A72208:13
A fruitful and Godly sermon
A fruitful and Godly sermon containing necessary and profitable doctrine, for the reformation of our sinful and wicked lives, but especially for the comfort of a troubled conscience in all distresses. By M. Richard Greenham pastor of Drayton.A fruitful and Godly sermon containing necessary and profitable doctrine, for the reformation of our sinfull and wicked liues, but especially for the comfort of a troubled conscience in all distresses. By M. Richard Greenham pastor of Drayton.
Edinburgh: printed by Robert Walde-grave, 1595Edinburgh: printed by Robert Walde-graue, 1595
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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 Scripture is not only worthy to be graven in steel with the point of an Adamant, and in letters of gold; but also to be written and registered by the finger of Gods spirit in the tables of the heart: which sentence, briefly speaketh thus much unto us; that what trouble soever ⟨p. 8⟩befalleth a man, his mind unappalled, he will indifferently bear it out: But if the spirit of a man be once troubled and dismayed, he cannot tell how to be delivered. And no marvel, for if the mind of man be that fountain of comfort, which ministers comfort to him in all other troubles, and if it become comfortless, what shall comfort it? if it be void of help, where shall […] be helped? If the eye which is the light of the body, be darkness; how great is that darkness? If the salt which savoureth all things be unsavoury, for what is it good? If the mind which sustaineth all troubles be troubled, how intolerable is that trouble? To show this the better, we will first declare, how great a punishment of God this wound of Conscience is. Secondly, we will teach, how this trouble of mind may be avoided. Lastly, we will set down, how Gods children falling in some measure into this affliction of spirit, may be recovered out of it.
THIS Scripture is not onely woorthie to be grauen in steele with the point of an Adamant, and in letters of golde; but also to bee written and registred by the finger of Gods spirit in the tables of the hearte: which sentence, brieflie speaketh thus much vnto vs; that what trouble soever ⟨p. 8⟩befalleth a man, his mind vnapalled, he will indifferently beare it out: But if the spirite of a man be once troubled and dismaied, he cannot tell how to be deliuered. And no marvell, for if the minde of man be that fountaine of comforte, which ministers comfort to him in all other troubles, and if it become comfortlesse, what shall comfort it? if it be voide of help, where shall 〈…〉 be helped? If the eye which is the light of the bodie, be darknes; how great is that darknes? If the salt which sauoreth all things be vnsauorie, for what is it good? If the minde which sustaineth all troubles be troubled, how intollerable is that trouble? To shewe this the better, wee will first declare, howe great a punishment of God this wounde of Conscience is. Secondly, we will teach, how this trouble of mind may be avoided. Lastly, we will set downe, how Gods children falling in some measure into this affliction of spirit, may be recouered out of it.