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 SECOND TREATISE, BELONGING TO THE COMFORT OF AN AFFLICTED CONSCIENCE.

IN all afflictions Gods children must look unto the end: they are to desire to profit by them, and in them to seek¹ •he way of sound comfort and consolation: which that they may find, they must know that the afflictions of the godly last but a while, they serve them but for salves and medicines, the end of them is always happy. In them they are not only preserved, and purified from many sins: but also much beautified with the image of Jesus Christ, who is the eldest son in the house of God. Again, the cross of true Christians is the sweet and amiable call of God unto repentance, in that he putteth us in mind thereby to bethink us of our debts: because we are given to think the day of payment is yet far off: yea, we fall asleep until our turn be ended, and whilst God lengtheneth our days waiting for our repentance, we never think of our sins, until the hour come wherein we perish with shame. The best meeting then with the Lords visitation, is without delay, and in sincerity to pray for our sins to be pardoned. For therefore doth the Lord oftentimes shackle us the more with the chains of his chastisements, because we are more careful to be unburdened of our sickness, than to be freed from our sin: which we the rather are loath to confess, because we would not be espied to be in the wrath of God. Others there be that hearing of their sins in the time of their afflictions, will acknowledge indeed their infirmities to be the mother² of such a brood: yet they have no true remorse to restrain themselves from sin, because they have but a confused conceit thereof: and though their ship be never so much tossed and turmoiled, yet think they not that God holdeth the stern These men, if God bear with them, do as it were settle in their lees, and are as it were soaked in their sins. For prosperity is a drunkenness, to cast our selves into a dead sleep, and when the Lord letteth us alone, we cease not to soothe up ourselves, bearing our selves in hand, that we are in Gods favour, and that he loveth us, because he scourgeth us not. And thus reckless we are whilst we measure Gods love according to our sense and humour. Wherein we bewray our ignorance of the exercise of the cross, in that affliction is the mother of humility, humility breedeth repentance, and repentance obtaineth mercy.