A09432:667
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.
The use. 1. Whereas Christ saith, When thou prayest: he taketh it for granted, that all men of years must pray: and whereas he condemns the false manner of prayer, and sets down the right form and manner thereof, he teacheth us that it is a most necessary thing for all that have discretion, to exercise themselves religiously in this duty of prayer. And because our Saviour here urgeth this duty so much, I will here show the necessity of prayer; which may appear unto us by sundry1 reasons. I. Prayer is one of the most principal parts of Gods worship:2 for herein we acknowledge him to be the giver of all goodness, the searcher and knower of our hearts; and hereby we testify the faith, hope, and confidence we have in God. And prayer is called 3the •alue• of our lips, because it is a sacrifice well pleasing unto God. II. By4 prayer we do obtain, and also continue and preserve unto our selves every good grace and blessing of God, especially such as concern eternal life: for God promiseth his spirit to them that ask it by prayer:5 & the first conversion of a sinner, howsoever it be the free gift of God, yet by Gods grace moving and enabling a man thereunto▪ is obtained by prayer; and so are all the good graces following our conversion, both gotten and increased. III. The true gift of prayer is a pledge of the6 spirit of Adoption: and therefore fZechariah calls the spirit of prayer the spirit of grace. And gPaul saith, the spirit helps our infirmities▪ even the spirit of our Adoption, which teacheth us to cry Aba, father. IV.