A09442:450
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.
Seeing Christ giveth this spiritual life,1 we must seek it at him, and labour that we may say, that we live not, but Christ in us, and that our life is hid in Christ: for Christ he liveth spiritually, that he might bring spiritual life to us: then we must labour to have this. We can be content to seek far and near, to take exceeding pains to get gain, to maintain this our momentany & earthly life, which is but as grass, yea as a fleeting shadow, and as a span: and shall we not be much more careful to get spiritual life which lasteth for ever? But the practise of men is clean contrary, not one of a thousand laboureth for spiritual life, but all are bewitched with the over greedy desire of things of this life, &c. The reason of this is, because mens hearts are not touched with the burden of sin, and the curse of God on us for sin, and therefore it is, that no man seeketh to be delivered from sin, to have this spiritual life with Christ our head. This we may see in that woman John 4. Christ telleth her, he is the bread of life; she beginneth to cavil with him, but when he toucheth her special sin, then she hearkeneth to him: so if the Ministers tell the people of matters of salvation, unless they first cast them down, & make them see their sins, they will but quarrel and cavil at it and the doctrine of the Gospel. Christ is the water, nay the well of life: now we must be thirsty and parched with thirst, and then we will seek for water: and we must not only lightly taste, but seek to be dipped and dived in this fountain, to have our souls soused and soaked in this water: and if we could know that Christ lived in ⟨p. 114⟩us and we in him by spiritual life, it would be a present remedy against all persecutions.
Seeing Christ giueth this spirituall life,1 we must seeke it at him, and labour that we may say, that we liue not, but Christ in vs, and that our life is hid in Christ: for Christ he liueth spiritually, that he might bring spirituall life to vs: then we must labour to haue this. We can be content to seeke farre and neare, to take exceeding paines to get gaine, to maintaine this our momentanie & earthly life, which is but as grasse, yea as a fleeting shadow, and as a span: and shall we not be much more carefull to get spirituall life which lasteth for euer? But the practise of men is cleane contrarie, not one of a thousand laboureth for spirituall life, but all are bewitched with the ouer greedie desire of things of this life, &c. The reason of this is, because mens hearts are not touched with the burthen of sinne, and the curse of God on vs for sinne, and therefore it is, that no man seeketh to be deliuered from sinne, to haue this spirituall life with Christ our head. This we may see in that woman