A09443:523
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.
In this general threatening we may observe:1 that when a church or people decay in love to God, to his word, or to their brethren; or else lye in any sin: then God prepareth himself to come unto them in judgement, Amo• 4.12. Because I will do thus and thus unto thee, for thy sins, therefore prepare to meet thy God, Oh Israel, meaning, that because they lay still in their sins, therefore he would make known his presence by more fearful judgements. This doctrine according to Christs direction is to be applied to us and to our church: for the sins that were in the church of Ephesus are the ⟨p. 91⟩sins of our church and people. They decayed in love to God, to his word, and to the brethren, so do we. Nay, generally there is no love at all in us, as hath been showed: and besides these wants, there be many other gross sins wherein our church and people do lye, as in Atheism both in judgement and practise; in contempt and neglect of Gods worship and true religion; in cruelty, oppression, and want of mercy: and that which is more, though God summon men to repent by his daily judgements, yet few or none by true humility prepare to meet God, and to prevent his judgements. Security spreads it self over the whole body of our people. And this being our case and state, it must needs be, that God hath been long since in coming to us by his judgements, and a• this day he is still coming, because we still decay in love and other graces, and more and more go on in sin. So that if we thus continue, the truth is, he will come shortly unto us, and that by most fearful judgements. For this was written to the church of Ephesus, to be a direction, not only unto them, but to all churches to the end of the world, that be in the like or worser case. What shall we then do?
In this generall threatening we may obserue:1 that when a church or people decay in loue to God, to his word, or to their brethren; or els lye in any sinne: then God prepareth himselfe to come vnto them in iudgement, Amo• 4.12. Because I will doe thus and thus vnto thee, for thy sinnes, therefore prepare to meete thy God, Oh Israell, meaning, that because they lay still in their sinnes, therefore he would make knowne his presence by more fearefull iudgements. This doctrine according to Christs direction is to bee applied to vs and to our church: for the sinnes that were in the church of Ephesus are the