A77374:8
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.
To the Reader.
IT is Gods wont to warn before he smite a people, thereby walking himself after his own rule, Deut. 20. 10, 13. who would have no City to be destroyed till peace hath first been offered to it; the sword of the Lord is ever drawn, his bow bent, his arrows prepared, his instruments of death made ready, his cup mingled, yet he doth not use to pour down his plagues, until he have rained a shower of mercy before them, he doth not surprise men at unawares, God never discharges his murdering pieces, till he have first discharged his warning ones, pax domini Luke 10. peace to this house was sounded at every door where the Apostles came. All Ages and Nations will bear witness to this truth, the old world, Sodom, Pharaoh, &c. but no Nation or Age can better subscribe to Gods goodness, and fair dealing in this then we, who have been warned sometimes by prodigious signs, as by the appearance of that wonderful Comet An. 1618. as importing some strange changes which we have seen and heard since, and as if its last influence might seem to end in this Island; when it blazed over England, it was seen no more, And Herlicius Stargardensis (a noted Astrologer) held, that its influence was like to continue between twenty and thirty years: sometimes by his Ministers, by his administration of Justice, and dealing with other Nations; how long hath the sword walked circuit in Cermany, and in Ireland? sometimes by lesser and lighter judgements; how long hath the plague continued in this City without intermission? sometime by taking many godly out of the world, and the removing many others out of the Kingdom, who were wont to stand in the gap; sometime by a general withdrawing himself, pulling down his hangings, not assisting his ordinances, &c. And unless we will wilfully shut our eyes, how hath the goodness, patience, bounty, merciful, and powerful dealings of God towards us, and for us of late, been as an hand put forth to lead us home unto him? to cause us to meet him, and take warning that we might prevent these wasting calamities that are gathered together in a black cloud, as though they meant to empty themselves in a shower of blood upon our heads?