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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
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.
if they be pinched with poverty thy can complain: but as for the torment of mind they cannot skill of it: And even to talk of abrused, contrite & broken hart, is a strange language. For proof whereof our consciences are rocked asleep so that not one amongest a thousand knoweth ⟨p. 74⟩what it is to be pressed and harrowed with the rake of Gods judgements. But blessed are they that to their own salvation feel this in their bodies, whilst sin may be both punished and purged. For though God spare us for a time, yet we know what he keepeth for our end. Wherefore it is the best for us to run to the Lord in this life with a troubled mind, least we tarry till the Lord have locked us up with the heavy fetters of desperation, when he shall summon us to the bar of his judgement, in the sight of his Angels, and impanelling the great inquest of his Saints against us, shall denounce our fearful and final sentence of eternal condemnation, for we see many that have been careless and have made good cheer all their life long, yea, and when men have laboured to make them feel the judgements of God, they have turned all to mockery, but whose jollity the Lord hath so abated when they draw towards death, that in stead of resting and sporting (whereunto they had been given) they have felt the terror of death, hell, and damnation, and lapping up their joys in final desperation, have forced out cursings against their filthy pleasures. Wherefore if we in the tempest of our temptations will sail a right course, neither shrinking ⟨p. 75⟩nor slipping into the gulf of desperation, neither battering our bark against the rock of presumption; Let us in a contrite spirit cry unto the Lord: Have mercy upon me, heal my soul for I have sinned against thee, forgive all mine iniquities, and heal all mine infirmities. Thou healest those that are broken in heart and bindest up their soars: why art thou cast down my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me, wait on God, for I will yet give him thanks, he is my present help, & my God.
if they be pinched with pouertie thy can complaine: but as for the torment of minde they cānot skil of it: And euē to talke of abrused, cōtrite & broken hart, is a strange lāguage. For profe whereof our consciences are rocked aslepe so that not one amongest a thousand knoweth ⟨p. 74⟩