A02178:2370
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,…
The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: revised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as love the truth, and desire to know the power of godliness. By H.H.The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: reuised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as loue the truth, and desire to know the power of godlinesse. By H.H.
London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for William Welby, 1612London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for VVilliam VVelby, 1612
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For the end why the Lord placeth faithful and labouring pastors of his Church, is, that1 they may teach his children out of his word the way to heaven sincerely and purely: and such governors must we obey and be ruled by them according to the word of God. Neither must we say in heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is to bring Christ from above) or who shall descend into the deep? (that is to bring Christ again from the dead) but the word of God is near thee, even in thy mouth, and in thine heart. We must therefore obey the true Ministers and faithful labourers in the Lords Vineyard, and learn by that wholesome doctrine which they bring unto us, how to attain unto salvation: for there is no other means in the world to come unto Christ than by the preaching of the word, according to that saying of S. Paul▪ faith is by hearing, and hearing by the word of God: and as he2 speaketh a little before, how shall they hear without a Preacher? We may therefore draw a very strong argument to prove that faithful Ministers are appointed of God to this end, only to bring home his children into the sheepfold of Jesus Christ. True faith maketh us only heirs of the kingdom of heaven; faith cannot be attained without hearing of Gods3 word preached; the word of it self cannot be preached without a Preacher: therefore Preachers are the only means appointed of God to work faith in his children by the preaching of Gods word, and the secret working of the holy Ghost, whereby they are made partakers of the promises. Whosoever therefore is not content with this ordinance of God, but would have some further revelation from heaven, shall never be partakers of the benefits of Jesus Christ. He himself declareth in the parable of the rich glutton, that4 whosoever would not believe the messengers of God which are the Preachers of the word, they would not believe though one should rise from the dead to instruct them. For in the word of God is set forth most clearly and manifestly the true and certain rule to live by, and the means whereby to attain unto salvation.
For the end why the Lord placeth faithfull and labouring pastors of his Church, is, that