A09443:337
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.
In the third place: John here describeth Christ by the parts of his body. The whiteness of his head & hairs, signifieth the eternity of Christ. For howsoever as he is man; he had a beginning▪ yet in regard of his godhead he is eternal, and therefore is called, The ancient of days, Dan. 9. and is said to have been in the beginning, John. •.1. that is, to have had a being before all other things had their beginning.
In the third place: Iohn here describeth Christ by the parts of his body. The whitenesse of his head & haires, signifieth the eternitie of Christ. For howsoeuer as hee is man; he had a beginning▪ yet in regard of his godhead he is eternall, and therefore is called, The antient of dayes, Dan. 9. and is sayd to haue beene in the beginning, Iohn. •.1. that is, to haue had a beeing before all other things had their beginning.
In this resemblance of his eternity, by head and hairs as white as wool and snow, he giveth us to understand an honour and prerogative in the aged man, whereby he excelleth the younger sort: to wit, the hoariness and whiteness of his hair, for which cause in the word of God it is set forth by most worthy comparisons: as by the white Almond tree, Eccles. 12.5. And by a glorious silver crown, not made by man, but by the hand of God set upon his head. And herein doth this excellency of the aged consist; that they bear the image of Gods eternity before all that are of younger years. From whence all younger men are taught to reverence the aged by (b)rising up before them: acknowledging thereby the preeminence of the hoar head.