A09443:628
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.
Lastly, hence we have direction to answer a question much urged against us by the Papists, to wit, Where our church was fourscore years ago, when Luther first began to preach: they intend hereby to prove our church to be but of fourscore years continuance, and so our religion to be new. We answer by the like, Where was the church of Pergamus when the devils throne was in that city? Surely it was there where the devil had his throne. And so when Antichrist that man of sin, had spread popery over all Europe, at that very same time was Gods church in Europe where popery was professed, mingled with the Papists: which to be true appeareth by this, that in all ages there have been some, who openly have oppugned popery, more or less, partly by writing, and partly by speaking, as the records of all ages do testify & make manifest: so that though iniquity had the upper hand, yet our church had his being in the middest of popery.
Lastly, hence wee haue direction to aunswere a question much vrged against vs by the Papists, to wit, Where our church was fourescore yeares ago, when Luther first beganne to preach: they intend hereby to proue our church to be but of fourscore yeares continuance, and so our religion to be new. We aunswere by the like, Where was the church of Pergamus when the diuels throne was in that citie? Surely it was there where the diuell had his throne. And so when Antichrist that man of sin, had spread poperie ouer all Europe, at that verie same time was Gods church in Europe where poperie was professed, mingled with the Papists: which to bee true appeareth by this, that in all ages there haue bene some, who openly haue oppugned poperie, more or lesse, partly by writing, and partly by speaking, as the records of all ages do testifie & make manifest: so that though iniquitie had the vpper hand, yet our church had his being in the middest of poperie.
And thou keepest my name, That is, though thou dwell in a place where the devil hath his throne, yet thou holdest fast my name, so as neither force nor fraud of the adversary can take my name from thee: so much the words import. By Christs name we must understand the doctrine of the gospel: so Paul is said to be (b)