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…

And here we must consider in what manner God gives his Revelation to his son. First therefore Christ Jesus, as he is Mediator, is made Lord of this Revelation: so as he may say, it is his own right, and royalty being a part of that law, whereby his Church is now governed, whereof he is Lord and King. Again, this Revelation was revealed unto Christ as he is man, before it was ever known to any creature, man, or Angel, by reason of the union of his manhood, with the godhead.

And here we must consider in what manner God giues his Reuelation to his sonne. First therefore Christ Iesus, as he is Mediator, is made Lord of this Reuelation: so as hee may say, it is his owne right, and royaltie being a part of that law, whereby his Church is now gouerned, whereof he is Lord and King. Againe, this Reuelation was reuealed vnto Christ as he is man, before it was euer knowne to any creature, man, or Angell, by reason of the vnion of his manhood, with the godhead.

In this which hath been said, we may observe, that this book of the Revelation is Christ his right, and belongeth unto him as his own royalty and privilege. For as the laws in any kingdom belong to the prince thereof, and are called his laws alone, and no mans else: So this book, being a part of that law whereby Christ governeth his Church, is his royalty alone, for God gave it him, and he hath by his Angel sent it to his Church. And that which is here said of this book, must be understood proportionally of all other books of holy scripture, Christ is made Lord of all, and they are all of them his royalties and possessions. And from hence will follow necessarily; First, That no man in the world hath authority above this book, or any other part of Canonical Scripture: indeed Monarchs and princes have great authority and preeminence in their dominions over all persons, and over all causes of men: but in the Church they with all others owe homage unto Christ: there he hath the Canonical Scriptures to be his laws, whereto every one must subject himself The dispensation of the word, and the administration of the Sacraments, be his royal ordinances, over which none may dare to claim rule or authority; for so should the Scriptures have been given unto them for their prerogatives, as they were to Christ; but God gave them to him alone, and he disposeth thereof, as pleaseth