The whole treatise of the cases of conscience distinguished into three bookes: the first whereof is revised and corrected in sundrie places, and the other two annexed. Taught and deliuered by M. W. Perkins in his holy-day lectures, carefully examined by his owne briefes, and now published together for the common good, by T. Pickering Bachelour of Diuinitie. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table: one of the heads and number of the questions propounded and resolued; another of the principall texts of Scripture vvhich are either explaned, or vindicated from corrupt interpretation.

Sect. 5.

Hauing thus laid downe the Groundes of * 1.1 comfort: I come now to the Way, by which the party in distresse, may be brought within the compasse of the promise of saluation. This way standes in two things; in making Triall, and in Applying the promise.

First then, Triall must be made, whether the person distressed haue in him as yet, a∣ny of the forenamed groūds of grace or not. This triall may be made by him that is the

comforter, in the moouing of certaine Que∣stions to the said person. And first, let him aske whether he beleeue and repent? The distressed partie answers no, he cannot re∣pent nor beleeue. Then he must further aske, whether he desire to beleeue and repent? to this he will answer, he doth desire it with all his heart; in the same sort is he to make triall of the other groundes. When a man is in the fitte of tentation; he will say resolutely, he is sure to be damned. Aske him in this fitte, of his loue to God, he will giue answer, he hath none at all: but aske him further, whether he loue a man because he is a Christian, and a child of God, then will he say he doth in∣deed. Thus after triall made in this manner, some beginnings of faith and repentance will appeare, which at the first lay hid. For God vseth out of the time of prosperitie, by, and in distresse and affliction to work his grace.

The second point followeth. After that by triall some of the foresaid beginnings of grace, be found out, then comes the right Applying of the promise of life euerlasting to the partie distressed. And that is done by a kind of reasoning: the first part whereof, is taken from Gods word; the second from the testimonie of the distressed conscience; & the conclusion is the applying of the pro∣mise, on this manner: He that hath an vnfai∣nod desire to repent and beleeue, hath remission of * 1.2

sinnes, and life euerlasting: But thou hast an ear∣nest * 1.3 desire to repent and beleeue in Christ. There∣fore * 1.4 remission of sins and life euerlasting is thine.

And here remember, that it is most con∣uenient, this Application be made by the Minister of the Gospell, who in it, must vse his ministeriall authority giuen him of God, to pronounce the pardon. For in distresse, it is as hard a thing, to make the conscience yeild to the promise, as to make fire and wa∣ter agree. For though men haue signes of grace and mercie in them, yet will they not acknowledge it, by reason of the extremitie of their distresse. In this manner, vpon any of the former grounds, may the troubled and perplexed soule be assured, that mercie be∣longs to it. And this I take to be, the onely generall and right way, of comforting a di∣stressed conscience.

Nowe that the promise thus applyed, may haue good successe, these sixerules must necessarily be obserued.

I. One is, that the comfort which is mini∣stred, be alaied with some mixture of the Law; that is to say; the promise alone must not be applyed, but withall mention is to be made, of the sinnes of the partie, and of the grie∣uous punishmēts, due vnto him for the same. The reason is because there is much guile in the hart of man; in so much, as oftentimes it falleth out, that men not throughly hum∣bled, beeing comforted either too soone, or

too much, doe afterward become the worst of all. In this respect, not vnlike to the yron, which beeing cast into the fire vehemently hot, and cooled againe, is much more hard, then it would haue bin, if the heate had bin moderate. And hence it is, that in the mini∣string of comfort, we must somewhat keepe them downe, and bring them on by litle and litle to repentance. The sweetenesse of com∣fort is the greater, if it be delaied with some ••artnesse of the Law.

II. An other rule is this: If the distressed partie, be much possessed with griefe, of himselfe, he must not be left alone, but alwaies attended with good companie. For it is an vsuall practise of the Deuill, to take the vantage of the place and time, when a man is solitarie and depri∣ued of that helpe, which otherwise he might haue in societie with others. Thus he temp∣ted Eue, when shee was apart from her hus∣band. And in this regard, Salomon pronoun∣ces a woe to him that is alone. But herein doth * 1.5 his malice most appeare, in that he is alway readiest, when a man is in great distresse, and withall solitarie, then vpon the sudden to tempt him to despaire, and to the making a∣way of himselfe.

III. Thirdly, the partie in distresse must be taught, not to rest vpon his owne iudgement, but alwaies to submit himselfe, and be content to be aduised by others that are men of wisdome, iudge∣ment, and discretion. A thing to be obserued

the rather, because the very neglect thereof, hath caused sundrie persons, to remaine vn∣comforted for many yeares.

IV. Fourthly, the partie distressed, must ne∣uer heare tell of any fearefull accidents, or of any that haue bin in like, or worse case then himselfe is. For vpon the very report, the distressed conscience will fasten the accident vpon it selfe, and thereby commonly will be drawne to deeper griefe or despaire. The mind affli∣cted is prone to imagine searefull things, and sometime, the very bare naming of the De∣uill, will strike terrour and feare into it.

V. Fiftly, the partie that is to comfort, must beare with all the wants of the distres∣sed; as with their frowardnes, peeuishnes, rashnes, and with their distempered and dis∣ordered affections and actions: yea he must put vpon him (as it were) their persons, bee∣ing affected with their miserie, and touched with compassion of their sorrowes, as if they were his owne, grieuing when he seeth them to grieue, weeping when they doe weepe and lament.

VI. Sixtly, he that is the comforter, must not be discouraged, though after long la∣bour and paines taking, there follow small comfort and ease, to the partie distressed. For men wil often bewray their stiffenes in temptation, and vsually it is long be∣fore comfort can be receiued; and why? surely because God hath the greatest stroke

in these distresses of minde, and brings men thorough all the temptations, that he hath appointed, euen to the last and vtmost, be∣fore he opens the heart to receiue comfort. The Church in the Canticles seekes for her beloued; but before shee can finde him, shee goes about in the citie, through the streetes, and by open places, passing by the Watch∣men themselues, and after shee hath vsed all meanes without helpe or hope, at length, and not before, shee findes her beloued, him in whom'•• her soule delighteth. * 1.6

Thus much for the generall Remedie of all Distresses: now I come to the particular Distresses themselues.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The true way of bringing a man within the Cove∣nant.
• * 1.2

  Maior.
• * 1.3

  Minor.
• * 1.4

  Conclusio.
• * 1.5

  Eccles. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10.
• * 1.6

  Cant. 3. 4.