A09364:143
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.
For the first. Recourse must not be had to all graces, or to all degrees and measures of grace; but only such, as a troubled Conscience may feel and reach unto. For those that be the true children of God, and have excellent measure of grace; when they are in distress, feel little or no grace at all in themselves. The graces then, that serve for this purpose, are three. Faith, Repentance, and the true Love of God. which is the fruit of them both. And that we may the more easily and truly discern of them, and not be deceived, inquiry must be made, what be the Seeds and beginnings of them all.
For the first. Recourse must not be had to all graces, or to all degrees and measures of grace; but onely such, as a troubled Conscience may feele and reach vnto. For those that be the true children of God, and haue excellent measure of grace; when they are in distresse, feele little or no grace at all in themselues. The graces then, that serue for this purpose, are three. Faith, Repentance, and the true Loue of God. which is the fruit of them both. And that we may the more easily and truly discerne of them, and not be deceiued, inquirie must be made, what be the Seedes and beginnings of them all.
The first Ground of grace is this: A desire to repent, and believe, in a touched heart and conscience, is faith and repentance it self, though not in nature, yet in Gods acceptation. I prove it thus. It is a principle granted and ⟨p. 86⟩confessed of all men; that in them which have grace, God accepteth the will for the deed. If there be a willing mind (saith the Apostle) it is 1accepted not according to that a man hath not, but according to that he hath. Again, God hath annexed a promise of blessedness, and life everlasting to the true and unfeigned desire of grace. Whence it is, that they are in Scripture pronounced2 blessed, which hunger and thirst after righteousness. And who are they but such, as feel themselves to want all righteousness, and do truly and earnestly desire it in their hearts. For hunger and thirst, argues both a want of something, and a feeling of the want. And to this purpose the holy Ghost saith, To him that is a thirst will I give to drink of the water of