Vert. yo. the Epifile to the Romans. Lutherans alai do muchwrong us in this matter. former fumes : and in the refpe& none is from God as author, ( to wit) as fin hath the condition ofa recompence,but not is it hath the quality ofa tranfgref- liion : for fo it proceeds from Satans fuggefion and mans corruption.ln fins mans evill worke in offending God by breaking the Law muff be fevered in confederation and truth, both from the good work of God, and his judge- ment by punifhing offences righteoufly: which if the Papifts would cónfeffe,(tor . they cannot but fee it) they would cease to hander us Protelants,by fpeking and writing that we make God the proper caufe of finne (as it is fìnne,) whereas we teach that in finne betides the anomia, which is from man himfelfe,there is alto artimiffhiawhich is the proper worke of God. T t M. We have feen what is to be learned from the parts of this text, is there not Jome- thing to be learned from it being uholly con frdered ? S t L. Yes, and namely' thus much : that fometime, and in force cafes , and from force perlons, imprecations and curfes be lawfull. T s ta.In whom he imprecations lawfull, and towards tel ghat causes, things,and in what manner ? There be S t L. Firlt, it is lawfull for God r,nary Pre- himfelfe the Soveraigne and Righteous hc s, which are Authour of ble(Gngs and curses Levit; no ma edi' 26. Tent. 28. For God being himfelfe k;on :. mofl holy, can neither blefse nor curie no otherwife but holily. Also in the Prophets and Apostles which had the Spirit of Prophefie, and a warrant by a fpeciall calling to curie others,it was in them abfolutely lawfull fo to doe. Thirdly, in publick perfons, as Magi - grates, Ministers, and Parents , it is lawfùll conditionally, that the caufe of their curie be not private, but pub - likely (to wit) Gods glory. Secondly, that their affeftions be not partial]; nor malicicutly diftempered with delire of revenge. Now for the perlons to- wards whom imprecation muff be ufed, they muff be fetch as (hew them - felves to be defperate and proteflid enemies to GOD and godlineffe,fuch 451 as was "manias, Simon Magíts, Lb- ws ie the Sorcerer, the Traitor Judas, the cruell perfecuting Jewes. Thirdly, curies muff beufed onely in such mat- ters as do concerne God or his Church. And fóurthly, not in thofe things that ate eter {fall ( for no -man without pecu- liar revelation, may pray for the dam- nation of any man ) but in thingsi which are temporal]; lb far forth on- ly as they may tend to the flulvation of the parties. Finally, as touching the manner, curses are to be wished uo o- therwife then with this affecttion of the converfion of others , expressed or underffood if they belong unto God or otherwife' that they may be con- founded. . T s, M. Whereunto may fire know- ledge of this doarine help and further Chri= ffians ? S t t. Firff, to reprove fuck as ratti- ly out of fpleen or choler , doe banne or'curfe either themselves or others, their children or neighbours : and se- condly , to warne them to take care of repenting for that which is paff, and hence - forward to take heed how they rush through indiscretion or impatien- cy into such wicked imprecations, left betides the taking of the sacred Name of God in vain, contrary to the third Commandement, they do pull down upon their own heads thefevery curies which they hay "e pronounced with their own mouthes, as it isthreatned in that very precept : and as it happened unto one Charles Duke of Burbon, who was Maine with a Gun -fhot in the affault of a Towne, at he had wifhed unto him- felfe : and unto one Henry an Earle of Sehuartzbourgh, who miserably peri- fled, being drowned in a Jakes, accor- ding to his ufuall imprec.ations;and un. to two women in Germany: whereof the one to get credit unto her words, did pray that if it were not true which the had fpoken, that (he might never fpeake, and the was made dumber And the other out of choler praying that thedevill would take her Tonne, was prefently poffeffed. And 'Ally tinto the Jewes, who by imprecation curbpg Qq 3 ' them-
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