A09432:126
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.
It is added, for righteousness sake: In this clause we are taught a special lesson; namely, that when God shall lay upon us any affliction or persecution; as imprisonment, banishment, loss of goods, or of life it self; we must always look that the cause be good, and then suffer willingly. This is a necessary Rule, for we must suffer affliction either publicly or privately, if we will live godly in Christ Jesus. Now it is not the punishment, but the cause that makes a Martyr: and to this purpose Peter fsaith, Let none of you suffer as a Murderer, a Thief, or a busy-body; but if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God in this behalf: and therefore we must be sure the cause be good; yea this we must look unto in our particular private crosses.
It is added, for righteousnesse sake: In this clause we are taught a speciall lesson; namely, that when God shall lay vpon vs any affliction or persecution; as imprisonment, banishment, losse of goods, or of life it selfe; we must alwaies looke that the cause be good, and then suffer willingly. This is a necessarie Rule, for we must suffer affliction either publikely or priuately, if we will liue godly in Christ Iesus. Now it is not the punishment, but the cause that makes a Martyr: and to this purpose Peter fsaith, Let none of you suffer as a Murtherer, a Thiefe, or a busie-body; but if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorifie God in this behalfe: and therefore we must be sure the cause be good; yea this we must looke vnto in our particular priuate crosses.
Verse 11. Blessed are ye when men revile you, and persecute you, &c. In handling the former verse, we showed the meaning of these words, & how they serve to expound the former Rule. The point here to be observed is this, That to revile and slander, yea (as Luke saith) to hate a man for a good cause, especially for religion, is persecution: which shows how fearful the common sin of the age is, whereby men revile their brethren, with base and odious terms, because they show some care to please God, and to adorn their profession by a godly life. But thou art a persecutor whosoever thou art that usest this, and therefore repent and leave it, for it is a preparation to a greater sin in this kind, and most odious in Gods sight, as the punishment hereof declares,