A09365:871
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.
It is alleged, that those which are sanctified have faith, which infants have not. Ans. God saith, I will be thy God and the God of thy head. By virtue of this promise, the parent lays hold on the covenant, for himself, and for his child; and the child believes, because the father believes.
It is alleaged, that those which are sanctified haue faith, which infants haue not. Ans. God saith, I will be thy God and the God of thy head. By vertue of this promise, the parent layes hold on the couenant, for himselfe, and for his child; and the childe beleeues, because the father beleeues.
It is objected again, that infants are born in original sin, and therefore cannot be borne holy and sanctified. Answ. Every believing parent sustains a double person. First, as he is a man, descending of Adam, by corrupted seed; and thus, being himself corrupted and unclean, his children also are corrupt and impure. Secondly, as he is a holy ⟨p. 312⟩and believing man, engrafted by faith into Christ the second Adam. And thus by his faith, comes his child to be in the covenant, and partaker of the benefits and privileges thereof: and by the same faith he being a believer, the guilt of original corruption, which is in the Infant new borne, is not imputed unto him to condemnation. And for these causes, the Sacrament of Baptism, is not absolutely and precisely necessary to salvation, but so, and in that sort, as hath bin declared.
It is obiected again, that infants are born in originall sinne, and therefore cannot be borne holy and sanctified. Answ. Euery beleeuing parent sustaines a double person. First, as he is a man, descending of Adam, by corrupted seede; and thus, beeing himselfe corrupted and vncleane, his children also are corrupt and impure. Secondly, as he is a holy ⟨p. 312⟩and beleeuing man, ingraffed by faith into Christ the second Adam. And thus by his faith, comes his child to be in the couenant, and partaker of the benefits and priuiledges thereof: and by the same faith he beeing a beleeuer, the guilt of originall corruption, which is in the Infant new borne, is not imputed vnto him to condemnation. And for these causes, the Sacrament of Baptisme, is not absolutely and precisely necessarie to saluation, but so, and in that sort, as hath bin declared.