Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, Title page – Dedication
A GODLY AND LEARNED EXPOSITION of CHRISTS Sermon in the Mount: Preached in CAMBRIDGE by that Reuerend and iudicious Diuine M. WILLIAM PERKINS. Published at the request of his Exequutors by TH. PIERSON Preacher of Gods word. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold Table: one, of speciall points here handled; the other, of choise places of Scripture here quoted.
Matth. 17. 5.
This is my welbeloued Sonne in whome I am well pleased, heare him.
PRINTED BY THOMAS BROOKE AND CANTRELL LEGGE, Printers to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge. 1608.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, OLIIVER LORD St. IOHN, BARON OF BLETSO, his very good Lord, Grace and peace.
THe sacred Scriptures (Right Honourable) are so plainely styled by the spirit of truth to be all and wholly aProv. 8. 8.righteous, bPsal. 19. 7.perfect and cProv. 30. 5.pure, yea most dPsal. 119. 140. …ellar. lib. 2. de verb. dei. cap. 15. par. 31.pure, that it must needes sauour of the spirit of Antichrist to iudge any part thereof (as the Papists doe) vnmeete for Gods people to be acquainted withall. And yet I doubt not but that on our behalfe for some respects, a kinde of preheminence may be yeilded to some parcels of Scripture aboue others, without any derogation therefrom-: els the e2. Cor. 3. …, 9, 11 13. 18. 2. Pet 1. 19.Apostles should hauehave wronged Moses and the Prophets, by preferring the Gospel farre before them in glorie and euidence. And therefore as Paul gaue a speciall charge to f2. Tim. 4▪ 1… ▪Timothie of his parchments aboue his bookes, as beeing, though not for matter more pretious, yet for present vse at least, more expedient: so may our hearts, embracing with reuerence the whole truth of God as pure and perfect, in regard of fitnesse to our peculiar estate, cleaue more nearely to some portion thereof then vntounto others: for seeing herein is both milke and strong meate, who will doubt, but that according to our age and growth in Christ we should affect? But I may not here dilate of this difference of Scripture, and therfore will come directly to that portion of it, Christs Sermon in the Mount, which is here explaned in this Commentarie; endeauouring briefly to shew some notes of eminence in these three Chapters, for which they deserue among all the Lords Worthies to hauehave the name of the first three. And to omit the Author hereof, though Iesus Christ the Sonne of God, because the g2. Tim. 3. 16whole Scripture was giuen by inspiration from the same spirit; as also his preparation hereunto (though extraordinarie) by hLuk. 6. 12.prayer to God the whole night before, which must needes import some consequence of great importance; I will onelyonly point at the manner of penning this Sermon, and the matter which it containeth.
For the first: when the beloued Apostle saith of Christs sayings and doings, that many things were not written, and yetIoh. 20. 3…, 31 some things were written for the ground and confirmation of our faith, none (I hope) will denie, but these things which were written, were by the H. Ghost iudged more behoouefull for the Church, thē those which were omitted, whence by good collection it will follow, that things more largely penned were also deemed the more expedient: for why should the holy Ghost in penning be more copious, vnlesse the things propounded were (to vsus at least) more pretious? Now search the holy records of Christ throughout, and see what Sermon is so fully registred as this is; vnlesse it were his iIoh. 14. 15. 16. 17. chapt.consolation vttered to his Disciples, with his prayer vntounto his Father a little before his passion: This beeing his welcome to them into their Apostleship, and That, his farewell at his death.
The matter of this Sermon.But to come to the matter it selfe. This Sermon containeth 12. seuerall heades of Doctrine, answerable indeede to the number of the 12. Apostles, to whome it was principally intended, vponupon their calling to that office, although I dare not say, particularly to be applied part to person, but rather generally the whole to eueryevery one; vnlesse it may be, in the last parcell by the great ruine of the house vponupon the sandes, Christ had a speciall ayme at the fearefull fall of Iudas that betraied him. Now the first of these concerneth mans chiefe Chap. 5. v. 3. to the 13.good in true happinesse, which is here so plainly declared in eight seuerall rules, as they lead eueryevery man hereto, and giuegive the child of God most comfortable assurance hereof, euen in his greatest miserie. The second doth more peculiarly respectVer. 13. to 17 the function of the ministerie, the ordinarie means of attaining the former happines. The third restoreth the morallVers. 17. to the end of the Chapter. law to his true sense and meaning, which the Iewish teachers had shamefully peruerted, so as now wee may make straight steps vntounto our feete in the way of obedience. TheChap. 6. v. …. to the 19. fourth directeth vsus in the right manner of doing good workes, by speciall instance in these three, Almes, Praier, and Fasting, wherein the hypocriticall Pharisies had spent much labour in vaine. The fist prescribeth that moderate care and desire ofVers. 19. to the last. earthly things, which doth stock vp couetousnesse, the root of all euill. The sixt reformeth the practise of rash iudgement, Chap. 7. v. 1. to the 6.for the better euidence of humilitie in our selues, & of louelove vntounto our brethren. The seauenth prescribeth ministeriall discretion, Vers. 6.in the dispensation of the holy things of God, for the pure keeping of the things themselues, and the safe-beeing of the dispensers thereof. The eight doth notablie incourage Vers. 7. to the 12.vsus both by precept and promise, to the holy exercise of praier and inuocation. The ninth doth furnish vsus to the practiseVers. 12. of iustice and equitie in our ciuill conuersatiō. The tenth dothVers. 13, 14. effectually vrge vsus vntounto care of our saluation, by walking in the straite way of life, and shunning the broad way that leadeth to destruction. The eleuenth doth forewarne vsus of false teachers,Vers. 15. to the 21. who bee the maine seducers out of the way of life. The twelfth and last, with the conclusion, doth knit vp all, perswadingVers. 21. to the …nd…. vsus both by promise of happinesse eternall, and of securitie, most comfortable; as also vponupon perill of vtter ruine irrecouerable, with outward profession to ioyne answerable obedience, both in heart and life.
Now all and eueryevery one of these (Right Honourable) are of that importance in the life of a Christian, that none of them can be neglected of him that with comfort and safety would liue godly in Christ Iesus. For the better euidence whereof, I must referre your Honour, with the Christian Reader, to this godly and learned exposition ensuing; wherinProv. 10. …. the reuerent Author, of blessed memorie, hath faithfully laboured vponupon sound interpretation of the Text, to laie down wholesome instructions for the obedience of faith. My paines herein hath beene chiefly this, as neere as I could, out of mine owne and others notes, to commend vntounto the publike view, the authors faithfull labours in his own meaning. OnelyOnly I hauehave here and there vponupon good occasion (though priuate to my selfe) added some references in the margent vntounto classicall popish writers, for such opinions as are herein charged vponupon them. Mine interest for the publishing of this worke, I hope I shall approoue vntounto any gainsayer. Now whatsoeuer it is, in all bounden dutie & seruice, I humbly commend it vntounto your Lordship, and vnderunder your Honourable protection, to the houshold of faith. And because I doubt not of your diligence in the faithful and frequent perusall of it, I wil turne my perswasions towards you this way, into praier to the Almightie for you, that by the edifying of your faith, and other graces of God herein, you may more and more abound in the fruits of righteousnesse, inioying here much true honour, with long and happie daies, in the peace of our Syon, and the prosperitie of your familie, and in the ende eternall life through Iesus Christ.
Your Honours to commaund, THOMAS PIERSON. Maie. 1608.