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,…

so therefore we do in long use contemn the word and prayer, and sacraments, because we know not the necessity and the use of them. Whensoever then we begin to be cloyed, let us know the nature of a sin doth begin to grow in us, not that in the long use of the word we are so full of knowledge, but for that we know not the use of it, and therefore like swine we leave the pearl, and go to the shells. Greatly therefore are we to pray against this. Concerning hatred, when the pearls are contemned, the Jeweller is wrathful, and when the word is despised, the Lord is surely displeased, for which cause good men feeling their spirits to grow hot at the sight of such contempt, and the contemners seeing themselves to be drawn out into the midst of the congregation as it were, then they begin to war with the Lord and his Ministers, and they seek either in their living to muzzle them, or else to pursue them with the sword of Ismael, that is, with their tongues to smite them, and so to try them even as with coals of Juniper. David complains, that he was compassed about with dogs, which thing was most accomplished in Christ, who was made of many pieces, sometime thought to be a Demoniac, sometime a drunkard, sometime a friend of Publicans and sinners▪ and as they speak of the Master, so will they speak of the Disciples, whatsoever comes into their choler. Yet though there be three parts of the land nought, for the fourth sake we must sow, that though three parts of the congregation be not good, yet for the fourth part we must preach, as Christ, who went about into all places, for an hundred and twenty souls, who no doubt had four times as many hearers: and so we must follow the renting part for their sake, that hear with reverence and fruit.

so therefore we doe in long vse contemne the word and prayer, and sacraments, because we know not the necessitie and the vse of them. Whensoeuer then we begin to be cloyed, let vs know the nature of a sinne doth begin to grow in vs, not that in the long vse of the word we are so full of knowledge, but for that we know not the vse of it, and therefore like swine we leaue the pearle, and goe to the shels. Greatly therefore are we to pray against this. Concerning hatred, when the pearles are contemned, the Ieweller is wrathfull, and when the word is despised, the Lord is surely displeased, for which cause good men feeling their spirits to grow hot at the sight of such contempt, and the contemners seeing themselues to be drawen out into the midst of the congregation as it were, then they begin to warre with the Lord and his Ministers, and they seeke either in their liuing to muzzle them, or else to pursue them with the sword of Ismael, that is, with their tongues to smite them, and so to trie them euen as with coles of Iuniper. Dauid complaines, that he was compassed about with dogges, which thing was most accomplished in Christ, who was made of many peeces, sometime thought to be a Demoniacke, sometime a drunkard, sometime a friend of Publicans and sinners and as they speake of the Master, so wil they speake of the Disciples, whatsoeuer comes into their choler. Yet though there be three parts of the land nought, for the fourth sake we must sow, that though three parts of the congregation be not good, yet for the fourth part we must preach, as Christ, who went about into all places, for an hundred and twentie soules, who no doubt had foure times as many hearers: and so we must follow the renting part for their sake, that heare with reuerence and fruit.