A09432:250
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.
In these Scribes and Pharisees we may observe, what is the natural1 persuasion of man, touching righteousness: to wit, that an outward righteousness will serve the turn: and therefore every man naturally contents himself therewith: and hence it is that men will bring their bodies usually to the place of Gods worship to pray, to hear the word, and receive the Sacraments; but few have care to bring their hearts with them, that they may inwardly worship God in spirit and truth: so likewise, many are content to rest from their ordinary labours on the Sabbath day, but few are careful to consecrate their rest unto God: men be careful to abstain from actual murder, but few make conscience of malice, hatred, reviling, and quarrelling: many hate theft, that yet will not stick to rob their neighbours of their good name, by vile reports: many are ashamed to rob openly, that make no bones to deceive by false weights and measures, by glosses, and such like: and yet all these will bless themselves with their outward righteousness, and think all is well; not doubting but they shall be saved by it, though they have no more: but this is Pharisaical pride and folly: for all such outward righteousness is here condemned, as unable to save the soul.
In these Scribes and Pharisies we may obserue, what is the naturall1 perswasion of man, touching righteousnes: to wit, that an outward righteousnes will serue the turne: and therefore euery man naturally contents himselfe therewith: and hence it is that men will bring their bodies vsually to the place of Gods worship to pray, to heare the word, and receiue the Sacraments; but few haue care to bring their hearts with them, that they may inwardly worship God in spirit and truth: so likewise, many are content to rest from their ordinarie labours on the Sabbath day, but few are carefull to consecrate their rest vnto God: men be carefull to abstaine from actuall murther, but few make conscience of malice, hatred, reuiling, and quarelling: many hate theft, that yet will not sticke to robbe their neighbours of their good name, by vile reports: many are ashamed to robbe openly, that make no bones to deceiue by false weights and measures, by glosses, and such like: and yet all these will blesse themselues with their outward righteousnes, and think all is well; not doubting but they shall be saued by it, though they haue no more: but this is Pharisaicall pride and folly: for all such outward righteousnes is here condemned, as vnable to saue the soule.