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,…

10 Another scruple is yet to be answered, whether the Prophets did speak these things being in themselves, or as rapt out of themselves. True it is, the Heathen Prophets did speak things to others only, the Prophets of God did otherwise, as they that were themselves ravished and affected with the things given out to others. The promises of God by¹ them delivered, were as honey in their own mouths, so sweetly were they moved with them: the threatenings denounced abroad, left a sharp sting in their own bowels, and made themselves to tremble; the word of obedience taught to others, bound them as straightly, as if others had been the teachers of that word, and they to be taught by it. Seeing then this is the certainty and dignity of the writings of the Prophets, is it not strange that the Prophets, at whose doors and thresholds, stood Princes and Governors in times past to ask counsel, should now of every mean person be either wholly contemned, or recklessly received, when they are read or interpreted? Though the greater thing is to do, yet the first thing is to learn. For as hearing without doing addeth to our confusion, so doing without knowledge, is neither acceptable to God, nor profitable for us. Let us not therefore hear only or hear vanity, let us not hear the Preachers as we hear Minstrels, least that when we should be old men in knowledge, and children in malice, we become old men in malice, and remain as children in understanding.

10 Another scruple is yet to be answered, whether the Prophets did speake these things being in themselues, or as rapt out of themselues. True it is, the Heathen Prophets did speake things to others onely, the Prophets of God did otherwise, as they that were themselues rauished and affected with the things giuen out to others. The promises of God by¹ them deliuered, were as honey in their owne mouthes, so sweetly were they mooued with them: the threatnings denounced abroad, left a sharpe sting in their owne bowels, and made themselues to tremble; the word of obedience taught to others, bound them as straightly, as if others had been the teachers of that word, and they to be taught by it. Seeing then this is the certaintie and dignitie of the writings of the Prophets, is it not strange that the Prophets, at whose doores and thresholds, stood Princes and Gouernours in times past to aske counsell, should now of euery meane person be either wholie contemned, or rechlesly receiued, whē they are read or interpreted? Though the greater thing is to do, yet the first thing is to learne. For as hearing without doing addeth to our confusion, so doing without knowledge, is neither acceptable to God, nor profitable for vs. Let vs not therefore heare only or heare vanitie, let vs not heare the Preachers as we heare Minstrels, least that when we should be old men in knowledge, and children in malice, wee become old men in malice, and remaine as children in vnderstanding.