A09432:1058
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.
The third kind of eye, is the blind eye, which is set out with the fruits1 thereof, in these words; Wherefore, if the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness? For the better discerning of the state of man with this blind eye, we must see what is meant by light, and also by darkness. By light is meant that knowledge of God, of justice, & of good and evil, which is in the mind by nature: now though this cannot be quite put out (for the most wicked wretch, and the veriest Atheist that lives, hath some conscience remaining, which is a work of ⟨p. 364⟩this light) yet it may be so buried and covered, that no light shall appear, nor any use be made of it, and then is it said to be darkness; which is the state of those that are given up to a reprobate sense, as when a man denies there is a God, or that the Scriptures be the word of God, or such like; in these men natural light is become darkness. And the cause of this change in them, is their corrupt will and rebellious affections, which over-ruling natural knowledge and conscience, cause men to give themselves to actual sins, whereby at length they come to commit sin greedily and without remorse; yea, even against conscience, and the light of nature, and so bury them both in such sort, that they have no more use of them, then if they were quite put out.
The third kind of eie, is the blinde eie, which is set out with the fruits1 thereof, in these words; Wherefore, if the light that is in thee bee darkenesse, how great is that darkenesse? For the better discerning of the state of man with this blinde eie, we must see what is meant by light, and also by darkenesse. By light is meant that knowledge of God, of iustice, & of good and euill, which is in the minde by nature: now though this cannot be quite put out (for the most wicked wretch, and the veriest Atheist that liues, hath some conscience remaining, which is a worke of ⟨p. 364⟩this light) yet it may be so buried and couered, that no light shall appeare, nor any vse be made of it, and then is it said to be darkenes; which is the state of those that are giuen vp to a reprobate sense, as when a man denies there is a God, or that the Scriptures be the word of God, or such like; in these men naturall light is become darkenesse. And the cause of this change in them, is their corrupt will and rebellious affections, which ouer-ruling naturall knowledge and conscience, cause men to giue themselues to actuall sinnes, whereby at length they come to commit sinne greedily and without remorse; yea, euen against conscience, and the light of nature, and so burie them both in such sort, that they haue no more vse of them, then if they were quite put out.