A09432:83
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.
And because this duty is so necessary and excellent, I will propound1 certain Rules to be observed for our furtherance herein. First, we must exercise three of our senses; seeing, hearing, and feeling, in other mens miseries: for seeing, nwe must be very wary it grieve us not to look upon our poor brother, but we must see and behold his misery and distress, whether it be in soul or body. This is the Lords practise. Israel is oppressed in Egypt, and the Lord saith, oI have surely seen the trouble of my people, and the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. And we must be followers of God, as dear children, and learn to visit them that be in misery, either through sickness, imprisonment, poverty, or such like; for sight will stir up in a man a sense and compassion of others miseries. Hence it is said, that pwhen Jesus saw a great multitude, he was moved with compassion towards them. And who can see a poor distressed person to lie in straw, or on the ground without needful relief, as many a one would not suffer his dog to lie, and not be moved with compassion? Secondly, if we cannot come to see a mans misery, then we must be content to hear of it, and give heed and credit to the true reports that others make thereof unto us. Thus did Nehemiah, hearing of the affliction of the residue of the captivity, qhe wept and mourned, fasted and prayed, and sought for relief for them at the Kings hands. Thirdly, for feeling, if ⟨p. 27⟩the Lord shall afflict our bodies with sickness, or our souls with temptations, we must be willing to suffer the same patiently, that thereby we may be fitted to take more compassion upon others in like case, and to comfort them the better. Paul saith of himself and Timothy, that in rAsia they were pressed with affliction above measure passing strength, so as they altogether doubted of life, and yet (he saith) the Lord dealt mercifully with them; that they might be able to comfort others which