A09443:924
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.
Which shutteth and no man openeth, and openeth and no man shutteth. Here Christs kingdom is compared to a house, which can be opened and shut, by none but Christ; whereby is signified, that none hath power above Christ in his Kingdom, and that his power therein, is sovereign and absolute. So that hereby is meant, that Christ Jesus sitting in heaven, hath sovereign power and authority over the whole Church of God, to govern the same. That we may the better understand this sovereign power of Christ, we must know, it hath three parts. I. To prescribe. II. To judge. III. To save; or destroy. In Prescribing, Christ hath absolute power, and that in sundry things: as first, in prescribing doctrines of Faith, and Religion unto his Church, to be believed and obeyed, and that on pain of damnation. This power he puts in execution, when in the books of the old and new Testament, he prescribeth the doctrine of the Law & the Gospel, to be obeyed and believed. And none but he can make an Article of Faith, or a law to bind the conscience: and therefore Paul saith, Whosoever shall teach any other Doctrine, then that which ye have received of us, let him be accursed. Gal. 1.8. Secondly, for regiment; he hath absolute power to prescribe how he will have his Church governed, and by whom: and therefore Moses, when he was to make the Tabernacle, ddid all things according to the pattern that the Lord gave unto him. So David gave to Solomon patterns of all things that were in him, by the spirit touching the building of the house of God, 1. Chron. 28.12. Thirdly, he hath absolute power to appoint the time of keeping his Sabbath: for as the ordaining of a Sabbath belongs to Christ, so doeth the changing thereof: he that prescribeth worship must prescribe the ordinary set time thereunto, which is to continue to the end. And therefore it is but an opinion of men, to hold that the church may make two▪ or moe Sabbath days in a week, if they will. Fourthly, In prescribing the Sacraments; and therefore ePaul saith, What I have received of the Lord, that deliver I unto you: speaking of the Lords Supper. For he that gives grace, must also appoint the signs and seals of grace.