A02178:2386
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.
This must the Minister do both openly and privately: for it is not sufficient that he preach the word of God openly in the pulpit, but he must go to every mans house, and1 there diligently instruct both him and his house in the fear of God: and not as the manner of some is, to go to folks houses to tell them a tale, and flatter them with fair words and glossing speeches, to the end they might fill their belly sat another mans table, or get some other benefit which he hunteth after. These be hirelings and time-servers▪ which thrust themselves into the Ministry for lucre's sake, and because they would live idly, and take no pains for their living, but contrary to the commandment of God to live of other mens labours, these are not true Ministers, but such as the Prophet Malachi speaketh of in the first chapter of his Prophecy. The true Pastor must not have any such purpose:2 ⟨p. 345⟩but as it is his duty to labour to win the souls of his people unto Jesus Christ, so must he use all means both publicly, & privately, which may further his ministry and make3 it profitable. We might prove out of divers places of the word of God this his duty, both by the example of our Saviour Christ, the perfect pattern for all men to follow, who did not only preach openly in the Synagogue, but privately in mens houses. The Apostles did so likewise, and S. Paul witnesseth the same in the 20▪ chapter of the Acts with these words: I kept back nothing that was profitable, but have showed you, and taught you openly and throughout every house. This is the duty of a good Pastor. The reason hereof is very good, because that which is spoken generally to all, is regarded of very few or none: so wonderfully hath Satan stopped mens ears and blinded their understanding▪ that either they will not hearken4 at all, or else hearing, will never apply the same to their consciences: and therefore to prevent this, the Minister shall not stick to instruct them privately, when as they shall have no such occasion to apply that to other men that is spoken particularly to themselves. By this means, if the Lord hath appointed so, they may be brought home, or else have the testimony of his word in their consciences, even to make them unexcusable at the