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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.
for, herein do the wicked show their wickedness two ways. First, on the right hand, the mercies of God do work in them a wonderful contentation▪ but not such as causeth them to return the glory unto God, nay rather it is such, as causeth them to take all glory to themselves: for the graces of God do puff them up, and make them proud, and conceited in themselves. Hereof there ariseth a great security, which bringeth first neglect, and afterward contempt of all good means, whereby ⟨p. 165⟩they should grow up in goodness. On the left hand others offend, being never pleased nor contented with that they have: nay, indeed forgetting and lightly esteeming that they have, and still desiring new. These men besides that they be unthankful, they do also murmur and grudge against God, & are never pleased with him. Between these two, do the children of God hold a middle and even course: and therefore we shall see these things in them. First, a sight and an acknowledging of the wants which do move them, as Saint Peter saith, Like new borne babes, to desire the sweet and sincere milk of the word, that thereby the graces they have, may be increased, and their other wants may be supplied: and so far are they from being puffed up with pride, that they rejoice when their pride may be pulled down, or their haughtiness abated, either by some sharp rebuke, or by some fearful threatening, or by some moderate correction from the Lord. For they know, that if it were needful for Saint Paul to be buffeted, and that by the minister of Satan, to the intent that his pride might be beaten down: then it is much more needful for them, after sundry ways to be humbled. Besides they do not only desire the word▪ but they also wait upon the Lord, ⟨p. 166⟩until it pleased him to work further in them thereby: and this waiting is as earnest as is theirs, who having watched all the night, do wait and look for the dawning of the day. Secondly, as they see their wants, so also they see that grace they have received, and are for that time will apaid, and contented therewith: and therefore as their wants do humble them, so the graces of God received do comfort them: and as their wants do call upon them, and cause them to seek more: so that they have, doth provoke them to be thankful for that they have received.