A09432:178
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.
Next I add: Done of a regenerate person. The Author of a good work, is not every one in the world, but that man or woman that is a member of Christ, borne a new by the holy Ghost: so Christ here saith, Let your light &c. restraining his speech to the persons of his disciples. True it is, that among Turks and Infidels, many a civill man will do works of mercy, of civill justice, and liberality, and will abstain from outward sins, and live orderly; now these, and such like, though in themselves they be good works, so far forth as they are required by the law of nature, or commanded by Gods word; yet in an infidel, or an unregenerate person, they are sins: for first, they proceed from an heart which is corrupt with original sin, and with unbelief (for the mheart is the fountain of all actions) and also they are practised by the members of the body, which are weapons of unrighteousness; and therefore must needs be like unto water springing from a corrupt fountain, and running through a filthy channel. Secondly, these works are not done for Gods glory, and the good of men. Thirdly, they are not done in obedience to God, according to the Rule of goodness, the will and word of God, and therefore cannot be good works. And this must teach every one that would do good, to labour for regeneration by the holy Ghost, that so his person may be good, & then shall his works of obedience be good in Gods sight; for such as the tree is, such will be the fruit: An evil tree cannot bring forth good ⟨p. 61⟩fruit, nor a good tree evil fruit: Matth. 7. 18. We must therefore labour to be engrafted into Christ, for without him, we can do no good thing; but being partakers of his grace, we shall abound with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the praise and glory of God. Phil. 1. 11.
Next I adde: Done of a regenerate person. The Author of a good worke, is not euery one in the world, but that man or woman that is a member of Christ, borne a new by the holy Ghost: so Christ here saith, Let your light &c. restraining his speech to the persons of his disciples. True it is, that among Turkes and Infidels, many a ciuill man will doe workes of mercie, of ciuill iustice, and liberalitie, and will abstaine from outward sinnes, and liue orderly; now these, and such like, though in themselues they be good workes, so farre forth as they are required by the law of nature, or commaunded by Gods word; yet in an infidel, or an vnregenerate person, they are sins: for first, they proceed from an heart which is corrupt with originall sinne, and with vnbeleefe (for the