THESE words are part of our Saviours Sermon upon the Mount, in which he spake with so much authority, that the people were astonished at his doctrine, for never man spake as he spake. The subject of this Sermon, is many excellent Promises, Precepts, Directions, Cautions, Exhortations, backed with Motives and Arguments very needful for the promotion of Holiness in Heart and Life. 1. Our Saviour gives several promises of blessedness both here and hereafter, to quicken his Disciples in their endeavours after some choice Graces and qualifications of mind, and to encourage ⟨p. 2⟩them against the outward persecution, which for his sake they might meet withal in the world, chap. 5. from vers. 2. to 15. 2. He directs them how they should behave themselves as Ministers, and his Disciples, by the similitudes of Salt, Light, a City set upon a hill, unto which they had or should have a conformity, from vers. 15. to v. 17. 3. He declares the immutability and purity of the Moral Law, vindicating it from the corrupt and false glosses of the Pharisees, and explaining it in its spiritual reach and meaning. 4. He warns them against Hypocrisy in their Religious Services, pressing them in their Alms, Prayers, Fasts, to approve the •r hearts to God, who seeth in secret, that they might receive an open reward, chap. 6. from v. 1. to v. 19. 5. He exhorts them to lay up for themselves Treasures in Heaven, and not to be solicitous about the Provisions of this Life; which Exhortation he backeth with six Arguments. The first is drawn from the safety of Heavenly Treasures, being removed beyond the reach of rust, and moth, and these: The second, from the uncertainty of earthly Treasures, which are in danger of being corrupted and stolen, v. 19. 20: The third from the inconsistency of the true love of God with the over-eager love of things here below, Ye cannot love God and Mammon, v. 24. The fourth from the assurance they might have that the Lord would, without their carking care, provide as much of these things as he saw needful for them; and that by their experience 1. Of Gods goodness to themselves in things of a far greater moment, namely, in giving them life which was more than meat, and in giving them bodies which was more than raiment, v. 15. 2. Of Gods goodness to creatures of far l•ss ⟨p. 3⟩dignity, namely, his feeding the Fowls, and clothing the Lilies, v. 26.
THESE words are part of our Saviours Sermon upon the Mount, in which he spake with so much authority, that the people were astonished at his doctrine, for never man spake as he spake. The subject of this Sermon, is many excellent Promises, Precepts, Directions, Cautions, Exhortations, backed with Motives and Arguments very needfull for the promotion of Holiness in Heart and Life. 1. Our Saviour gives several promises of blessedness both here and hereafter, to quicken his Disciples in their endeavours after some choice Graces and qualifications of minde, and to incourage ⟨p. 2⟩them against the outward persecution, which for his sake they might meet withall in the world, chap. 5. from vers. 2. to 15. 2. He directs them how they should behave themselves as Ministers, and his Disciples, by the similitudes of Salt, Light, a City set upon a hill, unto which they had or should have a conformity, from vers. 15. to v. 17. 3. He declares the immutability and purity of the Moral Law, vindicating it from the corrupt and false glosses of the Pharisees, and explaining it in its spiritual reach and meaning. 4. He warns them against Hypocrisie in their Religious Services, pressing them in their Alms, Prayers, Fasts, to approve the •r hearts to God, who seeth in secret, that they might receive an open reward, chap. 6. from v. 1. to v. 19. 5. He exhorts them to lay up for themselves Treasures in Heaven, and not to be solicitous about the Provisions of this Life; which Exhortation he backeth with six Arguments. The first is drawn from the safety of Heavenly Treasures, being removed beyond the reach of rust, and moth, and thies: The second, from the uncertainty of earthly Treasures, which are in danger of being corrupted and stoln, v. 19. 20: The third from the inconsistency of the true love of God with the over-eager love of things here below, Ye cannot love God and Mammon, v. 24. The fourth from the assurance they might have that the Lord would, without their carking care, provide as much of these things as he saw needfull for them; and that by their experience 1. Of Gods goodness to themselves in things of a far greater moment, namely, in giving them life which was more than meat, and in giving them bodies which was more than raiment, v. 15. 2. Of Gods goodness to creatures of far l•ss ⟨p. 3⟩dignity, namely, his feeding the Fowls, and cloathing the Lillies, v. 26.
