A09443:733
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.
This reason of her reproof containeth sundry points worthy our consideration. I. From the phrase and form of the words we may consider the large power that God gave to his church: which was, besides the power to preach the word, & administer the Sacraments, a further power to appoint who should preach among them, & who should not preach: and also a power to repress evil men and evil women, & so to keep them in order. The like power was given to the church of Ephesus, as we have seen in the Epistle to that church: they had power to discern false Prophets, & Apostles, and to restrain the same. The like power did God give to all churches, as we shall see if we read the histories of the church; and great cause there is hereof: For without this authority no church could long stand & be a church.
This reason of her reproofe containeth sundry points worthie our consideration. I. From the phrase and forme of the words wee may consider the large power that God gaue to his church: which was, besides the power to preach the word, & administer the Sacraments, a further power to appoint who should preach among them, & who should not preach: and also a power to represse euill men and euill women, & so to keepe them in order. The like power was giuen to the church of Ephesus, as we haue seene in the Epistle to that church: they had power to discerne false Prophets, & Apostles, and to restraine the same. The like power did God giue to all churches, as we shall see if wee read the histories of the church; and great cause there is hereof: For without this authoritie no church could long stand & be a church.
II. Here note that it is not sufficient for a church to have the preaching of the word, but it must have severity and sharp government, whereby wicked people may be restrained. This church is therefore discommended for that she used not that severe authority which God had given her in suppressing of sin. And in our congregations the like fault is to be found; where much preaching is, yet sin abounds, as adultery, blasphemy, usury, and cruelty: and the cause is for that this severe execution of government in restraining sins, is not so straitly put in practise as it ought to be.