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, he came and abode in Patmos, being banished thither for the Gospels sake. In this his banishment consider many excellent things: First, Saint John was a most worthy Apostle, endued with rare gifts, a singular maintainer of the Gospel, and a famous founder of the church of God, and chief pillar thereof in those days when he wrote this book: and for this cause most hated of the cruel persecutor Domitian, and of the Romans. And yet observe, That whereas many other true Christians were put to the sword, S. John is not, but escapeth by banishment. The cause of this was Gods special providence, by which he reserved him for the benefit of the church, that he might receive this Revelation, and commit it to writing, for the perpetual good of all his children. And so though Domitian was a cruel tyrant, and wanted no malice towards John, yet he could not kill him. God overruled him, that he did but banish him, and that into such an Island, wherein he might quietly receive these visions, and pen the same for the good of the church. By this we see the great care and providence of God over his church, that he doth bridle and overrule the cruel minds and might of bloody persecutors, that they cannot for their hearts do any thing, but that which serveth for Gods glory, and the good of his church, though they intend the contrary. For Domitian intended only the hurt of John, yet see, by his banishment into that Isle, he had fit place to receive these visions for the good of the church. So in the death of Christ, the Jews and Gentiles, and all the people banded themselves together, to put Christ to death, and the devil he laboured to stir them on to practise their intended malice. Yet the overruling power of God, ⟨p. 40⟩who bringeth light out of darkness, directeth and ordereth this their malice and wicked practise to the most excellent work that ever was, even the redemption of mankind. So Josephs brethren intended no such deliverance as God wrought by him, in selling their brother. This consideration should comfort all Gods children in the time of any outward distress, even the remembrance of Gods overruling hand.

For the first, hee came and abode in Patmos, being banished thither for the Gospels sake. In this his banishment consider many excellent things: First, Saint Iohn was a most worthy Apostle, endued with rare gifts, a singular maintainer of the Gospell, and a famous founder of the church of God, and chiefe pillar thereof in those dayes when he wrot this booke: and for this cause most hated of the cruell persecutor Domitian, and of the Romanes. And yet obserue, That whereas many other true Christians were put to the sword, S. Iohn is not, but escapeth by banishment. The cause of this was Gods speciall prouidence, by which hee reserued him for the benefit of the church, that hee might receiue this Reuelation, and commit it to writing, for the perpetuall good of all his children. And so though Domitian was a cruell tyrant, and wanted no malice towards Iohn, yet hee could not kill him. God ouerruled him, that he did but banish him, and that into such an Island, wherein he might quietly receiue these visions, and pen the same for the good of the church. By this wee see the great care and prouidence of God ouer his church, that hee doth bridle and ouerrule the cruell minds and might of bloudie persecutors, that they cannot for their hearts do any thing, but that which serueth for Gods glory, and the good of his church, though they intend the contrary. For Domitian intended onely the hurt of Iohn, yet see, by his banishment into that Isle, he had fit place to receiue these visions for the good of the church. So in the death of Christ, the Iewes and Gentiles, and all the people banded themselues together, to put Christ to death, and the diuell he laboured to stirre them on to practise their intended malice. Yet the ouerruling power of God,