A09443:839
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.
THE THIRD CHAPTER.
Verse. 1. And write unto the Angel of the Church that is at Sardis, These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven Stars, I know thy works, for thou hast a name that thou livest, but thou art dead.
Verse. 1. And write vnto the Angel of the Church that is at Sardis, These things saith hee that hath the seuen Spirites of God, and the seuen Starres, I know thy workes, for thou hast a name that thou liuest, but thou art dead.
These words contain the fifth particular Commandment of our Saviour Christ unto John, wherein he is enjoined to write & send a special Epistle to the Church of God in Sardis: of this commandment we have spoken before. The Epistle it self, is contained in the six first Verses, & it hath three parts. A Preface, the matter of the Epistle, & the Conclusion. The Preface in these words, These things saith he which hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven Stars. In this Preface, first is set down in whose name this Epistle is written, to procure authority unto it: it is in Christs name, whose sovereignty is described by two royalties: that is, by two prerogatives or privileges belonging to him, as he is a sovereign king of his Church: the first is, The having of the seven spirits of God. The second, his having of the seven Stars. For the first royalty▪ In the first Chap. vers. 4. I showed that by seven spirits, were meant the holy Ghost; from whom proceed all the gifts and graces that any men enjoy: and therefore whereas Christ is said to have the seven spirits of God: the meaning is, that he hath the holy ghost. And this is a royalty of Christ, as he is the King and head of his Church. If it be said, that other servants of God, as David, Peter, and Paul, had the holy Ghost