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…

Thirdly, in these two threatening• Christ showeth himself to be the true Doctor of his Church: for he will fight against these Nicolaitans, when as he will only come unto his Church. Where we see he divideth his word aright: wherein consisteth the principal wisdom of a true Prophet, giving comforts to whom comfort belongeth, and threatening judgements to whom judgement is due; and making difference of judgements according to the state of the persons against whom they are threatened. For the heavy judgements of God must not be threatened against all persons, but against the impenitent. And because there be degrees of judgements, temporal, and eternal; therefore temporal judgements must be threatened to those to whom they belong, & eternal judgements denounced against those to whom they belong: observing the circumstances of time, place, and persons, according to Christs example in this place, and else where. So likewise the benefits of the Gospel are not to be propounded to every person hand over head without difference, but with restraint to some only, as Gods Prophets have done. It is often a great offence in the Church, when the benefits of the Gospel are propounded to all, and the threatening of the law denounced against all, without limitation or restraint. The conditions therefore of repentance & impenitency, of faith and unbelief, and also the degrees of them all, must carefully be observed in the dispensation of the Law and the Gospel.

Thirdly, in these two threatening• Christ sheweth himselfe to bee the true Doctor of his Church: for he will fight against these Nicolaitans, when as hee will onely come vnto his Church. Where wee see hee deuideth his word aright: wherein consisteth the principall wisedome of a true Prophet, giuing comforts to whom comfort belongeth, and threatning iudgements to whom iudgement is due; and making difference of iudgements according to the state of the persons against whome they are threatened. For the heauie iudgements of God must not be threatened against all persons, but against the impenitent. And because there be degrees of iudgements, temporall, and eternall; therefore temporall iudgements must be threatened to those to whom they belong, & eternall iudgements denounced against those to whom they belong: obseruing the circumstances of time, place, and persons, according to Christs example in this place, and else where. So likewise the benefites of the Gospell are not to bee propounded to euery person hand ouer head without difference, but with restraint to some onely, as Gods Prophets haue done. It is often a great offence in the Church, when the benefits of the Gospell are propounded to all, and the threatening of the law denounced against all, without limitation or restraint. The conditions therefore of repentance & impenitencie, of faith and vnbeleefe, and also the degrees of them all, must carefully bee obserued in the dispensation of the Law and the Gospell.