A09442:332
Lectures upon the three first chapters of the RevelationLectures vpon the three first chapters of the Reuelation
Lectures upon the three first chapters of the Revelation: preached in Cambridge anno Dom. 1595. by Master William Perkins, and now published for the benefit of this Church, by Robert Hill Bachelor in Divinity. To which is added an excellent sermon, penned at the request of that noble and wise councillor, Ambrose, Earle of Warwick: in which is proved that Rome is Babylon, and that Babylon is fallenLectures vpon the three first chapters of the Reuelation: preached in Cambridge anno Dom. 1595. by Master William Perkins, and now published for the benefite of this Church, by Robert Hill Bachelor in Diuinitie. To which is added an excellent sermon, penned at the request of that noble and wise councellor, Ambrose, Earle of Warwicke: in which is proued that Rome is Babylon, and that Babylon is fallen
London: printed by Richard Field for Cuthbert Burbie, 1604
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.
If this day,1 the Lords day, be a day to remember the death, resurrection and merits of Christ, we see three sorts of men here reproved: first them which make this day a day of pleasure, pastime and delight. For most young men and servants employ this day wholly on their own delights and pleasures, making it a day of carnal rejoicing, spending it in eating, drinking, carding, dicing, riot and excess, so that they turn this Lords day set apart to his worship, into a day to offer sacrifice to the devil. The second sort is of them which live more civilly then the former, yet they think they may do their own business, and take journeys on this day; and that upon this false ground, that a man may aswell and with as honest and good an heart serve God in his own business at home, as they which go to Church. But by this they make the Lords day appointed to his service, their own day, to do their own work, and not his. The third sort is, of those which keep the Sabbath only at morning and evening Prayer, but as for the rest of the day, they may ⟨p. 78⟩spend it how they will, on their own pleasures and pastimes, or their own business: and of this sort are many in the world, who come to the Church but only so far as the law of the Land enjoins them; and these men part stakes with God, they give him one part and that the lesser, and bestow the other on their own business or pleasure: whereas it is the Lords day, not in part but in whole, and so they break the fourth commandment.
If this day,1 the Lords day, be a day to remember the death, resurrection and merits of Christ, we see three sorts of men here reproued: first them which make this day a day of pleasure, pastime and delight. For most young men and seruants imploy this day wholy on their own delights and pleasures, making it a day of carnall reioycing, spending it in eating, drinking, carding, dicing, riot and excesse, so that they turne this Lords day set apart to his worship, into a day to offer sacrifice to the diuel. The second sort is of them which liue more ciuilly then the former, yet they thinke they may do their owne businesse, and take iorneys on this day; and that vpon this false ground, that a man may aswell and with as honest and good an heart serue God in his owne businesse at home, as they which go to Church. But by this they make the Lords day appointed to his seruice, their owne day, to do their owne worke, and not his. The third sort is, of those which keepe the Sabbath onely at morning and euening Prayer, but as for the rest of the day, they may