A09434:453
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.
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.
Hence note the proper cause of the abuse of all Gods blessings vnto couetousnes, pride, surfetting, drunkennes, and other sinnes of that kinde: namely, because though men haue by nature the vse of reason; yet in the vse of these things they lay it aside, and follow their own sense and appetite: so farre are they from being guided by that higher knowledge which is wrought by the spirit of God.
Secondly, from the reprehension we are taught to labour for spiritual knowledge, whereby we may be led into the right use of these temporal things; for then and not before shall we use them as pledges of Gods mercy in Christ unto us (as the beasts cannot) and shall hardly be drawn to their abuse in riot and intemperance, as these seducers were.
Secondly, from the reprehension we are taught to labor for spirituall knowledge, whereby we may be led into the right vse of these temporall things; for then and not before shall we vse them as pledges of Gods mercie in Christ vnto vs (as the beasts cannot) and shall hardly be drawne to their abuse in riot and intemperance, as these seducers were.
Thirdly, in that they are said to be guided only, as the beast which is without reason, that is by nature, sense, and appetite: note the practise of the Devil which is to keep men (if he can) in their natural knowledge, and will not suffer them to attain to that which is spiritual: yea and which is more, he corrupteth also that natural knowledge which men have. A notable experience hereof we have in the Church of Rome; which of a famous Church is become heretical, and schismatical; the reason of it is, because the Devil hath turned all their religion and doctrine, into a natural doctrine & religion: the main points whereof are grounded upon natural reason, and the learning and Philosophy of the Heathen and Gentiles. As justification by works, merits, Purgatory, with the rest. Others not a few amongst our selves also are deluded by this subtlety of Satan; who suffereth many men to live civilly and honestly among their neighbours, but will not brook that they rise any higher: they must content themselves to live by natural knowledge: Hence many men plead they know enough, namely to love God above all, and their neighbour as themselves: and that God is merciful, &c. which is nothing but a sleight of the Devil still to hold them in their natural knowledge, and so within his own power.