A09364:135
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.
And touching this sorrow, two things must be remembered: first, that the nature of worldly sorrow must be altered, by being turned, and changed into sorrow according to God. If a man be in some danger of his life, by bleeding at the nose: experience teacheth, the counsel of the Physician is, to open a vain, and let the party blood in the arm, that the course thereof may ⟨p. 81⟩be turned another way: The like order is to be taken with men, that are troubled, with worldly sorrow in their distress: and that is, to turn the course of their grief, by causing them to grieve not for worldly respects, or only in consideration of the punishment due unto their sins, but principally for the very offence of God, in, and by their sins committed.
And touching this sorrow, two things must be remembred: first, that the nature of worldly sorrowe must be altered, by beeing turned, and changed into sorrow according to God. If a mā be in some danger of his life, by bleeding at the nose: experience teacheth, the counsell of the Phisitian is, to open a vaine, and let the partie blood in the arme, that the course thereof may ⟨p. 81⟩be turned another way: The like order is to be taken with men, that are troubled, with worldly sorrow in their distresse: and that is, to turne the course of their griefe, by causing them to grieue not for worldly respects, or onely in consideration of the punishment due vnto their sinnes, but principally for the very offence of God, in, and by their sinnes committed.
This done, a second care must be had, that this sorrow for sin be not confused, but a distinct sorrow. The man that is in sorrow, must not be grieved only, because he is as other men are, a sinner: but more specially for this, and that particular sin, by which it comes to pass, that he is such, or such or a sinner, that so his sorrow in respect of sin, may be distinct, and brought as it were to some particular head. And men in this case, must deal with the party distressed, as Surgeons are wont to do with a tumour, or swelling in the body, whose manner is, first to apply drawing & ripening plasters to the place affected, to bring the sore to an head, that the corruption may issue out at some one place: and then afterward healing plasters which are of great use to cure the same. Even so confused grief, must be reduced to some particulars: and then, and not before, is a man fit for comfort, when his conscience is touched in special, in regard of some one or more distinct and several