A09443:528
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 point concerneth every private man: and it is this: If any man decay in love, or want love to God and to his brethren, or lye in any sin known to himself. This is a means to remove the candlestick from him; to deprive him of his knowledge and other graces of God. The affection of love in the heart is like the watch of the clock: if the watch stand, the wheels stand: as the watch goeth fast or softly, so go the wheels answerably. And so it is in man: if his love to God and to his gospel do increase, then doth his knowledge and other graces of God increase in his heart: but if his love decay, then other graces decay: and if love be gone, then farewell all piety and true religion. If we would know the cause of such palpable ignorance as is in many that have long heard the gospel preached, it is nothing but want of love. Heb. 3.12, 13. The Holy ghost showeth by what degrees men come to fall away from God. First, sin deceives them, by drawing them to commit it: then their hearts are hardened by custom of sinning: Thence follows unbelief in main points of Religion: and so they make Apostasy from God, and set themselves against his truth. Take heed therefore of lying in any sin, for that is the high way to final Apostasy: rather strive to increase in love unto God and unto his word; and so shall all his good graces increase in thine heart.
The third point concerneth euery priuate man: and it is this: If any man decay in loue, or want loue to God and to his brethren, or lye in any sin knowne to himselfe. This is a meanes to remooue the candlesticke from him; to depriue him of his knowledge and other graces of God. The affection of loue in the heart is like the watch of the clocke: if the watch stand, the wheeles stand: as the watch goeth fast or softly, so goe the wheeles answerably. And so it is in man: if his loue to God and to his gospell doe encrease, then doth his knowledge and other graces of God encrease in his heart: but if his loue decay, then other graces decay: and if loue be gone, then farewell all pietie and true religion. If we would know the cause of such palpable ignorance as is in many that haue long heard the gospell preached, it is nothing but want of loue. Heb. 3.12, 13. The Holy ghost sheweth by what degrees men come to fall away from God. First, sinne deceiues them, by drawing them to commit it: then their hearts are hardened by custome of sinning: Thence followes vnbeleefe in maine points of Religion: and so they make Apostacie from God, and set themselues against his truth. Take heed therefore of lying in any sinne, for that is the high way to finall Apostacie: rather striue to encrease in loue vnto God and vnto his word; and so shall all his good graces encrease in thine heart.