A09443:750
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.
Secondly, Christ setteth forth the end of her doctrine by two arguments: First, by the persons deceived, his servants: secondly, by the means whereby they are deceived; to wit, by causing them to commit fornication, and to eat mea•es sacrificed unto Idols.
Secondly, Christ setteth forth the end of her doctrine by two arguments: First, by the persons deceiued, his seruants: secondly, by the meanes whereby they are deceiued; to wit, by causing them to commit fornication, and to eat mea•es sacrificed vnto Idols.
Touching the persons. Whereas she deceived not all men, but the servants of God (for here is a plain distinction of men) this increaseth her fault, because they belonged unto God. But here two questions may be moved: First, why some men are the servants of God, and some are not. Secondly, whether the servants of God may be seduced by false teachers. To the first some answer, that God would have all men […] be his servants, and for his part doth all things needful unto all men, to make them his servants; redeeming them, and giving them sufficient grace hereunto: yet some are not his servants, because they themselves will not, but wilfully reject his grace that is offered unto them. But this doctrine is against common reason, and doth much derogate from the glory of God: for hereby they make every man an emperor, and God an underling, subject unto man; they make Gods good pleasure to depend upon mans pleasure, and the accepting of his grace to depend upon mans will. But God is the first cause of all things, his will overruleth mans will: and therefore it is absurd to say, some men are not Gods servants, because they themselves will not. The true cause hereof is Gods good pleasure, electing some, and they alone become his servants because he hath chosen them. But God did never choose all men first to grace, & then to glory: and therefore as Luke saith, (a)so many as were ordained to everlasting life, believed. So we may say: so many as are elected of God to grace and salvation, they become his servants.