A09432:405
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.
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 & ⟨p. 145⟩well with them, and that they sin not in taking ten in the hundred, because the law of the land permits it; for our law tolerates that, for the preventing of greater usury, when as the law of God doth utterly condemn the same. Again, our laws are open for men to go to law at the first, upon every light occasion, without seeking former means of agreement; but yet such men as do so, are guilty of sin before God, notwithstanding their liberty by our politic laws. Some politic laws also tolerate contracts of marriage, made without consent of parents; yet such children sin against the law of God, for herein God requires children's subjection to their parents and governors. And the like might be showed in many other points, so that it is no sufficient justification of our actions, to say the laws of men allow us so to do.
First, whereas our Sauiour Christ opposeth vnto this politicke law1 of Moses, concerning diuorce, the law of nature, touching mariage, Ge. 2. 24. He giueth vs an excellent distinction between all politicke laws, and the law of nature, which is the morall law; for that is a law of eternall equitie, commaunding good, and forbidding euill simply, without respect of man: but politicke lawes are tempered according to the cō ditions of men, and though they doe not approoue, yet sometimes they permit euill, for the auoyding of greater mischiefe: yea, they tolerate that, which before God, and in conscience is condemned. This point must teach vs, not to content our selues with performing obedience to the politicke lawes of men, for the lawes of men may tolerate that which Gods law doth condemne: so the law of this Land in practise tolerates vsurie, but vsurers must not hereupon thinke that all is safe &