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…

Secondly, Christ calleth this woman Jezebel, that he may provoke this church to a greater detestation of her in regard of her damnable ways: and that she might be in as great disgrace with them, as was Jezebel in the old Testament to the people of God, that so they might better eschew her wicked seducement. And herein we have a good direction for our profitable reading of the books of the old and new Testament: namely, that when we meet with examples of wicked men and wicked women, we must thereby take occasion to be unlike them. And if we find our selves like them any way, either in wicked opinion, or in practise, we must thereupon grow to a dislike with our selves. Again, finding the examples of good men or good women, we must labour to conform our selves thereto, and become like them: and in this regard approve our selves, when we see our selves conformable unto the godly in any virtue and grace.

Secondly, Christ calleth this woman Iezabell, that he may prouoke this church to a greater detestation of her in regard of her damnable wayes: and that shee might be in as great disgrace with them, as was Iezabell in the old Testament to the people of God, that so they might better eschew her wicked seducement. And herein we haue a good direction for our profitable reading of the bookes of the old and new Testament: namely, that when we meet with examples of wicked men and wicked women, we must thereby take occasion to be vnlike them. And if we find our selues like them any way, either in wicked opinion, or in practise, wee must thereupon grow to a dislike with our selues. Againe, finding the examples of good men or good women, wee must labour to conforme our selues thereto, and become like them: and in this regard approoue our selues, when wee see our selues conformable vnto the godly in any vertue and grace.

The second argument whereby Christ describeth this woman, is her action: She calleth her self a Prophetess; that is, she challengeth her self to be one that doth teach Gods will by the instinct of his spirit. And herein she became a notable patron of the damnable sect of the Nicolaitans: for she held the lawfulness of fornication, and of eating things sacrificed to Idols. And for the maintenance hereof, she saith she is a Prophetess, one that speaketh nothing but as she is taught by Gods spirit. This is the practise of heretics, under pretence of the spirit to maintain their damnable devices, as might easily be proved by induction of particular heretics in former ages.