Comfort for All Those Afflicted in Conscience, Letter 2 – List
AN OTHER COMfortable Letter by Master R. G.
BRother beloued in the Lorde and Sauior IESVS CHRIST, seing you hauehave had hertofore not onelyonly knowledge, but also experience of Gods gratious and mercifull goodnes in Iesus Christ, your owne vnbeliefe and Satans subtlenes; I coulde meruaile why you should giuegive such place, and not keepe your grounde no surer, if I were not much acquainted with such occurrences; I know not therfore whether with wordes of rebuke, or comfort, I shoulde seeke to releeue you. Because I cannot come vntounto you, my counsell and desire is, that you woulde come vp to London the next Tearme at the farthest, that so I might aske of God, to frame my speeche according to your good. In the meane season, I bessech you call vntounto mind that which you cannot be ignorant of, that in the lawe sacrifices were offered for Gods people, not onelyonly at their first entrance into couenant with the Lorde, but also afterwards many times, and that not onelyonly by ignorance, but also by error, that is, forgetfulnes, frailenes, retchlesnes, carelesnes, &c.
It is manifest that the sinne of errour is there opposed against the sinne committed with an hie hande, that is to blaspheme with contempt of GOD, and making his Law of none effecte but to bee in vaine. Which sinne I am sure you are most farre off from, I would you were as farre off from vnbeliefe and distrust; that Gods children may fall into diuers foule faultes, as it may appear by many proofs. First, in the Lawe, when the Lord speaketh in his Maiestie and proclaimeth his glorie, yet in howe many wordes commendeth he his merciemercy, and for howe many seuerall sorts of sinnes, in Exodus the twenty foure Chapter, sixe and seauen verses. Doth not Esay the holy Prophet call the people of his daies, the people of Gomorrha, and and their Princes the Princes of Sodome? Doth not he accuse them as grieuous transgressors both of the first and seconde Table. Esay the first Chapter, ten and eleuen verses▪ &c. And yet dooth afterwardes promise them in the eighteenth verse, that though their sinnes were as crimson, they shalbe as white as snow; though they were redde like scarlet, they shall be as wool. Dooth hee not charge them, that they were sunke deepe in rebellion, and yet exhorteth them to returne vntounto the Lord? Esay the thirty one Chapter, and sixth verse. Yea, doth he not charge them not onelyonly with rebellion, but a…so with vexing the holy spirit of of God, Esay sixty three, and tenth verse. And reade what is written, Esay nine, eleuen. Pray as there you may learn, Esay tenth Cha. fiue, sixe, &c.
What dooth not the holy Prophet Ieremy in the thirty one Chapter, and the eighteenth, nineteenth and twenty verses shew, that Ephraim was an vntamed Calfe, &c. yet so soone as hee mourned and was ashamed of himself, doth not the Lord shew that his bowels of merciemercy were troubled for his estate. Doth not the Lord offer mercy vntounto the prophane and forgetfull transgressours of his holy couenant, Psalme fiftith, from the fifth verse to the two and twentith. Is not this part of the couenant made with all the sonnes of Dauid in Iesus Christ, that if they not onelyonly omit many good thinge…, also committe rebellions and iniquities, that though hee may visit them, yet it shall be with the rodde of his children, and that his merciemercy hee will not take from them, nor breake of his couenant made with them in Iesus Christ. Therefore remember that the holy promises, threatnings, and examples are written that we should not sinne, but if any man sinne, we hauehave an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the iust, and he is the reconcilliation of our sinnes, and not for our sinnes onelyonly, but for the sinnes of the whole world. Doth not the blessed Apostle Paule charge the Corinthians whō he affirmeth in the first Chapter to bee rich in Christ, and destitute of no spirituall gift, to be more carnall than spirituall, yet babes in Christ, yea, to bee falne into idolatry, cō mitting of euill thinges, fornication, tempting not onelyonly of God, but of Christ, yea murmuring against them; yet doth hee not herein comfort them, that no temptation hath taken hold on them, but such as appertaineth to man, and that God will bee mercifull vntounto. Dauid prayeth against presumptuous sinnes, that they should not raigne ouer him. Psalme ninetenth Chapter, & thirteenth verse. Signifiyng though he sinned presumptuously, yet if hee did not perseuer in presumption obstinately, without desire to repent, that such sinne or sinnes were pardonable: Nowe the Lordes couenant towards his in Iesus Christ, is not to deale after their sinnes not to rewarde them after their iniquities, much lesse will hee not regard in wrathfull displeasure their infirmities.
But if he should so marke what is saide or done amisse, who were able to abide it? But with him is merciemercy in Iesus Christ, that hee may be feared therefore, lift vp your handes which hange downe, strengthen your weakknees, and say vntounto your soule, why art thou so cast downe, and so vnquiet within mee? I will yet trust in Iesus Christ and wait vponupon the mercifull graces of God purchased by his mercies. Consider that true humillitie ariseth of faith in Iesus Christ, and that is true faith that ingendreth humillitie; as wee may not diminish our sinnes, so may wee not too much aggrauate them, nor diminish Christs merits: hauehave euermore in your minde the examples of the prodigall son, who saith not, I am not thy sonne, but I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne; he saith not let me bee thy bondslaue; nay hee saith not let me be thy hyred seruant, but as one of thy hyred seruants; his father came and met him, fell on his neck, &c. So shall it come to you good brother; I neede make no more aplication, the holy annointing which you hauehave receiued, will bring the olde mercies of God vponupon others and vppon your selfe vntounto remembrance, and lead you into all truth, which shall bee requisite for your saluation. Put your trust in the Lord, & you shall prosper: The Lord Iesus came not to breake the brused reede, nor to quench the smoaking flaxe; his grace shall bee euer more sufficient for you, and his vertue shall vntounto the end manifest it selfe in your weakenes. Nowe therefore I beseeche him to preserue your body, soule, & spirite, vntounto his most glorious appearing; Faithfull is he that hath called you, and promised you, who will performe it, Amen.
Yours in Iesus Christ as he hath beene Richard Greeneham.
Sweet and sure signes of Election, to them specially that are brought low.
A cleering of iudgement, by conceauing of the truth, and true meaning of the Scripture making for vsus or against vsus.
A rebuking of sinne in wardlie, a pouertie of spirit fiō thence and a mourning therefore.
A being cast downe in our own conceipt, and a meeknesse to beare our owne punishment thereby wrought.
An hungring after the righteousnes which is in Christ, and a praising and esteeming it aboue all earthly things.
A musing vponupon, and a desire to thinke and speake onelyonly of heauenly things.
A conflict of the flesh & spirit, and therin by praier practise the force of the spirite euer breathing out.
A sowing into the spirit by vse of the meanes, as by the word praier, &c.
A purpose vnfayned, vppon strength receiued, of vowing ones selfe wholly to the glorie of God, and health of his brethren.
A resignation of our selues into Gods hands.
An expecting of the daily increase of the hope of our souls health, and our bodies resurrection.
The forgiuing of our enemies.
An acknowledging of our offences with our whole heart, whiles we are sicke, and a verie dooing of it indeed, when we be recouered.
A delight in Gods Saints.
A desire that after death the Church of God may flourish and hauehave all peace.
A spirit without guile: that is, an vnfained purpose alwaies to doo well, how soeuer our infirmities put vsus by it.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Greenham, Comfort for All Those Afflicted in Conscience (1595)