A09365:993
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.
Ans. He must strive against doubting, and endeavour to believe; being heartily sorry for the weakness and infirmity of his faith; And let him withal consider and remember, that God hath not only given his promise, but set apart this Sacrament, to be a special sign and pledge of his mercy contained in the promise, for the upholding & strengthening of mans faith.
Ans. He must striue against doubting, and indeauour to beleeue; being heartily sory for the weakenes and infirmitie of his faith; And let him withall consider and remember, that God hath not onely giuen his promise, but set apart this Sacrament, to be a special signe and pledge of his mercie contained in the promise, for the vpholding & strengthening of mans faith.
But some man will say; Mine endeavour is nothing, if doubting prevail. Ans. It is not so. For if a man can be heartily sorry for his infirmity; if he strive to believe; if in heart he hungereth and thirsteth after Christ, faith is begun, and he in some sort doth apprehend Christ. The poor beggar by the high way side, enjoyeth the alms that is given him, though he receive it with a lame and leprous hand. The stomach that loathes physic, if it receives into it at the first, but one drop of the potion prescribed, and that in very weak and fainting manner, it will be able at length to take benefit ⟨p. 347⟩by a greater quantity, and in the mean time it receives good. The man that is in close prison, if he sees but one little beam of the Sun, by a small crevice; by that very beam he hath use of the Sun, though he seeth not the whole body of the Sun. In like manner, though our faith, the hand of our soul, be mingled with weakness and corruption; though we feel never so little measure of Gods grace in us; yea though our knowledge be never so small; yet it is an argument, that the Spirit of God begins to work in our harts, and that we have by Gods mercy, begun to lay hold on Christ.
But some man will say; Mine indeauour is nothing, if doubting preuaile. Ans. It is not so. For if a man can be heartily sorie for his infirmitie; if he striue to beleeue; if in heart he hungreth and thirsteth after Christ, faith is begunne, and he in some sort doth apprehend Christ. The poore begger by the high way side, enioyeth the almes that is giuen him, though he receiue it with a lame and leprous hand. The stomacke that lothes physicke, if it receiues into it at the first, but one droppe of the potion prescribed, and that in very weake and fainting manner, it will be able at length to take benefit