A09432:380
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 last point of doctrine, from whence many take occasion of offence,1 is the doctrine of Justification by faith alone, without works. Hence the Papists condemn our Church as an enemy to all good works: and many hereby take occasion of a lewd life, because good works must not justify them before God. Now to cut off this offence, we must2 hold and know, that good works and faith are disjoined in the work of our Justification before God; but they are conjoined in the whole course of our lives and conversation, both before God and man. No work in man but faith is required to his Justification, though in God there be respect to his own free mercy, and to Christs merits: but in our lives faith and works must go hand in hand together. Now that these may thus be well distinguished, I show it plainly: In the fire is both heat and light, yet in the warming of the body the heat hath force only, and not light, though to many other uses it serve necessarily; even so in a child of God are required both faith and works, but to justify him faith only is required, though works be necessary thorough his whole life: for they justify us before men, and win unto us a testimony of our justification before God, not only in our own hearts, but from the Lord, Jam. 2. 21. and therefore we must not content our selves with a faith in speculation, void of works; but within the compass of our callings, do what good we can for Gods glory, and the comfort of our brethren.
The last point of doctrine, from whence many take occasion of offence,1 is the doctrine of Iustification by faith alone, without workes. Hence the Papists condemne our Church as an enemie to all good workes: and many hereby take occasion of a leud life, because good works must not iustifie them before God. Now to cut off this offence, we must2 hold and know, that good works and faith are disioyned in the worke of our Iustification before God; but they are conioyned in the whole course of our liues and conuersation, both before God and man. No worke in man but faith is required to his Iustification, though in God there be respect to his owne free mercie, and to Christs merits: but in our liues faith and works must goe hand in hand together. Now that these may thus be well distinguished, I shew it plainely: In the fire is both heate and light, yet in the warming of the bodie the heate hath force onely, and not light, though to many other vses it serue necessarily; euen so in a child of God are required both faith and workes, but to iustifie him faith onely is required, though works be necessarie thorough his whole life: for they iustifie vs before men, and winne vnto vs a testimonie of our iustification before God, not onely in our owne hearts, but from the Lord,