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…

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

THese words containe the fift particular Commandement of our Sauiour Christ vnto Iohn, wherein he is inioyned to write & send a speciall Epistle to the Church of God in Sardis: of this commandement we haue spoken before. The Epistle it self, is contained in the sixe first Verses, & it hath three parts. A Preface, the matter of the Epistle, & the Conclusiō. The Preface in these words, These things saith he which hath the seuen Spirits of God, and the seuen Starres. In this Preface, first is set downe in whose name this Epistle is written, to procure authoritie vnto it: it is in Christs name, whose soueraigntie is described by two royalties: that is, by two prerogatiues or priuiledges belonging to him, as he is a soveraigne king of his Church: the first is, The hauing of the seuen spirits of God. The second, his hauing of the seuen Starres. For the first royaltie In the first Chap. vers. 4. I shewed that by seuen spirits, were meant the holy Ghost; from whom proceed all the gifts and graces that any men enioy: and therefore whereas Christ is said to haue the seuen spirits of God: the meaning is, that he hath the holy ghost. And this is a royaltie of Christ, as he is the King and head of his Church. If it be said, that other seruants of God, as Dauid, Peter, and Paul, had the holy Ghost