A09432:317
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.
For the first; before the interpretation of the Jews Teachers, he prefixeth this Preface: Ye have heard that it hath bin said of old time; or, of the ancient Teachers, the meaning and use whereof, we have before showed, verse 21. Then after follow the words of the seventh commandment, Thou shalt not commit Adultery; which are the proper words of the H. Ghost; yet here must not they be taken in that sense, which the Scribes and Pharisees gave unto them: for the better conceiving whereof, this one thing especially must be opened; namely, what is Adultery here forbidden. Adultery properly, is the breach of wedlock1 by such parties, some one whereof, at the least, is either married, or espoused: I call it the breach of wedlock, to note the property of this sin, which is not in any other sin, unless it be of this kind, though the sin be far more grievous. Idolatry is a more heinous sinn• then Adultery, being a breach both of the first and second commandment, of the first Table; and yet it comes short of Adultery, in this quality of breaking wedlock: for wedlock may be kept of those which are Idolaters. Secondly, I say, between any parties, if one be married; meaning the husband as well as the wife, to confute the opinion of some Jews, and by some laws also maintained, that the man hath a privilege above the woman, so as he breaketh not wedlock, when he goeth in to another woman, besides his wife; which is false: for though he have a prerogative over his wife, in being her head; yet he hath no privilege to free him from matrimonial fidelity, but is as much bound to keep himself unto his wife, as she is to keep her self to him. The preeminence of superiority cannot free the husband from the bond of marriage, the husband is bound to the wife, as much as the wife is to the husband; and she hath power over his body, as much as he hath over hers, 1. Cor. 7. 4. Thirdly, I say, or espoused, because Adultery is not only committed by such parties, whereof one or both, be fully married; but also by them, whereof one is single, and the other contracted only; and therefore is the same apunishment allotted to ⟨p. 111⟩both: for contract in right is marriage. Thus we see the sin here directly forbidden, according to the letter of the Law.