A09450:599
The reformation of covetousness Written upon the 6. chapter of Matthew, from the 19.…The reformation of couetousnesse Written vpon the 6. chapter of Mathew, from the 19.…
The reformation of covetousness Written upon the 6. chapter of Matthew, from the 19. verse to the end of the said chapter. By William Perkins.The reformation of couetousnesse Written vpon the 6. chapter of Mathew, from the 19. verse to the ende of the said chapter. By William Perkins.
London: printed by T. Creede for Nicholas Ling, 1603
THE REFORmation of Covetousness.THE REFORmation of Couetousnesse.
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.
Answer. When you begin to be touched in conscience with your sins, and to be displeased with your selves for the sins of your nature, and the sins of your lives, and withal begin to hunger after Christs righteousness, and to frame your lives according to Gods commandments; then you are regenerate, and then you enter into the kingdom of God, you obtain it, and have right unto it. Therefore if you would have an entrance into it, labour to be touched & grieved for your sins in heart and conscience, labour to feel your need of Christ,⟨p. 245⟩ and of his blood: and have a care to put your necks under his yoke: And when these things are in you, (whatsoever you have been before, though the vilest sinners that ever were,) you enter into the kingdom of God.
Answere. When you beginne to bee touched in cōscience with your sinnes, and to be displeased with your selues for the sins of your nature, and the sinnes of your liues, and withall begin to hunger after Christs righteousnes, and to frame your liues according to Gods commandemēts; then you are regenerate, and then you enter into the kingdome of God, you obtaine it, and haue right vnto it. Therefore if you would haue an entrance into it, labour to be touched & greeued for your sinnes in heart and conscience, labour to feele your neede of Christ,⟨p. 245⟩ and of his blood: and haue a care to put your neckes vnder his yoke: And whē these things are in you, (whatsoeuer you haue bene before, though the vilest sinners that euer were,) you enter into the kingdome of God.
Again, if this be so, that temporal things are but dependences; we are taught, that when any calamity or loss befalls us, whether it be of goods, friends, or good name, we ought then to stay our selves, and not to suffer our selves to be overwhelmed with immoderate sorrow and grief: for when the greatest losses come that can be of worldly things, what is it but of things that depend on the kingdom of God? The kingdom it self is not lost. what though thou loose the favour