A09434:664
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.
First, that their censure of excommunication is an ordinance of God, and no invention of man: for even in this verse we may observe, first, that obstinate ⟨p. 144⟩offenders are to be saved by terrible means, some must be saved by fear. Secondly, violent and sudden means must be used, they must be as it were snatched out of the fire. Thirdly, they must be separated from in regard of society, in the next words: all which three things cannot agree to any thing but only to excommunication.
First, that their censure of excommunication is an ordinance of God, and no inuention of man: for euen in this verse wee may obserue, first, that obstinate ⟨p. 144⟩offenders are to bee saued by terrible meanes, some must bee saued by feare. Secondly, violent and sudden meanes must be vsed, they must be as it were snatched out of the fire. Thirdly, they must bee separated from in regard of societie, in the next words: all which three things cannot agree to any thing but only to excommunication.
Secondly, note the end of excommunication,1 which is to pluck men out of the fire of hell with violence; and therefore this desperate remedy is only to be used in desperate cases, when there is no other way to save the soul, and not for trifles. The Surgeon cutteth not off arms and legs, until the life be disparaged; neither the Physician prescribeth rank poison, but in most desperate diseases. Again, if this be the end of it, then it respecteth the spiritual estate of men, and not the temporal; the soul properly, and not the body. Wickedly then doth the Pope (for the upholding of his estate) excommunicate Kings and Princes, to depose them from their Crowns, and deprive them of their sceptres, and by it free their subjects from their allegiance: this is no end of this censure warranted in the word. And thirdly, if there be such a necessary end and use of it, it were to be wished that in this end it were more used against open and notorious sinner; whom the word cannot prevail with to their salvation: seeing many go on every where obstinately in their sins without amendment, to the great scandal of others.