A09432:288
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.
Here we have a notable Rule for the maintaining of love and charity among men; namely, brotherly reconciliation. In the giving whereof, Christ still continues his exposition of the sixth commandment: for having condemned murder, and the provocations thereunto, in the former verse; here he commandeth the contrary virtue of brotherly love, and the means to uphold the same; to wit, Reconciliation for offences given.
Here we haue a notable Rule for the maintaining of loue and charitie among men; namely, brotherly reconciliation. In the giuing whereof, Christ still continues his exposition of the sixt commandement: for hauing condemned murther, and the prouocations thereunto, in the former verse; here he commandeth the contrarie vertue of brotherly loue, and the meanes to vphold the same; to wit, Reconciliation for offences giuen.
Out of this Rule in general we may observe: first, a Third direction1 to the right expounding and understanding of Gods commandments; namely, where any vice is forbidden, there the contrary virtue is commanded: and on the contrary, where any virtue is ⟨p. 101⟩commanded, there the contrary vice is forbidden. This Rule must be observed as a privilege of the law of God, above all humane laws; for mens laws are satisfied, by abstaining from the vice forbidden, though the contrary virtue be not practised: as he satisfies mans law, forbidding Murder, that abstains from the actual crime, though he love not his brother: But he transgresseth the law of God, that performeth not the contrary virtue, though he abstain from the vice forbidden: for though a man abstain from killing, yet if he do not love his brother, he is guilty of the breach of this sixth commandment; which serves to confute the error of our ignorant people, who because they abstain from Murder, Adultery, and other outward sins, do persuade themselves that they keep the law, and that God will therefore be merciful unto them. But they must know, that though they should abstain from the vices forbidden, yet they stand culpable of Judgement, for want of doing the contrary virtues; for it is not sufficient to abstain from evil, but we must do good, and therefore John Baptist saith,