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,…

for if you should wax obstinate in the end, and become disobedient to those that labour in the Lord for your behoof, I tell you truly all your former obedience shall no whit profit you, nay your end shall be worse; be lowly therefore and reverence your Teachers in the Lord that you may with great humility, as it becometh the children of God, receive¹ the promises. And least the adversaries should persuade, that this your obedience and willing following of the Gospel hath come unto you of your own nature, that by that means he may draw you to disobey the Ministers of God, whom you cannot disobey but you must also despise the word and him that sent them, and so fall from all grace: I tell you therefore plainly, that it never came of your selves, for it is God that worketh in you both the will & the deed; and that not of your desert, but of his own good pleasure. We see then that the people must obey their Minister, & give diligent heed to be taught by them the whole counsel of the Lord concerning the salvation of their souls: which thing also² our Saviour Christ doth manifest in the tenth of John: My sheep (saith he) hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, &c. Our Saviour Christ giveth us a notable token here to know the children of God by, and that is, If they hear his voice and follow him: for they that will not be obedient unto him are none of his, neither yet partakers of those benefits which he hath purchased for his. But peradventure some will say: It is true, that if a man will not obey the voice of Jesus Christ he is not for him: but where is Jesus Christ that we may hear him and obey him? O brother take heed how thou seekest such cavillations to maintain thine obstinacy, for thou canst not so shake of thy duty to thy Minister▪ but if thou confess it thy duty to be obedient unto Jesus Christ, I tell thee plainly thou oughtest no less to obey the Minister in that he bringeth the message of Christ, t•ā if himself were present. For he being the very Truth it self hath said plainly on the Ministers behalf: He that heareth you heareth me: and he that despiseth you, despiseth me: and he that despiseth me. ³despiseth him that sent me.