Two Treatises Comforting an Afflicted Conscience, Letter 2
An other Comfortable Letter by Master R. G. to Master M.
BRother beloued in our Lord Iesus Christ, seeing you hauehave had heeretofore not onelie knowledge, but also experience of Gods gracious and mercifull goodnes in Iesus Christ, of your owne vnbeliefe and of Sathans subtlenes; I could meruaile why you should giuegive such place, and not keepe your ground no furer, if I were not much acquainted with such occurrences. I know not therfore whether with wordes of rebuke, or of comfort, I should seeke to relieue you. Because I cannot come vntounto you, my counsell and desire is, that you would come vp to London the next Tearme at the farthest; that so I might aske of God, to frame my speech to your Good. In the mean season I beseech you to call vntounto minde that which you cannot be ignorant of, that in the lawe,Leuit. 5.45.6.23. sacrifices were offered for Gods people, not onelyonly at their first entrance into couenant with the Lorde, but also afterwardes manie times;Leuit. 5.45.15.6.2. Nū. 15.28. and that not only for sinnes committed by ignorance but also by errour, that is, forgetfulnes, frailenesse, retchlesnes, carelesnesse, &c. If you hauehave not Tremelius his translation by you, you must take heede of the english that hath ignorance, for they failed that so translated it.
It is manifest that the sinne of errour is there opposed against the sinne committed with an hie hande, that is to blasphemie with contempt of God, and making his lawe of none effect but to bee in vaine. Which sinne Iam sure you are most farre off from, I would you were as farre off from vnbeliefe and distrust. That Gods children may fall after their calling into diuers foule faultes, may appeare by many proofes. First, in the Lawe, when the Lord speaketh in his Maiestie and proclaimeth his glory,Exod. 24.6.7. yet in howe many wordes commendeth he his mercy, and for howe many seuerall sortes of sinnes. Doth not Esay the holy Prophet call the people of his daies,Esay. 1.10.11. the people of Gomorrha, and their Princes the Princes of Sodome? Doth not he accuse them as grieuous transgressors both of the first and second Table; and yet doth afterwardes promise them, that though their sinnes were as crimson,vers. 18. they shall be as white as snowe; though they were redde like scarlet, they shall bee as woole. Doth hee not charge them that they were sunke deepe in rebellion,Esa. 31.6 and yet exhorteth them to returne vntounto the Lorde? Yea, doth he not charge them not onelie with rebellion,Esa. 63.10 but also with vexing the holy spirit of God? And yet reade what is written. Pray as there you may learne, Esay tenth.Esay. 63.9 Chap. fiue, sixe, &c.
What, doth not the holy Prophet Ieremie shewe,Ier. 31.18.20 that Ephraim was as an vntamed Calse, &c. yet so soone as he mourned and was ashamed of himselfe, doth not the Lord shew, that his bowels of mercy were troubled for his estate? Do…h not the Lorde offer mercy vntounto the prophane and forgetfull transgressors of his holy couenant?Psal. 50.5.22 Is not this part of the couenant made with all the sonnes of Dauid in Christ Iesus, that if they not onelyonly omitting many good things, but also commit rebellions & iniquities, that though hee may visit them, yet it shall bee with the rodde of his children, and that his mercy hee will not take from them, nor break of his couenant made with them in Iesus Christ?Psal. 89.30 Therfore remember that the holy promises, threatnings, precepts & examples are written, that we should not sinne, but if any man sinne, we hauehave an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the iust,1. Ioh. 2, 2 & he is the reconciliation of our sinnes, & not for our sins onelyonly, but for the sinnnes of the whole world. Doth not the blessed Apostle Paule charge the Corinthians whom he affirmeth to bee rich in Christ,1. Cor. 1.6, 7 and destitute of no spirituall gift, to be more carnall then spirituall, yet babes in Christ, yea to be falne Into idolatry,1. Cor. 3.15.2.3. committing of euill things, fornication, tempting not only of God, but of Christ, yea murmuring against them; yet doth hee not heerein comfort them,1. Cor. 10.9.13. that no temptation hath token hold on them, but such as appertaineth to man,Psal. 19.13 & that God will be mercifull vntounto. Dauid praieth against presumptuous sinnes, that they should not raigne ouer him. Signifying though he sinned presumptuously, yet if he did not perseuer in presumption obstinately, without desire to repent, that such sinne or sinnes were pardonable: Nowe the Lords couenant towards his in Iesus Christ is, not to deale after their sins, nor to reward thē after their iniquities, much lesse will he not regard in wrathful displesure their infirmities. For if he should so marke what is said or done amisse, who were then able to abide it? But with him is mercy in Iesus Christ, that he may be feared. Therfore, lift vp your hands which hange downe, strengthen your weak knees, & say vntounto your soule, why art thou so cast down and vnquiet within mee? I will yet trust in Iesus Christ and waite vponupon the mercifull graces of God purchased by his merites. Consider that true humilitie a riseth of faith in Iesus Christ, and that is true faith that ingendreth humilitie; as we may not diminish our sinnes, so may wee not too much aggrauate them, nor diminish Christes merits: hauehave euermore in your minde the example of the prodigall sonne, who saith not, I am not thy sonne, but I am no more worthie to be called thy sonnes he saith not let me bee thy bondslaue; nay, hee saith not let me bee thy hyred seruant: but let me be as one of thy hyred seruants; his father came and met him, fell on his necke, &c. So shall it come to you good brother; I neede make no more application; the holy annointing which you hauehave receiued, will bring the old mercies of God vponupon others and vppon your owne soule vntounto remembrance, and leade you into all truth, which shall bee requisite for your saluation. Put your trust in the Lord, and be you assured, beleeue his ministers & 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 shal vntounto the end manifest it selfe in your weakenes. Now therfore I beseech him to preserue your body & soule, & spirit, vntounto his most glorious appearing; Faithfull is he that hath called you, & promised, who wil also performe it, Amen.
From my house in London in Warwicke lane. Anno 1591. Feb. 24. Yours in Iesus Christ as he ha…h beene Richard Greenham.