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,…

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all, which is above all, and through all, and in you all. We must therefore take this as the Scripture teacheth, that¹ the ministry of his word is the necessariest thing in the world, which cannot be done without faithful Pastors and distributers of the same. For when the Lord will beget your souls, which he doth not by mortal seed, but by the immortal seed of his word, he will appoint you a spiritual father also. He never establisheth any kingdom, but he appointeth a King, and when he hath any scholar, he provideth him a schoolmaster to instruct and teach him his most holy will. For this is most certain, where a Common-weal is without government, the case is very miserable, one man shall not live by another. Again, if there be such governors, as use tyranny, oppression, and seek to enrich themselves, gathering and scraping all into their hands; what miserable slavery shall the poor people be brought into? So it is in the church of God, if such be placed over it, as be blind, unable to feed the flock, such as seek their own pleasure, to fill their bellies, to clothe their backs, to enrich their coffers, and to live as they list, the people of God shall be in miserable case, as blind men groping out of the way, and be devoured of their adversary² the devil (who as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour) because they know not how to resist him by a steadfast faith, and so be led away captive unto hell.³ This cometh of not having a Pastor, or having such a one as regardeth not the souls of his people.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptisme, one God and father of all, which is aboue all, and through all, and in you all. We must therefore take this as the Scripture teacheth, that¹ the ministerie of his word is the necessariest thing in the world, which cannot be done without faithfull Pastors and distributers of the same. For when the Lord will beget your soules, which he doth not by mortall seede, but by the immortall seede of his word, he will appoynt you a spirituall father also. He neuer establisheth any kingdome, but he appointeth a King, and when he hath any scholler, he prouideth him a schoolemaster to instruct and teach him his most holy will. For this is most certaine, where a Common-weale is without gouernment, the case is very miserable, one man shall not liue by another. Againe, if there be such gouernours, as vse tyrannie, oppression, and seeke to enrich themselues, gathering and scraping all into their hands; what miserable slauerie shall the poore people be brought into? So it is in the church of God, if such be placed ouer it, as be blind, vnable to feede the flock, such as seeke their owne pleasure, to fill their bellies, to cloathe their backes, to enrich their coffers, and to liue as they list, the people of God shall be in miserable case, as blinde men groping out of the way, and be deuoured of their aduersarie