A09365:455
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.
Secondly, if any servant of God, should be perfectly regenerate, and made absolutely holy in this life: then he should fulfil the moral law, and so become a Saviour to himself: and by the tenor of the law have life: and so should not Christ be a Saviour properly, but only an instrument, to dispose us, to the keeping of the law, whereby we might save our selves. But there is one only all sufficient Saviour, Christ Jesus: and the beginning, the middle, and the accomplishment of our salvation, is to be ascribed to him alone.
Secondly, if any seruant of God, should be perfectly regenerate, and made absolutely holy in this life: then he should fulfill the morall lawe, and so become a Sauiour to himselfe: and by the tenour of the law haue life: and so should not Christ be a Sauiour properly, but only an instrumēt, to dispose vs, to the keeping of the law, whereby we might saue our selues. But there is one only all sufficient Sauiour, Christ Iesus: and the beginning, the middle, and the accomplishmēt of our saluation, is to be ascribed to him alone.
Thirdly, it is the will God, that his own children, with whom he is well pleased in Christ, should be brought to nothing in themselves that they might be all in all out of themselves in Christ: being, as it were, emptied of self-love, and of all confidence in their own goodness. But if sanctification ⟨p. 181⟩should be perfect at the first, then a man should not go out of himself, but would rather stay as he is, and rest contented in his own goodness. For this cause Paul, after his exaltation, was buffeted by Satan's temptations, that he might not be exalted out of measure, 2 Cor. 12. 7. but should content himself with this, that he was in the love and favour of God in Christ.
Thirdly, it is the wil God, that his owne children, with whome he is well pleased in Christ, should be brought to nothing in themselues that they might be all in all out of themselues in Christ: being, as it were, emptied of selfe-loue, and of all confidence in their owne goodnesse. But if sanctification