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 whereas many have great courage to rebuke such as either cannot gainsay them, or gainsaying them, cannot prevail against them, here cometh another property of¹ zeal to be spoken of, and that is, that it feareth not the face of the mighty, neither is it dismayed at the looks of the proud and the lofty. Such a courage was in Job, who besides that he made the young men ashamed of their liberty and afraid of his gravity, made even the Princes also to stay their talk, and to lay their hands on their mouths. And yet here² we must beware of their hasty zeal, who will not stick to charge the children of God to be without zeal, if presently and abruptly they rush not into an open reprehension of men that are mighty in authority, as though no regard of place, time and persons were to be had: which opinion many by weakness of judgement defending, find neither fruit in³ others, nor comfort in their own consciences, when they do admonish in that presumptuous manner: for that hunting after ferventness without the spirit of meekness, and casting off all consideration of a godly opportunity, they rather exasperate than humble the parties admonished, and they themselves rather depart with confusion and shame, for such posting on without warrant of wisdom, and not according to knowledge, than with comfort of heart for any duty done. Neither am I here ignorant how great danger of trouble of mind cometh to many, in that they being so curious observers and waiters⁴ of opportunity, do for some ease of the flesh, under the cloak of this wisdom, altogether leave off that godly duty. Wherefore as we affirm that wisdom and love mixed together, do deeply enter into the most prefract and prodigious spirits: so we mislike their fearful delay of duty, who having a mean occasion offered them from the Lord, do not earnestly pu••ue the quarrel of the Lord, and earnestly rebuke sin though in some higher persona••es.

Now whereas many haue great courage to rebuke such as either cannot gainsay them, or gainsaying them, cannot preuaile against them, here commeth another propertie of