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

The third reason to move us to be burning lights, is the judgement of God: for he which liveth in the Church, and yet shineth not in teaching others by his good example, he incurreth the judgement of God. In the temple the lights and candles belonged to the Priest who dressed and trimmed them, & for that purpose he had snuffers and such instruments: now in the Church every man is a candle, standing in the church as in a stick: Christ Jesus he is the trimmer and dresser of them, he standeth in the midst of them, he hath his snuffers in his hands, he trimmeth them and dresseth these candles. Now if after three or four times dressing and snuffing of this candle, still it burneth dim and will not shine out, he will either remove it out of the stick, or else he will take and tread it under his feet. So those which in the Church do not send out a shining light, the Lord he dresseth and snuffeth them, but if they still burn dimly, cast not a clear light in instructing others, and leaving good example, the Lord will cast them out of their places, put them under his foot, and clean extinguish them. In regard of this danger, every man in his shaft and place, the Minister in his, the unlettered man in his, must teach others, give good example, ⟨p. 88⟩else the issue will be this, the Lord will come in judgement and stamp it out, and extinguish that light. Nay, very reason requireth this at our hands, seeing we be all lights of this candlestick of the Church, that we should send out light. In winter time we hang out lights, that by them men might be directed to help them in their journey: and shall we be so careful to help men in temporal light, and not much more careful to help them in light toward the kingdom of God? Let then all ignorant and loose livers, as there be many among us, let them now begin to shine: for they stand in the place of good lights, they be in the candlestick: they must cease from ignorance and looseness of life, and begin to burn and cast light as good candles, both by doctrine and good example.

The third reason to moue vs to be burning lights, is the iudgement of God: for he which liueth in the Church, and yet shineth not in teaching others by his good example, he incurreth the iudgement of God. In the temple the lights and candles belonged to the Priest who dressed and trimmed them, & for that purpose he had snuffers and such instruments: now in the Church euery man is a candle, standing in the church as in a sticke: Christ Iesus he is the trimmer and dresser of them, he standeth in the midst of them, he hath his snuffers in his hands, he trimmeth them and dresseth these candles. Now if after three or foure times dressing and snuffing of this candle, still it burneth dim and will not shine out, he will either remoue it out of the sticke, or else he will take and tread it vnder his feet. So those which in the Church do not send out a shining light, the Lord he dresseth and snuffeth them, but if they still burne dimmely, cast not a cleare light in instructing others, and leauing good example, the Lord will cast them out of their places, put them vnder his foot, and cleane extinguish them. In regard of this daunger, euery man in his shaft and place, the Minister in his, the vnlettered man in his, must teach others, giue good example,