A09432:379
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.
The Third special doctrine of the Church, whereat offence is taken,1 is this, That man of himself can do no good, but all goodness and grace in man come from God. Hence our common people take occasion of looseness of life: for tell them that they must repent and believe, if they will be saved; their answer is, that they do it so well as God will give them grace; all goodness (say they) must come from God: yea, the wiser sort amongst us will not stick to lay the fault of their loose life on God, who gives them no more grace. But for the avoiding of this occasion of offence, we must know; that when we are not2 able to do our duties as we ought, and to pray, to repent and believe as God requireth, the fault is in our selves, and not in God: for we were created righteous in Adam, and in him, had power and grace to have done whatsoever God required at our hands: but Adam lost this power ⟨p. 135⟩through his own default; and we in him lost it also: and therefore our inability cometh from our selves. Again, we must consider that God gives grace indeed, yet not miraculously in Ale-houses and Taverns, but then when men use the means to come by grace, and do that which by nature they are able; that is, come and hear the word attentively, endeavouring to believe and to obey the same: for though the good usage of the gifts of nature cannot merit any grace, yet ordinarily we may observe, that in the use of means is grace received: Act. 2. 41. At one sermon there were converted three thousand souls, among the rebellious Jews: Act. 16. 14. Lydia's heart was opened in hearing Paul preach: and ordinarily men are converted in the means: for faith cometh by hearing the Gospel preached, Rom. 10. 17.
The Third speciall doctrine of the Church, whereat offence is taken,1 is this, That man of himselfe can doe no good, but all goodnes and grace in man come from God. Hence our common people take occasion of loosenesse of life: for tell them that they must repent and beleeue, if they will be saued; their answer is, that they doe it so well as God will giue them grace; all goodnes (say they) must come from God: yea, the wiser sort amongst vs will not sticke to lay the fault of their loose life on God, who giues them no more grace. But for the auoyding of this occasion of offence, we must know; that when we are not