A09443:397
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.
Verse. 18. And Am he that liveth; but I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen: And I have the keys of hell and of death.
Verse. 18. And Am he that liueth; but I was dead, and behold I am aliue for euermore, Amen: And I haue the keyes of hell and of death.
These words contain the second reason to confirm John. And it may thus be framed by way of a distinction, Although I was dead, yet I am he that liveth (for so the words are) and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen: Yea I have power over death and hell. This distinction containeth three parts. First, Though I was once dead, yet I am he that liveth. Secondly, Though I was once dead, yet I live for evermore. Thirdly, Though I was once dead, yet I have the keys of death and of hell. Of these in order.
These words conteine the second reason to confirme Iohn. And it may thus be framed by way of a distinction, Although I was dead, yet I am he that liueth (for so the words are) and behold I am aliue for euermore, Amen: Yea I haue power ouer death and hell. This distinction containeth three parts. First, Though I was once dead, yet I am he that liueth. Secondly, Though I was once dead, yet I liue for euermore. Thirdly, Though I was once dead, yet I haue the keyes of death and of hell. Of these in order.
I. part. And Am he that liveth, though I was dead. Here life is ascribed to Christ in a special manner: For Christ liveth in a peculiar sort different from the life of other creatures. For first he hath sufficient life in himself and from himself: Secondly, he giveth life to others. For the first: that we may better conceive it, we must know that life is twofold, uncreated, and created. Uncreated life is the life of God whereby God liveth: This life is eternal and infinite in it self, & from it self. Now as Christ is God he liveth this uncreated life: which is all one with the godhead. Again, created is twofold. The first is natural preserved by means of meat and drink. The second is spiritual, both begun and continued by means of the immediate operation of Gods spirit, whereby we have fellowship with God. And this spiritual life is more perfect than the natural. Now Christ liveth not the natural life but as he is God liveth the uncreated life, & as he is man he liveth the spiritual life, his body and soul having all their subsisting and sustentation in the second person in Trinity: and therefore he hath in himself most absolute and perfect life, and so liveth of himself.