A09434:360
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.
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.
Secondly, though we have the same beginning by creation, which is lost by our fall; yet we have another beginning, by a new birth and regeneration, which they want; we have been borne, baptized, and brought up many years in the true faith, and profession of Christ; now our duty is to be more wise than before, to be wary lest we fall from this beginning, as we have done from the former; but cleave to our faith, and stand to our vow made in our Baptism: for otherwise our estate becometh as remediless as the condition of the Angels themselves, who are shut up in the chains of condemnation for ever.
Secondly, though we haue the same beginning by creation, which is lost by our fall; yet wee haue another beginning, by a new birth and regeneration, which they want; we haue been borne, baptized, and brought vp many yeeres in the true faith, and profession of Christ; now our dutie is to bee more wise than before, to be warie lest wee fall from this beginning, as wee haue done from the former; but cleaue to our faith, and stand to our vow made in our Baptisme: for otherwise our estate becommeth as remedilesse as the condition of the Angels themselues, who are shut vp in the chaines of condemnation for euer.
Thirdly, we see how far the Scriptures may be said to be sufficient to clear all doubts and determine all controversies,1 seeing here it only propoundeth a general sin of Angels, and nameth no particular, as Peter also saith, they sinned; and John, that they stood not in the truth. Thus contenting it self with general terms, without particularizing the proper sin deserving this judgement; and determineth not that great question controverted among Divines, of whom some say it was a […] in thought: other•, that it was actual: others, that it was envy: some, Pride, &c. which maketh the Papists say, that the Scriptures are not sufficient to determine all hard questions. But we must not imagine the Scriptures to be such a judge […] decideth all doubts, which the curiosity of mans brain may cast within it self; whereof there are […] among the ancient Schoolmen, such as this i by scripture indeterminable: nay of purpose the holy Ghost u teth […] all cause of such curiosity by silence in such nnecessarie matters, that […] the rather […] to re nessarie yet is the Scripture a judge sufficiently able to resole thy spiritual minded man in any case concerning conscience or in any matter concerning salvation; all which it is the sole and proper determiner of: now as for the particular sin of Angels it is not necessary to salvation to know it; but seeing the Scripture concealeth it, it is a safe and learned ignorance to be rested in, without further desire to know that which the Lord hath hid in secret with himself.