A02181:152
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.
If your present discouragement resist the comfort of these meditations, it is no new thing, that in our weakness we should after the manner of those that be sick, disadvantage our selves of that, which might do us most good: yet remember how injurious a thing it were, to esteem the children of God by their present agonies and conflict of conscience, rather then by the comfort of that estate wherein the grace of God shined plentifully upon them and in them. For as when men are diseased it cannot thereof be concluded, that they were never in health; so the present discomfortures of the children of God, though they take away the sense of his mercy for a time, yet they are no repeal of his former goodness and favour towards them, nor deny them to have been, even in ⟨p. 122⟩their own judgement and feeling, dear unto the Lord: and still to be, though the storm and tempest of their present affliction suffer them not so lively and comfortably to enjoy the same, as before. For which cause they must with Job and David call to remembrance the comforts of times past,1 from thence to assure themselves of the return of the good hand of the Lord in due time. I doubt not but you can be witness unto God and to your own self, that the time hath been when your comfort and assurance of Gods favour was such, as Satan himself could not deny the testimony which then the spirit of God did bear unto your spirit. Now the gifts and calling of God are without repentance,2 and whom he loveth he loveth unto the end, neither doth our salvation depend upon any thing of our own: for then we should a thousand times perish and fall before the enemy, but upon that eternal and everlasting love of God, wherewith he hath loved us in Jesus Christ before the foundations of the world were laid: which love of his, if it hath at any time been made known unto us and apprehended of us, we have assurance greater then the testimony of men and Angels. But you will say, that which sometimes I felt is now gone, and in stead thereof I ⟨p. 123⟩am perpetually oppressed with the horror of the wrath of God just against me for my sins. It is true that the power and sense of faith is not always alike in the children of God: