A02178:4993
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,…
The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: revised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as love the truth, and desire to know the power of godliness. By H.H.The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: reuised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as loue the truth, and desire to know the power of godlinesse. By H.H.
London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for William Welby, 1612London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for VVilliam VVelby, 1612
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. XIII. Of the contempt of the Ministry.
CHAP. XIII. Of the contempt of the Ministerie.
1 Jehu being threatened, called the Prophet a madbrain, (for so they judged of them1 that digressed any whit from the set composition of words, and orderly precepts of their art) which no doubt therefore hath, and will come to pass, because men can no longer either lend eye, or ear, than either they can see by reason, or discern by art,2 or whiles the speaker keepeth himself within this ordinary course of stile, or carieth himself even in an orderly and oratorious period, so long as witty invention, comely compassing of matter, proportionable measure of words are afforded: but if a man come to cut up the conscience, and in some vehemency of spirit dealeth more roughly, and less orderly with their special sins, then he is brainsick, and runneth, as they say, besides the text. Neither are these complainers silly souls, but learned Parthians, and wise Arabians, men elaborate in art, skilful in precepts, and proud Babylonians, who cannot discern between a godly vehemency of spirit for the Lord of hosts sake, and a railing austerity of speech for malice, or vain glory sake. If then Paul be misconstrued wrongfully, he must recompense such sins with meekness patiently, whereby often the Lord hath brought to pass, that the proudest heart of most obstinate gainsayers have been more broken, seeing the mild sufferance of the Ministers of Christ, than if they had been pursued with most hot revengement; which then especially experience hath proved true, when the Lord with some cross and humiliation sealing the truth of his faithful and zealous servants, hath caused many to think themselves to have resisted the graces of God, and persecuted the gifts of God in them, whom they thought before to be curious, precise, and seekers of singularity.