A09432:474
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.
This point must be remembered, as serving to rectify our judgements touching the state of a Church or people, that have many grievous wants and faults among them, both for doctrine and manners: for though a people do what in them lieth, to cut off themselves from ⟨p. 168⟩God, yet till God cut them off from him, they cease not to be his people; and therefore we must not judge them to be no people of God, till we see that God hath cut them off. And to apply this to our own Church: put case we had forsaken God, and had among us all those abuses which some would fasten upon us, as making us to be no church;1 yet this proves us not to be no Church, neither ought we for all this to be so reputed: for though we have deserved indeed that God should cut us off, yet seeing he vouchsafeth unto us the doctrine of life, and the pledges of salvation, it cannot truly be said, that we are no Church. If it be said, that by this reason we will make the Church of Rome to be Gods Church, because they have some signs of Gods favour, as Baptism and the word, though grievously corrupted. Ans. Though I doubt not but God hath his company in the middest of Popery, yet if we understand by the Church of Rome, a company of men who profess and hold the Pope for their head, and embrace the doctrine established2 by the Council of Trent, then (I say) they are no Church: for Christ hath cut them off, and given them a Bill of divorcement in his holy word, Revel. 18. 4. Come out of her my people.
This point must be remēbred, as seruing to rectifie our iudgements touching the state of a Church or people, that haue many grieuous wants and faults among them, both for doctrine and manners: for though a people doe what in them lieth, to cut off themselues from ⟨p. 168⟩God, yet till God cut them off from him, they cease not to be his people; and therefore we must not iudge them to be no people of God, till we see that God hath cut them off. And to applie this to our owne Church: put case we had forsaken God, and had among vs all those abuses which some would fasten vpon vs, as making vs to be no church;