A09432:863
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. The Coherence. Christ having taught us in the former petition to pray for temporal blessings, and for grace to rely upon Gods provident dispensation for the things of this life, doth in this petition and the next, direct us to ask spiritual blessings for our selves, to wit, remission of our sins, and strength against temptation: and the reason of this order is this; Christ makes the former petition a steppe unto these: for a man must rest upon Gods providence for the preservation of his body, that will rely upon his mercy for the salvation of his soul: he that can not be persuaded that God will give him bread, will hardly be resolved that he will forgive him his sins.
I. The Coherence. Christ hauing taught vs in the former petition to pray for temporall blessings, and for grace to relie vpon Gods prouident dispensation for the things of this life, doth in this petition and the next, direct vs to aske spirituall blessings for our selues, to wit, remission of our sinnes, and strength against temptation: and the reason of this order is this; Christ makes the former petition a steppe vnto these: for a man must rest vpon Gods prouidence for the preseruation of his bodie, that will relie vpon his mercie for the saluation of his soule: he that can not be perswaded that God will giue him bread, will hardly be resolued that hee will forgiue him his sinnes.
Where, first we may note what is the faith of worldlings: they1 do not trust in God for food, raiment, and other temporal blessings; how then can we say that their faith is sound for eternal mercies? Isa. 28. 16. He that believeth will not make hast, but will stay Gods leisure, waiting for his blessings whereof he stands in need: But is this the practise of the world? no verily; for let a cross come, and men will not stick to use unlawful means for their deliverance: and so they deal, when hope of gain is offered, making little conscience of fraud, lying, oppression, &c. and so making hast to be rich, they overrun the provident hand of God, that would lead them by ordinary lawful means.