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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.
The fifth, that for comfort in this cause, we must pass out of our selves, in whom there is nothing that may ease our grief, and cast our eye and cogitation only upon Christ, in whom all fullness of salvation doth dwell, considering that this is one of the means whereby Satan doth most distress and anguish the afflicted souls, that he holdeth them in the cogitation of their sins and ⟨p. 133⟩transgressions against GOD, and suffereth them not to see, that length, breadeth, height, and depth, and to know that love of Christ that passeth all knowledge,1 that they might be filled with all the fullness of God. The sixth, that the Lord both mercifully blesseth the labours of his servants in comforting his children, and also graciously heareth their prayers and supplications made in their behalf unto his majesty. And the last, that God in his good time erecteth the minds of the afflicted, and openeth their mouths to praise his name, and to protest his goodness, that he hath brought again their soul from the pit, and hath shined upon them with the light of life. Which effect of the grace of GOD, because you have both seen in others, and felt in your self many times, you have great cause to hope and expect the return of his comforting hand in due season, who also shall once determine these conflicting days, and set us in that peace which shall never be interrupted, and wherein all tears shall be wiped away from our faces for ever.2
The fift, that for comfort in this cause, we must passe out of our selues, in whom there is nothing that may ease our griefe, and cast our eye and cogitation onelie vpon Christ, in whom all fulnesse of saluation doth dwell, considering that this is one of the meanes whereby Sathan doth most distresse and anguish the afflicted soules, that he holdeth them in the cogitation of their sinnes and ⟨p. 133⟩transgressions against GOD, and suffereth them not to see, that length, breadeth, height, and depth, and to knowe that loue of Christ that passeth all knowledge,1 that they might be filled with all the fulnesse of God. The sixt, that the Lorde both mercifullie blesseth the labours of his seruantes in comforting his children, and also graciouslie heareth their prayers and supplications made in their behalfe vnto his maiestie. And the last, that God in his good time erecteth the mindes of the afflicted, and openeth their mouthes to praise his name, and to protest his goodnes, that hee hath brought againe their soule from the pitt, and hath shined vpon them with the light of life. Which effect of the grace of GOD, because you haue both seene in others, and felt in your selfe manie times, you haue greate cause to hope and expecte the returne of his comforting hande in due season, who also shall once determine these conflicting daies, and set vs in that peace which shall neuer bee interrupted, and wherein all teares shall be wiped awaye from our faces for euer.