RICHARD GREENHAM AND THE COUNSELLING OF TROUBLED SOULS
Greenham was a pastoral counsellor of uncommon skill
The fifth lecture at the Westminster Conference 2001 was given by Stanley
Jebb of Truro on "Richard Greenham and the Counselling of Troubled
Souls." We have learned about Greenham through J.I.Packer's admiration
for him. He has told us about him, and the facts were confirmed by Mr
Jebb. Richard Greenham, a pastoral pioneer, was incumbent of Dry Drayton,
seven miles from Cambridge, from 1570 to 1590. He worked extremely hard.
He rose daily at four and each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday preached
a sermon at daybreak, to catch his flock before they dispersed into the
fields; then on Sunday he preached twice, and in; addition catechised
the children of the parish each Sunday evening and Thursday morning. Mornings
he studied, afternoons he visited the sick or walked out into the fields
'to confer with his Neighbours as they were at Plough'. In his preaching,
Henry Holland his biographer tells us, 'he was so earnest, and took such
extraordinary pains, that his shirt would usually be as wet with sweating,
as if it had been drenched with water, so that he was forced, as soon
as he came out of the Pulpit to shift himself...'
Greenham was a pastoral counsellor of uncommon skill. 'Having great Experience
and an excellent Faculty to relieve and comfort distressed Consciences,'
writes Holland, 'he was sought to, far and near, by such as groaned under
spiritual Afflictions and temptations... the fame of this spiritual Physician
so spread abroad that he was sent for to very many, and the Lord was pleased
so far to bless his labours that by his knowledge and experience many
were restored to joy and comfort.' His friends hoped he would write a
book on the art of counselling, but he never did; nonetheless, he passed
on a great deal of his lore to others by word of mouth. In a letter to
his bishop he described his ministry as 'preaching Christ crucified unto
my selfe and Country people', and the contents of his posthumously published
Works (a small folio of over 800 pages) bear this out. Yet, for all his
godliness, insight, evangelical message and hard work, his ministry was
virtually fruitless. Others outside his parish were blessed through him,
but not his own people. 'Greenham had pastures green, but flocks full
lean' was a little rhyme that went round among the godly. 'I perceive
noe good wrought by my ministry on any but one family' was what, according
to Holland, he said to his successor. In rural England in Greenham's day,
there was much fallow ground to be broken up; it was a time for sowing,
but the reaping time was still in the future. (see J.I.Packer, Among God's
Giants, p.51).
All that preaching, to so little effect was done with a fiery energy,
so that his shirt was wet with perspiration at the end of a service. Auricular
confession had been criminalised, and so Greenham encouraged his Anglican
parishioners to come to him with their needs. He encouraged them to go
to God, but he also gave them biblical counsel. He visited them in their
homes and urged them to be gentle in their counsel with compassion for
their brothers and sisters.
Stanley Jebb ended his message quoting this hymn of Fanny Crosby:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin
and the grave. Weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them
of Jesus, the Mighty to save.
Though they are slighting him still he is waiting, waiting the penitent
child to receive. Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently; he
will forgive if they only believe.
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie burdened
that grace can restore; Touched by a loving hand, wakened by kindness,
chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it; strength for thy labour the Lord
will provide: Back to the narrow way patiently win them; tell the poor
wanderer a Saviour has died.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will
save.
GEOFF THOMAS
