A09365:481
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.
1. And first of all; if it be asked what Melancholy is? I answer, it is a kind of earthy and black blood, specially in the spleen, corrupted and distempered; which when the spleen is stopped, conveys it self to the heart, and the brain; and there partly by his corrupt substance, and contagious quality, and partly by corrupt spirits, annoyeth both heart and brain, being the seats and instruments of reason, and affections.
1. And first of all; if it be asked what Melancholy is? I answer, it is a kinde of earthie and blacke blood, specially in the splene, corrupted and distempered; which when the splene is stopt, conuaies it selfe to the heart, and the braine; and there partly by his corrupt substance, and contagious qualitie, and partly by corrupt spirits, annoyeth both heart and braine, beeing the seates and instruments of reason, and affections.
2. The second is, what are the effects and operations of Melancholy? Ans. They are strange, and often fearful. There is no humour, yea nothing in mans body, that hath so strange effects, as this humour hath, being once distempered. An ancient Divine calls it the Devils bait, because the Devil 1being well acquainted with the complexion and temperature of man, by Gods just permission, conveys himself into this humour ⟨p. 192⟩and worketh strange conceits. It is recorded in Scripture, that when the Lord took his good Spirit from Saul, whereby he did carry himself well in the government of his people: and an evil Spirit came upon him, he was in so fearful a case that he would have slain him that was next unto him: how so? surely, because God in justice withdrew his spirit from him, and suffered Satan, to enter into the humour of choler, or melancholy, or both, and by this means caused him to offer violence to David.
2. The second is, what are the effects and operations of Melancholie? Ans. They are strange, and often fearefull. There is no humour, yea nothing in mans bodie, that hath so straunge effects, as this humour hath, beeing once distempeted. An auncient Diuine calls it the Deuills bait, because the Deuill