A02181:178
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.
Their knowledge is insufficient, nor able to ⟨p. 161⟩direct them in their particular actions, and therefore it doth leave them in the end. Therefore as the knowledge of the godly for the clearness, the certainty, and the sufficiency of it, is compared to the Sun: so the knowledge of the wicked, is compared to the lightning, which doth not give any certain light, it doth not continue any time; and when it is gone, men are worse then they were before. So doth it fall out with the wicked; for beside that their knowledge doth soon vanish, there is also in them afterwards, greater and more dangerous darkness then there was before: herein then we do see one plain and manifest note of difference. Secondly, we come to our affections. Certain it is, that the wicked do desire the help and the favour of God: but look to the cause, and that will show a difference between them and the godly. The wicked do only seek help, because of some extremity which they suffer? they only desire to be in the favour of God, because they would be freed from grief; and therefore it is common with them to say: Oh that I were out of this pain, Oh that this my sorrow were taken from me. By which speeches they show, that so they might be at rest, or live at their case, they would little weigh of the help or favour of God. But the godly find such sweetness ⟨p. 162⟩in the favour of God that for the desire thereof▪ they can be content to forgo all the pleasures of this life, yea they can be content to suffer much, and endure the cross patiently, so that at the last, they may assuredly enjoy Gods favour. Not the godly only, but the wicked also, are grieved when they have sinned but the wicked do therefore sorrow, because their sin hath, or will bring some punishment upon them: And the godly sorrow, because they have offended God, and given him occasion to draw his favour from them, therefore his correction do they bear patiently: but the remembrance of their sin, that toucheth them still at the very quick. Then in their joy, and in thei• sorrow, may appear a second difference. The third difference is in love, for though both of them do love GOD, yet it is after a diverse manner; the one of sincerity, the other for wages. A poor child that is taken up, fed, and clothed, will love him that doth thus feed and clothe him: