A09443:401
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.
Hereby we are taught to seek for this spiritual life at Christ hands:1 that we may say with Paul, I live not now, but Christ li•eth in me, Gal. •.21. and that Our life […] •id in Christ, as in a head and root. For he liveth in heaven that we might live by him: our care must not be so much for our temporal life, which is but a vapour and like a fleeting shadow, as for this spiritual life which is eternal. But the practise of this duty is rare to be found, though the omission of it be a grievous sin. Mens whole care is for temporal life: few think on this, how to procure to themselves this spiritual life by Christ; though he have said, I live that you may live in me. This appeareth by their common practise: They will go ten, twenty, yea an hundred miles to provide means for their bodily preservation; and yet will scarce go one or two miles for the means of their salvation for ever. The cause thereof is, the hardness of mens hearts, which are not touched for their sins, nor feel the smart & weight thereof. This we may see plainly in the woman of Samariah: For when Christ sate at the well of Jacob talking with her,2 and telling her that he was the well of life, of whose water whosoever drank should never thirst: She did nothing but cavil with him. But when he laid to her heart her principal sins, then she left off cavilling, and in reverence, and some beginning of faith, Acknowledged him to be the Messiah. Even so let the minister say unto his people, he can bring them to the water of life; they will nothing regard, but cavil at the doctrine of the Gospel, till their sins be touched, and their souls humbled by ⟨p. 66⟩the sight thereof. Wherefore if we would have our hearts fit to receive spiritual life by Christ; we must first labour to have a sense of our sins, and to fear Gods wrath due unto us for the same. Hereby we shall be weaned from the dangerous love of earthly things, and our souls shall be ravished with desire of Christ Jesus. He is the well of life; and if once we could feel a parching heat in our souls by reason of our sins, then would we thirst & never be at rest till we had drunk our fill, and dined our selves in his saving merits. This natural life is but vanishing, and therefore we must labour for this spiritual life by Christ which is eternal. This will comfort us in all distress: