A09432:1280
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 having found Christs meaning, let us come to such instructions ⟨p. 448⟩as are to be gathered hence. First, observe that Christ doeth not barely propound this commandment to pray, but repeats the same by a kind of gradation in three distinct words, Ask, seek, and knock; 1whereof the latter imports more vehemence then the former. And this he doth to check the slackness and coldness of our prayers, and to stir us up to fervent zeal and diligence in this duty both in public and private. And to move us to godly zeal and diligence in this duty, consider the reasons following. I. Christs own example, which in moral duties is a perfect rule: Now though he had little need to pray in respect of himself, for he did never sin, yet how often, and how long, and with what fervency did he give himself to this duty? he spent whole nights in prayer, Luk. 6. 12. and in prayer in the garden he sweat water and blood. We have also Moses example, who spent forty days and forty nights in prayer and fasting for the people, when they had sinned, Deuter. 9. 18. 19. If he were thus fervent in prayer for their sins, how earnest would he be for his own? And Daniel humbled himself many days, and prayed fervently for his people, Dan. 9. 3. 4. &c. David prayed seven times a day, and rose up at midnight to give thanks to God, Psal. 119. 164. 62. And Paul willeth the Romans that they would strive or wrestle with him by prayer to God, Rom. 15. 30. All these are worthy examples unto us; and if we compare our selves with them we shall see we have much more cause so to do: for our sins abound above theirs, and therefore we had need to pray for the preventing of Gods judgements which our sins call for against us. Also we come far short of them in grace, and therefore had need to pray for supply thereof against the time of need; for our days of peace will not always last, we have enjoyed it long, and therefore must look for days of trial, for the state of Gods Church is interchangeable. II. Reason. All of us must come to deal with God, both in the day of death and at the day of judgement; at both which times all worldly helps and comforts will forsake us, and by no means can we shun that account;