A02181:207
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.
3 Unto one that thought himself to have •inned against the holy Ghost,1 he said, Satan's temptations follow our affections. For if we lightly account of sin, he blears our eyes still with Gods mercies; if we begin to make a conscience of sin, he loadeth us with the judgements of God; being as ready now to aggravate the sin, more then it is in it self, as before he would extenuate it to make it seem less then it was. Howbeit, said he to the man thus afflicted; I will say unto you as Samuel said to the people after they had confessed themselves to have sinned against God with a great sin: True it is, said Samuel, not flattering them in their iniquities; Ye have sinned greatly: notwithstanding, if ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and hear his voice, and not disobey the word, of the Lord ye shall follow the Lord your God. But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord but disobey the Lords mouth, then shall the hand of the Lord be upon you. 1. Sam. 12.14. So I will not lessen your sine, but I say, you have sinned with a great sin before the Lord, in that you made a mock of the word which you knew; yet if you turn to the Lord in fear and serve him, your sin is remissible, howsoever Satan chargeth ⟨p. 198⟩your conscience, that you have done evil against your own knowledge. For although every sin against the holy Ghost is against a mans conscience & knowledge; yet every sin against our knowledge and conscience is not against the holy Ghost. For then David and Peter had sinned against the holy Ghost, for they sinned after the holy Ghost was come upon them: which is not true, as may appear by their godly repentance ensuing. Some sins are against knowledge, but of humane frailty; some are against knowledge of a rebellious obstinacy. These last are the persecutions of the spirit of God, as he is the power of God; Those first are not so precisely against the holy ghost, but against God the Father, the Son, & the holy Ghost, the one which may be repented of is remissible, the other which is without repentance is irremissible, wherefore in that you quake, and are afraid least this sin be in you, & would rejoice in God, if it were not in you: If you purpose to leave your former sins, & in trueth henceforth turn unto the Lord, I dare assure you, that as yet you are free from this sin.