A09432:148
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.
I. Point. As other callings have their several faults, so hath the calling of a Minister, noted in these words; If the salt have lost his savour, &c. Salt is said to become unsavoury, when it looseth that virtue and acrimony which it hath in seasoning that flesh on which it is cast. Now Ministers are as unsavoury salt, when they become unprofitable in their ⟨p. 50⟩Ministry, and either do not, or cannot dispense Gods word, for the seasoning of mens souls, that they may be acceptable to God, and reconciled unto him in Christ. In this calling, there be especially four1 kinds of unsavoury salt; First, the blind watch-men that have no knowledge; oand dumb dogs that cannot bark: that is, such as either cannot,3 or if they can, will not dispense Gods word, for the salvation of mens souls. Secondly, Heretical Teachers, who preach false and damnable4 doctrine, such as doth not season, but poison and destroy the soul: such were the false Prophets among the Jews, who enticed to Idolatry: Deut. 30. 1, 2. and the false Apostles, and Heretics in the Primitive Church, pwhose words did fret as a canker, and destroyed the faith of many. And such are the Romish teachers at this day, and the Jesuits and Seminaries among us, who though they be qualified with many good gifts of learning, yet by mingling the word of God with their own inventions, and humane traditions, they raze the foundation, they become unsavoury salt, and heretical Teachers. And here by the way, who cannot but wonder, that students in Divinity, should so much affect the Postils and Comments of Friars and Popish writers, as they do? doubtless it argueth that the word of God hath not seasoned their hearts; for where such unsavoury salt hath relish, the wholesome doctrine of Gods word hath never seasoned. Thirdly, they are unsavoury6