A09432:649
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.
Secondly, seeing in our welldoing we must simply intend to approve1 our selves unto God, it shall not be amiss here to show, how we2 may so do our good works that God may approve thereof. Hereunto four things are required; faith, love, humility, and sincerity or simplicity. For the first, in every good work there must be a two-fold faith: Justifying faith; and a general faith. Justifying faith, whereby3 the person doing the work must be reconciled to God, and stand before God a true member of Christ: for of this it is said, awithout faith it it is impossible to please God. And Christ saith, bevery branch that beareth not fruit in me, the father taketh a way: and without me ye can do nothing: where it is plain, that whosoever would do a work acceptable to God, must first be in Christ: and the reason is evident; for first the person working must be acceptable to God, before his work can be approved: but no mans person is approved of God, before he be in Christ; and therefore justifying faith whereby we are united unto Christ is chiefly necessary. By general faith I mean that, whereby a man believes that the work he doth is pleasing unto God. Hereof Paul csaith, Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. A work may be good in it self, and yet sinful in the doer, if he want this general faith. Now unto this are two things required: first, a word of God commanding the work, and prescribing the manner of doing it: secondly, a promise of blessing upon the doing of it: for every good work hath his promise, both of the things of this life, and of a better: these things must be known and believed: upon these grounds we must pray▪ give Alms, and do every good work, and so shall they be ⟨p. 226⟩approved of God. Now by this double faith required in every good work, we see, how those that are bound to practise good works, (as every one is more or less) ought to labour to be acquainted with the word of God, that they may do their works in faith: for else though the work be good, it may be sin in them because it is not of faith; which is the miserable state of ignorant persons, who through want of faith, cannot do good works in a good manner.