A09443:691
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.
Is Christ crucified, the true bread of life,1 and our spiritual Manna? then should we long after him, with a true spiritual hunger in our very hearts, as truly as any man longeth after meat & drink. When a man is famished, for the staying of his hunger he will pull his own flesh from his bones and eat it: Even so, for the satisfying of our hungry souls with Christ Jesus this food of life, we must forsake the deerest thing in all the world, though it be our own flesh: For that which we will do for our bodies, we must do much more for our souls. Que. How shall we attain to this true spiritual hunger? Answer. It is with the hunger of the soul, as it is with the hunger of the body. In bodily hunger be two things: A great pain in the stomach for want of nourishment: And a strong and earnest appetite, which continueth till the stomach be filled. Even so we should feel a pain in our hearts, rising from a sense of the wrath of God for our sins: And then we must labour to have a greedy appetite, and earnest desire to be filled with Christ crucified; & never be at rest till we be satiate with the merit of his passion, which only can free us from Gods wrath, and fill us with true joy. But woeful be these times: for there is in most mens hearts a deadness of spirit, whereby they are made insensible of inward wants and miseries: They are like unto full men that feel no pain for want of food. There is indeed an hunger, nay a greedy worm in many after the profits, pleasures, and honours of this world: but few or none do hunger after Christ. But if we would have (a)part in the feast of the Lamb, we must labour to have this longing appetite after Christ: If we be full stomacked we shall have no refreshing from his merits. Mary saith truly in her song, (b)God filleth the hungry with good things, but the rich and full go away empty. Which is a most fearful curse, when the soul is debarred from this food of life, But (c)blessed are we if we hunger after Christ and his righteousness, for then we shall be satisfied: Christ will give unto us our fill of the water of life freely, Revel. 21.6.