A09432:900
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.
II. Point. What is it to be lead into temptation? Answ. A man is1 lead or carried (as the word imports) into temptation, when the temptation possesseth him, and holds him after it hath assaulted him; for we ⟨p. 304⟩must know that in every temptation there be two actions; one of God, whereby in his just judgement he leaves a man to himself, or to the malice of Satan: another, of man himself, whereby being left of God, he enters into the middest of the temptation, as it were plunging himself into it. For the better conceiving hereof, we must know that a temptation2 hath four degrees, by which it proceedeth, till it bring a man unto destruction, unless it be cut off; to wit, Suggestion, Delight, Consent, and Perfection, Jam. 1. 14, 15. Suggestion, is when the mind conceiveth a wicked thought, put in by Satan, or arising from natural corruption▪ Delight, is when the evil thought conceived, and for a time retained in the mind, descendeth to the heart, and there pleaseth the will, and delighteth the affections: Consent, is when the will yields to the evil motion, and the heart resolves to practise it: Perfection, is when a sin is often committed, and by custom becomes as it were ripe, whereupon follows destruction. Now in the first and second of these degrees, a man is said to be tempted only; for suggestion and delectation do not defile the heart, but when the will consents, then the temptation takes hold upon him, and possesseth him: and by often practise he is plunged into it, entangled and ensnared, and held captive under it. Now then (to apply this to the point in hand) a man is lead into temptation, when he is left of God to an evil motion suggested into his mind, so as he gives consent unto it, and goes on to the practise of it. See this in Judas, Joh. 13. 2. Satan cast this evil motion into his heart, Judas betray thy master: this he thought upon, and was delighted with the gain that he hoped to reap thereby: and here God left him to himself for his hypocrisy and other sins, and then Satan entered into his heart, got consent of will, and so carried him to the practise of this treason. Hereto also the Apostle seems to allude,