A02178:2387
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.
Furthermore, this must he not seldom, now & then once in a month, or every quarter ••• ▪ he cannot so discharge his conscience before the Lord, who hath appointed him to feed his flock continually: but this cannot live and continue without food, no more1 can the soul live, unless it be continually fed and nourished with the milk of Gods word. He must therefore feed them continually, as we read that careful shepherd S. Paul did, when he took his leave to depart from Ephesus, after he had committed the keeping of Gods flock unto the Elders of the Church, and given them warning of false teachers which would be busy with them after his departure, and therefore exhorted them to watch. Remember (saith he) that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one, 2both night and day with tears. This diligence must be in Ministers to be evermore teaching, that if the Lord do not bless at one time, yet he may at another, they know not the time wherein the Lord will call any of his flock, he must therefore use the means diligently at all times, both in season and out of season, as S. Paul writeth to Timothy: I charge thee therefore before God, and before the Lord Jesus Christ, which shall judge the quick and the dead at that his appearing, and in his kingdom. Preach the word: be instant, in season and out of season, &c. It is no small matter to have such a charge laid upon him, as is here set down, and is given to all Ministers as well as to Timotheus, that even as they will answer before the judgement seat of God, when the secrets of all hearts shall be opened, so they will preach the word instantly, purely and continually, both in season and out of season, omitting no occasion that may be profitable. It is the manner of men to count it out of season, if it be not3 the Lords day, and therefore they will not let a little business of other days to hear the word of God preached, which tendeth to their welfare. The Ministers must labour for their sakes both out of season and in season: but if they be more mindful of their worldly pleasures or business, than of the salvation of their souls, their blood shall be upon their own head.