and hath appointed and purposed this diuersitie, that some should bee Teachers, and some learners. Wherefore the Apostle, after hee hath set downe the diuers callings of Christians for edifying of the Church,