A44439:80
A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures
A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures by Ezekiel Hopkins ...
London: printed by E.H. for Nathanael Ranew, 1693
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 Second thing we are to enquire into,1 is what we are to understand by being least in the Kingdom of Heaven. By the Kingdom of Heaven may be meant, either the Kingdom of Grace set up in the Church on Earth; and thus the Word is so frequently made use of in Scripture, I need not turn you to any Places. Or else by the Kingdom of Heaven may be meant the Kingdom of Glory, established in the highest Heavens. If we take the Kingdom of Heaven here in the Text for the Kingdom of Grace, that is, for the Church and People of God here on Earth, then the Sense runs thus; ⟨p. 50⟩He that breaketh the least Commandment, and teacheth Men so, shall be no true Member of the Church of Christ. But if we take the Kingdom of Heaven here spoken of, to be the Kingdom of Glory; then the meaning is, He that breaks the least Commandment shall be least in the Kingdom of Heaven; that is, he shall not enter into Heaven at all. Minimus vocabitur in Regno Coelorum, & fortasse ideo non erit in Regno Coelorum, ubi nisi magni esse non possunt, as St. Augustine speaks. He shall be the least in Heaven; that is, he shall not be there at all, because in Heaven there are none but great and glorious ones.
The Second thing we are to enquire into,1 is what we are to understand by being least in the Kingdom of Heaven. By the Kingdom of Heaven may be meant, either the Kingdom of Grace set up in the Church on Earth; and thus the Word is so frequently made use of in Scripture, I need not turn you to any Places. Or else by the Kingdom of Heaven may be meant the Kingdom of Glory, established in the highest Heavens. If we take the Kingdom of Heaven here in the Text for the Kingdom of Grace, that is, for the Church and People of God here on Earth, then the Sence runs thus; ⟨p. 50⟩He that breaketh the least Commandment, and teacheth Men so, shall be no true Member of the Church of Christ. But if we take the Kingdom of Heaven here spoken of, to be the Kingdom of Glory; then the meaning is, He that breaks the least Commandment shall be least in the Kingdom of Heaven; that is, he shall not enter into Heaven at all. Minimus vocabitur in Regno Coelorum, & fortasse ideo non erit in Regno Coelorum, ubi nisi magni esse non possunt, as St. Augustine speaks. He shall be the least in Heaven; that is, he shall not be there at all, because in Heaven there are none but great and glorious ones.