Nine cases of conscience occasionally determined by Robert Sanderson.

Point V.

Sect. 12. Hitherto we have proceeded in genere judiciali, by considering of the nature and validity, lawfulness and obligation of the

Promise for the time past. Now we are to deal in genere deliberativo, and to consider what in Christian Wisdom is meetest to be far∣ther done, for the better both quieting and regulating of the Conscience for the time to come; wherein submitting to Men of better judgments, and experience, I give my advice as followeth, viz.

First, That the Gentlewoman out of the serious consideration of the Premises, be brought to a through feeling of the grie∣vousness of those sins which she hath com∣mitted against God, and wherein she hath so long continued, that so she may not only be humbled in his sight with true contriti∣on of heart, and remorse for the same, pro∣portionably to the greatness thereof; but also be provoked to a proportionable mea∣sure of thankfulness unto him, for his gra∣cious goodness in restraining her unlawful affections from breaking out into actual un∣cleanness, and preserving her when she had run out so far in an evil way, from rushing into more desperate Extremities; for Er∣ranti nullus terminus: as a stone that tumb∣leth down a steep hill, so mans corruption, when it is once set on going, hath no stay of it self till it come to the bottom of Hell, un∣less

the Lord lay a stop in the way: and it is to be acknowledged a blessed act of God's merciful Providence, when we have let loose the reins to our own lusts in any kind, if they be bridled from running headlong into all excess of wickedness; great sins require more than ordinary Repentance, and great mercies more than ordinary Thankfulness.

Sect. 13. Secondly, That having thus hum∣bled her self before God by inward Contri∣tion, she also make an outward free Confes∣sion of her said sins, to him to whom God hath delegated a Ministerial Power to remit sins, that she may receive Comfort and Ab∣solution from his Mouth; I mean the Priest: and this I think meetest to be done to the Bishop of the Diocess, with one or more of his Presbytery, such as he shall think good to take to him to assist him; or else to some other by his appointment; Because the Bishop is the chief Pastor, to whom the care of Souls most immediately belongeth, within his own Diocess: besides that both the quality the of person, (if she be of emi∣nent Place, and Rank) and the weightiness of the case, make it so much the more pro∣per for his cognisance: But howsoever it

should be done to a Man of approved wis∣dom, and such an one as will be both com∣passionate and secret, wherein the more freely she shall make confession of her said sins, and the more chearfully she shall sub∣ject her self to perform such further Acts, whether of Humiliation or Charity, as the Bi∣shop or Priest shall advise to be done, in testi∣mony of her unfeigned Repentance, the more sound comfort undoubtedly will the sen∣tence of Absolution bring unto the soul.

Sect. 14. This done, then thirdly, that she endeavour by all fair means, that the Gen∣tleman also her friend and partner, in the aforesaid Promise, may be brought to the like sight and acknowledgment of the great sins that were enwrapped in that act, and to a true persuasion withal, that so long as he continueth in the former unlawful affection and resolution, he is not only still under the guilt of those sins, but also in near danger (without God's great mercy preventing it) of falling into other and greater sins, for which purpose it will be expedient, that he be truly and effectually dealt withal, (yet with as much lenity as the state of his Soul will suffer, and with all possible secresie) and that by some such person especially as he

holdeth a reverend Opinion of both for Learning and Piety; and to procure that this be done, the Gentlewoman ought to take it into her own special care; which it will concern her to do, not only in Christian Charity for the good of his Soul, but in Christian Wisdom also for her own future be∣nesit and security.

Sect. 15. For when he shall be once throughly convinced in his judgment and conscience of the unlawfulness of the Pro∣mise made between them, and of the sinful inconveniences that attend the continued pur∣pose of fulfilling it, there is a fair way open for that which is next and fourthly to be done, viz That he be then earnestly moved for his Relaxation of the said Promise to the Gentlewoman, which (being it was but a meer Promise, and no Vow, as in the first Point hath already been shewed) he hath in him∣self a full power to make, and this also to be done in the presence of such Persons, as they shall make choice of betwixt themselves to be witnesses of the said Release; for although the Promise being utterly unlawful, hath no power to bind, and so there needeth no Re∣lease, as of absolute necessity, in regard of the thing it self; yet such Release may be

very behoveful in regard of the Gentlewo∣mans person, and for the quieting of her conscience, in case there should remain any fears or scruples behind, lest perhaps her promise should still bind her; for as Satan la∣boureth to benum the Conscience with security, to make men bold to commit sins without scruple, till he hath drawn them into the snare; so when he seeth them offer to get out of the snare again by Repentance, he is very cunning to inject needless soruples and fears, if possibly he can, to hold them in by means thereof; wherefore I hold it very expedient, that such a Release, if it may be obtained, be not neglected; for thereby the binding power of the Promise, though we should suppose it lawful, should be quite taken away, so as there need no scruple to remain: Abundans Cautela non nocet, is a safe Aphorism; as wary men when they pay mo∣neys, besides seeing the Book crost, will crave to have an Acquittance: So it may be some satisfaction to the Gentlewomans mind, to have a solemn Release before witness, which say it should be more than needeth, yet can do no harm howsoever.

Sect. 16. Fifthly, that the Gentlewoman all the while before, and so ever after (that

time only excepted, when the Relaxation should be made, for then it is requisite she should be personally present) carefully avoid the company of that Gentleman, and he like wise hers, so far as conveniently may be; but at leastwise, by no means converse toge∣ther with any familiarity, especially in pri∣vate; lest the former unlawful affection should rekindle in either Party, and so the disease after some measure of Cure grow to a re∣laps, which many times proves more dan∣gerous than the first malady; for commonly when the unclean spirit is ejected by Repen∣tance, if once he make himself master of the heart again (as he will attempt it, and without a good watch haply effect it) he will be sure at the re-entry, to come with a new strength, and that seven-fold to what he had before, and needs must the end of that man be worse then the beginning: she must therefore resolve to shun all likely occasions of falling again into the same snare, so far as the quality of her person and condition, and the common affairs of life will permit: And she had need also to use her best care and diligence (praying to God daily for Grace to strengthen her thereunto) to with∣stand all wicked temptations of the flesh, that

she be no more foiled thereby, neither en∣tangled again in such sinful inconveniences, as by God's Mercy she shall be now freed from.

Sect. 17. If in these Directions, I be thought to deal with too much rigour and strictness, it would be considered:

First, That it's much better to put the Patient to a little more pain at the first, than by skinning the wound over, to heal it de∣ceitfully; and to suffer it to rankle inward; which will breed a great deal more grief at last.

Secondly, That since all men (through cor∣rupt self love, and privy Hypocrisie, cleaving to our depraved nature) are partial towards themselves, and apt to deal more favourably with their own sins, than they ought; it is therefore safest for them (in their own Cases especially) to incline to severity rather than indulgence.

Thirdly, That there may be a mitigation used of the present Directions, according as the state of the Patient (in the several va∣riations thereof) shall require; but that (for the avoiding of partiality) not to be per∣mitted to the sole liberty of the party herself, but rather to be done by the advice of a

Ghostly Physician, who, if he be a man of such wisdom and moderation as is meet, will I doubt not allow a greater indulgence in case he see it expedient, than it could be safe for the Party her self to take of her own head.

Fourthly, That in all this Discourse, I take not upon me to write Edicts, but to give my advice, that is to say, not to pre∣scribe to the judgment of others, if any shall see cause to dissent, but to deliver my own opinion (being requested thereunto by a Re∣verend Friend) with such a faithfulness and freedom as becometh me to do; and truly those Parties whom it most concerneth, ought not to blame me for it how soever; in∣asmuch as there can be no cause to suspect that I should be carried with any personal re∣spects to be partial either for or against either of them; so God is my witness, whom I desire to serve, I had not any intimation at all given me, neither yet have so much as the least conjecture in the World, who ei∣ther of them both might be.