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…

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.

For the first: Iohn is the person to whom this vision befell; who doth therfore name himselfe, to shew, that it was giuen him of the Lord: for as the Lord hath his visions and re•elations (as hath beene sayd) so the diuell hath his:¹ but they may bee distinguished by the persons to whom they be giuen. God giueth his visions not to all men, but vnto those which are most •it for them; such as bee most holy men for life, endued with exceeding gifts of God, a•knowledge, wisdome, constancie, zeale, pietie, and religion. So in the old testament hee deliuered not them to all, 〈…〉 his seruants the Prophets, men of singular gifts and graces, and of exceeding holinesse & pietie. Indeed the Lord reuealed some particular things by wicked men, as by Balaam and Caypha, but they neuer knew what those things meant which were shewed vnto them. It is a propertie belonging to the seruants of God, to receiue a vision, and to know the same to their comfort. And for both these was Iohn throughly qualified, he was a man of exceeding holinesse of life (for Christ loued him) and of singular and rare gifts, full of zeale, loue, and pietie, and also had the knowledge of this vision made knowne vnto him. But the diuel maketh no such choise, his visions befall men which are Heretickes, wicked notorious sinners, who haue no such rare and speciall gifts as the other haue: so that wee must esteeme of this, as a singular gift of God to his owne Apostle S. Iohn.