A09365:866
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.
The Covenant of grace, and our being in Christ is absolutely necessary: for no man, woman, or child, can be saved, unless they have God for their God. But the sign thereof is not. For look as to the essence of a bargain, the consent and agreement of the parties alone, is of mere necessity required; and this being yielded, the bargain is a bargain, though it be neither sealed, subscribed, nor confirmed by witnesses; so likewise a man may be saved, if he be within the covenant of grace, though he have not received the seal and sign thereof, the Sacrament of Baptism.
The Couenant of grace, and our beeing in Christ is absolutely necessarie: for no man, woman, or childe, can be saued, vnlesse they haue God for their God. But the signe thereof is not. For looke as to the essence of a bargaine, the consent and agreement of the parties alone, is of meere necessitie required; and this beeing yelded, the bargaine is a bargen, though it be neither sealed, subscribed, nor confirmed by witnesses; so likewise a man may be saued, if he be within the couenant of grace, though he haue not receiued the seale and signe thereof, the Sacrament of Baptisme.
II. The bare want or privation of Baptism (when it cannot be had) is pardonable, & doth not condemn the party un-baptized. The thief upon the cross was saved, though he was never baptized, Luk. 23. And sundry Martyrs in former times, who were Gods ⟨p. 310⟩dear children, and died for the maintenance of his truth, though they wanted the outward and visible baptism, yet by Gods mercy they were not destitute of the inward, and consequently were not condemned but saved. And so many children under the law died before the eight day, uncircumcised. Yea when any among them were weak, and could not endure to have the foreskin of their flesh cut, in probability their circumcision was deferred, and some of them died in the mean time, which nevertheless being borne of believing parents, were undoubtedly saved, according to the promise of God made to Abraham, I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed. For as Christ saith of the Sabaoth, so may we say of Circumcision; It was made for man, and not man for it. And it were a judgement both rash and uncharitable, to think that all the males of the children of Israel that died before circumcision, were condemned.