A09442:498
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.
The second point: in what things this discovery of false Apostles consisteth: in what this judicial action standeth, which God hath given to the Church. It standeth in two things: first, examination of false doctrine and false teachers. Secondly, condemnation of them after examination. For the first, he saith, And ⟨p. 131⟩hast examined: for the second, and found them liars. To come to this examination, the Church of Ephesus had a gift of examination,1 and did examine false Apostles and their doctrine. But how may a particular Church examine a false Apostle and his doctrine?2 To do this, the man or Church which would do it, must first prepare themselves, and make them fit to examine: and in this preparation must have an humble heart and lowly spirit: for God revealeth not his will to proud men, such as have high minds in their conceit. And in this humbling of himself, he must clean renounce his own wit and reason, and in regard of himself become a fool in his own reason, if he will be wise in the word of God. After this preparation he must make prayers to God in his spirit, that the Lord would reveal the thing to him, and that he would open his eyes by the means used, to judge of truth & falsehood. Luk. 11. Jam. 1. 5. In the next place he must labour throughly to know and well to conceive of their false doctrines: he must seek to understand them, their grounds, the differences between them and the truth. For it is a foul fault to propound a mans error, and not in that meaning he propounded it or gave it. They must further prove and try whether the doctrine be of God or men. To do this, he must come to the word of God, which must be judge in the matter, not a dumb letter, as the Papists hold, but the true judge in all matters, and most sufficient. Esa. 8. 19. 20. Joh. 5. Search the Scriptures. Only the Lord must be judge in his own matters, he must give sentence, and no Angel, Saint, or man. Now this he doth in the written word: therefore they must search whether such doctrines be contained in the Scriptures, or can by necessary consequence be collected out of them. They must after all this look to their lives: for it is not possible that a false Apostle should lead a good life. We must look on his faith and repentance, and the fruits of them: