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,…

We see that little children are not able to guide themselves, no not to feed themselves at the first, but must be guided and nourished by the help of their parents, until they be able to shift for themselves: So must the children of God be guided and nourished by the word of God, that they may grow from strength to strength, from faith to faith, till they come to a perfect¹ age in Christ. Therefore it is necessary that the people be obedient unto the Minister, to whom the Lord hath given his word to distribute unto his children, and to increase and strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.

We see that little children are not able to guide themselues, no not to feede themselues at the first, but must be guided and nourished by the helpe of their parents, vntill they be able to shift for themselues: So must the children of God bee guided and nourished by the word of God, that they may grow from strength to strength, from faith to faith, till they come to a perfect¹ age in Christ. Therefore it is necessarie that the people be obedient vnto the Minister, to whome the Lord hath giuen his word to distribute vnto his children, and to increase and strengthen their faith in Iesus Christ.

1. 1We must grow from strength to strength.

But some will say, is this given to the Ministers only? what if they teach their own devises, and not the pure word of God, and make us believe we are in an happy case, when we are in most misery, and yet desire to be directed in the true pathway unto salvation? I answer, that you must therefore try the doctrine which he bringeth by the touchstone of Gods word, and see that it accord therewith: for in that the Lord giveth the understanding and interpreting of the scriptures unto the ministers, it is not without great cause that he doth it, when as he appointeth them by the power of his word, as the means without which they can do nothing, to bring together his children, yea, by the sharp sword of the word to pierce their souls and consciences to the utter slaying of sin, and with the excellent virtue of the same word to heal them again: which thing if the Ministers for their part shall not faithfully execute in such order as before I entreated of, speaking of the duty of Ministers, even that gift the Lord will so straightly call to account, that he shall bear the danger of every soul that hath perished through his default. Yet shall not the people be hereby discharged: for they must try his doctrine (as I said before) and take heed that they be not seduced; for if they be, they shall dye in their own sins. If any will say that he is ignorant, truly I say, he is in a dangerous case; but if God hath showed him such mercy as to make him desirous to be instructed in the right way to salvation, let him crave knowledge at the Lords hand, never cease, but be importunate upon the Lord in craving his holy spirit, to work in him all spiritual grace, to work in him