A09443:678
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.
Fourthly, the end of Christs fighting must be considered: for first he intends to reclaim them from their evil ways; but if they will not be reclaimed, then to cause the same word to be an occasion of their deeper condemnation. This must be deeply weighed of us all, who have had by Gods mercy for many years the plentiful preaching of the gospel, by which God hath continually rebuked & checked the sins that be among us, as ignorance, blasphemy, and filthiness, cruelty, and all iniquities whatsoever: and the same thing the Lord yet continues to do unto us. We therefore must think, that all this while the Lord is fighting ⟨p. 126⟩against us: when ignorance is reproved in the ministry of the word, the ignorant person must think the Lord is fighting against him: and so all Atheists, blasphemers, adulterers, oppressors, and cruel persons, when their sins are reproved, they must know that the Lord stands face to face against them with the sword of his mouth, seeking to reclaim them from these iniquities, as he did to Balaam in his way. And when any mans sins be thus touched, he must not rebel, but humble himself, as Balaam fell before the Angel: considering it is the Lord that wageth battle against him. When we hear that foreign nations shake their swords against us, how are we moved, both high and low? Shall we fear the sword of mortal man, and shall we not tremble when we hear that the sword of the everliving God is shaken against us? Those therefore whose hearts are guilty of any one sin, must humble themselves by true and speedy repentance, there is no withstanding of the Lord: if his sword do not cure us, it will cut us in pieces: if his word do not convert us from our sins, it will be an occasion to cast our souls deeper into hell. Thus he dealt with Balaam, when he would not be restrained from giving bad counsel, he was slain among the Midianites. Few think on these things; from whence cometh such great contempt of Gods ordinance in the ministry of the word, as we see at this day: but they must know, that either death or life come by the stroke of this sword, and therefore they must repent.
Fourthly, the end of Christs fighting must be considered: for first hee intends to reclaime them from their euill wayes; but if they will not be reclaimed, then to cause the same word to be an occasion of their deeper condemnation. This must be deepely weighed of vs all, who haue had by Gods mercie for many yeares the plentifull preaching of the gospell, by which God hath continually rebuked & checked the sinnes that bee among vs, as ignorance, blaspemie, and filthinesse, crueltie, and all iniquities whatsoeuer: and the same thing the Lord yet continues to doe vnto vs. Wee therefore must thinke, that all this while the Lord is fighting