A09365:380
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.
Helps in practise are two; First, he that will bear with comfort the pangs of death, must labour that he may die in faith: and that is done, by laying hold of the promise of God, touching forgiveness of sins and life everlasting by Christ. All these (saith the 1holy Ghost) died in faith, namely, Abel, Enoch, No•, 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 2speech, O Lord, I have waited for thy salvation. In which words it is plain, that his faith rested on the mercy of God, and by hope he waited for his salvation, & 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, & that unto death, we• healed by looking up to the brazen serpent erected by Moses: so when we are stung with sin & death, we must ever remember by faith to look upon Christ. ⟨p. 150⟩But specially when we are dying, then it is our part, to six 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, 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 in tending to stone him, at the very instant (as the text saith) he comforted himself in the Lord his God; but how? by calling to mind 4the merciful promises, that God had made unto him, and by applying them unto his heart by faith. And Paul saith of himself, & the rest of the faithful, that they received the sentence of death in themselves, that they might