A09364:7
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.
TO THE RIGHT Worshipful Sir Edward Denny, Knight.
TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull Sir Edward Denny, Knight.
There is no one doctrine revealed in the word of God, or dispensed by the Prophets and Apostles, of greater use and consequence in the life of man, then is that, which prescribeth a form of relieving and rectifying the conscience. The benefit, which from hence issueth unto the Church of God, is unspeakable. For first, it serveth to discover the cure of the dangerousest sore that can be, the wound of the Spirit. Which how great a cross it is, the wise man reporteth out of true experience, when he saith, that the Spirit of a man 1will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded Spirit who can bear it? And his meaning is, that no outward grief, can fall into the nature of man, which will not be with patience endured, to the utmost, so long as the mind is not troubled, or dismayed. But when once the Spirit is touched, and the heart, (which, being well appalled, is the very fountain of peace to the whole man,) smitten with fear of the wrath of God for sin; the grief is ⟨image 3⟩so great, the burden intolerable, that it will not by any outward means, be eased or assuaged. Secondly, it giveth for all particular Cases, special and sound direction; whether man be to walk with God, in the immediate performance of the duties of his service, or to converse with man according to the state and condition of his life, in the family, in the Church, or in the Commonwealth. The want of which direction, of what force it is, to turn the actions of men, which are good in themselves, to sins in regard of the agents, S. Paul affirmeth in that general conclusion, Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. Wherein he2 would teach us, that whatsoever is done, or undertaken by men in this life, whether it concern the knowledge and worship of God, or any particular duty to be performed, by virtue of their callings, for the common good; whereof they have not sufficient warrant, and assurance in conscience, grounded upon the word, that it is to be don, or not to be done; to them it is a sin. Thirdly, it is of all other doctrines, (if it be rightly used) the most comfortable. For it is not founded in the opinions, & variable conceits of men, neither doth it consist, of conclusions and positions, that are only probable and conjectural: (for the conscience of the doubting or distressed party, cannot be established and rectified by them:)