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…

II. point. The reason whereby Christ would set an edge upon the former remedy, containeth a twofold threatening or commination: the first, against the whole Church in these words: If not, I come unto thee shortly. The second against the Nicolaitans in these words: And will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. For the first, If not, I will come unto thee shortly, these words were expounded in the fifth verse. The meaning is this: If thou repent not, I will come unto thee, & testify my presence by taking punishment upon thee, for thy want of zeal, and of severity against sin and sinners. To this effect the Prophet Isay saith, Chap. 30.27. The name of the Lord shall come from far, to take punishment upon the Assyrians.

II. point. The reason wherby Christ would set an edge vpon the former remedie, containeth a twofold threatening or commination: the first, against the whole Church in these words: If not, I come vnto thee shortly. The second against the Nicolaitans in these words: And will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. For the first, If not, I will come vnto thee shortly, these words were expounded in the fift verse. The meaning is this: If thou repent not, I will come vnto thee, & testifie my presence by taking punishment vpon thee, for thy want of zeale, and of seueritie against sinne and sinners. To this effect the Prophet Isay sayth, Chap. 30.27. The name of the Lord shall come from farre, to take punishment vpon the Assyrians.

In this threatening the phrase is to be noted. Christ saith: If not, I come unto thee: expressing a thing to come, by a word of the time present. To give them to understand, ⟨p. 124⟩that his coming unto them by judgements was as certain, as if it were present, unless they did repent. Where this general rule is to be observed of all: namely, that when a Church or people do not repent, the Lord will come unto them to execute his judgements upon them. Yea, though they have before repented, if for particular sins and wants they do not renew their repentance, he will surely come to punish them. This might be proved at large by testimonies of the Prophets & Apostles: but it is so evident in this text, that I omit all further proof; only I will apply it to this our Church, of which this may be truly said; Thou doest not repent, nor renew thy repentance for thy daily sins. For albeit there be some among us, that by Gods grace repent and set themselves daily to the exercise thereof: yet take the greater part of our congregations, and they are so far from renewing their repentance, that they do not repent at all: for either they have no knowledge of Gods will; or if they have knowledge, yet they want care and conscience to put the same in practise. This being our case and condition, what man may not be a Prophet against our churches and congregations, being thus directed by this portion of Scripture, to say and that truly, That God will come unto us in judgments, to plague and punish us for our sins and iniquities? We may sooth our selves in hope of mercy still, but the state of our Church continuing as it is, nothing can be expected but judgements from the Lord. This then must be a motive to persuade us to repent, every person apart, and every family & congregation apart, we must humble our selves in dust and ashes for our sins past, entreating the Lord to be reconciled unto us, and purpose fully in our hearts, and strive in our lives to obey God in all his commandments: yea, though we can say we have repented, yet for our daily wants and sins we must renew our repentance. Thus doing, we shall stay the Lord when he is coming against us. But if we go on in blindness, ignorance, and rebellion, following the lusts of our own hearts, then nothing but vengeance and judgements are to be expected: