A09432:902
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.
Quest. How can God lead a man into temptation, and yet not be1 the author of sin? Ans. Well enough, for as temptation is a punishment of sin, so God may lead a man into it by permission, leaving the party to himself, and Satan's malice, for some former transgression. Again, God never puts any evil motion into the mind, but yet he suffers Satan to do it; and though the devil be a most wicked instrument, yet such is Gods power and wisdom, that he can use him without sin, in a good manner, and to a good end.
Quest. How can God lead a man into temptation, and yet not bee1 the author of sinne? Ans. Well enough, for as temptation is a punishment of sinne, so God may lead a man into it by permission, leauing the partie to himselfe, and Satans malice, for some former transgression. Againe, God neuer puts any euill motion into the minde, but yet hee suffers Satan to doe it; and though the deuill be a most wicked instrumēt, yet such is Gods power and wisdome, that hee can vse him without sin, in a good manner, and to a good ende.
- 1How God leads into temptation.
Uses. 1. This petition serves to confute a gross error of the Papists,1 who teach that a man truly justified before God, may finally fall from grace, and be condemned: as also the opinion of some Protestants, who though they will not say that the child of God may finally fall away and perish, yet they hold that he may wholly fall2 away for a time, and that every grievous sin which he commits, cuts him off totally, till he do repent; for look what the child of God asketh in prayer, according to Gods will, that shall be granted him: but in this petition he asketh preservation from total and final apostasy, and that according to Gods will, by the reaching of Christ himself, Lead us not into temptation: and therefore it shall be granted. Indeed it stands with the will of God, and the good of his children, that sometime they should be buffeted by Satan in temptation: and therefore we pray not here to be freed from all assaults, but that we be not wholly left unto our selves, nor forsaken of God, but so preserved by his grace, that we be not swallowed up in temptation: and this petition being according to Gods will, shall be granted to him that aks in faith,