A09364:54
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.
The third Ground or fountain of sin in man, is Affection, from whence do proceed two kinds, namely, sins of Infirmity, and sins of Presumption. Sins of Infirmity are such, as proceed from the sudden passions of the mind, and the strong affections of the heart: as from hatred, grief, anger, sorrow, and such like. These sins are commonly thought to be in all men: but the truth is, they are properly incident to the regenerate. For infirmity cannot be said properly to be in them, in whom sin hath firmitie or strength, and where is no power of grace at all. Again, the man that is regenerate, sinneth not either when he would, because he is restrained by the grace of God that is in him: or in what manner he would, partly because he sinneth not with all his heart, the strength of his flesh being abated by the Spirit; and partly, for that being fallen, he lies not still, but recovers himself by speedy repentance. An evident argument, that the sins whereinto he falleth, are not presumptuous, but arise ordinarily of weakness and infirmity. ⟨p. 22⟩Sins of Presumption are such, as proceed from pride, arrogancy, wilfulness, and hau•nes of mans heart. Against these David prayeth, saying, Let 1not presumptuous sins have dominion over me. And of them there be three degrees. The first is, when a man wilfully goeth on in his sins, upon an erroneous persuasion of Gods mercy, and of his own future repentance; this is the sin of most men. The second is, when a man sinneth wilfully, in contempt of the law of God▪ this is called by Moses, a sin with a high hand, 2& the punishment thereof was, by present death to be cut off from among the people. The third, when a man sinneth, not only wilfully and contemptuously, but of set malice & spite against God himself, and Christ Jesus. And by this we may conceive what is the sin against the holy Ghost: which is not every sin of presumption, or against knowledge and conscience: but such a kind of presumptuous offence in which true religion is renounced: and that of set purpose and resolved malice, against the very Majesty of God himself and Christ. Heb. 10. 29.