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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
The Second Sermon preached by M Richard Greenham.The Seconde Sermon preached by M Richard Greenham.
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.
That we may then truly examine our selves, we must fear and humble our selves, because before trouble, terror, and quaking at the judgements of GOD, we will never be brought to offer our selves to Christ alone. In the Psal. 51. Vers. 18.19. the Prophet like wise showeth, that no sacrifice is acceptable to God without a contrite heart, that is, neither prayer, neither alms-giving, neither praise or thanksgiving, unless we bringing an humble and contrite spirit with us, cast our selves down before his judgement seat, and sue for mercy in Christ. And here mark, that he saith, the sacrifices of God, are a troubled spirit &c. where he using the plural number showeth, that the sacrifices of repentance, which must not be one, but many, are humbleness of spirit and contrition of heart. For the affliction of the soul & contrition of the mind, do so cast us down, wounded with our sins & humbled with a feeling of Gods wrath, as that it maketh us to acknowledge, that we are nothing of our selves, and ⟨p. 178⟩to seek for our salvation wholly at the mercy of God. Noah marvel then, if by this means we being confounded and ashamed of our selves, and staying our selves on the only promises of God, do confess our own nakedness and wretchedness, why the Prophet should say, that the Lord is pleased with this sacrifice as with the sacrifice of sacrifices. The Prophet Isaiah. cap 40. V. 6.7.8. saith.1 All flesh is grass, & the beauty thereof as the flower of grass, the grass withereth, & the flower falleth, when the breath of the Lord falleth upon it. where the Prophet painting out man in his proper colliers, and driving him to seek our salvation not in himself but in Christ, describeth the outward part of man to be as grass and by the flower of grass, he showeth his gifts of mind being unregenerate, as wisdom memory, knowledge, and understanding. So that, when Gods spirit doth but breath on us, all our wisdom, all our knowledge, riches, and authority fall before the presence of the Lord of hosts, neither can we remain, but only by the word of God, whereby we are borne again. Wherefore the considering & meditating of our transitory estate driveth us to a contrition & humbleness of spirit.