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Paramythion two treatises of the comforting of an afflicted conscience, writtenParamythion tvvo treatises of the comforting of an afflicted conscience, written
Paramythion two treatises of the comforting of an afflicted conscience, written by M. Richard Greenham, with certain epistles of the same argument. Hereunto are added two sermons, with certain grave and wise counsels and answers of the same author and argument.Paramythion tvvo treatises of the comforting of an afflicted conscience, written by M. Richard Greenham, with certaine epistles of the same argument. Heereunto are added two sermons, with certaine graue and wise counsells and answeres of the same author and argument.
London: printed by Richard Bradocke for Robert Dexter, 1598
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.
Thus Job cursed the day of his birth, and wished to be strangled; Jeremiah almost repented that ever he preached in the name of the Lord: both scarcely abstain from blasphemy. David moved with the spirit of ambition (though dutifully admonished) wilfully w•nt on in numbering the people; Peter also vain gloriously presuming of his own strength, being most wisely and effectually preadmonished of his weakness even by our Lord Jesus, yet wittingly rusheth as a horse into the battle and then very cowardly yieldeth, yea doubly denieth, yea strengtheneth his sin with a threefold cord, and fasteneth it with banning and cursings: and yet all these obtained mercy most bountifully. For why? as Satan had desired to winnow them, so our Lord Jesus prayed for them, that their faith, though it was vehemently assaulted, yet should not be overcome; although it was battered, yet that it should not be destroyed▪ and though it was oppressed, yet that it should not be extinguished. And here be you fully persuaded, that albeit Luke. 22.31. the words seem to run as belonging but to Peter, Uz. I have prayed for thee that thy faith should not fail; yet he prayed for the rest of the Apostles, yea for all the faithful. For first he saith not, Simon satan hath desired to winnow thee: but you. Why then saith he, I have prayed for ⟨p. 97⟩thee? Verily because he should more grievously offend than the rest: although their offence was very great; therefore his and our most blessed Saviour applied to him the promise, but did not appropriate it unto him only, and restrained it from the rest. Compare with this place. John. 17.20. and you shall see that the heavenly verity affirmeth; that he prayed not only for the Apostles, but for all those that should believe through their word: yea farther, Our lord Jesus Christ was yesterday, is to day, & shall be for ever. And as the forefathers were baptised into him,1 and did eat his flesh, and did drink his blood; so was his prayer effectual even to them under the law; much more to us under grace. And when you can find testimony in your heart, that when you would do well, evil is present with you, and that you do the evil you would not; then do not you it, but sin in you, when it leadeth you captive.