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…

Secondly, hereby are confuted many carnal men, who will be of no religion; because (say they) there is no certainty in the matters of religion: mens opinions therein are so divers, that so many men, so many minds almost, and no man can tell who speaks the truth. Answ. It may be that men in sundry matters hold sundry private opinions: yet in the church of God, all the true members of Christ hold the same opinions touching the foundation of religion. But let it be granted, That all men on earth were of divers opinions touching matters of religion, should religion therefore be uncertain? God forbid. For religion is certain unto men, by the means that God hath appointed to certify the conscience of the truth thereof, and thereby might men come to the truth and certainty of religion taught by the Prophets and Apostles, though all men in the world were of divers opinions touching the same: Thus much of the Testimony.

Secondly, hereby are confuted many carnall men, who will be of no religion; because (say they) there is no certainetie in the matters of religion: mens opinions therein are so diuers, that so many men, so many minds almost, and no man can tell who speakes the truth. Answ. It may be that men in sundry matters hold sundry priuat opinions: yet in the church of God, all the true members of Christ hold the same opinions touching the foundation of religion. But let it bee graunted, That all men on earth were of diuers opinions touching matters of religion, should religion therefore bee vncertaine? God forbid. For religion is certaine vnto men, by the meanes that God hath appointed to certifie the conscience of the truth thereof, and thereby might men come to the truth and certaineti• of religion taught by the Prophets and Apostles, though all men in the world were of diuers opinions touching the same: Thus much of the Testimonie.

II. point. The commandment given to John is in these words: That which thou seest write in a book, and send it to the seven Churches which are in Asia. This commandment hath two parts: First, To write the things seen in a book: secondly, to send the book to the seven churches here named. And both these must John do, being now disabled by his exile to preach these things unto them personally, for these causes. First, that these churches might be edified in the faith, and strengthened in these most grievous times of persecution. Secondly, that they might become keepers of this book for the good of others: for the church of God is the pillar of truth: not only, for that it publisheth Gods truth: but also because it keepeth it, and giveth testimony thereunto.