A09432:1182
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.
Now because it is so common a sin in all places, and with most men counted no sin: for the common talk in all meetings is of other men, and self-love makes the heart glad to hear other mens faults ripped up, yea this sin will take hold when other sins leave a man, which caused Christ to forewarn his Disciples hereof in this place: therefore it is our duty to labour and strive the more earnestly to be1 purged from this evil mind, and preserved from these evil practises of rash judgement: for which end let us lay to our consciences the reasons following. I. The practise of rash Judgement cannot stand2 with Christian charity: for charity binds a man to walk in love, and love suspecteth not evil, but thinks the best always, and if it be possible, thinks well of all. II. When thou seest a man speak or practise any3 evil, for which thou beginnest to think hardly of him, then consider well of thine own self, how thou hast both that and all other sins in thee, if we regard the root of sin, and therefore do not rashly condemn him for his fact, because thou thy self hast done the like heretofore; or else in time to come mayest do the like or worse, then he hath done whom thou now condemnest. III. Consider that God4 the father hath committed all judgement unto his Son: who now executeth public judgement by the Magistrate in the common-wealth, and by the Minister in the Church; and private judgement of admonition, and just dispraise, by them whom he calleth thereunto: if therefore thou judgest another, not being called thereto, thou thrusteth Christ out of his office, and robbest him of his honour, which is a grievous sin, and cannot be unpunished. IV. Consider also that thou5 art unable, whatsoever thou art, to judge aright of other mens actions, being ignorant of many circumstances thereof: for thou knowest not with what mind, or to what end the action was done: thou knowest not the cause why he did it, nor the state of his person, nor manner of his temptation thereto: and therefore why judgest thou rashly of him. V. He that gives rash judgement of another, is worse then a thief