A09443:268
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.
Touching the manner, it is noted in these words: I was in the spirit. That is, I was by the mighty and extraordinary work of the spirit of God cast into a trance. That this […] be so expounded, appeareth by comparing this phrase with the like in the whole prophecy of Ezekiel, who useth to say, I was in the spirit, when he expresseth and signifieth that he was cast into a trance, and therein received some vision by the spirit.
Touching the manner, it is noted in these words: I was in the spirit. That is, I was by the mightie and extraordinarie worke of the spirit of God cast into a traunce. That this 〈…〉 bee so expounded, appeareth by comparing this phrase with the like in the whole prophesie of Ezechiell, who vseth to say, I was in the spirit, when hee expresseth and signifieth that hee was cast into a traunce, and therein receiued some vision by the spirit.
To understand this the better, consider two things: first, what a trance is: secondly, the end of it. First, a trance is an extraordinary work or action of Gods spirit. We must not think, that trances come from the virtue of the stars, nor from the constitution of mans body, or by the strength of imagination, as some have fondly thought: but they are wrought by the holy ghost. Secondly, it is not every work of the holy ghost, but an extraordinary work, above the order of nature. It is also powerful and mighty, wherein the whole man, both in body and mind is altered: which Saint John here expresseth, saying, I was in the spirit. This extraordinary work of the spirit consisteth in two actions; one upon the body, the other upon the mind. First, in procuring a trance, the spirit of God casteth the body of man into a dead sleep; whereby all the senses, both inward and outward, are benumbed: so Genes. 15.12. when God renewed his covenant with Abraham, he casteth him into an heau•e sleep: that is, into a trance, wherein all his senses were benumbed; only his mind was waking. The action of the Holy ghost on the mind is, to draw it from fellowship with the body, and all the senses, to have a nearer fellowship with God, that so the spirit of God may enlighten it with divine light, that it may understand the things which are revealed to it: as we may see in other ecstasies and trances of the Prophets and Apostles. As in that of