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…

This should cause all men to labour to get a good conscience, washed and purged in the blood of Christ, which will not suffer us to lie in any one sin; and upon our repentance will assure us we be in the favour of God: Which if it do in this life, then will it never make us to wail at the last day, but it will excuse us, and make us look up to our redeemer, and to rejoice in him. But take heed when thy conscience lieth asleep, and accuseth not for thy sins, no not at death; that is an evil conscience which will awake at the day of judgement to torment and condemn thee.

This should cause all men to labour to get a good conscience, washed and purged in the bloud of Christ, which will not suffer vs to lie in any one sinne; and vpon our repentance will assure vs we be in the fauour of God: Which if it do in this life, then will it neuer make vs to waile at the last day, but it will excuse vs, and make vs looke vp to our redeemer, and to reioyce in him. But take heed when thy conscience lieth asleepe, and accuseth not for thy sinnes, no not at death; that is an euill conscience which will awake at the day of iudgement to torment and condemne thee.

V. point. The means whereby he confirmeth the certainty of the second coming of Christ; that is, by a double note of asseveration: Even so, Amen. One of these is taken from the Greeks, Even so, the second from the Hebrews, Amen: being both as much as Amen, Amen, or verily, verily. In which phrase Saint John teacheth us, how to confirm the things we avouch. There be three ways whereby a thing may be avouched: First, by a simple and bare affirmation, or negation: Secondly, by an earnest asseveration: Thirdly, by an oath. Now S. John useth these two notes of assuring in this weighty matter of Christs second coming, saying, He cometh, even so, Amen; that is, certainly and without all doubt it is so. Hereby teaching us, first, that an asseveration must not be used, but only when the matter in hand is of great weight and moment. Here then we see that wretched is their practise, who use to bind every word with an oath; which is a degree above this asseveration. Yea, they also are here justly reproved, who in their ordinary communication have ever in their mouth some weighty asseveration. Our saviour often useth these words of asseveration, yet only in matters of weight and moment, and when the hearers were to be moved to greater attention, and their hearts were to be more fully settled in some truth of great importance.