A02178:2388
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.
But when the Minister hath thus studied the word diligently, preached the word purely,1 declaring the counsel of God, exhorted both gently and sharply, laboured to win mens souls both openly and privately, and that very carefully as well out of season as in season, to what end will all this come? Paul may plant, Apollo also water, but it is God that must give the increase. Though the Minister laboureth never so earnestly, doing his duty absolutely, yet if God doth not bless and increase the same, all is in vain. As therefore the Minister is the mouth of God to speak unto the people, so must he be the peoples mouth,2 and pray unto the Lord both for himself and for them, that the Lord will bless him and them, and grant that the ministry of his word may be profitable both to himself and to them, and that the glory of God may be increased by the same. Thus we read our Saviour did, who being very God as well as man, and had power of himself to sanctify the ears and hearts of them which heard him, and to make his preaching profitable in such measure as himself listed, yet for an example to all other which should come after, he prayed ⟨p. 346⟩to his father both for himself and us. S. Paul also in all his Epistles testifieth how continually3 he maketh mention of them in his prayers. The Ministers therefore must pray, and that without ceasing, as well privately by himself, as openly in the congregation: and this promise hath our Saviour made, that whatsoever we shall ask the father in his name shall be granted unto us.
But when the Minister hath thus studied the word diligently, preached the word purely,1 declaring the counsell of God, exhorted both gently and sharply, laboured to win mens soules both openly and priuately, and that very carefully as well out of season as in season, to what end will all this come? Paul may plant, Apollo also water, but it is God that must giue the increase. Though the Minister laboureth neuer so earnestly, doing his dutie absolutely, yet if God doth not blesse and increase the same, all is in vaine. As therefore the Minister is the mouth of God to speake vnto the people, so must he be the peoples mouth,