A09443:447
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.
The third special work for which Christ commendeth this church is, severity showed against wicked men: in these words, And how thou canst not bear them which are evil. By evil men, He meaneth such as lived offensively, and maintained manifest errors and heresies. These she could not bear, but judged them as burdens: and therefore sought to disburden her self of them.
The third speciall worke for which Christ commendeth this church is, seueritie shewed against wicked men: in these words, And how thou canst not beare them which are euill. By euill men, Hee meaneth such as liued offensiuely, and maintained manifest errors and heresies. These she could not beare, but iudged them as burdens: and therefore sought to disburden her selfe of them.
Hence we may gather, that it is a necessary thing for every church to be purged of evil men.1 The church of God in all ages hath put in practise this work. So soon as Cain had slain his brother Abel, (a)God cast him out from his face, as appeareth by his own complaint, to wit, from that particular place where Adam and his family worshipped God. When false prophets and Idolaters did arise among the Israelites, the Lord commandeth (b)That they should be killed and taken from among them. And therefore he saith to Jeremiah (c)If thou turn and repent, I will bring thee again, and if thou take away the precious from the vile thou shalt be according to my word. 1. Cor. 5.4, 5, Paul commandeth in the name of Christ, that the incestuous man be delivered unto Satan, the church purged of that old leaven, and that wicked man put from among them, verse. 13. Besides the evidence of these testimonies, some reasons may be added to prove the necessity of this separation. First, God will be worshipped in an holy manner; and they that worship God must be purged and sanctified; but evil men defile Gods worship, and therefore they ought to be severed from the church. Secondly, lest the whole church be infected with the contagion of their doctrine, or the infection of their life: for as leaun soureth the whole lump, so will evil men defile the whole church. Thirdly, they are burdens to the church, and therefore must be cast out. For the church should be eased of every burden.