A09434:288
A godly and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Jude, containing threescore and…A godlie and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Iude, containing threescore and…
A godly and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Jude, containing threescore and six sermons preached in Cambridge by that reverend and faithful man of God, Master William Perkins, and now at the request of his executors, published by Thomas Taylor, preacher of Gods word ; whereunto is prefixed a large analysis, containing the sum and order of the whole book, according to the authors own method, to which are further added, four brief tables to direct the reader ...A godlie and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Iude, containing threescore and sixe sermons preached in Cambridge by that reverend and faithfull man of God, Master William Perkins, and now at the request of his executors, published by Thomas Taylor, preacher of Gods word ; whereunto is prefixed a large analysis, containing the summe and order of the whole booke, according to the authors owne method, to which are further added, foure briefe tables to direct the reader ...
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1606
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Verse 1 › Adversaries of this main ground are;Verse 1 › Aduersaries of this maine ground are;
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.
The adversary of this ground is the Romish Religion,1 who overthroweth true testimony of conscience, which is ever joined with true humiliation and repentance for sins past; in teaching, that many sins are in themselves venial, or no sins, as those lusts against the last Commandment, which killed Paul himself; and in extenuating mans corruption, and extolling nature, whereby (they say) a man may work his salvation, being holpen by the holy ghost: whereas indeed no true peace of conscience is to be found till nature be wholly debased, & grace take the whole place. Secondly, they teach that a man cannot be certain of his salvation in this life, but may conjecture and hope well; which is the very rack and torment of the conscience. Thirdly, while they teach that a man must merit his salvation by his works, they torture the ⟨p. 35⟩conscience, and leave it destitute of this testimony: for how can the conscience quiet it self, when it knows not how many works will serve the turn, nor when it hath sufficiently satisfied the justice of God? and this is to be marked, that the chiefest of that religion, whatsoever they hold in their life time; yet when they lie on their death-bed, they fly from their own merits to the merit of Christ.2 Notable is that speech of Stephen Gardiner at his death to convince it, who having been a great persecutor, and being much perplexed on his death-bed, by a friend of his visiting him, was put in mind of that justification which is by the mere mercy of God in Christ: to whom he answered; You may tell me, and those who are in my case of this doctrine, but open not this gap to the people: So as they are glad to entertain our doctrine for the true peace of their conscience, which in their own doctrine they can never find.
The aduersarie of this ground is the Romish Religion,1 who ouerthroweth true testimonie of conscience, which is euer ioyned with true humiliation and repentance for sinnes past; in teaching, that many sinnes are in themselues veniall, or no sinnes, as those lusts against the last Commaundement, which killed Paul himselfe; and in extenuating mans corruption, and extolling nature, wherby (they say) a man may worke his saluation, being holpen by the holy ghost: whereas indeede no true peace of conscience is to bee found till nature bee wholy debased, & grace take the whole place. Secondly, they teach that a man cannot bee certaine of his saluation in this life, but may coniecture and hope well; which is the very racke and torment of the conscience. Thirdly, while they teach that a man must merit his saluation by his workes, they torture the