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. 1.

Examples hereof we shall finde many in * 1.1 the word of God. One is, the example of righteous Iob, who hauing beene long in outward afflictions, was withall exercised with the apprehension of the anger of God, and in that state he saith, that the arrowes of * 1.2 the Almightie were in him, that the venime thereof, did drinke vp his spirit, that the terrours of God did fight against him. Yea further he addeth, that God was his enemie, and writ bit∣ter things against him: and made him to possesse * 1.3 the sinnes of his youth. And at an other time he complaineth, that Gods wrath had torne him, that he hated him, gnashed vpon him with his * 1.4 teeth, and had sharpened his eyes against him: yea that he had taken him by the necke and beaten him, and set him as a marke for himselfe. In all which, and diuers other places, it appeares that his conscience was exercised, with the sense of the wrath of God, which had now euen seazed vpon his soule.

Another example we haue in Dauid, who also was exercised with this temptation and trouble of minde, as the first words of the 6. Psalme, and the whole tenour thereof doe e∣uidently * 1.5 shew: For first, he desires the Lord, not to rebuke him in his wrath, and afterward complaineth, that his griefe was so great, that his very flesh consumed, his bones were vexed, and his bodie brought to such a state,

as no sicknesse could haue brought him vn∣to. And it is not vnlike, that the same Pro∣phet did often fall into the like kind of di∣stresse of minde, as may be gathered out of Psalme 77. and sundrie other places.

Now as it fared with these, and diuers o∣ther seruants of God, in ancient times, so are we not without some instances thereof in our daies. Amongst many, that worthie man Master Luther, writes of himselfe, that he was in this particular temptation, and that he learned in it, the doctrine of the Iustifica∣tion of a sinner, by the meere mercie of God, without any merit of workes: and vp∣on the sense and experience of the nature and properties of this distresse, he wrote a notable exposition of the 6. Psalme of Da∣uid, the scope and intent whereof, he writeth to be nothing els, but a soueraigne remedie of this and the like distresses of the minde and conscience.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Examples.
• * 1.2

  Iob. 6. 4.
• * 1.3

  Iob. 13. 26.
• * 1.4

  Iob. 16. 9.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 6.