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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
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.
This Examination doth then rightly proceed, when it is reacheth to the errors of this life, & to the sins of our youth; because many men (even from their childhood, by a civill righteous life) having escaped gross sins, wherewith the world could never charge them, have notwithstanding carried the burden of their secret, sins done in their youth. David (Psal. 25.7.) prayeth the Lord, not to remember the sins of his youth; Job (23.6. the man of God) confesseth that the Lord writing bitter things against him made him to possess the iniquities of his youth. What, shall we think that David or Job were given to notorious wickedness in their youth? No, they knew they were subject to youthful wantonness and unstaidness of their affections; which though it did not burst out, yet it made them less careful to glorify GOD; which looseness the way to lewdness; which weakness, the way to strange vanities; which wantonness, the way to open wickedness, is even in the best of Gods Children in the days of their youth: which being afterwards in the time of their regeneration, brought (as it were) to judgement, and laid before their consciences, doth cause them to repent.
This Examination dooth then rightly proceede, when it is reacheth to the errors of this life, & to the sinnes of our youth; because many men (euen from their childhood, by a ciuill righteous life) hauing escaped grose sinnes, wherewith the world could neuer charge them, haue notwithstanding caried the burthen of their secret, sinnes done in their youth. Dauid (Psal. 25.7.) prayeth the Lord, not to remember the sinnes of his youth; Iob (23.6. the man of God) confesseth that the Lord writinge bitter things against him made him to possesse the iniquities of his youth. What, shall we thinke that Dauid or Iob were giuen to notorious wickednes in their youth? No, they knew they were subiect to youthfull wantonnes and vnstaiednes of their affections; which though it did not burst out, yet it made them lesse carefull to glorifie GOD; which loosenes the way to leaudnes; which weaknes, the waie to strange vanities; which wantonnesse, the way to open wickednes, is euen in the best of Gods Children in the daies of their youth: which being afterwards in the time of their regeneration, brought (as it were) to iudgement, and laide before their consciences, doth cause them to repent.