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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.
As we must examine our selves thus for sins of time past, and present, so must we use this practise in sin to come: and this is very needful. For were it so, that our life and conversation were such, as neither before not after our calling, man could justly accuse it: Yet the hidden corruption of our nature, may threaten some heinous downfall in time to come. Which hath made men of very good report and conversation to hang down their heads, and fear their secret hypocrisy, as that which may break forth to the shame of all their former life, in time to come.
As wee must examine our selues thus for sinnes of time past, and present, so must we vse this practise in sinne to come: and this is very needefull. For were it so, that our life and conuersation were such, as neither before not after our calling, man could iustly accuse it: Yet the hidden corruption of our nature, may threaten some haynous downefall in time to come. Which hath made men of very good report and conuersation to hang downe their heades, and feare their secret hypocrisie, as that which may breake foorth to the shame of all their former life, in time to come.
But because we forgot to speak of them, that in the examining of their lives past, are ⟨p. 30⟩much grieved for the want of sincerity, and for privy vainglory in themselves; let us before we go to the searching of our hearts in sin to come, speak somewhat of this. Men troubled for this privy pride are either touched, or not touched. If the veil of sin was so great in them, that it hid Christ from them; it is the good will of God, that by this sight of their most secret sins they should come to see the righteousness that is in Christ Jesus; and so they shall the better be kept from being Justiciary Pharisees. For when being a long time well brought up, and leading a civill life, the Devil would persuade us of some inherent righteousness in us; It is the wisdom of our God to touch us with the conscience of most hidden corruptions, as also to certify and make known unto us, that even for our birth there was a secret seed of sin in us, which (without the Lord watching over us) would surely have broken forth to his dishonour.