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…

Hence we learn. I. That no man is to stand upon his his gentility,¹ or glory in his parentage for nobility and great blood, but only rejoice in this, that he is drawn out of the kingdom of darkness, and from under the power of Satan, and placed by Christ Jesus in the kingdom of grace. For what will it profit a man to wear about his neck a chain of gold, if so be his heart, will, & affections be chained to the devils service? and what availeth it princes to sit upon their stately thrones, if they themselves be in subjection unto Satan, and do homage unto his throne? yea what will all the treasures, honours, and pleasures of the world avail to him that is debarred from the riches of Gods love in Christ, and destitute of the treasures of his grace, and so led captive by Satan at his will and pleasure? Secondly, some do think that a man may be saved by any religion, the Jew by his religion, the Turk by his, and the Papist by his, &c. Yea, it is the common received opinion of our ignorant people, that every one shall be saved by his good meaning. But all these are mere dotages of mens brain: for a man may hold his good meaning, and yet serve the devil at his throne. It is not sufficient to hold this or that religion, or to practise civill virtues, as justice, temperance, &c. unless a man be one of Gods church, severed from the company of them that serve Satan. Thirdly, here all Gods servants have a notable means of stay and comfort in afflictions. If they be persecuted, and cast into most dark dungeons for the name of Christ, they must call to mind, that they are taken out of the devils prison in the kingdom of darkness, and placed in the glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ, and made members of his church, and shall be inheritors of his glory. Fourthly, hence we learn, that the preaching of the gospel hath in it a divine power: no creatures, except the good Angels, have power comparable to the devils: and yet the preaching of the gospel is stronger than all the power of Satan, for it gathereth a church where the devil hath his throne, it delivers men from under the power of Satan, and placeth them in the glorious liberty of the sons of God: although therefore it be preached by sinful man, yet it must be reverenced as the power of God, and his own arm to save his elect.

Hence we learn. I. That no man is to stand vpon his his gentilitie,¹ or glory in his parentage for nobilitie and great bloud, but onely reioyce in this, that hee is drawne out of the kingdome of darknesse, and from vnder the power of Sathan, and placed by Christ Iesus in the kingdom of grace. For what will it profit a man to weare about his necke a chaine of gold, if so be his heart, will, & affections bee chained to the diuels seruice? and what auaileth it princes to sit vpon their stately thrones, if they themselues be in subiection vnto Sathan, and do homage vnto his throne? yea what will all the treasures, honors, and pleasures of the world auaile to him that is debarred from the riches of Gods loue in Christ, and destitute of the treasures of his grace, and so led captiue by Sathan at his will and pleasure? Secondly, some do thinke that a man may be saued by any religion, the Iew by his religion, the Turke by his, and the Papist by his, &c. Yea, it is the common receiued opinion of our ignorant people, that euerie one shall bee saued by his good meaning. But all these are meere dotages of mens braine: for a man may hold his good meaning, and yet serue the diuell at his throne. It is not sufficient to hold this or that religion, or to practise ciuill vertues, as iustice, temperance, &c. vnlesse a man be one of Gods church, seuered frō the company of thē that serue Sathan. Thirdly, here all Gods seruants haue a notable meanes of stay and comfort in afflictions. If they be persecuted, and cast into most darke dungons for the name of Christ, they must call to mind, that they are taken out of the diuels prison in the kingdome of darknes, and placed in the glorious kingdome of Iesus Christ, and made members of his church, and shall be inheritors of his glory. Fourthly, hence wee learne, that the preaching of the gospell hath in it a diuine power: no creatures, except the good Angels, haue power comparable to the diuels: and yet the preaching of the gospell is stronger than al the power of Sathan, for it gathereth a church where the diuell hath his throne, it deliuers men from vnder the power of Sathan, and placeth them in the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God: although therefore it be preached by sinfull man, yet it must be reuerenced as the power of God, and his owne arme to saue his elect.