A09365:249
The Whole Treatise of the Cases of Conscience
The whole treatise of the cases of conscience distinguished into three books: the first whereof is revised and corrected in sundry places, and the other two annexed. Taught and delivered by M. W. Perkins in his holy-day lectures, carefully examined by his own briefs, and now published together for the common good, by T. Pickering Bachelor of Divinity. Whereunto is adjoined a twofold table: one of the heads and number of the questions propounded and resolved; another of the principal texts of Scripture which are either explained, or vindicated from corrupt interpretation.The whole treatise of the cases of conscience distinguished into three bookes: the first whereof is revised and corrected in sundrie places, and the other two annexed. Taught and deliuered by M. W. Perkins in his holy-day lectures, carefully examined by his owne briefes, and now published together for the common good, by T. Pickering Bachelour of Diuinitie. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table: one of the heads and number of the questions propounded and resolued; another of the principall texts of Scripture vvhich are either explaned, or vindicated from corrupt interpretation.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1606Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1606
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.
Now that the promise thus applied, may have good success, these six rules must necessarily be observed.
Nowe that the promise thus applyed, may haue good successe, these sixerules must necessarily be obserued.
I. One is, that the comfort which is ministered, be allayed with some mixture of the Law; that is to say; the promise alone must not be applied, but withal mention is to be made, of the sins of the party, and of the grievous punishments, due unto him for the same. The reason is because there is much guile in the hart of man; in so much, as oftentimes it falleth out, that men not throughly humbled, being comforted either too soon, or ⟨p. 104⟩too much, do afterward become the worst of all. In this respect, not unlike to the iron, which being cast into the fire vehemently hot, and cooled again, is much more hard, then it would have bin, if the heat had bin moderate. And hence it is, that in the ministering of comfort, we must somewhat keep them down, and bring them on by little and little to repentance. The sweetness of comfort is the greater, if it be delayed with some tartness of the Law.
I. One is, that the comfort which is ministred, be alaied with some mixture of the Law; that is to say; the promise alone must not be applyed, but withall mention is to be made, of the sinnes of the partie, and of the grieuous punishmēts, due vnto him for the same. The reason is because there is much guile in the hart of man; in so much, as oftentimes it falleth out, that men not throughly humbled, beeing comforted either too soone, or ⟨p. 104⟩too much, doe afterward become the worst of all. In this respect, not vnlike to the yron, which beeing cast into the fire vehemently hot, and cooled againe, is much more hard, then it would haue bin, if the heate had bin moderate. And hence it is, that in the ministring of comfort, we must somewhat keepe them downe, and bring them on by litle and litle to repentance. The sweetenesse of comfort is the greater, if it be delaied with some artnesse of the Law.