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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 Last and most grievous assault of satan against the afflicted, is that he calleth into doubt their election.1 For, because that salvation is only of the elect, he laboureth by all means to shake this ground and pillar of comfort, and if it be possible to subvert and overthrow the same. It behooveth us to take heed how we carry our selves, as in that temptation which all others is most difficult and dangerous. First therefore, we must beware of that gulf wherein the enemy hopeth to devour us, that we enter not into the secrete and hidden counsel of GOD. For the secretes of the Lord: are for him self: But the things that are revealed,2 are for us and our posterity after us for •uer, as Moses; saith: what then hath the Lord revealed concerning §1our election? First the spirit of GOD witnesseth unto our spirits that we are §2the Children of GOD. Then it teacheth us to cry Abba Father, and stirreth up in us those groanings that cannot be expressed. §3From these let us descend unto faith it self, the voice whereof if it be not suppressed by the grievousness of temptation, ⟨p. 135⟩soundeth cheerfully unto us, that we are beloved of GOD, redeemed be Christ, and fellow-heirs with him of his fathers kingdom. If here also the §4enemy have darkened our senses and obscured our light: We must of necessity with Job, 3relieve our selves from the fruits of our faith, these what they are hath already been said. If necessity do soe compel us, we must fly unto §5the times that are past, & refer our selves unto the testimonies of the faithful ministers of GOD, who as they are for their wisdom §6and manifold experience, better able to judge of our estate then our selves; so have they power and authority from GOD, to decide the controversy between us and our enemy and to plead our cause against him. Also where the enemy from our present trouble and torment of mind, seeketh to drive us unto despair, we are to use against him his own weapons; for amongest many testimonies of our state in grace and favour with GOD, there is none more evident and sensible, then is that conflict which we find and feel in our selves, of the spirit against the flesh, of faith against unbelief,