A09442:41
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.
Then hence I gather: no man in the world hath authority above these laws, above this book: for this is Christs privilege, nor of any other by proportion. For these be Christs laws, all must be subject to them, none must be above them: for then it should follow, that they were given to men as well as to Christ Jesus. Hence it followeth, that if all be subject to these laws, then no man hath authority to dispense with the Scriptures, or the Gospel of Christ: for that is to make men to have royalty, interest, and title into these Scriptures. Monarchs and Princes have great authority in their jurisdictions, but they must all be in subjection to these laws of Christ: for they be indeed great, & have authority over their subjects: yea more, over all causes, yet only those which be the causes of men: they have no authority in causes of God, as the Scriptures and the Sacraments.
Then hence I gather: no man in the world hath authoritie aboue these lawes, aboue this booke: for this is Christs priuiledge, nor of any other by proportiō. For these be Christs lawes, al must be subiect to them, none must be aboue them: for then it should follow, that they were giuen to men as well as to Christ Iesus. Hence it followeth, that if all be subiect to these lawes, then no man hath authoritie to dispense with the Scriptures, or the Gospell of Christ: for that is to make men to haue royaltie, interest, and title into these Scriptures. Monarches and Princes haue great authoritie in their iurisdictions, but they must all be in subiection to these lawes of Christ: for they be indeed great, & haue authoritie ouer their subiects: yea more, ouer all causes, yet only those which be the causes of men: they haue no authoritie in causes of God, as the Scriptures and the Sacraments.
Seeing these books be Christs royalty,1 and he alone hath sovereign interest in the Church authority, we note, that he alone can expound Scripture without help of Scripture; he alone can give the true sense of Scripture. Indeed men can give the sense of Scripture by Scripture: for they have a ministry here, and by Scripture they expound Scripture: but Christ alone without Scripture can give the true sense of Scripture.