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…

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 ⟨p. 4⟩him. And therefore the Pope in taking upon him to dispense with the word, and to mangle the Sacraments, doth herein steppe into the room of Christ, and so declare himself to be that man of sin, by seeking to rob him of that princely royalty which belongs to him alone.

In this which hath been said, we may obserue, that this booke of the Reuelation is Christ his right, and belongeth vnto him as his owne royaltie and priviledge. For as the lawes in any kingdome belong to the prince thereof, and are called his lawes alone, and no mans els: So this booke, being a part of that law whereby Christ gouerneth his Church, is his royaltie alone, for God gaue it him, and he hath by his Angell sent it to his Church. And that which is here said of this booke, must be vnderstood 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 authoritie aboue this booke, or any other part of Canonicall Scripture: indeed Monarchs and princes haue great authoritie and preheminence in their dominions ouer all persons, and ouer all causes of men: but in the Church they with all others owe homage vnto Christ: there hee hath the Canonicall Scriptures to be his laws, whereto euery one must subiect himselfe The dispensation of the word, and the adminisration of the Sacraments, bee his royall ordinances, ouer which none may dare to claime rule or authoritie; for so should the Scriptures haue beene giuen vnto them for their prerogatiues, as they were to Christ; but God gaue them to him alone, and hee disposeth thereof, as pleaseth