A09443:261
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.
Fourthly, whereas John being banished, received his visions in a barren and base desolate place: we see, that those which honour God shall be honoured of God, even then when men seek most to disgrace them: for what greater disgrace could they have put upon John, than to banish him into so base an Island? Yet because it was for Gods glory, even there doth the Lord appear unto him, and honour him much in revealing unto him these visions. So when Joseph was sold of his brethren, and most dishonoured of them; then did God exalt him most of all. The same may be said of Daniel in Babylon, whom God did most advance, when his enemies sought his greatest ruin: and the same is true of all Gods children, Them which honour God will he honour.
Fourthly, whereas Iohn being banished, receiued his visions in a barren and base desolate place: we see, that those which honour God shall be honoured of God, euen then when men seeke most to disgrace them: for what greater disgrace could they haue put vpon Iohn, than to banish him into so base an Island? Yet because it was for Gods glory, euen there doth the Lord appeare vnto him, and honour him much in reuealing vnto him these visions. So when Ioseph was sold of his brethren, and most dishonoured of them; then did God exhalt him most of all. The same may bee sayd of Daniell in Babylon, whom God did most aduance, when his enemies sought his greatest ruine: and the same is true of all Gods children, Them which honour God will he honour.
II. point. The cause for which he came into this Isle, is expressly set down, for the word of God: that is, because he was a publisher and preacher of the word of God: for the performance of which duty he was banished. By which we may note, That all natural men (as Domitian and his court, and all the Gentiles, without Gods special calling) do bear a deadly hatred towards Gods word. For S. John was a most worthy Apostle, a famous man for gifts, a singular preacher of the word of God; yet is hated, nay banished, not for his own cause, but for the word of God. This hatred hath appeared in the heathen emperors, by their bloody persecutions against the preachers and professors of this word: and yet though men hate it naturally, the same word winneth them, and taketh place in their hearts for their conversion, and causeth them to love it: so as successively it hath been spread over all the world. Which shows against the Atheist, That the word taught by the Prophets and Apostles, is indeed the true word of God, not the invention of man: for mans word being hated, cannot win unto it him which hateth it: but the word of God prevaileth by grace in the hearts of those who hate it by nature, which it could not do, unless there were in it some divine power.