Lectures upon the three first chapters of the RevelationLectures vpon the three first chapters of the Reuelation

To induce us to this, to carry our selves as burning lamps: first, it is the commandment of God, Phil. 2. 15. Every man in his calling must be a blazing light in the middle of a perverse nation: we must carry our selves free from all sin, send out our light to all men. For a second reason, mark the fruit and the effect which followeth this carrying of our selves as shining lights. When a man is endued with knowledge of Gods will and word, and sends out this light by instructing others, and in a godly example, he winneth many men to the kingdom of heaven. A man if he have one to hold him out a candle in winter, that he may see his way to go whither he would, he taketh this as a great benefit: how much more is this, to light the way to a blind man even to the kingdom of heaven? But on the contrary, when men be dim and dark candles, and live not in the Church as blazing lights, but in sin, ignorance, and looseness ⟨p. 87⟩of life, hence great hurt and danger cometh to men with whom they live. For when a man knoweth the will of God, and yet liveth in sin, he giveth a false direction, and so many follow him even to the pit of hell: and by his bad example, he draweth men as much as in him lieth,¹ to eternal destruction. In haven towns, if a man remove the night mark, and the candle set to direct the ships, he doth as much as in him lieth to sink all the ships: for they having wrong direction, run on rocks and sands, because they go to the light which is not in the right place, and so they miss the channel, and light on rocks and perish. So men in this world, they sail as on the sea, to heaven: now if we by our wicked life remove the mark and give wrong direction, they must needs miss the right way, and so come to a false haven, not heaven but hell. And so then, seeing either by our godly life we draw men to heaven, or by our bad life we carry them to hell, it is our duty to labour by life and doctrine to give good direction.

To induce vs to this, to carie our selues as burning lampes: first, it is the commandement of God, Phil. 2. 15. Euery man in his calling must be a blazing light in the middle of a peruerse nation: we must carie our selues free from all sinne, send out our light to all men. For a second reason, marke the fruite and the effect which followeth this carying of our selues as shining lights. When a man is indued with knowledge of Gods will and word, and sends out this light by instructing others, and in a godly example, he winneth many men to the kingdome of heauen. A man if he haue one to hold him out a candle in winter, that he may see his way to go whither he would, he taketh this as a great benefit: how much more is this, to light the way to a blind man euen to the kingdome of heauen? But on the cō trarie, when men be dimme and darke candles, and liue not in the Church as blazing lights, but in sinne, ignorance, and loosenesse