A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

That we may come to the right use of this Argument; we must first search out the ends, for which Christ is here called Amen, that a faithful and true witness, which by the contents of the Epistle, we may easily guess to be these. First, to set forth himself unto the Angel of this Church, an example, and pattern of fidelity in his Ministry: in the duties whereof, he had been slack and negligent: Christ therefore by his own example, would teach him without respect of persons, to instruct the Church of God truly, and faithfully. How this duty is to be performed, hath been showed before, Chap. 1.5, And not only to the Angel of this Church of Laodicea, but also to all the Church, and to all them ⟨p. 198⟩that profess themselves to be his members, doth Christ propound himself an example of two most worthy virtues: Faith and Truth. For the first: Faith is a virtue, whereby a man makes good all his lawful words, promises, oaths, leagues, compacts, and bargains whatsoever, so as his word is as sure as an obligation, as we use to speak. Truth is another virtue, whereby a man without fraud, lye, or deceit, speaketh the truth from his heart, that is necessary to be known for his own good, the glory of God, and the good of others.

That we may come to the right vse of this Argument; we must first search out the ends, for which Christ is here called Amen, that a faithfull and true witnesse, which by the contents of the Epistle, we may easily gesse to be these. First, to set forth himselfe vnto the Angell of this Church, an example, and patern of fidelitie in his Ministrie: in the duties wherof, hee had been slacke and negligent: Christ therefore by his owne example, would teach him without respect of persons, to instruct the Church of God truely, and faithfully. How this dutie is to bee performed, hath beene shewed before, Chap. 1.5, And not onely to the Angell of this Church of Laodicea, but also to all the Church, and to all them ⟨p. 198⟩that professe themselues to be his members, doth Christ propound himselfe an example of two most worthy vertues: Faith and Truth. For the first: Faith is a vertue, whereby a man makes good all his lawful words, promises, oths, leagues, compacts, and bargaines whatsoeuer, so as his word is as sure as an obligation, as we vse to speake. Truth is another vertue, whereby a man without fraude, lye, or deceit, speaketh the truth from his heart, that is necessarie to be knowne for his owne good, the glorie of God, and the good of others.