A09432:1184
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.
Here some will say; if we may not give our opinion of others freely1 as we have done; what must we do when we have occasion to speak of them? Answ. Thy carriage towards others must be according to these rules: I. If thou know any good thing by the party of whom2 thou speakest, when thou hast occasion, think and speak of that: if thou knew evil by him also, conceal it from others; and if thou mayest, admonish the party thereof: or else tell it to those who have authority to correct his faults; and thus shalt thou win thy brother. Some will say, I do indeed sometime censure my brother for his faults, yet only in detestation of his sin; I love the party never the worse; and I only do it to some private friend that will not tell it again. Answ. But this excuse, and all such like are frivolous: no colour of good intent can excuse rash judgement: if thou lovest him, why doest thou make known his fault to another, for love covereth a multitude of sins? And if thy conscience answer, it will tell thee that either ill will to the party causeth thee so to do, or self-love, whereby through his defamation thou thy self seekest to be advanced above him in the thoughts of others. In thy censuring therefore look to thine heart, whether malice move thee not thereto: and take heed to the end also; for if it rise from a bad ground, or tend to a wrong end, the whole action is nought. II. Duty. We ought to think as well of every man,3 as possibly we can, yea of our enemy & of his actions: for love thinketh not evil; and in the practise of love towards our enemies we become followers of God, Math. 5. 44, 45. III. Duty. If thou mark thy4 neighbours life and behaviour, do it for this end to withdraw him from sin, and to further him in well-doing. Lastly, in all thy societies5 and dealings with others, labour either to do them good, or to receive good from them: and by this means thou shalt eschew the sin of rash judgement.