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,…

CHAP. 1. Of Christian Admonition.

Worldly wise men call admonition meddling, & that they that look not to other mens matters are thought to be peaceable, and learned sober wise men, & they that practise admonition are thought to be unsociable. Cain himself was of this judgement, he was one that looked not after his brothers life, but soberly (as he thought) respected his own: by this one example we may see what spirit they have, who say, I have nothing to do with him. We, having learned not the practise of the world, but the practise of the word, look for another judgement, and breaking through all such shadows, we dare and must be busy with our brother, Levit, 19. 17, And if need be, we will sharply deal with him, as plucking him out of the fire, Jude vers. 23, We may not under the colour of peaceableness, muzzle our mouths: if I have an eye in the Church, I must point at sin; if I be an hand in the Church▪ I must pluck it out: for every sin not admonished, when, and where we may, is enrolled among our sins, because how many sins we have willingly seen or heard, and not rebuked nor lamented, we have committed them. They object, our corrupt nature is disposed to wink at the offences of our brethren. I answer, howsoever corruption may be intermingled, yet the first motion of rebuking sin is of God. A good Father said, I was never acquainted well with any, but first I displeased him by admonishing him of some sin. And like as the children of Israel were going but eleven days journey in thirty years: so we might go by admonition as far in eleven days, as some without it can do in many years▪ And as in a lethargy we have need of a purgation: so when the grace of God freezeth in us, we have need of admonition.