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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.
so the faith of Gods children, springing a fresh after the stormy winter of temptation, declareth manifestly that it was not dead when it seemed so to be, but was only respited for the time, that afterward it might bring forth more fruit, & whereas the afflicted soul desireth nothing more then to believe, though it feel not a present operation of comfort by faith; even that desire argueth a secret sense that cannot easily be discerned, together with assurance of better estate in time to come,1 according to that of our saviour Christ. Blessed are they that hunger & thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied: & that of the blessed virgin▪ he filleth the hum gry with good things, but the rich he hath ⟨p. 114⟩sent empty away. Also that bewailing & deploring of unbelief which is found in the afflicted, is not only a steppe unto their former comfort, but a certain proof & demonstration of the return thereof. For the Lord working by his spirit in the hearts of his children groanings that cannot be expressed, thereby assureth them that in his good time he will hear them and grant their requests. And so much the more we may be persuaded hereof because the love of God towards us, as it began not of us (as S. John sayeth,2 so it depē death not upon us, but upon the truth & constā city of him, with whom there is no change nor shadow of change. Again the temptation it self from which our affliction doth arise, though it have of it self a most bitter & sharp taste, even unto the wounding of our souls near unto death: yet hath it also in it argument of con fort: the Lord himself out of darkness raising up light unto his children. For even by this, that Satan so busily and so fiercely assaileth us, it doth appear that as once he lost his possession in us and was cast out by one more mighty then himself which is Christ: so now he findeth no peaceable entrance, but a strong & mighty resistance & that therefore there yet remaineth such part of the former work, he could not hitherto overthrow, nor shall be able forever, which is the secret seed of faith still sustained & nourished by the spirit of god ⟨p. 115⟩when we would think it were utterly extinguished.