A09443:905
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.
Whereas a man may be written in the book of life, to wit,1 in the judgement of men, and yet be blotted out: hereby we are to be admonished, to look unto our selves, and to make conscience of every sin, and to avoid and shun the very occasions thereof. For so long as we profess the Gospel, and obey the same, our names be in the book of life: but when we commit any sin, we do as much as in us lieth make a pen, and reach it up to heaven to blot our names out of that book: and they that keep a course in sinning, do plainly show that they were never truly written therein.
Whereas a man may bee written in the booke of life, to wit,1 in the iudgement of men, and yet bee blotted out: hereby wee are to bee admonished, to looke vnto our selues, and to make conscience of euerie sinne, and to avoide and shunne the verie occasions thereof. For so long as wee professe the Gospell, and obey the same, our names bee in the booke of life: but when wee commit any sinne, we doe as much as in vs lyeth make a penne, and reach it vp to heauen to blot our names out of that booke: and they that keepe a course in sinning, doe plainely shewe that they were neuer truely written therein.
- 1The use.The vse.
Secondly, considering that the number of the elect is certain, it must be a motive to cause us to labour for some a•••rance of election, that we may truly say, we have our names written in Gods book. But here some bad person will say, seeing the number of the Elect is unchangeable, I will live as I list; for if my name be in ⟨p. 175⟩the book of GOD, it shall never be blotted out; and if it be not in, it can never be added. Ans. These men deceive their own souls: for they that have their names written in the book of life, shall live as these few did in this Church of Sardis, in true faith and holy obedience. For he that is ordained to glorification, is ordained to justification and sanctification: and it is impossible for him that shall be saved, to live alway in sin, and therefore these men must rather labour to repent and believe, and to get some signs of their Election, that they may know that their names are written in the book of life.