A09364:182
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.
This Rule is grounded upon the speech of the Lord by the Prophet, The just man shall live by his faith. When we have neither sight, nor1 sense, nor any taste of Gods mercy, but only apprehend his wrath, even then we must labour to lay hold of mercy in his word, and promise. Sense, and feeling, are not always fit directions for the time of this life: For he may be the ⟨p. 105⟩dear child of God, that in present feeleth nothing but his wrath and indignation. This indeed is the true trial of our faith, when even above and against reason, we rely on the mercy of God, in the apprehension of his anger. So did David. Out of the deep, (saith he) that is, being now deeply plunged2 into the pangs of a distressed conscience, have I called upon thee, O Lord: and Job in the like case. Lord, though though thou kill me, yet will I trust in thee. Abraham is commended by the holy Ghost, amongest other things, for this, that he believed in God, above hope: that is, against all matter of hope, that might possibly be conceived, upon the3 consideration of the strength of natural causes. The thief upon the cross, feeling nothing but woe: and seeing nothing in Christ but misery & contempt, yet he believed in Christ, and was saved. In a word, Christ himself when he was forsaken of all men, and void of all worldly comfort, and felt nothing but the depth of the wrath of God, in his agony and passion; yet by the faith of his manhood, he stayed himself and said, My God, my God.
This Rule is grounded vpon the speech of the Lord by the Prophet, The iust man shall liue by his faith. When we haue neither sight, nor1 sense, nor any tast of Gods mercie, but onely apprehend his wrath, euen then we must labour to lay hold of mercie in his word, and promise. Sense, and feeling, are not alwaies fit directions for the time of this life: For he may be the ⟨p. 105⟩deare child of God, that in prsent feeleth nothing but his wrath and indignation. This indeede is the true triall of our faith, when euen aboue and against reason, we relie on the mercie of God, in the apprehension of his anger. So did Dauid. Out of the deepe, (saith he) that is, beeing nowe deepely plunged