A09432:100
A godly and learned exposition of Christs Sermon in the Mount
A godly and learned exposition of Christs Sermon in the Mount: preached in Cambridge by that reverend and judicious divine M. William Perkins. Published at the request of his executors by Th. Pierson preacher of Gods word. Whereunto is adjoined a twofold table: one, of special points here handled; the other, of choice places of Scripture here quotedA godly and learned exposition of Christs Sermon in the Mount: preached in Cambridge by that reuerend and iudicious diuine M. William Perkins. Published at the request of his exequutors by Th. Pierson preacher of Gods word. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table: one, of speciall points here handled; the other, of choise places of Scripture here quoted
Cambridge : Printed by Thomas Brooke and Cantrell Legge, printers to the University of Cambridge, 1608Cambridge : Printed by Thomas Brooke and Cantrell Legge, printers to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge, 1608
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Verse 9. Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Here is the seventh Rule and precept of Christ touching true happiness; wherein observe first, who are blessed; secondly, wherein this1 blessedness consists: The parties blessed are Peace-makers. By peace 2we must understand concord and agreement between man and man: Now peace is two-fold, Good, or Evil; Good peace, is that which stands with good conscience and true religion. This was among the converts in the Primitive Church, xwho lived together, and were all of one heart, and one soul. Evil peace, is an agreement and concord in evil, as in the practise of any sin against Gods commandments: in a word, evil peace is such, as cannot stand with true Religion and good conscience. Hereof Christ spake, saying, yI came not to send peace, but the sword: that is, division by means of the doctrine of the Gospel. Now in this place, good peace is the quality of those parties that be blessed. Further, by Peace-makers, two sorts of men are to be understood: first, all such as have care, so much as in them lieth, to have peace with all men, good ⟨p. 35⟩and bad: secondly, such as not only themselves be at peace with others, but also do labour to reconcile parties at variance, and to make peace between man and man; both these sorts are blessed, that is, they are in a happy state and condition, because this gift of Peace-making, is a grace of Gods spirit in them alone who are blessed: for where Gods spirit worketh peace of conscience towards God in Christ, there the same spirit doth move the party to seek peace with all men; as also to make peace between those that are at variance, so far forth as it may stand with Religion and a good conscience. Yet here are certain questions to be scanned touching peace, which will give great light to the better understanding of this Rule.