Paramythion two treatises of the comforting of an afflicted conscience, writtenParamythion tvvo treatises of the comforting of an afflicted conscience, written

For albeit we have nothing to glory in before God,¹ when the question is of the cause of our salvation; yet the effects of this grace and favour of God towards us in the former fruits of our faith, may yield us no small comfort in the time of our heaviness and of the anguish of our spirits: here of it is that the Prophet in the psalms doth so often protest his obedience unto God,² & care to do his commandments, hereof it is that Job unto the comforting of his distressed conscience remembereth the course of his former life,³ led in the fear of God and obedience of righteousness. For although we may not attribute any merit, unto our works,⁴ but must give the whole glory of our salvation unto Christ alone; yet our works ⟨p. 119⟩do witness for us, that we are the children of God, because we are guided by his spirit and as the Apostle saith,⁵ though the body be dead in respect of sin, yet the spirit is life for righteousness sake. Also the gracious effects of Christ himself dwelling in our hearts by faith, are sure and certain testimonies that we are members of his body & do belong unto him, because as branches implanted into him which is the vine, we bring forth fruit according unto the nature of the vine. If it be said we do yet sin:⁶ our answer is, that that happeneth unto us, not from the new creature, but from that other part yet remaining in us still subdued under sin, in which the Lord of mercy doth not esteem us, but in that new man which is fashioned again according unto his own image. In so much as S. Paul doubteth not to say, that the sins of the faithful proceeding from the remainder of corruption yet abiding in them are not their works,⁷ but the works of the flesh which being already wounded unto death by the power of the death of Christ, languisheth more & more,