A09365:471
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.
Sect. 1.
First of all, the actions of man, though they be sundry, yet they all proceed from 1one only fountain, and common cause, the soul; and are done by the power thereof. The body of it self, is not an agent in any work, but as it were a dead instrument, in and by which the soul produceth all actions and works.
First of all, the actions of man, though they be sundrie, yet they all proceede from 1one onely fountaine, and common cause, the soule; and are done by the power thereof. The bodie of it selfe, is not an agent in any worke, but as it were a dead instrument, in and by which the soule produceth all actions and workes.
- 1How the body troubles the mind.How the body troubles the minde.
Secondly, though all the actions of man come from the soul, yet the most of them ⟨p. 189⟩are such, as be performed by the body, and the parts thereof, and by the spirits that are seated in the body, as by instruments. Indeed some actions of the soul and mind, are done without the help of the body; but I say, that the most of them, are wrought by the body, and spirits therein contained. And yet notwithstanding the Spirits in them selves, are no agents at all: but the only agent in any work, is the soul it self. For example: the using of the outward senses, as of sight, hearing, tasting, touching, smelling, as also of the inward, as imagination, memory, &c. all this is done by the brain, and the parts of the brain, as proper instruments. All affections both good and bad, come from the soul, but yet they are done and acted in, and by means of the heart and vital spirits. So also the powers of life and nourishment proceed from the soul; and yet they are done and wrought by the liver, and other inward parts, as instruments whereby the soul nourisheth the body. In a word, there is no natural action in man, but for the effecting thereof, the parts of the body are used as it were the hands and instruments of the soul; and all this comes by reason of the union of the body with the soul, whereby they make one person.