A09432:677
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.
Having laid down these two grounds, I come now to the true meaning of the words. When thou prayest, that is, either thy self alone, or with others, enter into thy chamber, and when thou hast shut thy door, ⟨p. 236⟩pray, &c. that is, be as though thou diddest pray in thy closet, intending only to approve thy self, and thine heart unto the Lord, having no respect to any creature in the world; for this Christ means by praying in a chamber, or closet; namely, that a man in prayer should not respect himself, or any creature, but simply intend and approve himself unto God only.
Hauing laid downe these two grounds, I come now to the true meaning of the words. When thou praiest, that is, either thy selfe alone, or with others, enter into thy chamber, and when thou hast shut thy dore, ⟨p. 236⟩praie, &c. that is, be as though thou diddest pray in thy closet, intending onely to approoue thy selfe, and thine heart vnto the Lord, hauing no respect to any creature in the world; for this Christ meanes by praying in a chamber, or closet; namely, that a man in praier should not respect himselfe, or any creature, but simply intend and approoue himselfe vnto God onely.
In the words thus explained, we are to observe two things; a commandment, and a reason thereof: the commandment in these words, When thou prayest enter into thy chamber, and when thou hast shut the door, pray unto thy father which is in secret. This commandment enjoining the right disposition of the heart to God ward in our prayers, doth prescribe the true and perfect manner of prayer; whereto that we may the better attain, I will here show how the same is performed.
In the words thus explaned, we are to obserue two things; a commandement, and a reason thereof: the commandement in these words, When thou praiest enter into thy chamber, and when thou hast shut the doore, pray vnto thy father which is in secret. This commandement inioyning the right disposition of the heart to God ward in our praiers, doth prescribe the true and perfect manner of praier; whereto that we may the better attaine, I will here shew how the same is performed.