A09364:263
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.
Helps in practise are two; First, he that will bear with comfort the pangs of death, must labour that he may die in Christ, and that is, by faith, laying hold of the promise of God, touching ⟨p. 138⟩forgiveness of sins and life everlasting by Christ. All these (saith the holy Ghost) died in 1faith, namely, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, all laying hold of the promise of life by Christ. When Jacob on his death-bed, was blessing of his children, he brake forth into this heavenly speech, O Lord I have waited for thy 2salvation. In which words it is plain▪ that his faith rested on the mercy of God, & by hope he waited for his salvation. And our Saviour Christ saith, As Moses lift up the serpent in the wilderness, 3so must the son of man be lift up, that whosoever believeth in him, might not perish, but have life everlasting. Out of which words, the forenamed duty may be learned, that look as the children of Israel, being stung with fiery serpents, and that unto death, were healed by looking up to the brazen serpent, erected by Moses: so when we are stung with sin and death, we must ever remember by faith to look upon Christ. But specially when we are dying, then it is our part, to fix the eyes of our souls, by faith upon him; and thereby shall we escape death, and be made partakers of eternal life and happiness. Notable is the example of Christ, who as he was man, always fixed his trust and confidence in his fathers word, especially at his end. For when he was dying, and the pangs of death seized upon him, he cries unto the Lord, ⟨p. 139⟩My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? and again, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: which words are full of faith, and do bewray what great affiance he placed in his fathers love, &c. When David in an extremity, saw nothing before his eyes, but present death, the people intending to stone him, at the very instant (as the text saith) he comforted himself in the Lord his 4