A02181:33
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
A MOST SWEET Comfort for an afflicted Conscience.A MOST SVVEET Comfort for an afflicted Conscience.
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.
But to shut up this argument: Some there have been who through out all their life time, have been free from all other troubles, so as either they felt them not at all, or else in very small measure, and by that means never knew what outward trouble meant. As for example, some men there have been, who for sickness never knew there headache; ⟨p. 13⟩for poverty, never knew what want meant; who for discredit, were never evil spoken of; who ever put far from them the evil day of the Lord; who made a league with death as it were, & a covenant with hell; who thought they could crucify every cross, rather than come under any cross: yet they could never escape a wounded conscience, either in this life, or in the life to come. True it is, that Gods Children by faith & repentance do often escape it, but the wicked, and such as are borne unto it, as to their sure inheritance; the more they fly from it, the more it pursueth them. If we have transgressed the Civil Laws, the Judge by bribes may be corrupted; if a man have committed some capital offence, by flying his Country he may escape the Magistrates hands: but our consciences telling us that we have sinned against God; what bribe shall we offer? or whether shall we fly? whether shall we go from his spirit? or whether shall we go from his presence? If we ascend into heaven, is not he there? If we lie down in hell is he not there? If we fly to the utmost parts of the sea, is he not there also? There needeth no apparitor to summon us, there needs no Bailey arrant to fetch us; there needs no accuser to give in against us: sin will arrest us, and lieth at the Door, our own Conscience ⟨p. 14⟩will impanel a Quest against us; our own hearts will give in sufficient Evidence, and our own iniquity will plead us to be guilty to our own faces.
But to shut vp this argument: Some there haue beene who through out all their life time, haue been free from all other troubles, so as either they felt them not at all, or else in very small measure, and by that meanes neuer knewe what outward trouble meant. As for example, some men there haue beene, who for sicknesse neuer knewe there headeach; ⟨p. 13⟩for pouertie, neuer knewe what want meant; who for discredite, were neuer euill spoken of; who euer put farre from them the euill daye of the Lorde; who made a league with death as it were, & a couenant with hell; who thought they could crucifie euery crosse, rather thā come vnderany crosse: yet they could neuer escape a wounded conscience, either in this life, or in the life to come. True it is, that Gods Children by faith & repentance do often escape it, but the wicked, and such as are borne vnto it, as to their sure inheritance; the more they flie from it, the more it pursueth them. If we haue transgressed the Ciuil Lawes, the Iudge by bribes may be corrupted; if a man haue committed some capitall offence, by flying his Country he may escape the Magistrates handes: but our consciences telling vs that we haue sinned against God; what bribe shall we offer? or whether shall wee flie? whether shall wee goe from his spirit? or whether shall we goe from his presence? If we ascend into heauen, is not he there? If wee lie downe in hell is hee not there? If we flie to the vtmost parts of the sea, is he not there also? There needeth no apparitor to summon vs, there needes no Bayly arraunt to fetch vs; there needes noe accuser to giue in against vs: sinne will arrest vs, and lieth at the Doore, our owne Conscience