A09434:517
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.
The three first years the fruit was to be cast, or fall away;1 the fourth it was to be dedicated to the Lord, and the fifth year the Israelites might eat of the fruit: even so we must first cast away in respect of our selves our fruits, and dedicate them unto the Lord, so he shall taste of them with delight, and not before. Fourthly, it must be brought ⟨p. 107⟩forth to the good of others; as trees bear fruits not for themselves, but for men: so our fruits must be intended not so much for our private good, as the common good of the Church and Common-wealth.
The three first yeeres the fruite was to be cast, or fall away;1 the fourth it was to bee dedicated to the Lord, and the fifth yeere the Israelites might eate of the fruite: euen so wee must first cast away in respect of our selues our fruites, and dedicate them vnto the Lord, so he shall taste of them with delight, and not before. Fourthly, it must bee brought ⟨p. 107⟩foorth to the good of others; as trees beare fruites not for themselues, but for men: so our fruites must bee intended not so much for our priuate good, as the common good of the Church and Common-wealth.
- 1Trees of righteousness must circumcise their harts, seeing trees were to be circumcised by the law.Trees of righteousnes must circumcise their harts, seeing trees were to be circumcised by the law.
Doct. 2. Seeing the faithful are not such corrupt trees, but of Gods own planting, they have here first a ground of comfort in the middest of sorrow, sickness, yea and death it self; for being ingrafted into Christ, the whole man is preserved safe & found in him: yea the dying body, nay the dead body, and that which is rotting in the grave is planted into him, and is to live again in him who always liveth, and will raise it to life eternal at the last day. Trees in winter are dead to mans sense; yet because the roots of them live, and have in them sap and moisture, in the spring they shall bud, blossom, and bear fruit again: even so the rotten body at the time of refreshing shall revive again and become a glorious plant, putting off mortality and corruption, no more to be subjected thereunto again, than the root into which they are set; who hath for his members chased them away. Secondly, seeing we must be planted, and cannot attain this growth by nature: we must detest, and abhor our selves in dust and ashes, renounce, and bewail our natural condition, and be at no rest till we feel our selves set into Christ, by living the life of the Son of God: For know we not that Christ liveth in us, except we be reprobates? Thirdly, our Church hath herein resembled Judah; having been for many years a plant of Gods delight, who hath hedged and fenced it by his favourable protection: but many, yea the most branches are barren, bearing no fruit; others bear less fruit than they have done, being withered and fallen back: what will be (think we) the end hereof? Surely the axe being already laid to the root of the tree, shall cut down whatsoever branches bear not forth good fruit, and they shall be cast into the fire. It standeth us then in hand to become more fruitful before we be cut down. Fourthly, hence let every man learn subjection unto God in all his crosses and afflictions; we are trees or branches at least, of the Vine, the Father is the husbandman, and look a the husbandman loppeth, cutteth […] pruneth, yea and almost cutteth down his trees to make them more fruitful? so dealeth the Lord with his children, who therein are to rest well contented; for he chasteneth them for their good;