A09432:232
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.
Our Saviour Christ having plainly propounded in his Apology for himself, the stability and eternity of the whole law; doth here lay down two notable conclusions, for the upholding thereof: 1. Because the Law is immutable and eternal, therefore he that breaketh one of the least of the commandments, and teacheth men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. 2. Because the Law is eternal▪ therefore he that keeps the commandments, and teacheth men so, shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Our Sauiour Christ hauing plainely propounded in his Apologie for himselfe, the stabilitie and eternitie of the whole law; doth here laie downe two notable conclusions, for the vpholding thereof: 1. Because the Law is immutable and eternall, therefore he that breaketh one of the least of the commandements, and teacheth men so, shall be called least in the kingdome of heauen. 2. Because the Law is eternall▪ therefore he that keepes the commandements, and teacheth men so, shall bee called great in the kingdome of heauen.
For the first; by least commandment, he meaneth the precepts of the Moral law, though in the former verse, by (Law) he understood ⟨p. 79⟩the whole law in three parts; Judicial, Moral, and Ceremonial: And he calleth them little, not simply in regard of themselves, as though1 they were so indeed; for in it self every commandment of God is great and weighty: but he speaketh according to the opinion of the Jews, for the Scribes and Pharisees had ordained certain rites and ceremonies, according to the tradition of their Fathers; the observation whereof, they made a greater matter of conscience, then the keeping of some of Gods commandments: and so esteemed them little. Again, saying these least commandments, he pointeth out what particular commandments of the Moral law, the Jews esteemed less then the traditions of men; namely, those which afterward he expoundeth in this Chapter, touching Murder, Adultery, Swearing, and the rest: for they esteemed not all the commandments of the law lesser then their traditions. Shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: Here Christ sets down the punishment of a false Prophet,