A77374:167
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 likeness is there between that of the Papists, and this of ours? The Papists saying, the Church hath a power of preserving its own safety, and therefore the Pope may depose: we say the Kingdom hath a power to preserve it self, and therefore if the King neglect the trust, the State for the present is to look unto it: And as for the matter of the Church, we turn the Doctors argument upon himself thus;
Ans. But what likenesse is there between that of the Papists, and this of ours? The Papists saying, the Church hath a power of preserving its own safety, and therefore the Pope may depose: we say the Kingdome hath a power to preserve it selfe, and therefore if the King neglect the trust, the State for the present is to look unto it: And as for the matter of the Church, we turne the Doctors argument upon himselfe thus;
If the Church cannot be preserved where the Officer is an heretic, unless the Church have a power to reject him after once or twice admonition, then cannot a Kingdom have a power to preserve it self, when the officer is unfaithful; unless the Kingdom have a power either to depose him, or to look to their own matters till things be better settled: But the Church hath excommunication granted to it by Christ himself for its own preservation; neither can we conceive how a Church can preserve it self from evils and errors, unless it have a power to cast out the wicked officers; as in the body natural it cannot preserve it self, unless nature had given it a power to deliver it self from its own burdens, therefore the Commonweal also by the like reason cannot have a power to preserve it self, unless it have a power to deliver it self from its burden; but in case that an Officer be unfaithful, we do not say that it i• lawful for the Kingdom to depose him, therefore it may be lawful for themselves socially considered Statewise, in time of danger to help themselves. Neither herein as the Doctor would, do we appropinquate to the Romish doctrine, for the Papists from this power of the Church do infer a power unto the Pope, and not unto the Church or community.
If the Church cannot be preserved where the Officer is an hereticke, unlesse the Church have a power to reject him after once or twice admonition, then cannot a Kingdome have a power to preserve it selfe, when the officer is unfaithfull; unlesse the Kingdome have a power either to depose him, or to looke to their own matters till things be better setled: But the Church hath excommunication granted to it by Christ himselfe for its owne preservation; neither can we conceive how a Church can preserve it selfe from evils and errors, unlesse it have a power to cast out the wicked officers; as in the body naturall it cannot preserve it selfe, unlesse nature had given it a power to deliver it selfe from its own burdens, therefore the Commonweale also by the like reason cannot have a power to preserve it selfe, unlesse it have a power to deliver it selfe from its burden; but in case that an Officer be unfaithfull, we doe not say that it i lawfull for the Kingdome to depose him, therefore it may be lawfull for themselves socially considered Statewise, in time of danger to help themselves. Neither herein as the Doctor would, doe we appropinquate to the Romish doctrine, for the Papists from this power of the Church doe infer a power unto the Pope, and not unto the Church or community.