A09434:452
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, this knowledge causeth men to know them in the due measure ⟨p. 89⟩of their goodness and excellency, rightly discerning them from spiritual blessings: so as the heart shall not be set upon them in the first place, but upon the other as of far higher esteem; yea they shall be counted as dung in regard of these. Thirdly, it instructeth men in the right use of them, namely when it worketh this persuasion in their hearts, that till their persons please God they can never use them well; and then only he is pleased in their use of these, when as their persons first please him. Qu. What is the thing then condemned in these seducers? Ans. The very sin condemned is, that in the use of the creatures of God they are not guided by reasonable, much less this spiritual knowledge; but only by nature, sense, and appetite, as the beast is, and no otherwise, which is the cause of all intemperance.
Secondly, this knowledge causeth men to know them in the due measure ⟨p. 89⟩of their goodnes and excellencie, rightly discerning them from spirituall blessings: so as the heart shall not be set vpon them in the first place, but vpon the other as of farre higher esteeme; yea they shall bee counted as dung in regard of these. Thirdly, it instructeth men in the right vse of them, namely when it worketh this perswasion in their hearts, that til their persons please God they can neuer vse them well; and then onely hee is pleased in their vse of these, when as their persons first please him. Qu. What is the thing then condemned in these seducers? Ans. The very sin condemned is, that in the vse of the creatures of God they are not guided by reasonable, much lesse this spirituall knowledge; but onely by nature, sense, and appetite, as the beast is, and no otherwise, which is the cause of all intemperance.
Hence note the proper cause of the abuse of all Gods blessings unto covetousness, pride, surfeiting, drunkenness, and other sins of that kind: namely, because though men have by nature the use of reason; yet in the use of these things they lay it aside, and follow their own sense and appetite: so far are they from being guided by that higher knowledge which is wrought by the spirit of God.