A09432:265
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 to these several kinds of murder, Christ addeth distinct degrees of punishment. The first is, to be culpable of judgement for unadvised anger. The second, to be worthy to be punished of a Council, for outward signs of this anger. The third is, to be worthy of hell fire, for reproachful names or railings. And here we must understand, that Christ speaketh not properly, in setting down these degrees of punishment, but figuratively alluding to the custom of punishing offenders1 used among the Jews: for they had three courts; The first was held by three men for mean matters, and other cases of small importance. The second was held by three and twenty men, wherein were determined matters of great importance, that could not be decided in the first ⟨p. 92⟩court; as matters of life and death: and it was kept in the chief cities of the land. The third court was held at Jerusalem only, called the court of the Seventy-two, from which none might appeal to any other. In it were all weighty and great causes determined, and this court is here called a Council. Now Christ alluding hereto, saith to this effect: Look• as among you Jews there are different courts, and some matters are adjudged in your courts of judgement, and others in the Council at Jerusalem; so God also he hath his Judgement, and his council: those that are rashly angry, shall undergo Gods judgement: and he that makes known his anger by speech or countenance, shall be punished more grievously and undergo a deeper judgement, as it were by the Lords council: but he that shall by open revilings and railings, show forth his malice against his brother; as by calling him fool, or such like, he shall be worthy the most grievous judgement and torment of hell fire; alluding to the highest degree of torment among the Jews, which was burning: for before their Government was taken from them by Herod, the Jews used these four kinds of punishments; hanging, beheading, stoning, and burning. Further, the words translated hell fire, are properly the fire of Gehenna; for there was a place near to the suburbs of Jerusalem called Gehenna, which is a compound Hebrew word, signifying2 the valley of Hinnon, wherein was a place called Tophet, Jer. 7. 31