A09442:363
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.
First, he describeth Christ by the place, I saw seven golden candlesticks, and in the middest one like, &c. These seven candlesticks here seen of John in a vision, are the seven Churches in Asia. Now as the Church of God is compared to a candlestick, as Christ expoundeth it in the twentieth verse: so the particular Churches are here called candlesticks, for their resemblance which they have with candlesticks: for as their property is to bear and hold forth the candle and lamp: even so the Churches of God bear up and hold forth, and publish the light of the Gospel to the whole world, partly by preaching and maintaining it, partly by professing the faith.
First, he describeth Christ by the place, I saw seuen golden candlestickes, and in the middest one like, &c. These seuen candlesticks here seene of Iohn in a vision, are the seuen Churches in Asia. Now as the Church of God is compared to a candlesticke, as Christ expoundeth it in the twentith verse: so the particular Churches are here called candlestickes, for their resemblance which they haue with candlestickes: for as their property is to beare and hold forth the candle and lamp: euen so the Churches of God beare vp and hold forth, and publish the light of the Gospell to the whole world, partly by preaching and maintaining it, partly by professing the faith.
• Seeing every Church is a candlestick (and not a candle) to bear up and hold forth the lamp and light of the word,1 because ⟨p. 86⟩they have no light of themselves, but only can bear up and hold forth the light, and are but the instruments of the light, the true light being Christ himself; then they cannot give light to mens consciences and hearts, but all that they can do, is to bear the candle, and hold out the light, by instructing and preaching the word, and by their profession of religion.