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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.
as before I have said, that since the time of your affliction, there hath not been almost one, that hath had any extraordinary gift in that kind, who by conference, writing, or otherwise, hath not bestowed some part of his travail unto your comfort. I could my self name a great number besides those above mentioned, but your self can remember many more: now the testimony of so many faithful servants of Christ witnessing the grace and goodness of GOD towards you, must be as the voice of GOD himself: who is not as man that he should lie, or as the son of man that he should repent, or alter that which he hath once testified. And if Job do acknowledge that the comfort of one faithful witness on the behalf of GOD, is enough to the erecting and cheering of the heaviest mind, what can Satan say unto the testimony not of 2 or 3 witnesses which the law only requireth, but unto the testimony of 2 or 3 score, the meanest and weakest ⟨p. 132⟩whereof, should be able to answer in your behalf unto all that the enemy is able to object against you. The second thing I note is, that these have not come unto you by error or by chance, but by special address of Gods merciful providence, as sent from the throne of grace to bind up your wound, and to minister comfort unto your conscience. The third, that these speak not their own words nor of themselves, but are the faithful interpreters and declarers of the will and counsel of God, not indeed immediately from himself, but by viewing and esteeming of the work of God, and the fruits of his grace in those that are his. The fourth, that as they declare unto the afflicted, that favour of God towards them which themselves are not able for the present to discern, so they commend them by prayer unto the Lord, who hath promised to hear and to grant their requests.
as before I haue saide, that since the time of your affliction, there hath not beene almost one, that hath had any extraordinarie gifte in that kinde, who by conference, writing, or otherwise, hath not bestowed some parte of his trauaile vnto your comforte. I coulde my selfe name a greate number besides those aboue mentioned, but your selfe can remember many more: nowe the testimonie of so many faithfull seruantes of Christ witnessing the grace and goodnesse of GOD towardes you, must bee as the voyce of GOD himselfe: who is not as man that hee shoulde lie, or as the sonne of man that hee should repente, or alter that which hee hath once testified. And if Iob doe acknowledge that the comforte of one faithfull witnesse on the behalfe of GOD, is enough to the erecting and chearing of the heauiest minde, what can Sathan say vnto the testimonie not of 2 or 3 witnesses which the lawe onely requireth, but vnto the testimony of 2 or 3 score, the meanest and weakest