A09364:10
The first part of The cases of conscience Wherein specially, three main questions concerning…The first part of The cases of conscience Wherein specially, three maine questions concerning…
The first part of The cases of conscience Wherein specially, three main questions concerning man, simply considered in himself, are propounded and resolved, according to the word of God. Taught and delivered, by M. William Perkins in his Holy-day lectures, by himself revised before his death, and now published for the benefit of the Church.The first part of The cases of conscience Wherein specially, three maine questions concerning man, simply considered in himselfe, are propounded and resolued, according to the word of God. Taught and deliuered, by M. William Perkins in his Holy-day lectures, by himselfe revised before his death, and now published for the benefit of the Church.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1604Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1604
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.
Now as this is a matter of great weight & importance, so is it most meet, that the best and fittest course should be taken, in the teaching and enforcing of the same. In which regard we have just cause, to challenge the Popish Church, who in their Case-writings have erred, both in the substance and circumstances of this doctrine, as shall appear in the sequel. First, because the duty of relieving the Conscience, is by them commended to the sacrificing Priest, which, though according to their own Canons ahe should be a man of knowledge, and free from imputation of wickedness, yet oft times it falls out that he is either unlearned, or else wicked and lewd of conversation, and consequently unfit for such a purpose. Secondly, they teach that their Priests appointed to be comforters & relievers of the distressed, are made by Christ himself bjudges of the cases of conscience, having in their own hands a judiciary power and authority, truly and properly to bind or to loose, to remit or to retain sins, to open or to shut the kingdom of heaven. A blasphemous doctrine. Considering that Christ only hath the keys of David,3 which properly and truly openeth, and no4 man shutteth, and properly and truly shutteth, & no man openeth. And the Ministers of God, are not called to be absolute Judges of the Conscience, ⟨image 4⟩but only Messengers & Ambassadors of reconciliation;5 whereupon it followeth, that they cannot be cthe authors and givers of remission of sins, but only the Ministers and Dispensers of i••e same. Thirdly, the Papists in their writings have scattered here and there, sundry false and erroneous grounds of doctrine, much prejudicial to the direction or resolution of the Conscience in time of need, as namely, I. That a man in the7