A09432:1175
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.
Touching the commandment, Judge not] The meaning. This commandment forbids not all kind of Judgement, but must be restrained to unlawful Judgement; for there be four kinds of lawful Judgement,1 two whereof be public, and two private. Of public, the first is civil Judgement, belonging to the civill Magistrate, who is to enquire2 into the manners of men, and according to the good positive laws of the country to give judgement, either in punishing offenders, or rewarding ⟨p. 408⟩them that do well. The second kind is Ecclesiastical, belonging principally to the minister, who in the public dispensation of the word3 judgeth mens manners, by reproving and condemning their sins, whether they be thoughts, words, or actions. In this sense the unbeliever is said to be judged, when his thoughts & actions are controlled by the word, 1. Cor. 14. 24. and thus Noah judged and condemned the old world, Heb. 11. 7. Of private lawful judgement, the first is private admonition, 4whereby one man doth in Christian and loving manner, reprehend another for his sins, and thereby judgeth him: this is also commanded in the word of God, and therefore it is not here forbidden. The second5 is just dispraise, when the gross faults of notorious persons are reproved and condemned for this end alone, that others may take warning thereby: thus Christ judged the Pharisees both for life and doctrine6 before his Disciples, calling them Hypocrites, that said, and did not: and their doctrine leaven: and that most justly and wisely, that his7