A09432:753
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.
I. Here we are to call to mind our wants, and to humble our souls1 for those sins, whereby we have hindered Gods glory or profaned his name. And these especially are four: I. Pride of heart; a vile affection whereby we seek our own praise and glory, and not Gods. This is natural, and so the more hardly discerned; but while it is nourished Gods glory is neglected, and therefore when we desire to glorify Gods name, we must acknowledge and bewail this inward corruption. II. Want of zeal, coldness of heart towards God. This is an inward corruption which debaseth the Lord in our hearts, and takes away that high esteem of God which ought to be in us. This causeth us to omit to glorify God, and to defend the causes of God, and the honour of his name, when wicked men disgrace and reproach the same: he that hath any insight into his own estate may perceive this in himself: now it mightily hinders the glory of God, and therefore we must unfeignedly bewail it in our own hearts. III. Hardness of heart, whereby we are hindered from the true knowledge of God in his word, and from discerning ⟨p. 263⟩his wisdom, power, justice, mercy, &c. in his works, though we have them before our eyes: hence it comes, that ei••er we neglect the word, and pass by the works of God without consideration; or if we use them, yet it is without glory to God, or profit to our souls. Mark. 6. 5. Christs own disciples considered not the matter of the loaves, because their hearts were hardened; they discerned not, or at least remembered not the power of God in that miracle, though themselves were instruments about it, and they might perceive the food to increase in their hands. IV. Profaneness and impiety in life: for God is glorified, when we bring forth the fruits of grace, Joh. 15. 8. and our good works cause others to glorify God, Math. 5. 16. And therefore our profane life is a reproach unto the Lord, and causeth others to dishonour and blaspheme his name, Rom. 2. 24. Now this profaneness appeareth, either in mens speech, by blaspheming the name of God, abusing his tides, attributes, his word, his creatures, or any work of his providence; or in their conversation, when they dispose the whole course of their lives to wrong ends, seeking themselves and not Gods glory.