ministerie will soone bee tainted with the filthie puddles of mens inuentions Againe in this dealing of God with Iohn we may obserue the truth of Christs saying to him that hath it shall be giuen For though Iohn was endued with rare knowledge and singular gifts yet the Lord addeth more knowledge to his former The Lord found him faithfull in the duties of an Apostle and therefore reuealeth the knowledge of many secrets vnto him in most full manner euen so it is in Gods church at this day all that haue care to know the will of God and doe it though their knowledge be small at the first yet the Lord will helpe them and adde dayly to their knowledge And the cause why many heare the word of God and profit not but wax worse or stand at a stay is because they labour not to haue their knowledge encreased by putting in practise that which they know for if they did then to him which hath should more bee added and hee should haue abundance As on the contrarie when we be negligent to heare or know and to obey the will of God wee haue a spirit indeed sent vpon vs yet not Gods spirit but the spirit of slumber of blindnesse ignorance so that we see and see not heare and vnderstand not Isay. 6.9 On the Lords day In these words is the fourth circumstance namely the time when this vision was shewed to S. Iohn This day which here is called the Lords day among the Iewes was the first day of the weeke called by vs Sunday It is called the Lords day for two causes First because on this day Christ rose from death to life for Christ was buried the euen of the Iewes Sabboath which is our Friday and hee rested in the graue their whole Saboath which is our saturday and rose the first day of the weeke early in the morning which is our Sonday Secondly this first day of the weeke according to the Iewes account came in stead of the Iewes Saboath and was ordained a day of rest for the New testament and sanctified for the solemne worship of the Lord. And for this cause especially it is called the Lords day the manifestation whereof as some thinke Iohn chiefly intended in this title And touching this time for our better vnderstanding let vs consider three points First who changed the Iewes Saboath secondly for what cause thirdly whether the Church hath now in the New testament power to change the Saboath day we now celebrate to any other day of the weeke For the first it is commonly thought that the Iewes Saboath was changed into this Lords day by christian emperours long after the ascention of Christ. But it is more consonant to the tenour of the New testament to hold that Christ himselfe was the author of this change My reasons are these First that which the Apostles deliuered and enioyned the Church that they receiued from Christ either by voyce or instinct for they deliuered nothing of their owne head But the Apostles deliuered and inioyned this Saboath to the Church as to be kept a day of holy rest to the Lord as appeareth 1. Cor. 16.1 Where Paule ordained in the churches of Galatia and Corinth that the collection for the poore should be on the first day in the weeke This hee left not to the choise of the church but appointed it by authoritie Apostolicall from Christ. Now the day of collecting for the poore as appeareth in the histories of the church was the Saboath day when the people were assembled for Gods seruice For this was the custome of the church for many yeares after Christ First to haue the word preached and the Sacraments administred then to gather for the poore and for this cause in the writings of the church the Lords supper is called a sacrifice an oblation and the masse not a reall sacrifice as the papists vse it but spirituall because therewith was ioined collection for the poore which was a spirituall oblation not to the Lord but to the church for the releefe of the poore and it was called the masse because the collected releefe therat was sent to the poore saints abroad A second reason is this The Apostles theÌ„selues kept this day for the Saboath of the New testament Act. 20.7 And it cannot bee proued that they obserued any other day for an holy rest to the Lord after Christs assention saue onely in one case when they came into the assemblies of the Iewes who would keepe none other but the old Saboath of the law A third reason is Iohn 20.19.26 The same day whereâ—n Christ rose from death being the first day of the weeke â—e appeared to his disciples being gathered together and taught them many things which concerned the gouernement of his Church And eight dayes after being the first day of the weeke hee appeared vnto them for the same end Now it is more than likely that Christ in his own person gaue them an example to celebrate and keepe that day wherein he rose againe for a Saboath of the New testamenâ— II. point The Saboath of the Iewes was changed for two causes First to maintaine the libertie of the church of the New testament whereof this was a great part thaâ— they were freed from the ceremonies of the Iewes For when this day was changed the church was no more tied to the Iewes Saboath neither had any such regard of dayes and times Secondly that there might be a more fit time for the memorie of the worke of mans redemption For as God in the Old testament appointed the seuenth day to be a day of rest to remember the first creation So in the New testament it stands with reason there should be a day to celebrate this worke of redemption which is a wonderfull creation wherein as Isay saith are made a new heauen a new earth Chap. 66. And wherby men become new creatures 2. Cor. 5.17 Nay this redemption is a more glorious worke than the creation for in that creation Adam was the head but in this redemption Christ Iesus is our head By the first creation wee receiued a temporall life but by redemption wee receiue life eternall In the creation Adam was espoused to Eue but in the worke of redemption euery christian is espoused to Christ Iesus By creation Adam had an earthly Paradise In this redemption we haue an heauenly kingdome In the creation Gods power and wisedom did principally appeare In this redemption with power and wisedome he shewed mercie and iustice Iustice in Christs passion and mercie in our forgiuenesse By creation he made man of nothing but by redemption hee made him of worse then nothing and better then he was Therefore seeing this worke of our redemption is farre passing the creation it was meete a day should be set a apart for the memorie thereof Now no day could be more fit then the first day of the weeke in which Christ rose againe whereby he confirmed
sonne of God which is the friend of friends who shall giue them not onely life and motion but eternall life with his owne maiestie This was Iobs comfort that though he died yet he beleeued he should see his redeemer with his eyes And this should be our comfort against the feare of death and last iudgement Secondly this is a terror to the wicked and to all impenitent sinners that they shall will they nill they be brought to the barre of Christs iudgement seate there looke on him who is their iudge whom they have in their life contemned and despised And this consideration may serue to moue them to repentance which haue noâ— begunne to repent and to labour to become the members of Christ aâ— also to increase and further repentance in them who haue by Gods grace begun the same It may be some do thinke when they die all is done and there is no further account to follow but though we lie rotten in our graues a thousand or two thousand yeares yet we shall rise and looke vpon our iudge with our owne eyes And if we haue not in our life time repented we shall heare him with our owne eares giuing the dreadfull sentence against vs Go ye cursed into euerlasting fire And therefore it is best for vs in this day of grace to preuent this danger and now repent and beleeue in Christ that then we may rise with ioy and stand with holâ—nesse before Christ Iesus No doubt if we were persuaded that we should thus appeare it would moue vs to repent Thirdly Euerie eye shall see him that is all men with their owne eyes shall looke on him Hence it may bee gathered that those who wanted their fight in this life shall haue it then restored It is granted of all Diuines that the elect shall haue all their senses and other defects restored wherein they were wanting in this life And it may also bee added that the wicked shall then haue some of their senses restored if they wanted the same in this life as hearing and seeing at the least for the deafe shall heare the blind shall see this Iudge And this can be no glorie to them seeing it is to increase their miserie for the more senses they haue the more punishment they shall feele because by sense we apprehend miserie Euen thâ—se which peirced him Here is added a further euidence of Christs manifestation of his comming and that for three causes First to shewe that no power or wisedome in the world can free any one from his appearance For if any could escape in all likelihod it would be those Iewes and Gentiles who preuailed most against Christ and put him to death But none of those can escape his iudgement for euen they which peirced him they shall see this Iudge and bee summoned before his maiestie For though they had power to kill him yet none of them shall haue power to absent themselues from before his bar of iudgement at the last day Secondly to shew the case of all wicked men namely that such woe and miserie shall befall them as they neuer once thought of The Iewes and Gentiles which crucified Christ neuer dreamed of this that he whom they then put to a temporall death should one day be their Iudge and condemne them to eternall death vnlesse they had repented Thirdly to shew the rufull and wofull estate of all impenitent sinners they shall rise to iudgement and haue the greatest enemie their Iudge who will shew rigor vpon them and iustice without all mercie for this peircing of Christ is meant not onely of the Iew which put him to death but of all vngodly personâ— because all such do by their sinnes as with swords and speares wound him at the heart as the souldiers did Impenitent sinners be as the Iewes which crucified Christ as Iudas which betrayed him and as the soldiers which goarâ—â— his side and vnlesse they now repent they shall one day be iudged as his enemies Euen they which peirced him Out of these words some gather that the body of Christ hath still the wounds and scarres which were giuen him at his death the print of the nailes in his hands and his feete and that these shall be seene in him at the last day adding withall that it is no blemish to Christ to haue these but rather an increase of his glorie But this cannot be gathered hence for though it be sayd They shall see him whom they peirced yet it followeth not that they shall see him as he was peirced what though they see the person whom they wounded shal they therefore see his wounds Manie shall see kings and queenes whom they crowned in this world but it followeth not that therefore they shall weare their crownes So we shall see our fathers and mothers but not as fathers and mothers IV. point The fruite and effect of his comming especially in the wicked in these words And all tribes of the earth shall waile before him Where S. Iohn speakes of the whole world according to the condition of the land of Canaan for only that part of the world was diuided into tribes As in like case our Sauiour Christ setteth out the iudgement of the whole world according to the state and manner of iudging the visible Church Math. 25. So that his meaning is that they which repented not of what nation soeuer of what state or condition soeuer they haue bene shall wayle and mourne at that day And hee addes a reason of this their mourning in these words for him before him or ouer him That is they shall wayle and lament with exceeding lamentation because they beleeued not his word but contemned him and his doctrine and therefore now they want all help to free them from the punishmeÌ„t of their vnbeleefe and contempt of the gospell for this life is the only time of grace and mercie afterward there is no worke nor inuention that can alter mans estate Hence then we are admonished first that in this world we labour aboue all things to be reconciled to God in Christ to get our sinnes pardoned to beleeue and imbrace his holy word and vnlesse we attaine hereunto in this life we shall wayle eternallie for when the last day is coâ—e there is no hope of help no way to escape no time of grace to repeâ—â— Remember the foolish virgins that sought for oyle when it was too late and knocked when the doores were shut Math. 25. But if by Gods mercie we can in this life get his loue and fauour in Christ then shall we enioy the same eternally yea at this dreadfull day to all the wicked we shall lift vp our heads and our harts when wee shall see Christ comming to our full redemption all teares shall bee wiped from our eyes when the wicked shall crie and houle woe and alas for euermore The diuell knowing the worth of this admonition will labour by all meanes to keepe it from our hearts
in the word of God and receiuing the Sacraments for the increase of faith and renewing of their repentance All which will rather make a man fearefull and carefull than secure For with the meanes is certainty of saluation both atteined and preserued so that our doctrine is not a doctrine of offences but a true doctrine that beateth out the plaine way that â—eadeth vnto life Secondly Christ his detestation of this doctrine of Balaam must admonish vs to be so carefull of our behauiour euerie way that we giue no offence vnto anie for if wee do wee are Balaams schollers This is a point of speciall obseruation wee must looke to our communication that it be void of railing bad speeches and to our conuersation that it bee holy and vnblameable In euerie thing we must haue care not to hinder others in the way of life Woe bee to them saith Christ that giue offences it were better that a huge milstone such as an asse can but turne about as the word imports were tied about his necke and that he were cast into the sea The reason is because when a man by any means giueth his brother an offence he doth as much as in him lieth to plunge his brothers soule into the pit of destruction and therefore we must flie offences as hell it selfe yea rather on the contrary we must helpe our brethren forward in the way of saluation and remooue from them all stumbling blockes that cause them to fall If this duty were practised our church would abound with grace and godlines but this duty is wanting and hence it comes that we haue so small increase after long labour in preaching for example and euill counsell do quench the graces of the spirit in mens hearts Thirdly hereby wee must learne to haue speciall care against offences giuen by euill counsell or bad example For if it be the propertie of a false prophet to cast stumbling blocks before others then is it a dangerous thing to fall vpon them when they are laid before vs. While we liue in this world wee shall see many offences giuen but we must take heed we take them not And therfore Christ biddeth vs If thy foote offend thee or thine haâ—d cut it off or thine eye plucke it out Teaching vs to forgo the dearest thing that can be vnto vs if it would cause vs to sin against God And to mooue vs hereto marke the Israelits example in the wildernesse while they kept a good conscience and obserued the true worship of God all Balaams curses were turned into blessings but when they fell to idolatrie fornication with the Moabitish women then was Gods wrath kindled against them and his plague seized vpon them Euen so if our church be carefull to keep it selfe to the true religion which by Gods mercie we enioy and withall haue care to keepe good conscience in becomming a penitent and obedient people vnto God then may Balaam curse and al our enemies spit their venome yet we shall be safe But if we let go true religion and good conscience and fall to sinne then we must looke for â—ods heauie iudgements to fall vpon vs in his wrath as they did vpon his owne people Fourthly when Balaams cursing would not preuaile then did faire women and banqueting draw them to idolatrie and fornication Hence we learne that temptations on the right hand that is taken from profits pleasures and preferments are most dangerous and soonest preuaile to draw men from God The state of a christian is like a besieged citie when a huge armie cannot sacke it than siluer and gold will open the gates hereof euen so when aduersitie cannot make a man to forsake religion good conscience then by prosperitie ease and pleasure hath the diuell stollen away his heart Those therefore that haue ease pleasures and outward blessings at will are in a farre more dangerous case in respect of sinne than others vnlesse God vouchsafe vnto them speciall grace to watch against these pleasing temptations This made godly Iob To sanctifie his children euerie day when they feasted each other at their houses lest any one then should haue blasphemed God in his hart Because he knew the diuell by pleasures would soonest wind himselfe into their hearts Lastly note the order of these sinnes First they are drawn to sit at idols feasts and then to commit adulterie where we see that these two sinnes goe together Spirituall adulterie that is idolatry and bodily adultery one is the plague punishment of the other that people which giue themselues to idolatrie will God giue vp to bodily adultery As this was true in these Israeliâ—s so is it to be seene among the Turkes and with the Papists at this day who maintaine fornication in tollerating stewes and further it much by their vow of single life wherewith they bind the conscience though the partie want the gift of continence Verse 15. Euen so hast thou them that maintaine the doctrine of the Nicholaitans which thing I haâ—e Here followeth the second part of the comparison where Christ setteth downe two things First what the Nicolaitans were Secondly how hee was affected towards them What they were is expressed in the first words Euen so which is a note of resemblance or comparison hauing reference to the words going before They may be thus described The Nicolaitans were a seâ—t in the church of Pergamus that maintained two damnable opinioÌ„s according to the doctrine of Balaam I. That it was lawfull to eate things offered to idols in the honor of idols sitting in the idols teÌ„ple Iâ— that fornication was no sin but that a man might lawfully commit it It may seeme strange that in the dayes of the Apostles there should bee men professing the name of Christ and yet hold such damnable opinions but the truth is hereby euident that there were such in this church And that we do not conceiue a liking of their wicked opinions let vs examine their reasons whereupon they might seeme to be grounded For the eating of things sacrificed to idols they would pleade thus I. From the doctrine of christian libertie Things indifferent may â—e lawfully vsed Things offered to idols are things indifferent as meates and drinkes and therfore may lawfully be vsed Ans. Meats and drinkes if they bee considered in themselues are things indifferent and may lawfully be vsed yea after they haue bene offered to idols if they be sold in the market they may bee lawfully bought and eaten in priuat houses if it be done without offence of the weake as Paul teacheth at large 1. Cor. 10.25.29 But if these meats be considered as they are offered to idols and eaten in the idols temple in the honor of idols they be vnlawfull And yet the Nicolaitans held this to be lawfull II. Reason An idoll is nothing 1. Cor. 8.4 and therefore we sinne not in eating meates offered vnto them Ans. An idoll is nothing that is in nature subsisting nothing
hearts As if he should say to Iesabell and her companie you may persuade your selues that because your sinnes are secret therefore my iudgements shall not befall you But know that I will discouer your secret sinnes and practises in such sort as all Churches shall know by experience in your persons that I do see and discerne the most hidden thoughts of mans heart First here obserue to whome Christ will discouer their sinnes not to all the world but to the Church of God All Churches shall know This Christ doth to terrifie Iesabell her companie For as it is an excellent honour to bee well esteemed of with the Churches of God so it is a most shamefull dishonour to bee in disgrace with the Churches of God For whatsoeuer is bound or loosed by the Churches on earth the same is bound or loosed in heauen And therefore by due proportion it followeth that they which are in disgrace with Godâ— Churches on earth are also in disgrace with God himselfe in heauen Hence wee are taught that howsoeuer we must so much as in vs lieth endeuour to approoue our selues to the whole world yet especially wee must labour to bee in good account with the Churches of God and the members thereof And on the contrarie we must continually auoide the doing of all such things as may iustly bring vs into disgrace with the Church of God Rom. 16.16 The Churches of Christ salute you And 1. Cor. 16.19 All the Churches of Asia salute you Where the Apostle meaneth not that they did by word of mouth send greetings vnto them But hereby hee would signifie that all Churches did approue of them which hee saith for their great comfort Paule receiued Timothie into the companie because the Churches gaue him a good report Act. 16.2.3 But what is the thing that all churches should know by experience in the persons of Iezabell and her company namely that Christ is he which doth indeed search the reynes and the hearts where by Reynes and hearts wee must vnderstand the same things namely the thoughts and affections of men for in that sence those words are often vsed in the old Testament Quest. How can reynes signifie the thoughts and affections seeing the thoughts are seated in the braine and the affections in the heart Answ. The reynes are put for the thoughts and affections not because they are seated therein but for that resemblance and analogie that is betweene them for as the reynes are seated in the most secret part of the bodie so the thoughts and affections are seated in the most secret place of the soule and the heart is pâ—rt for the thoughts and affections first because the affections are there seated secondly because the thoughts though they bee seated in the braine yet they haue their operation in the heart for ioyfull thoughts make a merry heart and fearefull thoughts an heauie heart Againe the word Search signifieth a most narrow search and such a one as goeth with finding thereby shewing that nothing is so secret in man but the Lord both can and doth see and discerne the same Hence wee learne first that Christ our Sauiour is not onely man but very God one person standing of two natures That Christ is man heretickes denie not but whether he be God or not there is the question Which yet is here euidently prooued for hee that hath in him the peculiar properties of God must needs be God But Christ hath in him the true properties of God he can search and discerne all the thoughts and all the affections of the hearts of all men which none can doe but God onely Ierem 17.9 10 The heart is deceitfull and wicked aboue all things who can know it I the Lord search the heâ—â—t and trie the reynes And therefore Christ is the true and very God Secondly hereby wee are taught to beware and take heed of hypocrisie in all things but especially in the matters of religion Hypocrisie is when a man seemes outwardly to be that which hee is not inwardly But wee must haue care to bee truly in heart that which we appeare to bee in life and profession wee must come as neere Christ in thought and affection as in our outward action for Christ knowes as well the whole estate of euerie mans reynes and heart as he doth their speeches and their deeds Thirdly hereby wee must learne to suspect our selues of our vnknowne sinnes as of our vnbeleefe and presumption not contenting our selues with an acknowledgement of our known sinnes for wee can neuer discerne the depth of our corrupt heart and yet God knoweth them This was Dauids practise after due examination of himselfe hee yet crieth Lord cleanse mee from my secret sinnes As if he should say I haue O Lord searched my heart but I cannot sufficiently know mine owne corruptions therefore doe thou O Lord helpe to cleanse mee from them If this were practised true religion would flourish for many iustifie themselues when as they know not what is in their hearts little considering what Christ sayth vnto the Pharisees You are they which iustifie your selues before men but Christ knoweth your hearts And I will giue to euery one of you according to your workes Here Christ proceedeth to remooue a second wicked conceit whereby they might seeme to illude Gods iudgements threatened For they might say Let the Lord send iudgments and plagues vpon vs yet wee shall escape them as Isay sayd of the wicked in his time That they made a league with death and hell and sayd the iudgements of God shall passe ouer them Isay. 28. verse 15. But to cut off this vaine conceit Christ threateneth a iust reward to euery one according to his workes As if hee should say You may sooth vp your selues and falsely thinke that you shall escape my iudgements but know it that I will reward euery one of you partly in this life and principally at the day of iudgement according to your workes bee they good or bad For these words must especially â—ee vnderstood of the day of iudgement as they are vsed 〈◊〉 2. â— and Reuel 2â— 12 Hence the Papists gather that men are saued not onely by faith in Christ but also by workes for thus they reason â—y that whereby wee must bee iudged must wee bee iustified and â—aâ—ed but by workes wee must bee iudged and therefore saued Answ The Proposition is false There is great difference betweene iustifying and iudging for iudging is onely the declaration of a man to bee iust but iustification is the making of a man iust And because the declaration of a man to bee iust is by workes therefore is iudgement by workes Againe it is not sayd I will giue to you for your works but according to your workes If he had sayd I will giue to euery one of you for your workes then it might haue seemed they had bin iustified by them But here Christ doth only make works an outward
This dutie especially concernes the preachers of the Gospell they should teach the truth and confute errours and beat downe false doctrines which poyson the truth of God If in the night season a man set vp a false light in the hauen all the ships that are comming to land are in danger of shipwrack So in Gods Church if the bright light of pure religion bee not set vp and aduaunced the soules of men are cast into the gulfe of hell The want of care in performing this dutie is the cause why God sends heresies and Apostacies into his Church Thus came in the Apostacie of Antichrist 2. Thess. 2.10 11 Because men loued not the truth And I no doubt will the Lord deale with vs if we haue not care to maintaine the puritie of Apostolicall doctrine Verse 26. For hee that ouercommeth and keepeth my workes vnto the end to him will I giue power ouer nations 27. And he shall rule them with a rod of yron and as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken 28. Euen as I receiued of my father so will I giue him the morning starre 29. Let him that hath an eare heare what the spirit sayth to the Churches Here is the conclusion of this Epistle which containeth two parts First a promise vers 26 27 28. Secondly a commaundement vers 29. In the promise note two things the parties to whom it is made and the benefit promised The parties to whom are euery one that ouercommeth whom Christ describeth by a propertie of syncere obedience To keepe his workes vnto the end Here then we haue a description of true obedience First the forme thereof consisteth in obseruing the workes of Christ which we must not vnderstand of doing them according to the rigor of the law but of a purpose and indeuour to keepe them For this is a priuiledge belonging to all that are in Christ that God accepteth their wils and indeuours of obedience for perfect obedience it selfe This we must know and hold for truth for many haue but little knowledge and thereupon are driuen to despaire yet they must know for their comfort that if they haue care to get more knowledge and make conscience to obey that which they know then they are keepers of the workes of Christ and shall haue the reward promised Secondly obedience is here described by the obiect or matter thereof to wit the workes of Christ that is all such workes as Christ hath ordained in his word and those whereof he is the author by his spirit in his members Hereby we learne first that he that will obey God in Christ Iesus must not thinke his owne thoughts speake his owne words nor do his owne deeds but he must thinke speake do that which Christ would haue him Secondly that no worke is or can bee acceptable to Christ but that which is ordained by him Isay complaineth of them that would teach the feare of God by mens commandements so that there is no true feare of God but that which is taught by Gods commaundements and the like may bee sayd of all other our obedience This rule ouerthroweth all other religions besides the true religion as of the Iewes Turkes and Papists For almost all their workes are of mens inuenting and were neuer ordained by Christ such are most points in poperie as saying of masse going on pilgrimage fastings vowing and praying to saints c. Thirdly whereas he â—aith my workes meaning not one or two but all his workes we learne that true obedience consisteth in doing all the workes of Christ For Christ and the diuel will neuer part stakes God must either haue all our workes or none And therefore Dauid saith I shall not be confounded because I haue respect vnto all thy commandements And good king Iosiaâ— is commâ—nded For that he turned to the Lord according to all the law of Moses This point must be learned of al For many thinke if they doe many good things with Herod all is well and for this cause many a man abhors couetousnesse and pride and yet is a contemner of the Gospell But true obedience must bee in all things Vnto the end Here is the fourth branch of true obedience it is constant That obedience which Christ will reward must not be for a day or a yeare but from time to time through the whole course of our life to the end of our dayes And thus wee must iudge of obedience not by some particular actions but by the whole tenour of a mans life Put case a man hath made conscience of all his wayes through the whole course of his life and yet in sicknesse by reason of the extremitie thereof is distracted and raueth blaspheming God and so dieth What must wee iudge of this man Surely we must not censure him by his behauiour in his sicknesse but consider what hath beene thâ—â—enour of his life if that haue beene vpright then his obedience was good and shall bee rewarded II. Point The benefits promised and they are two The first is power to rule verse 27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron And as the vessels of a potter shall they bee broken euen as I receiued of my father The second is the morning starre verse 28. where note by the way that these words Euen as I haue receiued of my father are referred amisse in our English translation to the giuing of the morning starre when as they properly belong to the former words in this sence As I haue receiued power ouer nation of my father so will I giue to him that ouercommeth power to rule with the rod of Iron c. Now come to the benefits First here is promised by Christ A power to rule ouer nations Christâ— power as he is mediator is very great and here it is set foorth by three arguments borrowed from the second Psalme verse 8.9 First by the largenesse of it iâ— reacheth not to one countrie alone but to all countries and to all men in all nations Secondly by the Soueraigntie of it Christs power is absolute in ruling and ouerruling And this his Soueraigntie consisteth in two things First in making lawes vnto the consciences of men so as if they be not kept hee may iustly condemne them and in ouerruling the wils of all men conforming them to his will will they nill they which is signified by this He shall rule rule them with a rod of iron Secondly in that hee hath this absolute power in himselfe to saue and to destroy and therefore is sayd to haue The keyes of heauen and hell Which is signified in the next words And as the vessell of a potter shall they be broken Thirdly by the fountaine of it Christ receiueth this power from his father Indeed as Christ is God he is equall with his father and hath this power of himselfe But as he is mediator his power is giuen him of his father Mat. 28.18 For the better
first a man must euery day bethinke him selfe of his ende and of the comming of Christ either in generall to all the world or particularly vnto him by death and in this consideration he must esteem and iudge of euery day as of the day of his death or the day of iudgement Secondly he must prepare himselfe against death against the day of iudgement euery day euē this present day as though hee should now die or meete Christ in iudgement and the next day do the like and so goe on continually to the day of his death And for our furtherance in this Christian watch we must be mindefull of temperance and sobrietie that we keepe mediocritie in the vse of the creatures of God and of the things of this life For when men plunge themselus either in the cares of this world or in earthly delights they quite forget both sinne and death and the day of Iudgement and thus wee see what Christ meaneth by watchfulnesse As Christ prescribeth this dutie vnto this Church so are we in the name of Christ to bee enioyned the same Christian watchfulnesse both against sinne and death and the day of Iudgement And to mooue vs hereto consider these reasons First wee are watchfull for the preseruation of the things of this life as if a towne be in danger of sacking or burning there is watch and ward kept continually and if a mans house bee in danger of robbing hee will sit vp night and day to saue his goods yea euery man is verie painfull and watchfull to heape vp to himselfe the things of this world Now what a shame is it that men should bee watchfull for temporall things and yet haue no care of their soule that must liue for euer Againe want of watchfulnesse is the forerunner of death and eternall destruction I. Thess. 5. vers 3. When men say peace and safetie then shall come vpon them sudden destruction When the rich man had enlarged his barnes vpon the encrease of his substance he promised to himselfe case and securitie saying Soule soule take thy rest c. but it was sayd vnto him Oh foole this night shal thy soule be taken from thee And the old world knew nothing till the flood came and destroyed them all Now if the want of watchfulnesse bee the forerunner of destruction how great a cause haue wee to watch The second dutie inioyned is to confirme the graces of God decaied in them Strengthen the thinges which remaine that are readie to die as if hee should say sundry be the graces which I haue bestowed on you but many are lost and gone and those which remain are about to perish vnlesse you confirme them therefore see nowe that you strengthen and repaire the same In this dutie Christ teacheth this church and vs an excellent lesson that whosoeuer hath receiued any gift of God must haue care to preserue it and to make the same gift strong in him by continuall increase If a man haue receiued knowledge faith and repentance or any other gift of grace he must not suffer the same to lye dead in him but stirre vp increase and confirme it dayly that hee may bee a perfect man in Christ. For the gifts which men haue are not their owne but Gods also who looketh to receiue his owne with aduantage And therefore men like good Stewards must so vse the gifts receiued that they may returne them to God with increase Thus Paul perswadeth Timothy stirre vp the gift of God that is in thee for else the receiuer is an vnfaithfull seruant and so shall be rewarded And for the better perfourmance of this dutie we must often read the word of God and meditate therein we must heare it often preached and with due reuerence and preparation receiue the sacrament And pray continually striuing earnestly against the corruptions that bee in vs and dayly stirring vp our heart to all good duties Thus did Dauid checke the corruption and deadnesse of his heart Why art thou so cast downe oh my soule and also stirre vp the same vnto all good duties saying I haue applyed my heart to fulfill thy statutes alway euen to the end Ps. 119.112 Hereby are reprooued the common sort of professors hearers of the word who stand at a stay and goe not forward in grace This is a great fault for as we haue receiued grace so we ought to stirre vp the same that we may confirme and increase it dayly Further Christ addeth Which are about to die where he answereth to a question that is mooued by sundry at this day namely whether graces that concerne saluation may be vtterly lost or not Christ answeareth by a distinction that some graces that pertaine to saluation may be lost quite and others may be decayed so as they are about to die For the graces of God that pertaine to saluation be of two sorts some be absolutely necessarie so as without them a man of yeares cannot be saued and such are faith and regeneration Others bee lesse necessary which sometime goe with faith but not alwaies such are A plentifull feeling of the fauour of God ioy in the holy Ghost and boldnesse in prayer these may be lost wholy for a time in the seruants of God Yea faith and regeneration themselues may decay greeuously and be readie to di◠as this text saith Secondly consider fayth and regeneration in themselus and they may be wholly lost for nothing in it selfe is vnchangeable but God The state of the elect Angels by nature is changeable for they stand by the power of God Thirdly these graces may perish and decay finally vnlesse thy bee confirmed Question Why then doe not the elect finally fall away after their calling Ans. Their standing cometh not from the constancie of grace or faith but from the promise of God made vnto them to their faith so Christ saith to Peter Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke that is vpon thy faith which thou hast professed will I build my temple and the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it that is though they may assault it and greeuously weaken it yet they shall neuer bee able finally to ouercome it Seing sundry graces of God may be lost and the most necessary graces greatly decay yea of themselues quite die wee that haue receiued from God any grace either of faith or repentance are hereby taught not to bee presumptuous or ouer confident in our selus but with feare and trembling worke out our saluation Phillip 2.13 The reason to enforce the former remedie is this For I haue not found thy workes perfect before God and therefore watch and confirme the decayed graces of God that be in thee In this reason Christ giueth thē vs to vnderstand that he maketh a search in his church of al the works that men doe in the same that he may accordingly reward them for not finding doth presuppose a search And so the
of God So that heere these fewe haue a promise to bee freed from all want and to liue with Christ in all glorie ioy and pleasure This benefite hath beene in effect further vrged in the former Chapter heere onely I will note one Doctrine namely That they which liue in the world amonge the wicked and doe not communicate with their sinnes shall not partake with them in their punishments for the bodie of this Church must haue Christ to come amongest them as a Theefe but the godly must walke with Christ in white in glorie Lot was freed from the destruction of the Sodomites because hee partaked not with them in their sinnes and amonge the Israelites Those that mourned for the sinnes of the people are marked in the fore-head that when Iudgements came vppon the wicked they might bee spared This point must bee remembred for by reason of longe peace and prosperitie among vs many sinnes abound as Ignorance Atheisme contempt of Religion and prophaning of the Lordes Sabbath with innumerable sinnes of the second table All which call for Iudgements from heauen and no doubt they will bee punished partly in this life and partly in the life to come vnlesse our people doe repent Those therefore that would not partake of the common Iudgements that are to come must nowe beware that they communicate not with the common sinnes that dâ—e abounde and see that they keepe faith and good conscience hauing their righteous and zealous hearts grieued for the abhominations among which they liue After the promise is adioyned the reason thereof For they are worthy Hence the Church of Roome doth conclude That a man by his workes may merite heauen because they bee worthie of reward A most blasphemous conclusion and a manifest abuse of the word of GOD. Gods children indeede are worthie life euerlasting but not by the merite of their works for then they should bee done according to the rigour of the Lawe but for the worthynesse of their person when as they stand righteous before GOD in Christ for when GOD will saue any man he giues Christ vnto that man truely and really so as hee may saye Christ is mine And with Christ GOD giues his spirite which worketh in his heart true sauing fayth whereby hee doth receiue Christ and so Christ and his righteousnesse belonges vnto that man reallye and by vertue thereof hee is worthie life euerlasting and this is the worthynesse which Christ meaneth in this place and not any worthynesse of their workes so that this doth helpe them nothing at all and yet it is the most probable place of Scripture to prooue and iustifie the Doctrine of mans merits Vers. 5. Hee that ouercommeth shall be cloathed in white array and I will not put out his name out of the Booke of life but I will confesse his name before my Father and before his Angels Vers. 6. Let him that hath an eare heare what the spirite sayth vnto the Churches Heere is the conclusion of this Epistle and it containeth two partes a promise and a commaundement The promise in the fift verse and the commaundement in the sixt In the promise note two thinges first the parties to whome it is made To him that ouercommeth whereof we haue spoken before Secondly the things promised to wit glorie and eternall happinesse which is expressed three wayes First thus hee shall bee cloathed in white array that is hee shall haue euerlasting life and happinesse so much is signified by white â—ayment as wee haue alreadie shewed Hence the Church of Rome conclude that a man may doe good workes respecting a reward Answere In some sort it is true for so it is recorded of Moses Hebr. 11.26 Hee had respect to the recompence of reward But yet the recompence of reward must not bee the principall end of our good works for cheefely wee must thereby intend to testifie our faith and our obedience vnto God and with that wee may haue respect to euerlasting life The second thing promised And I will not put out his name out of the booke of life For the vnderstanding of this two questions must bee scanned First what this booke of life is Secondly whether a man may bee blotted out of this Booke For the first this booke of life is nothing else but Gods predestination or eternall decree of Election whereby he hath chosen some men vnto saluation vpon his good pleasure And this is called a Booke because it is like vnto a Booke For as the Generall in a Campe hath the names of all his souldiours that fight vnder him in a Booke and as the Magistrate of a Towne hath the name of euerie free man and Denison inâ—owled so GOD in the booke of his Election hath the names of all that shal be saued For the second Question A man may bee written in the Booke of life two wayes either truely before God or in the iudgement of men onely Those whose names are truely before GOD written in this booke cannot be blotted out For Gods counsell touching the eternall state of euerie man is vnchangable This the goulden Chayne of Gods decree doth plainely shew For whome hee hath predestinate them he hath called and whome hee called them also hee iustified and whome hee iustified them hee also glorified Others there be that haue their names written in this Booke only in the iudgement of men and thus are all men written in the Booke of life that professe the Gospell of Christ in his Church for so charitie bindes vs to iudge of them And these may haue their names blotted out In this sence doth the Scripture often speake as when the Prophet wisheth That God would blot his enemies out of the Booke of life meaning Iudas principally his meaning is that it might bee made manifest his name was neuer written therein This then is the meaning of this promise that they who doe auoid the occasions of sin and haue care to keepe faith and good conscience vnto the end haue their names written in the booke of life and they shall neuer bee blotted out Hence I gather two things First that the number of the elect in respect of God is certaine for the names of those which are to bee saued bee as it were written in a booke and being once written in they remayne there for euer Some doe teach that all may bee saued if they will but this is a meere fancie of man for what should thâ—â—e need any booke of life if that were so Secondly hence I gather that this number can neither increase nor be diminished let men doe whaâ— they can If they had been of vs they would haue continued with vs. 1. Ioh. 2.19 All that thou hast giuen me haue I kept and none of them is lost Ioh. 17.12 Whereas a man may bee written in the booke of life to wit 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 Secondly considering that the number of the elect is certaine it must bee a motiue to cause vs to labour for some aâ—â—â—rance of election that wee maye truely say wee haue our names written in Gods booke But here some bad person will saye seeing the number of the Elect is vnchangeable I will liue as I list for if my name bee in the booke of GOD it shall neuer bee blotted out and if it bee not in it can neuer be added Ans. These men deceiue their owne soules for they that haue their names written in the booke of life shall liue 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 iustification and sanctification and it is impossible for him that shall be saued to liue alway in sin and therefore these men must rather labour to repent and beleeue and to get some signes of their Election that they may know that their names are written in the booke of life The third benefite is this I will confesse his name before my Father and before his Angels That is in the day of iudgement I will acknowledge and professe him to be mine one of mine Elect that keepeth faith and good conscience vnto the end I will take him from the companie of the wicked world and set him on my right hand and aduance him to glory pronouncing vpon him the blessed voyce of absolution Come Thou blessed of my father Mat. 25.34 The end why this benefit is thus propounded is to draw this church to professe the name of Christ in this world for if they would professe Christ before men hee will acknowledge them for his owne at the last day This same reason here propounded must induce vs to make a true confession of Christ against the world all Christs enemies which to doe is a very hard matter and man of himself cannot stand out but yet the consideration of this that Christ will confesse him at the last day will be a notable motiue and means to inable him thereto If an earthly Prince should come to a man among a great company and call him by his name speaking kindly vnto him hee would esteeme it a great honour vnto him and for that he would not sticke to die in the Princes cause Oh then what honour is this that Christ Iesus will in the last day vouchsafe to all those that in this life doe sincerely confesse him and ouercome he will confesse them to bee his and receiue them to his owne glorie But on the contrary those that will not confesse him heere but disgrace him either by false doctrine or profanesse of life will Christ at the day of iudgement vtterly disgrace by denying them to be his and there pronounce vpon them the fearefull sentence of condemnation Goe ye cursed c. Which if we would then escape and also procure vnto vs the ioyfull voyce of absolution we must here labour to hold the truth of Christs doctrine also keep a good conscience vnto the end But if we only professe him in iudgement and not in the practise of a holy life surely Christ will professe that he knows vs not and then giue vs our portion with the diuell and his angels The commandement followeth vers 6. Let him c of which wee haue spoken Verse 7. And vnto the Angell of the Church which is of Philadelphia write These things saith he which is holy and true which hâ—th the key of Dauid which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth Here beginneth the sixt particular Epistle of our Sauiour Christ from this verse to the 14. And before it as to the rest is prefixed a speciall Commandement vnto Iohn whereby he is enioyned to write this Epistle vnto the Church of Philadelphia the end of which commandement is to warrant the calling of Iohn to write this Epistle but of this we haue spoken before The Epistle it selfe containeth three parts a Preface the matter of the Epistle and the Conclusion The Preface in this verse These things saith hee c. wherein is set downe in whose name this Epistle is sent namely in Christs where as in the former Epistles he is excellently described for the winning of more credite vnto this Epistle And that first by his properties Holynesse and truth Secondly by his kingly office in the words following For his properties First Christ is sayd to be holy Quest. How can Christ be said to be holy as he is man considering hee descended from Adam who câ—â—ueyed his sinne and the guilt thereof to all his posteritie The common answere is this That indeed Christ descended from Adam as hee is man but his substance was sanctified by the holy Ghost in the wombe of the Virgin and thereby hee was freed from Adams sinne This answere is true but not sufficient for men besides the corruption originall take from Adam the guiltinesse of that sinne which Adam committed Now sanctification taketh away the corruption of sin but not the guilt thereof therefore a more full answere is this That all which come of Adam by naturall generation doe receiue by that order which God set in nature at the creation saying increase multiply both the nature of Adam and the sin guilt thereof But God for the preuenting of this in the Incarnation of Christ ordained that Christ should not come of Adam by naturall generation but by a miraculous Conception of the holy Ghost whereby hee tooke the nature of man with the infirmities thereof without the sinne of mans nature or the the guiltinesse thereof And thus is Christ free from sinne as he is man Further Christ is holy two wayes In himselfe and in regard of his Church In himselfe hee is holy sundry wayes first in regard of his Godhead for his diuine nature is holinesse it selfe Secondly as hee is man for his man-hood was not only freed from all manner of sinne by reason of his miraculous conception but it was also inriched and filled with holinesse and that in greater measure than all men and Angels for he receiued the gifts of the holy Ghost without measure And againe as he is man Christ is holy in regard of his obedience and actions for liuing on earth he did actually as our suertie fulfill the Law for vs. Secondly Christ is holy in regard of his Church First because hee is the authour of that holynesse which is in euery member of his Church
counsell vnto his Church The principale counseller is Christ so he saith in the person of Wisedom Pro. 8.14 Counsell is mine And Isay saith To vs a Childe is borne and he shall call his name wonderfull COVNSELLER the mightie God the euerlasting Father the Prince of peace yea he is both King Counseller to his Church This office Christ challengeth to himselfe for these causes first because he aduiseth his Church touching the way whereby they must escape euerlasting death and come to eternall life Secondly because he teacheth them how they may practise euery busines so as it may please God Thirdly because hee teacheth them how they may in grieuous dangers and distresses find a good issue or else bee able with patience to beare them These things he worketh dayly in his Church not by extraordinary means but ordinarily by his word and spirit and therefore may iustly challenge this honour to bee called the Counseller of his Church From this office of Christ wee learne two things First to doe all the honour and reuerence we can vnto his Maiestie for he is our professed Counseller who imployes himselfe for the good of his Church Counsellers of the State and of the Law are highly honoured and respected of all sorts euen for their counsell in worldly matters though often it fayle how much more ought wee to honour Christ our heauenly Counseller whose counsell leadeth vnto glorie and is stable and sure for euer Looke how much his counsell excelleth theirs so much ought he to be honoured aboue them all Secondly in all distresses and grieuous temptations and dangers either of soule or body wee must take counsell and aduise from Christ Iesus for to this end doth hee reueale himselfe to bee a counseller that men in distresse comming to him by his aduise might bee comforted and eased When Moab Ammon and Mount Seir banded themselues against Iuda the people were in great distresse and danger but marke what good king Iehosophat did he betooke himselfe to the Lord his counseller saying Lord we know not what to doe but our eyes are towards thee 2. Chron. 20.12 that is direct thou vs in this danger for of our selues we know not how to escape This pratise ought to bee followed of all men especially in time of any danger such as these dayes are by reason of sinne The counsell of Wizards Sorcerers and Astrologians ought not to bee sought after but by prayer wee ought to humble our selues and call only and continually on this our onely true counseller II. Point The remedie it selfe which hath relation to the former Verse for there hee set downe the Miserie of this Church in three parts which were all great Miseries And heere hee so propoundeth his remedie that it is answerable to their Miserie in the seuerall parts thereof For first heere is gold to make them rich answerable to their pouertie Secondly raiment to hide their nakednesse Thirdly oyntment to take away their blindnesse For the first by gold according to the Analogie of the Scripture we are to vnderstand the graces of Gods spirit as true faith repentance the feare of God loue of God and the true loue of man 1. Pet. 1.7 Faith is compared to gold in the tryall thereof and so may all other gifts of the spirit be hereby vnderstood Secondly by gold wee are to vnderstand Christs merits yea Christ himselfe as the fountaine of all grace This gold is further said to be tryed by the fire that is most pure and precious gold purged from all drosse as fine as can be made by the art of man This is added to expresse the propertie of Gods graces and gifts namely that they are more precious vnto God then gold Yea than gold tryed by the fire as Peter saith By this euery person is taught how to beautifie themselues both in soule body It is the common blind opinion of the world that forraigne attyre and rich Iewels do adorne the body and indeede in some cases the body may bee adorned with pearles and Iewels but the right way to adorne any person indeed is to furnish the soule with these graces of the spirit which vnto God be more precious than fine gold Our bodyes and soules ought to be the dwelling places of the Holy Ghost therefore we must adorne them and make them fit for so worthy a Guest which must be done by the good graces of the spirit and not by strange and forraigne attyre which no good man could euer abide Secondly these graces haue a further effect than to beautifie and that is to make rich Heere then see the common folly yea the spirituall madnesse of men in the world who spend all their time wit and strength to furnish their houses with treasure to enrich their bodies and in the meane time leaue their soules vngarnished What a madnesse is this that men should neglect the true riches and follow after that which is nothing els but counterfeit copper Seeing therefore Gods graces bee the true treasure which fadeth not let vs seeke after them as Wisedome counselleth Pro. 8.10 11 receiue mine instruction and not siluer and knowledge rather than fine gold For wisedome is better then precious stones The second part of this remedie is a white garment that is Christ himselfe and his righteousnesse imputed So Paul saith All that are baptized into Christ haue put on Christ There Christ is made a garment whom euery one that beleeueth in him doth put on Againe the fruites of the spirit are a garment therefore we are commanded to put on tender mercie kindnesse humblenesse of minde meekenesse and long suffering Further Christ sheweth the end of this garment namely to couer the nakednesse of our soules lest the filthynesse thereof which we by our sins haue brought vpon vs doe appeare The third part of this remedie is anoynting with eye-salue where by eye-salue wee must vnderstand the spirit of Illumination and knowledge wrought in the mind by the Holy Ghost whereby men know themselues and their estate for as eye-salue sharpens the eyes and cleeres the sight where it was by some occasion dimned so doth Christ by the illumination of the spirit make a man know God in Christ and to discerne betweene good and euill and betweene things temporall and blessings eternall Thus wee haue the meaning of the words whereby wee may see that by all these three wee can vnderstand nothing else but Christ himselfe and his merits Now one and the same thing in Christ is signified by diuers tearmes to shew that there is in Christ the fulnesse of all grace and plentifull redemption yea store of supplyes for all our wants The Laodiceans were poore but Christ was their riches they were naked Christ was their garment and lastly they were blinde but Christ was their eye-salue So that what wants soeuer be in vs there is store of supply thereof in Christ. This must the more diligently be marked