A09443:849
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 matter of this Epistle, containeth two parts. A reproof of a vice, with the remedy thereof. Vers. 1.2.3. And a praise or commendation: vers. 4. The reproof in these words, I know thy works, that is, I know all thy works: they are all manifest unto me, and I mislike of them. So must these words be understood in this place, as may appear by the reason of this reproof in the words following, Thou hast a name that thou livest, but thou art dead. Wherein is set down the fault of this Church, namely, Hypocrisy: for that they pretended christian religion in outward profession, but yet wanted the life of christianity, & the power of godliness: for the meaning of the reason is this: Thou hast a name that thou livest: that is, Churches round about thee judge and speak of thee, as of a church that is borne anew in Christ, and is guided by his spirit (for by life we must understand spiritual life not corporal) but yet for all this thou art dead: that is, thou wantest true spiritual life by regeneration, and art indeed dead in thy sins: this is a great and a sharp reproof.
The matter of this Epistle, containeth two parts. A reproofe of a vice, with the remedie thereof. Vers. 1.2.3. And a praise or commendation: vers. 4. The reproofe in these words, I know thy works, that is, I know all thy workes: they are all manifest vnto me, and I mislike of them. So must these wordes be vnderstood in this place, as may appeare by the reason of this reproofe in the wordes following, Thou hast a name that thou liuest, but thou art dead. Wherein is set downe the fault of this Church, namely, Hypocrisie: for that they pretended christian religion in outward profession, but yet wanted the life of christianitie, & the power of godlines: for the meaning of the reason is this: Thou hast a name that thou liuest: that is, Churches round about thee iudge and speak of thee, as of a church that is borne anew in Christ, and is guided by his spirit (for by life we must vnderstand spirituall life not corporall) but yet for all this thou art dead: that is, thou wantest true spirituall life by regeneration, and art indeed dead in thy sinnes: this is a great and a sharpe reproofe.
That which is here said of this Church of Sardis, may be truly verified of divers churches in this age. As first, of the great church of Rome, who are guided by the Pope as by their head. That church hath a name to be alive, & in their own pretence it is the only true church of God in the world, but in truth and before God it is dead. Some say, it is as a body full of diseases, and whose throat is cut: but yet the heart panteth, & life remaineth therein. But we may say, it hath no manner of spiritual life, but lieth stark dead as a carcass in the grave. The reasons that some allege for it, are of small moment: first, they say it hath the Sacrament of baptism, which is a note of a true Church: and therefore it hath some life? Ans. First, Baptism is not always a note of a true church: for circumcision, in whose stead