A09432:404
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 then two points are set down; First, that he who puts away his wife for any light cause, causeth her to commit adultery. Secondly, he that marrieth her that is divorced, committeth adultery. Yet unto both these, Christ putteth an exception in the case of adultery. The aPapists and some others, would restrain the exception to the first part of the sentence, and make it a negation, to this effect; He that puts away his wife, being no fornicator, &c. But the truth is, that the exception belongs to the whole answer of our Saviour Christ, denying divorce, save only for adultery; and permitting no marriage after divorcement, save only where the divorce is for adultery.
Here then two points are set downe; First, that he who puts away his wife for any light cause, causeth her to commit adulterie. Secondly, hee that marieth her that is diuorced, committeth adulterie. Yet vnto both these, Christ putteth an exception in the case of adulterie. The aPapists and some others, would restraine the exception to the first part of the sentence, and make it a negation, to this effect; He that puts away his wife, beeing no fornicator, &c. But the truth is, that the exception belongs to the whole answer of our Sauiour Christ, denying diuorce, saue onely for adulterie; and permitting no mariage after diuorcement, saue onely where the diuorce is for adulterie.
- aRhe•. on this place.
First, whereas our Saviour Christ opposeth unto this politic law1 of Moses, concerning divorce, the law of nature, touching marriage, Ge. 2. 24. He giveth us an excellent distinction between all politic laws, and the law of nature, which is the moral law; for that is a law of eternal equity, commanding good, and forbidding evil simply, without respect of man: but politic laws are tempered according to the conditions of men, and though they do not approve, yet sometimes they permit evil, for the avoiding of greater mischief: yea, they tolerate that, which before God, and in conscience is condemned. This point must teach us, not to content our selves with performing obedience to the politic laws of men, for the laws of men may tolerate that which Gods law doth condemn: so the law of this Land in practise tolerates usury, but usurers must not hereupon think that all is safe &