A09432:39
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.
II. Point. Wherein the blessedness of these poor consists; namely, in having a right to the kingdom of heaven, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. By kingdom of heaven (for the better conceiving of this1 blessedness) we must understand a state or condition of man, whereby he is in Gods favour, and hath fellowship with God. The truth of this description is evident by the tenor of the new Testament. Now this estate of man is called a Kingdom, because herein God rules as king, and man obeys as Gods subject: for no man can be in Gods favour, nor enjoy his fellowship, unless God be his King, ruling in his heart by his word and spirit, and he Gods subject resigning himself to be ruled by him: for this happy estate consists in Gods gracious ruling of man, and mans holy subjection unto God. Indeed, few do see any great happiness in this estate, but the truth is, mans whole felicity stands herein: Rom. 14. 17. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost. Here the Apostle teacheth us three things: namely, that when Gods spirit rules in a mans heart, then first, he is justified, there is righteousness: secondly, he hath peace with God, even that peace of conscience which passeth all understanding: thirdly, the joy of the holy Ghost, which is all unspeakable comfort, passing all worldly joy whatsoever. And these three do notably set out the state of an happy man: which will yet more plainly appear by their contraries in Judas, who being a wretched sinner, unrighteously betrayed his master, and thereupon fell into the misery of a guilty accusing conscience, which was the cause of his desperate death, and also that his body burst asunder, and his bowels gushed out: now if an evil conscience be so fearful, then •ow blessed an estate is the peace and joy of a good conscience? which a man then hath when God by his word and spirit ruleth in his heart. Again, this estate is called the kingdom of heaven, because that man in whom Christ […] by his word and spirit, is already himself in heaven, though i• body he be yet on earth: for heaven is like a city with two gates, thorough both of which a man must pass, before he obtain the full •oyes thereof: now so soon as God by his word and spirit, rules in any mans heart, he is already entered the […]te of grace, which is the first ⟨p. 11⟩