A09365:721
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.
First, he that would make such a prayer as God may be pleased to hear, must repent. Esa. 1. 15. God would not hear the prayers of the Jews, because their hands were full of blood: that is, because they had not repented of their oppression and cruelty. Joh. 9. 31. God hears not sinners: that is, such as live and lie in their sins, and turn not unto God by true repentance. 1. Joh. 3. 22. By this we know that God hears our prayers, if we keep his commandments. I add further, that the man which hath before-time repented, must again renew his repentance, if he desire that his prayers should be accepted. For the very particular sins of men, whereinto they fall after their repentance, do hinder the course of their prayers, from having access unto God, if they be not repented of. And for this cause, the worthy men of God the Prophets in the old Testament, do usually in the beginning of their prayers, still humble themselves, and confess their sins; as we may see in the example of Daniel, chap. 9. v. ⟨p. 265⟩5, 6, &c. and of Ezra, chap. 9. v. 6. &c.
First, he that would make such a praier as God may be pleased to heare, must repent. Esa. 1. 15. God would not heare the praiers of the Iewes, because their hands were full of blood: that is, because they had not repented of their oppression and crueltie. Ioh. 9. 31. God heares not sinners: that is, such as liue and lie in their sinnes, and turne not vnto God by true repentance. 1. Ioh. 3. 22. By this we know that God heares our prayers, if we keepe his commandements. I adde further, that the man which hath before-time repented, must againe renew his repentance, if he desire that his praiers should be accepted. For the very particular sinnes of men, whereinto they fall after their repentance, doe hinder the course of their praiers, from hauing accesse vnto God, if they be not repented of. And for this cause, the worthie men of God the Prophets in the old Testament, doe vsually in the beginning of their praiers, still humble themselues, and confesse their sinnes; as we may see in the example of