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 Minister therefore of necessity must teach the people, he must learn first; for it is¹ not possible for him to teach another that which he himself hath not learned: which is a strong argument to prove the first part concerning his study, and reading of the word: which as we have proved to be the first point in his office, so will we, God willing, make manifest in this point of his duty, that he ought also to teach the same, and must not keep continually in his study filling himself with knowledge, till he become as full as a tun that will not sound when one knocketh upon it: but he must come out of his closet and preach the word of God and deliver forth wholesome doctrine, and so declare by feeding of the flock of Christ that they love their master Christ, whose servants they profess themselves to be. Let these deep learned Clerks, which brag and vaunt of such deep knowledge and abundance of learning, come forth and show the same, that we may bear record that it is so: for if they be the servants of the Lord, they must not have knowledge buried in themselves, but in their lips, that Gods children may be taught thereby to attain unto salvation: for the Lord hath ordained the preaching of his word to be the only means, whereby he calleth together his elect; and to that end hath he given gifts to men, that by their labour the body of Jesus Christ might be perfected. He² gave them not a talent to hide in the ground, but to occupy & increase the same: let them be assured therefore when our King shall come to call us to account, they shall as hardly be handled, for not occupying & increasing it to his glory, as they should, if they contemptuously throw the same away. The Minister therefore of Gods word must not only be learned but must teach also: for how can he be a minister of doctrine, but in this respect that he teacheth, executing that office of his ministry? And this teaching is none other thing, but to preach the word of God sincerely, and purely with a care of the glory of God, and a desire of the salvation of our brethren: & secondly a reverent administration of the sacraments, according to the order & institution of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Minister therefore of necessitie must teach the people, he must learne first; for it is¹ not possible for him to teach another that which he himselfe hath not learned: which is a strong argument to prooue the first part concerning his studie, and reading of the word: which as we haue prooued to be the first point in his office, so will we, God willing, make manifest in this point of his duty, that he ought also to teach the same, and must not keepe continually in his studie filling himselfe with knowledge, till he become as full as a tunne that will not sound when one knocketh vpon it: but he must come out of his closet and preach the word of God and deliuer forth holsome doctrine, and so declare by feeding of the flocke of Christ that they loue their maister Christ, whose seruants they professe themselues to be. Let these deepe learned Clerkes, which bragge and vaunt of such deepe knowledge and abundance of learning, come forth and shew the same, that we may beare record that it is so: for if they be the seruants of the Lord, they must not haue knowledge buried in themselues, but in their lippes, that Gods children may be taught thereby to attaine vnto saluation: for the Lord hath ordained the preaching of his word to be the onely meanes, whereby he calleth together his elect; and to that ende hath he giuen gifts to men, that by their labour the body of Iesus Christ might be perfited. He