A09434:509
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.
Now further in that these seducers are called Clouds without water, 1because they are destitute of wholesome doctrine; we learn first that Ministers ought to be such as are able to teach wholesome and sound doctrine, 1. Tim. 3.2. Malach. 2.7. The Priests lips should preserve knowledge: otherwise they are as clouds without water, keeping the field of God barren & fruitless: which ability supposeth, yea and imposeth the performance of diligence herein; or else whether they have knowledge or not, they come under the rank of them whom Isaiah 56.10. calleth dumb dogs; which cannot, or do not bark. In former ages I grant indeed there were readers appointed in the Church, who could not otherwise teach: but yet none were called for Teachers into the Church, but such as had this ability of watering Gods church by doctrine more or less, until heresy and schism came in. Secondly, Ministers ought so to teach as they drop and instill the graces of faith, repentance, and obedience into the hearts of the hearers: even as the clouds drop water upon the dry earth which sinketh into the same. This was Pauls desire to see the Romans, that he might bestow some spiritual grace upon them, Rom. 1.11. This is the right handling and dividing of the word, when men show not words but power, 1. Cor 4.14. That Teacher showeth learning that showeth men Christ, and can be a means to distil Gods graces into their souls: let this be the scope of those who are set apart unto this holy Ministry; else shall they be as unprofitable as clouds which contain no water in them at all. Thirdly, if the Ministers must be as clouds having water in them; then must the people be as dry ground,2 not in regard of barrenness, but of thirst and desire after these drops & dues of grace distilling from the Ministry. Psal. 143.6. My soul desireth after thee, even as the thirsty land: unto which disposition we are to preserve two things within us: first, look as in dry land parched with the heat of the Sun, there is a great want of moisture; so in our souls must be retained a sense of the want of the graces of God, with an hearty sorrow for our want. Our hearts must be persuaded that in us, and of our selves there is no good thing, that God can take delight in: