A25470:199
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers, September 1661.
London: printed for Joshua Kirton and Nathaniel Webb, 1661
Sermon 3: How may beloved Lusts be discovered and Mortified.
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.
1. There are some that by right eye, and right hand understand our nearest, and dearest comforts which we have in this world, which must be parted with for Christs sake, yet not absolutely, but upon this consideration if they offend; If thy right eye offend thee pluck it out, and cast it from thee, if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: Now this is bona expositio, a good Exposition, as our Divines distinguish, but not recta Expositio, a right Exposition: agreeable to the analogy of faith, but not suitable to the scope, and design of our Saviour in this place. Therefore,
1. There are some that by right eye, and right hand understand our neerest, and dearest comforts which we have in this world, which must be parted with for Christs sake, yet not absolutely, but upon this consideration if they offend; If thy right eye offend thee pluck it out, and cast it from thee, if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: Now this is bona expositio, a good Exposition, as our Divines distinguish, but not recta Expositio, a right Exposition: agreeable to the analogy of faith, but not sutable to the scope, and design of our Saviour in this place. Therefore,
2. There are others, that by right eye, and right hand understand beloved lusts, as hard to be parted with, as right hands, or right eyes: our Saviour mentions the right eye, and the right hand, because they are most prized, as having more then ordinary of spirits and natural heat, ⟨image 29⟩and so more fit for action; I am sure this may be said concerning the right hand.
Indeed I conceive it an hard matter to prove, that by divine appointment one hand should be more useful then the other: but as God hath given us two eyes, and two ears, so two hands, to use both indifferently, and that if need required the one might supply the loss of the other: if any, methinks the left hand should be preferred, because it is nearest the heart, the fountain of life, and activity: but Christ takes them, as he finds them, as he doth in many other cases, and as we have ordered the matter, the right hand is more active and strong then the other, and so more precious: but to our purpose.