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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.
Think moreover and besides, that such is the efficacy of sin, that they who are now no Papists, Heretics, Adulterers, or Thieves, may for their secure contemning and foolish passing over of these tentations sent unto them, suddenly, shortly after fall into them; because they would not seek to make some use of them, nor confess before the Lord both their proneness & worthiness to fall into them. But if we will humble our selves in such tentations, and learn by them meekly to discern the corruptions of our hearts, we shall not only presently deliver our selves from peril, but be also further enabled to assist others hereafter, in the l•ke danger.
Thinke moreouer and besides, that such is the efficacie of sinne, that they who are now noe Papistes, Heretiques, Adulterers, or Theeues, may for their secure contemning and foolish passing ouer of these tentations sent vnto them, sodainely, shortly after fall into them; because they woulde not seeke to make some vse of them, nor confesse before the Lord both their pronenesse & worthinesse to fall into them. But if wee will humble our selues in such tentations, and learne by them meekely to discerne the corruptions of our hearts, we shall not onely persently deliuer our selues from perill, but bee also further enabled to assist others herafter, in the l•ke danger.
But some will oppose against these things which we have delivered: Do you think it a remedy to cast down them that are already ⟨p. 53⟩humbled? This is rather to be a Butcher than a builder of a mans conscience. To whom I answer, that I desire Preachers to be Builders, and not Butchers; and it is one thing generally to apply, and another particularly to lay the medicine unto the wound▪ it is good to begin with searching first, and to purge the sore by the vinegar of the Law, and after to supple it with the oil of the Gospel. Both which must be done in wisdom, using them to some in greater, to some in lesser measure. For as some having nothing but a decay of nature, and no mortal humour, need rather restorative, than purging medicines: So some rather troubled for some spiritual wants, than for grosser sins, need not so much the sharp threatenings of the Law, as the sweet promises of the Gospel. But if the body, through some extraordinary repletion hath gotten some great surfeit, not so much to the weakening of nature, as to the threatening of imminent death, and therefore requireth rather some strong purgation, than comfortable and cordial medicines: then the soul brought almost to deaths door with some extraordinary sin, is rather to be bored and pierced with the denouncing of Gods judgements than otherwise. But because