A77374:107
The wounded conscience cured, the weak one strengthened, [sic] and the doubting satisfied By…The vvounded conscience cured, the weak one strengthned, [sic] and the doubting satisfied By…
The wounded conscience cured, the weak one strengthened, [sic] and the doubting satisfied By way of answer to Doctor Fearne. Where the main point is rightly stated, and objections throughly answered for the good of those who are willing not to be deceived. By William Bridge, preacher of Gods Word. It is ordered this 30. day of January, 1642. by the committee of the House of Commons in Parliament, concerning printing, that this answer to Dr. Fearne's book be printed. John White. The second edition, corrected and amended. Whereunto are added three sermons of the same author; 1. Of courage, preached to the volunteers. 2. Of stoppage in Gods mercies to England, with their [sic] remedies. 3. A preparation for suffering in these plundering times.The vvounded conscience cured, the weak one strengthned, [sic] and the doubting satisfied By way of answer to Doctor Fearne. Where the main point is rightly stated, and objections throughly answered for the good of those who are willing not to be deceived. By William Bridge, preacher of Gods Word. It is ordered this 30. day of January, 1642. by the committee of the House of Commons in Parliament, concerning printing, that this answer to Dr. Fearnes book be printed. John White. The second edition, correced and amended. Whereunto are added three sermons of the same author; 1. Of courage, preached to the voluntiers. 2. Of stoppage in Gods mercies to England, with their [sic] remedies. 3. A preparation for suffering in these plundering times.
London: printed for Benjamin Allen, 1643
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. But what then? Is it not therefore lawful for the subjects now to resist the higher power commanding things unlawful, because the Apostle commanded there that we should not resist the higher powers in things that are lawful? Herein lies the Doctors continued mistake: He thinks this command of the Apostle was given to the Christians to be obedient to Nero in his unlawful commands; whereas the Apostles command in this place, reaches to all times, and is made to all that are Christians: Although they did live under Nero, yet it does not follow, that the Apostle commanded them to be subject to him in unlawfulls. If indeed Nero's commandments were only unlawful, and this direction of the Apostle was made only to the Christians in those times, and that the subjection commanded were only suffering subjection, then this Scripture might make much for his purpose. But though Nero was an enemy to the Christians, yet some of his commandments were lawful; and this direction of the Apostle was not made only to the Christians in those times, but as a general rule for all good men: and the obedience and subjection here commanded, was not only to be passive, but active (which I have proved already, wherein I also appeal to the Doctors own conscience, whether that this Scripture doth not command active obedience and subjection to the Prince) and therefore his interpretation thereof is exceeding wide, and his argument null.
Ans. But what then? Is it not therefore lawfull for the subjects now to resist the higher power commanding things unlawfull, because the Apostle commanded there that we should not resist the higher powers in things that are lawfull? Herein lyes the Doctors continued mistake: He thinkes this command of the Apostle was given to the Christians to be obedient to Nero in his unlawfull commands; whereas the Apostles command in this place, reaches to all times, and is made to all that are Christians: Although they did live under Nero, yet it does not follow, that the Apostle commanded them to be subject to him in unlawfulls. If indeed Nero's commandements were onely unlawfull, and this direction of the Apostle was made onely to the Christians in those times, and that the subjection commanded were onely suffering subjection, then this Scripture might make much for his purpose. But though Nero was an enemy to the Christians, yet some of his commandements were lawfull; and this direction of the Apostle was not made onely to the Christians in those times, but as a generall rule for all good men: and the obedience and subjection here commanded, was not onely to be passive, but active (which I have proved already, wherein I also appeale to the Doctors own conscience, whether that this Scripture doth not command active obedience and subjection to the Prince) and therefore his interpretation thereof is exceeding wide, and his argument null.