Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A07445
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The sinne of blasphemie against the Holy Ghost, scholastically examined the reasons of the absolute irremissibility thereof displayed; an admonition to all reuolting apostataes [sic] annexed. By Iohn Meredyth, sub-deane of Chichester.
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Meredith, John, b. 1579 or 80.
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1622
(1622)
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STC 17831; ESTC S120673
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51,984
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80
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abridged in this Translation of it THE HISTORIE FOLLOWING IS RELATED OVT OF THE EPISTLE OF THAT FAMOVS DOCTOR MATHEVV GRIBALDVS Professour of the Lawes in the Vniuersitie of Padua who himselfe was a Spectator of this lamentable accident 1548. THere is in the Territories of Venice neere vnto Padua a place called Citadella wherein dwelt a Lawyer of good Iudgement and great experience named Francis Spiera about fifty yeares of age married vnto a vertuous wife by whom he had eleuen children a man famous for his wealth and dignity This man began to embrace the Doctrine of the reformed Church with incredible zeale acknowledging Iesus Christ to be the onely Redeemer of mankinde and professed publikely with great constancie that righteousnesse and Saluation was purchased by him alone and that all mans workes and Merites were in that respect vaine and vnprofitable For which cause he was accused to the Popes Legate at Venice by whom he was cited to make his appearance before him and menaced with death and the confiscation of his substance which was great wherewith he was so terrified that he renounced that truth which he had professed and abiured it also promising moreouer that hee would make publike Recantation thereof assoone as hee returned home and so was dismissed by the Legate In his iourney homeward hee was ouerwhelmed with a grieuous perturbation of minde whither he should embrace the Truth againe or persist in his deniall yea he often confessed that in his iourney he felt the Holy Ghost vrge him to professe the truth constantly But the flesh riches and vaine pompe of this world ouerswayed him The day before he was to make his Recantation a Popish Priest brought the forme thereof vnto him wherein hee should publickly in the open audience of the people renounce and condemne the Doctrine of the Protestants That whole night this wretched man spent without sleepe The morning following being Sunday after Masse in the presence of his friends of the Magistrates of the Towne and in the assembly of the people who were in number about 2000. He publikely renounced that truth which he had before openly taught and was fined 30. Duckets which hee presently payed downe But suddainly after hee felt the dreadfull Iudgement of God in his heart hee was depriued of all the Guifts of the Holy Ghost Christ departed from him His heart was enflamed with meere hatred enuie and Blasphemy against God The Diuell Death and eternall despaire seased on him After hee had beene thus tormented by the space of sixe Moneths he remoued with his Wife and Children to Padua where his misery encreased He kept his bed being not sicke his reason and vnderstanding alike as before his fall he consumed in his whole body and all his Members beside his tongue languished He would admit no foode but what was enforced he kindly admitted all those who came to visite him and conferred very prudently with them he affirmed that he was damned by the iust iudgement of God That hee was already in Hell and was tormented with perpetuall paines that hee had sinned against the Holy Ghost that his sinne could neuer be forgiuen hee said that Christ his Merits and Gods mercy was for euer shut vp from him and that this dreadfull end was brought vpon him by the iust iudgement of GOD to bee an Example to all the Elect. At length diuers learned and graue Diuines repaired vnto him propounding all meanes of Consolation especially the greatnesse of Gods Mercy And though said he I beleeue all that you haue rehearsed yet but as the Diuels who beleeue and tremble Hee said his Sinne was vnpardonable that God secluded his mercy from him that all faith was taken from him that though he vttered the Lords prayer after them yet his heart was full of hatred malediction and blasphemy against God for he knew how execrable he was with God and that hee had taken away all his graces from him The next day they found his misery augmented and demanding how long his Conscience had beene so tortured he readily answered That gnawing worme and vnquenchable fire was sent by GOD into his heart since that day whereon he recanted the truth of the Gospell which before he professed So that now his condition was farre worse then Cayns or Iudas and that he had rather die and be damned then to be tormented in this life with such anguishes adding farther that he was already haunted with dreadfull apparitions and hellish visions Renewing their Consolations they intreated him to call vpon God in the Lords Prayer which he performed with such aboundance of teares with such sighes and so great deuotion of minde that hee mooued the whole presence to weepe vpon which sight Doctor Gribaldus told him that his teares argued no totall desertion by God He answered that he had not that faith and trust in God which they supposed for such was the gift of God whereof he was destitute Oh said hee that GOD would vouchsafe mee this one gift that I might feele in my heart but the least hope of his mercy which is as vnpossible as to vnlade all the water in the Ocean with a Spoone This I certainly know that neuer mortall creature on the earth felt the wrath of God more manifestly then I doe Oh that I might supply the roome of some other damned creature whatsoeuer So that all their comforts were vaine They enforced Broathes into his mouth to preserue his life his onely desire was to die and to be caried into Hell Three dayes after when among other learned men Antonius Fontanine the Pryest of Citadell who bare him company to Venice when hee went vp to make his appearance before the Popes Legate came to visite him and asked him whether hee knew him presently vpon the remembrance thereof with redoubled sighes and groones he cryed out Oh execrable day oh cursed day I wish I had neuer seene Venice or that I had dyed when I first intended my iourney thither Then they commended the Merites of Christ vnto him He said he neuer truly acknowledged the benefits of Christ but abused them and trusted too much to his carnall faith and turning to the Students he said Oh my Sonnes I will not detract from the Gospell I acknowledge it to be the Truth but take heede yee ascribe not too much vnto faith and neglect works beseeming faithfull Christians Faith requireth this of vs that wee be not Christians in word onely Giue credit vnto me as vnto him who hath truly tried the matter Vpon this he commended the Epistle of St. Peter wherein he admonisheth the faithfull to Plety Chastity and Sanctity vpon which occasion they who were present disputed comfortably out of Gods word and he listned as attentiuely He was demanded whither he receiued any comfort by that godly conference he answered that he was damned to euerlasting death neither was there any hope of Redemption left for him Oh said hee that I could put the least hope and trust in