A09442:422
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.
So then by these actions we see the power of the word, it killeth corruptions in our hearts, pareth it and the remnants of it, and it keepeth men in awe and subjection. Yet it differeth in the wicked, and in the godly: in the wicked, it maketh them fear, and woundeth them to death, destroying both soul and body: in the godly, it woundeth them indeed, not in their persons, but in the corruptions of their hearts. It maketh us fit to encounter with the devil, and to vanquish him in all his temptations if it be used with knowledge.
So then by these actions we see the power of the word, it killeth corruptions in our hearts, pareth it and the remnants of it, and it keepeth men in awe and subiection. Yet it differeth in the wicked, and in the godly: in the wicked, it maketh them feare, and woundeth them to death, destroying both soule and bodie: in the godly, it woundeth them indeed, not in their persons, but in the corruptions of their hearts. It maketh vs fit to encounter with the diuell, and to vanquish him in all his temptations if it be vsed with knowledge.
Seeing the word of God serveth to kill our corruptions,1 we when we hear the word, must receive and believe the same, not only when it is delivered in general, but applied in particular: though it touch us and wound our hearts, we must suffer it, and rejoice in it: for that is the first steppe to health, to have our corruptions ripped up and touched. When the sword of the spirit entereth to our hearts, it will ransack every nook and secret corner: then we must rejoice in this blessing of God, suffer it gladly, seeing it is the only means to come to life. If one be sick of a Fistula, he will suffer the Chirurgeon to rip and lance him, to search every part of the wound: and shall not we suffer the Physician of the word to display, to lay open, to ransack and search the corruption of our hearts, seeing that is the only way to recover health. For we cannot live to God till we die to our selves and to our sins: we cannot possibly die to our sins, till our corruptions be destroyed, and all our sins killed and wounded to death.