A77374:73
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.
Answ. Now therefore here the Doctor granteth that it is lawful for the natural body to defend it self against an outward force, and what is the Militia for especially, but against foreigners?
Answ. Now therefore here the Doctor granteth that it is lawfull for the naturall body to defend it selfe against an outward force, and what is the Militia for especially, but against forrainers?
Then the Doctor distinguisheth betwixt a personal defence and a general resistance by arms. He saith, a personal defence may be without all offence, and doth not strike at the order and power that is over us, as general-resistance by arms doth, which doth immediately strike at that order which is the life of the Common-weal, which saith he makes a large difference betwixt Elisha's shutting of the door against the Kings messenger, and their resisting the King by armed men.
Then the Doctor distinguisheth betwixt a personall defence and a generall resistance by armes. He saith, a personall defence may be without all offence, and doth not strike at the order and power that is over us, as generall-resistance by armes doth, which doth immediately strike at that order which is the life of the Common-weale, which saith he makes a large difference betwixt Elisha's shutting of the doore against the Kings messenger, and their resisting the King by armed men.
Answ. But why was Elisha's defence personal? because he was but one person that was defended? then if one man defend himself against 1000. in arms that is a personal defence, or was it personal because only the person of the Prophet made defence and had none to assist him? not so because he spake to the Elders to shut the door and hold him fast, and if this act of Elisha was contrary to the Kings command, why did it not as immediately strike at the order and power that was over him, as our resistance doth now? indeed if the subjects as private men strengthened with no authority should gather together in a rude multitude to oppose laws and governors, then that work should strike immediately at the order and power and life of a State, but that the State should send out an army to bring in Delinquents to be tried at the highest Court of the Kingdom, that justice and judgement may run down like water which hath been stanched up, is rather to confirm and strengthen the order and power of authority, and so it is in our case.