A09432:720
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.
By this then we see, that neither our Church, nor any other, where a set form of divine service is established, is therefore to be blamed; because the same is both necessary and profitable. Secondly, here we see, that it is meet and necessary we should have some set form of prayer in our hearts according to our peculiar estates, whereby we may express unto God our particular wants, and crave supply thereof particularly: some think we must only pray upon extraordinary instinct and motion of the spirit: but so many be our wants, that unless we prepare our selves before hand, we cannot pray aright: and therefore to avoid many distractions and lets in our mind, heart, and utterance, it shall be sound needful to prescribe unto our selves a set form of prayer: we are content to keep a set order for our diet and apparel, and why should we not do it in prayer which concerns the comfort and refreshing of our souls.
By this then we see, that neither our Church, nor any other, where a set forme of diuine seruice is established, is therefore to be blamed; because the same is both necessarie and profitable. Secondly, here we see, that it is meete and necessarie we should haue some set forme of prayer in our hearts according to our peculiar estates, whereby we may expresse vnto God our particular wants, and craue supplie thereof particularly: some thinke we must onely pray vpon extraordinarie instinct and motion of the spirit: but so many be our wants, that vnlesse we prepare our selues before hand, we cannot pray aright: and therfore to auoid many distractions and lets in our mind, heart, and vtterance, it shall be sound needeful to prescribe vnto our selues a set forme of praier: we are content to keepe a set order for our diet and apparell, and why should we not doe it in praier which concernes the comfort and refreshing of our soules.
A second thing to be gathered from this commandment is this;1 That the Lords prayer is the most excellent form of prayer that is, or can be made by any creature: for it was indited and propounded by the Son of God, who is the wisdom of the father. Now the excellency of it stands in these things: I. in the pithy shortness of it: for in