A09365:544
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 these four sorts of creatures excel one another in properties and degrees. For the first of them which are mere substances, do serve those that have life, as the trees and the plants. The trees & the plants serve the creatures that have sense & life, as the beasts and the fishes. The beasts and the fishes serve man, that hath substance, life, sense, and reason. And amongst them all we see that those which have more gifts are served of those which have less, as, the sun and moon serve the plants, the plants and herbs serve the beasts, and the beasts serve man, and that creature that hath most gifts is served of all. Man therefore excelling all these must have something to honour and serve, which must be more excellent then the other creatures, yea then himself, and that is a substance uncreate, most holy, most wise, eternal, infinite, and this is God.
Now these foure sorts of creatures excell one another in properties and degrees. For the first of them which are meere substances, doe serue those that haue life, as the trees and the plants. The trees & the plantes serue the creatures that haue sense & life, as the beastes and the fishes. The beastes and the fishes serue man, that hath substance, life, sense, and reason. And amongst them all we see that those which haue more gifts are serued of those which haue lesse, as, the sunne and moone serue the plantes, the plantes and hearbes serue the beasts, and the beasts serue man, and that creature that hath most giftes is serued of all. Man therefore excelling all these must haue something to honour and serue, which must be more excellent then the other creatures, yea then himselfe, and that is a substance vncreate, most holy, most wise, eternall, infinite, and this is God.
Thirdly, all particular creatures whether in heaven or in earth are referred to their certain particular and peculiar ends, wherein every one of them, even the basest and meanest is employed, and which they do all accomplish in their kind. And this is a plain proof, that there is one that excelleth in wisdom, providence, and power, that created ⟨p. 208⟩all these to such ends, and hath power to bring them thereunto: and who is this but God?