A09432:1033
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.
vers. 22. The light of the body is the eye: if thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be light: 23. But if thine eye be wicked, then all thy body shall be dark. Wherefore if the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
vers. 22. The light of the bodie is the eye: if thine eye be single, thy whole bodie shall be light: 23. But if thine eye be wicked, then all thy bodie shall be darke. Wherefore if the light that is in thee be darkenesse, how great is that darkenesse!
These two verses have sundry expositions, which we must discuss, before we can see the scope and coherence of them in this place. Of sundry which I take to miss the right scope of Christ in this place, I will only touch one, which is the most probable; and then set down that which I take to be the best. By single eye, some understand a liberal mind; and by the wicked eye, an •••ious and covetous mind: and so they make Christ here to speak of liberality and covetousness. Now it is true that the words will bear this sense, for Solomon puts the good eye, for the liberal and merciful person: Prov. 22. 9. He that hath the good eye, he shall be blessed: for he giveth of his bread unto the poor: and the evil eye, for the covetous person: Prov. 28. 22. A man of a wicked eye hasteth unto riches. But though the words will bear this interpretation, yet it is not (as I take it) the proper meaning of Christ in this place: for here, the light of the body, the single eye, and the light that is in us, be all put for one and the same thing. Now the light that is in us, is the understanding and judgement of the mind. Again, the eye is here called the light of the whole body: but the liberal mind cannot be the light of the whole body for all actions, but for works of mercy and bounty only.