A09432:78
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.
First, Mercy is an holy compassion of heart, whereby a man is moved 1to help an other in his misery. First, I call it a compassion of heart, because it makes one man to put on the person of an other, and to be grieved for the miseries of an other, as if they were his own: and therefore it is called athe bowels of compassion, because when a mans heart is touched therewith▪ his very liver and entrails do stir in his body, and are rolled within him, as the bProphet speaketh: and he is affected, as though the bowels of him that is in misery were in his body. Secondly, I call it an (Holy) compassion, to distinguish it from foolish pity, whereby a man doth unlawfully tender him that is in deserved misery: such was cAhab's mercy to Benhadad, and dSauls in sparing Agag, whereas the express commandment of God was to the contrary: but such mercy and compassion as God approveth, is a fruit of his spirit, and a virtue commended and commanded in the word of God. Thirdly, this virtue of mercy stirreth and moveth the heart to help an other that is in misery: for help in misery is a notable fruit of true compassion, neither can thes be severed: for in the compassion of the heart, and in the act of relief, stands true mercy: and therefore eJohn saith, He that seeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? whereby also we may see, that no work of mercy is showed to any man in misery, but that which cometh from compassion: and thus we see what mercy is.
First, Mercie is an holy compassion of heart, whereby a man is mooued 1to helpe an other in his miserie. First, I call it a compassion of heart, because it makes one man to put on the person of an other, and to be grieued for the miseries of an other, as if they were his owne: and therfore it is called