A09443:889
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.
Now follow the words of this commendation. Notwithstanding thou hast a few names yet in Sardie; that is, There be yet in this Church a few persons known to me by their names (for by Names, we must understand persons named) which have not defiled their garments. Here (to omit many expositions) is an allusion to the Ceremonial law, wherein GOD set down a distinction between things clean and unclean, not in themselves, but by his appointment: and among the Jews, if any man had but touched an unclean thing with his hand, or with his garment, thereby he was defiled, and his garment defiled legally; and so he or his garment were reputed unclean: whereupon they had a special care not to touch the things that were defiled, no not with their garments. Now this signified another thing unto them namely, That they ought to abstain, not only from the outward sins of the moral Law, but even from all occasions, intentions, shows, and appearances of evil. And in this place, this is meant hereby: that some in this Church of Sardie, had so far made conscience of sin, that they would not meddle with the very occasions and appearances of evil.
Nowe followe the wordes of this commendation. Notwithstanding thou hast a fewe names yet in Sardie; that is, There bee yet in this Church a fewe persons knowne to mee by their names (for by Names, wee must vnderstand persons named) which haue not defiled their garments. Heere (to omit many expositions) is an allusion to the Ceremoniall law, wherein GOD set downe a distinction betweene thinges cleane and vncleane, not in themselues, but by his appointment: and among the Iewes, if any man had but touched an vncleane thinge with his hand, or with his garment, thereby hee was defiled, and his garment defiled legally; and so he or his garment were reputed vncleane: wherevpon they had a speciall care not to touch the thinges that were defiled, no not with their garments. Now this signified another thing vnto them namely, That they ought to abstaine, not onely from the outward sinnes of the morall Lawe, but euen from all occasions, intentions, shewes, and appearances of euill. And in this place, this is meant hereby: that some in this Church of Sardie, had so farre made conscience of sinne, that they would not meddle with the verie occasions and appearances of euill.