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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.
Shall Christ have his heart pricked with a spear, and shall not we have our harts pricked with sorrow? This is the true use and meditating of Christ his passion. We are wont to defy the Jews for accusing Christ, we spit at Judas for betraying Christ, and we condemn Pilate for condemning Christ, but we are much more to be at defiance with our sins, which accused him before the judgement seat of God, we are to accuse our selves, who have and daily do, betray him; we must condemn our selves, whose sins have condemned him. But if neither the judgements of God, hell, nor the cross of Christ can move us, then let us examine our selves how we can rejoice in Christ.
Shall Christ haue his hearte pricked with a speare, and shall not we haue our harts pricked with sorrow? This is the true vse and meditating of Christ his passion. We are wont to defy the Iewes for accusing Christ, we spit at Iudas for betraying Christ, and we condemne Pilate for condemning Christ, but we are much more to be at defiance with our sinnes, which accused him before the iudgement seat of God, we are to accuse our selues, who haue and daily doe, betray him; we must condemne our selues, whose sinnes haue condemned him. But if neither the iudgements of God, hell, nor the crosse of Christ can moue vs, then let vs examine our selues how we can reioyce in Christ.
It followeth to speak of the counsel of Peter, Repent, as if he should say. I know your hearts are pricked, how be it I will show you, how it is the policy of the Devil, to make these good motions quickly to wax dry in you, he will stay you from persevering, you must therefore endeavour to continue in this godly sorrow. The Apostle saw, that this sorrow, which as Paul witnesseth is not to be repented of, was well begun in them, but in continuing his sermon still to that effect, he showeth that our sorrow must be also continual. Many sorrow, as hath been showed, but in a worldly sorrowing, which bringeth ⟨p. 190⟩eternal death, not in a godly grief which bringeth repentance. Wherefore we are to note that repentance beginneth in us, continueth and endeth with sorrow. Now, if it might be, it were expedient to show what repentance is. In one word, Repentance is not a bare leaving of sin, but an utter condemning and misliking of that sin, which we have left. For though we have left it, yet Satan may make us to sorrow for it many years after, yea even at the point of death. 'David had left his sin, but it caused him to sorrow an whole year after. Josephs brethren had forsaken and almost forgotten their sin, yet it troubled them and grieved them thirteen years after. Our pricking of heart therefore must be continued and daily renewed. This repentance is figured in baptism, both in that we must die to sin, and bury it, and also that we must rise again to newness of life, for a man cannot die to sin but by the virtue of Christ his death, neither can he rise to righteousness without the power of his resurrection. Now we must know that as our sins are forgiven, so we must also receive Gods spirit. If God promiseth mercy to our children much more to us, if we believe and receive his promises, if to them, which are a far of, much more to them that are near. And yet though we have been baptised an hundred years, and