A09432:1263
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 in this that hath been said, we may note two things: first, the long suffering and great patience of God, that will not have a sinner living in the Church condemned, till he have brought him through all the means of his conversion, and till he be past hope. Thus he dealt with the old world, expecting their repentance an hundred and twenty years, whereunto he then called them by the preaching of Noah, Gen. 6. Secondly, hereby we must learn to moderate our judgements concerning wicked men: a man must not be condemned for a dog or for a swine, till he give evident signs of obstinate malice, and wilful contempt of the word, and until he do even convict himself to be such a one, by a wilful contempt of the means of his salvation. This serves to show their rashness and indiscretion, that condemn our Church for no Church, and our people for no people of God: judging them for dogs and swine, when as they have not yet convicted them of obstinate malice in sin or error. It will be said, they have admonished them by writing. I answer, that their own books have more errors in them, then they do hold whom they admonish, and so their writings can be no sufficient conviction.
Now in this that hath beene said, we may note two things: first, the long suffering and great patience of God, that will not haue a sinner liuing in the Church condemned, till he haue brought him through all the meanes of his conuersion, and till he be past hope. Thus he dealt with the old world, expecting their repentance an hundred and twentie yeares, whereunto he then called them by the preaching of Noah, Gen. 6. Secondly, hereby we must learne to moderate our iudgements concerning wicked men: a man must not be condemned for a dogge or for a swine, till he giue euident signes of obstinate malice, and wilfull contempt of the word, and vntill he doe euen conuict himselfe to be such a one, by a wilfull contempt of the meanes of his saluation. This serues to shew their rashnesse and indiscretion, that condemne our Church for no Church, and our people for no people of God: iudging them for dogges and swine, when as they haue not yet conuicted them of obstinate malice in sinne or error. It will be said, they haue admonished them by writing. I answer, that their owne bookes haue more errors in them, then they doe hold whome they admonish, and so their writings can be no sufficient conuiction.