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…

We therefore must set before our eyes this president of our Saviour Christ: As he is a witness, yea a faithful and true witness, without any faming or falsehood, so let us labour to show our selves faithful in all lawful promises: and true in all our speeches, that so by these virtues, we may be known to be like unto Christ, through our whole lives and conversations. Secondly, Christ is here called Amen, to induce this Church of Laodicea, to apply effectually unto her self the word of God, whether threatenings or promises; This Church had been negligent in the duties of Religion, which came for want of applying Gods word unto the selves. The right manner of applying Gods word is this: In Gods word we are to consider the law, and the Gospel. In the law, there are Commandments and threatenings: now a man must apply to his own person and life Gods Commandments particularly; that thereby he may come to know his particular sins: then he must also apply the threatenings of God unto himself, that thereby he may be humbled through the sight of his misery, and so made fit & capable of Gods grace. Thus the prodigal son applied the law unto himself, when he said, ^aI have sinned against heaven and against thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne. So did ^bDaniel, and ³Ezra, by applying the law unto themselves, humble themselves, and their people: for this is the way to humble any man, & to make him fit to receive grace: for the law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Gal, 3.24, and the want of this special application of the law, was a cause of the dullness of the Laodicians, and is also of our slackness in Religion at this day.

Wee therefore must set before our eyes this president of our Sauiour Christ: As he is a witnesse, yea a faithfull and true witnesse, without any faming or falshood, so let vs labour to shew our selues faithfull in all lawfull promises: and true in all our speeches, that so by these vertues, we may be knowne to be like vnto Christ, through our whole liues and conuersations. Secondly, Christ is here called Amen, to induce this Church of Laodicia, to apply effectually vnto her selfe the word of God, whether threatnings or promises; This Church had beene negligent in the duties of Religion, which came for want of applying Gods word vnto the selues. The right maner of applying Gods word is this: In Gods word we are to consider the lawe, and the Gospell. In the lawe, there are Commaundements and threatnings: now a man must apply to his owne person and life Gods Commaundements particularly; that thereby he may come to know his particular sinnes: then hee must also apply the threatnings of God vnto himselfe, that thereby hee may bee humbled through the sight of his misery, and so made fit & capable of Gods grace. Thus the prodigall sonne applyed the law vnto himselfe, when he sayd,