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,…

Besides, if all were Bishops, what need the rules which Paul giveth to Timothy and Titus for the choosing of Bishops? 1. Corin. 14. Paul saith, if any man be a Prophet, or spiritual, that is, a disciple: where he constituteth two orders, to wit, a Prophet or Teacher teaching by the spirit, and a Christian not of the common sort, but taught of God, or one that hath received of the graces of God. And again it is said, that young men should prophesy. Were then all ⟨p. 227⟩young men Prophets▪ Indeed Titus was young & a Minister, but he was chosen by Prophets, and foretold of, & had been instructed in the Scriptures from his childhood. For Bishop▪ he is so called of his office, because he overseeth, & so he is called an Elder for his gravity: which showeth, that even ordinarily then the Teachers were old. Christ began not to preach, until he was thirty years old, and John was old before he began to preach: and therefore ordinarily men ought to be of good age, before they come to that calling: not that I think, that none ought to teach before they be thirty years of age, but that it never was ordinary, that any young man should teach: for it is given in precept, that Teachers should not be young scholars. But it is one question, what God may do, and another what is ordinarily done. For God can, and doth often raise up young men to shame the aged, as it may be thought he hath done even in our days: but this was never ordinary, neither yet ought it to be. Women were not ordinarily admitted to this function, yet God to show his power and to shame men, doth sometime raise women Prophetesses. It is said here, that women should prophesy. What was this ever fulfilled? did women ever take upon them the room of teaching? Indeed there was a Prophetess among them, but that was not ordinarily. And when the women of Corinth began to be bold and to speak in the congregation, the Apostle giveth out a flat rule, that women should not speak, but learn in subjection It is said further, that servants, maids and men should see visions. Was this ever fulfilled? did they at any time take this office upon them? Indeed, if they had had the gifts, they had been fit, but we see it never came to pass. And seeing it was not then fulfilled in the Apostles time, then was it not any time fulfilled before, nor in any age since.