A02182:110
Propositions
Propositions containing answers to certain demands in divers spiritual matters specially concerning the conscience oppressed with the grief of sin. With an epistle against hardness of heat, made by that worthy preacher of the Gospel of Christ, M. R. Greenham pastor of DraytonPropositions containing answers to certaine demaunds in divers spirituall matters specially concerning the conscience oppressed with the griefe of sinne. With an epistle against hardnes of heat, made by that woorthie preacher of the Gospell of Christ, M. R. Greenham pastor of Drayton
Edinburgh: printed by Robert Waldegrave printer to the Kings Majesty, 1597Edinburgh: printed by Robert Waldegraue printer to the Kings Majestie, 1597
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.
99 As milk moderately yielded out of the dug, is natural milk and good nourishment; but being unnaturally pressed, it is mixed with corrupt matter, and is unwholesome meat: so a similitude meekly handled, giveth forth some doctrine, but being hardly strained, it filleth the receivers, not with natural milk, but with unnatural blood, as many have abused similitudes, with reverence and fear be it spoken (as a ship mans hose) sucking out poison in stead of honey.
99 As milk moderately yeelded out of the dugge, is naturall milke and good nurishment; but being vnnaturallie pressed, it is mixt with corrupt matter, and is vnholesome meat: so a similitude meeklie handled, giueth forth some doctrine, but being hardly strained, it filleth the receivers, not with naturall milk, but with vnnaturall blood, as many haue abused similitudes, with reverence and fear be it spoken (as a ship mans hose) sucking out poyson in steede of hony.
100 Though it be the good mercy of God, both to mourn at John Baptists doleful threatenings, and to dance at Christ Jesus his sweet promising and piping; yet it is better to offer a voluntary and free sacrifice in respect of Gods mercy, as do the Angels; than a violent and constrained obedience, as do the devils: and this dare I say, that though the fearful pronouncing of the curse, the wrath and the ⟨image 31⟩judgement of God be fearful in the Law, yet the denouncing of our separation from Gods kingdom, of the gnawing worm, of the second death, is far more fearful in the Gospel; which, by how much it is the more proper seat, and treasury of Gods mercies: so when thunderings and lightnings do proceed from thence, they are the more fearful.
100 Though it be the good mercy of God, both to mourne at Iohn Baptists dolfull threatnings, and to daunce at Christ Iesus his sweet promising and piping; yet it is better to offer a voluntarie and free sacrifice in respect of Gods mercie, as do the Angels; than a violent and constrained obedience, as do the devils: and this dare I say, that though the fearefull pronouncing of the curse, the wrath and the