A09443:240
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…
A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the Revelation. Preached in Cambridge by that reverend and judicious divine, master William Perkins, Ann. Dom. 1595. First published for the benefit of Gods Church, by Robert Hill, Bachelor of DivinityA godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the Reuelation. Preached in Cambridge by that reuerend and judicious diuine, maister William Perkins, Ann. Dom. 1595. First published for the benefit of Gods Church, by Robert Hill, Bachelor of Diuinitie
London: printed by Adam Islip for Cuthbert Burbie, 1606
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 circumstances of this vision are four: first, the person to whom this vision was showed, namely, John: The second, the place where, at Patmos: The third, the manner how it is propounded, It was delivered to him being […] the spirit: The fourth, the time when, on the Lords day.
The circumstances of this vision are foure: first, the person to whom this vision was shewed, namely, Iohn: The second, the place where, at Pa•mos: The third, the manner how it is propounded, It was deliuered to him being 〈…〉 the spirit: The fourth, the time when, on the Lords day.
For the first: John is the person to whom this vision befell; who doth therefore name himself, to show, that it was given him of the Lord: for as the Lord hath his visions and revelations (as hath been said) so the devil hath his:1 but they may be distinguished by the persons to whom they be given. God giveth his visions not to all men, but unto those which are most •it for them; such as be most holy men for life, endued with exceeding gifts of God, acknowledge, wisdom, constancy, zeal, piety, and religion. So in the old testament he delivered not them to all, […] his servants the Prophets, men of singular gifts and graces, and of exceeding holiness & piety. Indeed the Lord revealed some particular things by wicked men, as by Balaam and Caypha•, but they never knew what those things meant which were showed unto them. It is a property belonging to the servants of God, to receive a vision, and to know the same to their comfort. And for both these was John throughly qualified, he was a man of exceeding holiness of life (for Christ loved him) and of singular and rare gifts, full of zeal, love, and piety, and also had the knowledge of this vision made known unto him. But the devil maketh no such choice, his visions befall men which are Heretics, wicked notorious sinners, who have no such rare and special gifts as the other have: so that we must esteem of this, as a singular gift of God to his own Apostle S. John.