The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Chapter 3
The third Chapiter.
THE TEXT.
1 And vvryte vntounto the Angel of the congregation of Sardis. 2. This sayeth he that hath the seuen spirites of God, 3. and the seuen starres. 4. I knovv thy vvorkes.
5. Thou hast a name that thou lyuest, and thou arte dead, 6. Wake, and strength the thinges vvhichwhich remayne, 7. that are ready to dye. 8. For I hauehave not found thy vvorks perfect before God. 9. Remember therefore hovve thou hast receyued and hearde, 10. and hold fast, and repent. 11. If thou shalt not vvatch, 12. I vvil come on thee as a theefe, 13. and thou shalt not knovve vvhat houre I vvill come vponupon thee. 14. Thou hast a fevv names in Sardis, 15. vvhichwhich hauehave not defyled their garmentes, 16. and they shall vvalke vvith me in vvhite, for they are vvorthie. 17. Hee that ouercommeth shall bee clothed in vvhyte aray, 18. and I vvill not put out his name out of the booke of lyfe, 19. and I vvill confesse his name before my father, and before his Angelles. 20. Let him that hath eares, heare, vvhat the spirit sayeth vntounto the cō gregations.
THE PARAPHRASE. 1
…Hou shalte also so shortly as may conuenyently be (sayeth the Lord to his peculyar seruaunt saint Iohn) take paynes by an Epistle to admonishe the watche man or Curate of the chosen congregation of Sardis,Iohn. 21. Apoc. 1. 1. Tim. 3. Sardis. 1. Cor. 1. Mat. 10. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Iohn. 1. 1. Pet. 1. Phil. 2. which though it bee of verie slender reputation before the eyes of the wyse, riche, and strong men of thys world, yet is it precious in the sight of God, for so muche as it was prysed, bought, & redéemed, by the greatest paiment yt euer was, euē by the precious bloud of ye vndefiled lambe and immaculate sonne of God Iesus Christ.Luc. 18. Mat. 20. Iohn. 19. Hebr. 9. Mar. 16. Rom. 1. 1. Pet. 4. Apoc. 1. Esai. 11.… Hee it was yt laboured, hungred, thursted, & faynted, accordyng to the weakenesse of ye humayne nature, & finally suffred blasphemies, curses, scornes, lyes, persecutions, & rebukes with ye most paynful death of his body at the latter, to deliuer hir, make hir attonement, and restore hir agayne to the fauour of God.
2 Fynde the meanes that she may know (sayth the Lord Iesus) yt this is to hir ye message of admonishment or warning from him, which hath in his power to distribute at his pleasure the seuen spirits of God, or the the vnyuersall gyftes of the holye ghost.
3 And hath also in his right hande ye vii. starres,Apoc. 1. Mat. 28. Luc. 14. Mar. 9. Apoc. 22. 2. Pet. 2. which are the byshoppes, or preachers of all congregacions, with full authoritie & power to hold them styll or to throw them forth, to glorifie them if they be faythfull ministers of his worde, or to damne thē for euer if they be deceiuable hipocrites, and for lucre prefer theyr owne croked inuencions.
4 Thou workest not so secretlye (saith yt Lord) but I know thy déedes and perceiue wher about thou goest.Exod. 2. 2. Reg. 12. Hebr. 4. For vntounto me all secretes are open, cléere & manifest. When thou thinkest I doe not perceue, than sée I thée most of all.
5 Thou hast a name of lyfe, an outward shew of vertue & of goodnesse,Zacha. 11. Math. 7. 1. Iohn. 4. Mat. 23. Act. 13. 1. Pet. 5. Iohn. 4. 2. Tim. 4. Esai. 55. & a shyning pretēce of much holinesse, yet art thou before God a dead rotten Idol, full of hipocrisie, and falsehood. Men thinke thée a godly creature, yet art thou nothing lesse.
6 Awake therefore quickly frō thy more then idle imaginaciōs & fickle sophismes, and take vntounto thée fayth, and spirit. Watch vponupon thy cure and sée to theyr profit.
7 Considre yt thy wayes in the outwarde letter hath made my people weake, faint, and féeble,Ephe. 6. Hebr. 1. Iacob. 1. Apoc. 18. & left them at the very poynt of death. Strengthen thē now a newe with yt which is effectual, strong, sure, lyuely, true, and necessary, which is the sincere veritie and faith, least thou peryshe with the wicked.
8 For though thou hast the godlie gifte of prophesie with the grace of vnderstanding and iudgement,1. Cor. 13. Luc. 8. Iude. 8. Esai 64. Rom 1. Num. 25. yet hauehave I founde thy workes vngodly, and thy doings vyle and abhominable before God my celestiall father. For thou haste bene inwardly corrupt with auaryce and ambition like as was Balaam the deceiptful Prophet and wicked soothsayer.
9 It becommeth the iudge to know afore what he shal iudge, which hath caused me to searche out thy carnall and myserable wayes.Iob. 10. 2. Cor. 6. Iacob. 2. Mat. 7. Psal. 18. Iacob. 1. Psal. 49. Call therfore vntounto thy remembraunce, howe thou by ye singular gift of God haste receyued his word, and heard his Gospel which is the kingdome of health, at the verie mouth of his Apostles.
10 And for so muche as thou haste not estemed it according to the worthinesse therof, nor yet bene thankfull vntounto God for such an heauenly gift, but rather swynishly troden it vnderunder thy féete, and currishly persecuted his faithfull seruauntes for it, hauehave remorse in thy conscience,Mat. 7. Luc. 13. and once agayne set sure hands vponupon it, embrace it, holde it fast, and faithfully beleue it, repēt, from the hart thy vngodly vsages past, and from hēcefoorth liue according vntounto it.
11 If thou wilt not doe so, taking of me this gentle warning,Mar. 1. Act. 16. Mat. 24. 1. Thes. 5. 2. Pet. 3. Apoc. 16. and watch as one vncertayne of the houre of death, liuing as thou wouldest dye by and by.
12 I shall (as doeth the théefe in the nyght) come vponupon thée vnlooked for,Luc. 21. Psal. 48. Mat. 25. Mar. 13. with death shall I distroy thée vnbewares, so shall hell and damnation swalow thée vp for euer.
13 And thou shalt neither know the day nor the houre, the tyme nor the mynute, yt I will thus fiercely come vponupon thée, & iustly suppresse thée accordyng to thy vngodly deseruings.
14 And in spight of thy cruell hart, yet are there a fewe new brethren, and louers of the truth in the citie of Sardis, though theyr number bée but small, which are so déere vntounto god, yt he hath regestred theyr names in the booke of lyfe.
15 These hath for no painted speach, glosing promisse,Luc. 13. Prou. 10. Luc. 12. Mat. 10. Dan. 12. 2. Pet. 3. Mat. 15. Gal. 4. Phil 2. Ezech. 3. suggestiō, nor threatning, ones soyled theyr garments wt thy dyrtie ceremonies, nor defyled theyr cōuersacion with thy beggerly tradytions. In the myddest of ye wicked and froward generacion, theyr hartes are towards me & my word.
16 Wherfore by promisse they shal walk with me in white,Apoc. 7. Psal. 31. their faults shal neuer be imputed vntounto thē, their sinnes shal be wyped cleane away, I wil cléere them & restore them to parpetual innocencie, & make them partakers with me in euerlasting felicitie & glory. For doubtlesse they are worthy, for my will forsaking theyr owne will,Iohn. 12 Luc. 10 Mat. 19 Hebr. 11 and leauinge the corrupt wayes of men to folow my sincere worde.
Mat. 10. Apoc. 14. 1. Cor 15. Deut. 25. Apoc 2…. Ephes. 1.17 He that after this sort ouercommeth perseuering in the faith therof to the latter ende of his lyfe shall be sure of these thrée benefits. He shall be clothed with me in white apparel made innocent and pure, incorruptible, impassible, and immortall.
18 I will in no wyse put his name out of the booke of lyfe, nor separate him from the predestinate number of them which shall be saued, but associate him with the rightuous▪
19 And besides all this I will earnestly witnesse hym, confesse hym,Luc. 1…. Mat. 10. Rom. 8. and allow him by name, before my heauenly father and all his company of Angelles, for one of myne, to hauehave the inheritaunce with mée.
20 Let him that hath eares in no case be dull or slacke in hearing,Mar. 4▪ Dan. 9. Eph…. 1▪ but diligently attende, and marke what the spirite of God doeth héere vtter before the congregations to theyr singular warning and comfort.
THE TEXT.
1. And vvryte vntounto the Angell of the congregacion of Philadelphia. 2. This sayeth he that is holie and true, 3. vvhichwhich hath the keye of Dauid, 4. vvhichwhich openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth & no man openeth. 5. I knovv thy vvorkes. 6. Beholde I hauehave set before thee an open dore, and no man can shut it. 7. For thou hast … little strength, & hast kept my word, 8. and hast not denyed my name. 9. Beholde I shall giuegive some of the congregation of Sathan, which call them selues Iewes, and are not, but doe lye. 10. Beholde I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feete, 11. and shall knowe that I hauehave loued thee. 12. Bicause thou hast kept the wordes of my pacyence, therefore will I keepe thee from the houre of temptacion, 13. which will come vponupon all the world, to tempte them that dwell vponupon the earth 14. Beholde I come shortlye. 15. Holde that vvhichwhich thou hast, that no man take away thy crovvne. 16. Hym that ouercommeth vvill I make a pyller in the temple of my God, 17. and he shall go no more out. 18. And I vvill vvryte vpō him, the name of my God, and the name of the citie of my God, nevve Hierusalem, 19. vvhichwhich commeth dovvne oute of heauen fro my God. 20. And I vvill vvrite vponupon him my nevv name. 21. Let him that hath eares heare, vvhat the spirite sayth vntounto the congregacions.
THE PARAPHRASE.
Iohn. 19. 2. Cor. 10.1 Moreouer, differ in no wyse my trustie discyple Iohn (sayth the Lord Iesus) by wryting to signifye or make mencion, to the tydings brynger, bishop,Act. 10. Philadelphia. Ephes. 5. 1. Iohn. 4. or ouerséer of the déerely beloued Churche of Phyladelphya, which as beséemeth a Christian congregation in this life, is neuer without brotherly charitie and louelove, but alwayes hath a swéete compassion vponupon the poore, the néedie,Esai. 58. Ezech. 18. Prou. 21. Mat. 5. Luc. 6. the symple, the desolate, the forsakē, the disdayned and myserable people of this world. Shée hath also in hir harte a wofull pittie, and a lamentable dolour, when shée séeth men wicked, vayne, blasphéemous, hatefull, beastly, ydle, couetous, supersticious, and full of other vngodlinesse.
2 Let this be knowne to hir first of all,Leuit. 20. 1. Reg. 2. Iohn. 14. Rom. 3. Esai. 22. Luc. 1. that these are the fauorable sayings of him which is holy of himself, and alone maketh other holy, which is only true and the veritie it selfe, without whō no truth can be had.
3 Which hath also in his hand and power, the keye of the house of Dauid, which is the faithfull kingdom or congregation of God.
4 Where as hée openeth to theIohn. 10. Math. 16. Iohn. 16. Sap. 14. faithful beleuers by the gospel preaching, no man can speare them out of the kingdom of God by no excommunicatiō nor cursse. Where as he doeth losen from the bandes of sinne by the holy Ghost, no man can bynde to dampnation by no interdictiō nor sentence, hauehave he neuer so great power giuen hym. And agayne, if hée shutteth vp the kingdome from the vnfaithfull hypocrites,Iob. 12. Mala. 2. Rom. 1. 2. Thes. 2. no man can admit them to it, by blessings, remissions, nor a thousand yeares of their pardon. If he seclude them from it, no man can able them to it agayne by no auctoritie nor power.
Mat. 6. Psal. 72. Esai. 26. Hebr. 11. Mat. 1….5 I know (sayth that Lord) thy dooings from the verie roote, and from whence thy workes doeth spring, euen from a sincere faith in my word, wherefore they are to my mynd and pleasure.
6 For so much therefore as I finde thée thus grounded in fayth, be thou certayne and sure of it, I hauehave sette before thée an open dore, I hauehave illumyned thy sences, and cleared thy vnderstandyng, to knowe the holye scriptures and perceyue the hyghe mysteries therin written,Luc. 24. Psal. 118. Mar. 4. Ephe. 1. Iohn. 16. so admittyng thée to my kingdome. And this dore can no man shut vp again. Neither shall the power of this world, nor yet the gates of hell bée able to preuayle against this opening.
7 And this hast thou of mée, partly for thy méekenesse.Mat. 16. Apoc. 12. Iacob. 4. Mat. 23. Apoc. 28. For where as the wicked doth séeme to them selues beautifull, strong, learned, rich, righteous, religious, and holie spirituall fathers, thou estéemest thy selfe but an abiecte of the worlde, wretched, weake, blynde, poore, sinfull, & a myserable dooer, as concernynge the fleshe.
8 But thou arte she that hath kept my sayings,Psal. 83. Mat. 5. Iohn. 14. Apoc. 2. Ephes. 5. Luc. 12. Act. 4. Iohn. …. and by such strength as I hauehave giuen thée, obserued also my lawes and commaundements. It is thou that hauehave stande by my trueth stedfastly, and not denyed my name in the time of troublous persecution. Wherefore thou canst in no wyse perish before mée.
Gala. 4. Apoc. 2. Apoc. 18. …. Thes. 4. Apoc. 2.9 And as concernyng the wicked, behold howe I shall order them. I shal not only set thée cléere from the filthie traditions of that false congregatiō or sinagoge of Sathan, but I will also take a certen from thēce of the best learned, conuerting them from their errours and giuing them vntounto thée. Which afore tyme called them selues Iewes or the chosen children of Abraham, and were not so in déed.Iohn. 8. Rom. 9. Gala. 4. Iohn. 14. They boasted them selues very much to be the anoynted Israelytes, the consecrate sonnes of promisse, and the holy spirituall people of God, lyke as the residue doth yet still to this houre, but they lyed full falslie. They were for that time false dissembling hypocrites,Mat. 7. Mar. 14. and cruell aduersaries to the trueth, as theyr companions are still.
10 Be sure that these will I so inwardly moue and effectuallye prouoke,Psal. 56. Rom. 11. Esai. 60. Apoc. 21. Ma…. 15. Iohn. 4. Act. 2. that they shall come vntounto thée, to be of thy congregacion. They shal gladly submitte them selues to thy doctryne, they shall worship God not in outward shadows with bondage, but in spirite and truth with lybertie. At thy féete, after thy holsome instructions and godly admonicions.
11 And where as they hauehave thought thée afore tyme of me to bée hated, when thou hast béene in persecutiō, they shall nowe well perceyue and know (my spirite speaking in thée, and such heauenly secrets comming from thée) that thou standest much in my louelove, & art greatly in my fauour.Psal. 70. Sapi. 5. Act. 2. Iohell. 2.
12 And for so muche as thou haste cōstantly holden and manfully stand by that word for the which I hauehave suffred much not only in mine own fleshe,Hier. 31. Iacob. 1. Iohn. 19. Luc. 23. 1. Cor. 12. Luc. 21. but also in thée and in other my seruauntes, for no aduersitie falling from it, I will preserue thée in the houre of temptation. Thou shalt for no violence decline from ye truth, thou shalt for no tormēt forsake the veritie. So mightie a stomake and so strong an hearte shall I giuegive thée for the time of thy temptations,Hier. 5. Apoc. 11. Psalm. 1. that thou shalt not be once moued.
13 For no doubte of it, thys fierce temptation and cruell handeling of the boystuous Antichrists,Mat. 12. 1. Iohn. 2. 2. Pet. 2. 2. Tim. 4. Mahomet standing in the way of sinners, and the Romish Pope sitting in the most pestilent seate of errours, will come vponupon all the world by execrable sects of false Prophets, lyars, hypocrytes, blasphemers and teachers of diuilish doctryne, to tempt and allure them, which dwell here vponupon earth, sometyme by flattering promotiōs,Act. 20. Iude 1. Rom. 3. …. Pet. 5. Apoc. 22. sometyme by threatnings and penalties, to renounce that veritie, and denye that word, to the vtter dampnation of their soules.
14 But in any wise take héede and watche in prayer,Iob. 14. Mat. 5. 1. Cor. 16. Luc. 6. for I come shortly as a righteous iudge giuing to euerie one according to their hartes inuencions. Consider the life but short in this world, & the rewarde great, if thou perseuere in thy Christen profession. Holde faste that godly fayth which thou hast taken, with hir holsome fruites.
15 Sticke sure to that heauenlye word which thou hast receyued, least thou falling from it loose the crowne prepared for thée.Iacob. 1. I hauehave done my parte.Iohn. 17. Rom. 8. 2. Pet. 2. Mat. 21. Rom. 8. I hauehave chosen thée to eternall lyfe, and promised thée, inheritaunce thereof without thy deseruinges, beware now least thou loose it by apostasie, and least an other take it from thée by doing the fruites thereof.
16 Desire my spirite to strengthen thée that thou mayest perseuere,Ephes. 9. Mat. 10. Act. 6. Hiere 1. Ephes. 2. and stand fast. For that faithful seruaunt and mightie souldier, which continueth in that veritie to the ende, will I set vp for a stronge pillar and sure butteras in the temple of my God, which is the church or faithfull congregacion of my heauēly father, prefigured by the temple of Salomon at Hierusalem.
17 And so strongly will I buyld him vponupon the harde rocke, that hée shall stande alwayes and neuermore bée remoued.3. Reg. …. Mar. 16. Mat. 7. Ephes. 2. Iohn. 15. 1. Cor. 3. Ecclesi. 3. Iohn. 20. No more shall hee be aforener nor a straunger, but a cytizen with the saintes, and of the houshold of God moste surely grounded vponupon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes.
18 And I shall wryte vponupon him to his singular commoditie, the name of my God and father almightie, and the name of the beautiful citie of my God also,Apoc. 21. called new Hierusalem, renued in the spirit. Euermore shal he be called a seruaunt of the Lord,Rom. 1. Math. 25. Iohn. 15. …. Cor. 6. Ephe. 2. Iacob. 1. Tit. 3. Iohn. 3. Rom. 8. an Apostle or witnesse of God, a lambe of Christes folde, a shéepe of his pasture, a braunch of his vyne, a member of his church, and impe of hys kingdome, a citizen of heauen, and an inheritour of euerlasting lyfe.
19 And all this commeth not from beneth, it riseth not of his good workes, merites, nor deseruings, but it commeth out of heauē from my god. It is only his goodnesse, grace, lyberalitie, forgiuenesse, pittie, & merciemercy.
20 I will also garnish him, & beautifie him with my newe name. Hée shall euermore for hys faythes sake be called the sonne of God, and ryse at the latter day in full glorie incorruptible, immortal and cleere, in perpetuall peace and concord.
21 He that hath by the gifte of God an eare,Iohn. 1. 1. Cor. 15. Apoc. 2…. Mar. 4. Apoc. 2. Rom. 8. let him consider wherefore he hath it, and apply it to the right vse, discréetly waying what the holye Ghosts mynde is to the christian congregations in these heauēly premonishments.
THE TEXT.
1 And vntounto the Angell of the congregation, vvhichwhich is in Laodicia, vvrite. 2. This saith Amen, the faithful and true vvitnesse, 3. the beginning of the creatures of God. 4. I knovv thy vvorkes, that thou art neyther cold nor hote. 5. I vvould thou vvere colde or hote. 6. But bicause thou arte betvveene both, and neyther colde nor hote, 7. I vvill spevve thee out of my mouthe. 8. Bycause thou sayest thou arte rych and increased vvith goodes, and hast neede of nothing, and knovvest not hovv thou arte vvretched and myserable, poore, blynd, and naked. 10. I counsell thee to buye of mee gold tryed in the fyre, 11. that thou mayst be rich, and vvhyte raiment, that thou maiest be clothed, 12. that thy filthie nakednesse doe not appeare. 13. Anoynt thine eyes vvith eye salue, 14. that thou maist see.
THE PARAPHRASE.
1 And now laste of all my deare friend Iohn (sayeth the Lord Iesus) forget not to admonish by the hande writing also,Iohn. 19. 2. Thes. 2. Laodicia ciuitas Asie Rom. 4. Mat. 6. Luc. 11. Esai. 1. the elder of the Christen congregation which is in Laodicia, a notable Citie of the Asianes, which pretendeth to be a iust people or a companie to whom fayth is rekened for righteousnesse, and are nothing lesse. In the sight of men they appeare good, and their works séeme glorious, yet are they before God no sincere Christians, but dissemblyng hypocrites in déede.
2 Cause them to knowe certainely that this is the charytable warnyng of him,1. Tim. 2. Psal. 144. Iohn. 14. Apoc. 19. Apoc. 21. Eccle. 1. Iohn. 1. Iacob. 1. Phil. 2. which coueteth all things to be well, perfecte and good, and is in verie déede a witnesse faithfull and true, yea, the eternaall veritie it self, for that they shoulde giuegive the more creadite to his sayings.
3 Moreouer hee is the oryginall beginning, not only of the creatures for so much as hee was that worde by whome God created all thinges in the beginnyng, but also of the creatures of God, for so much as he becommyng fleshe in this latter age restored them agayne to the peace and fauour of God, for y• they should euermore séeke vntounto hym in theyr néede as to the verie fountayne or well spring of all goodnesse.
4 Thy workes are euidently open before me (sayth that Lorde) and I know them in their kynd.Mat. 11. Iohn. 4. Hebr. 4. Prou. 24. 2. Pet. 2. Gala. 3. Rom. 2. 1. Cor. 13. I sée thou arte neyther cold nor hote. Thou art neyther a full infydell, nor a full beléeuer, neyther a perfecte pagane, nor a perfect Christian. Thou arte neyther constant in the faith, nor yet all without faith. Outwardly thou arte hote, but within thou arte colde as yse. Inwardly thou abhorrest ye word of God, yet doest thou not outwardly condemne it.
5 I would thou were eyther colde or hote,Phil. 3. 1. Tim. 1. Gala. 2. Act. 20. Iude 1. 2. Pet. 2. Esai. 5. 1. Tim. 4▪ eyther a Christian or none at all, eyther a perfect louer of the veritie, or els a full hater of it, and not a dissembling hypocrite as thou arte, iudging euill good, and good euill, calling darkenesse light, and light darknesse, making sower swéete, & swéete sower, allowing fables and lyes, and contempning the wisdome of God. None is so farre from the kingdome of heauen as is a false Christian. Much sooner is he conuerted to the trueth that is all colde or all without fayth then he that vnderunder the colour and pretense of Gods lawes mayntayneth errours and lyes.
6 For so much therefore as I fynd thée betwéene both,Mat. 3. Luc. 3. 2. Tim. 4. Iohn. 16. Luc. 18. Gala. 4. and neyther of both, halfe colde, halfe hote, and neyther fully cold nor hot, neither faithfully giuen to Gods worde nor all whole without it, but a false glosing hypocrite.
7 I will begin to vomet thée as a morsell out of season,Apoc. 2. Mat 25. Rom. 1. and spewe thée out of my mouth as a thing out of kynde. Thou shalte not be disgested. Neyther shall my worde allow thée, nor my promisse admitte thée to rest with Abraham Isaac,Iohn. 18. Mar. 8. Iohn. 12. Mar. 22. Mich 3. Luc. 9. Hebr. 6. and Iacob, in the kingdome of heauen. But thou shalt be throwne foorth into exteriour darknesse, where as shall be wéeping & gnashing of téeth. I will caste thée out, detest thée, and abhorre thée. For much worse are they that abuse or dispyse the gift of God,Luc. 18 Eccle. 7 Apoc. 18. then they which neuer receyued it.
8 Thou pratest very sore of thy ryches, thy merytes, good déedes, and deseruings. Thou boastest thy selfe much of thy increase in goodnesse by déeds of supererogation and workes more then néede. Yea, thou arte not ashamed to thinke thy selfe so greatly to abound in learnyng, wisedome,Math. 2… Luc. 11 Iohn. 2 Soph. … Apoc. 1… Amos. 5 Eccle. 1. rightuousnesse, and holinesse, that all hath néede of thée, and thou of none, sellyng to the wretched Idiotes of the world, thy masses, thy dyryges, thy fastings, thy memories, thy knéelings, thy crouchings, with other idle obseruations.
9 But thou remembrest not that thou arte wretched of thy self,Psal. 143. Prou. 14 Rom. 5. Ephe. 4 Apoc. 1…. & wicked of thyne owne nature. Thou considrest not y• thou art myserable and sinfull in thy lyfe, poore without vnderstāding & knowledge, feeble without the strength of Gods spirit, blynd without iudgement and fayth, and naked without veritie and all good Christen workes.
10 I charitably therfore admonish thée to remember thy selfe. I counsel thée also as one mynding thée good, to bye of me golde tryed in the fyre. Come vntounto me with faith, and aske in the feruentnesse of soule.Psal. 55. Mat. 7. Luc. 17. Iohn. 19. Psal. 18. Eccle. 23. Mala. 3. Esai. 52. Prou. 23. 1. Cor. 4. If thou be féeble harted, say: Lorde increase my fayth. Desire my heauenly word to thy comforte, with vnderstanding to perceiue it and know it. It is treasure much more precious then golde, it is sweetenesse more dulcet thē honie. And tryed it is moste pure and cleane by the holy Ghost. Thou shalt hauehave it without payment. Thy good harte shall only suffyse mée.
11 Diligently procure it that thou mayest be riche in fayth and righteousnesse, in ye merits of Iesus Christ, and in the fauour of God by them, and that thou mayest be cloathed in white rayment of innocencie & cleannesse,Apoc. 7. 2. Pet. 3. Rom. 12. not only before men, but also before God.
12 Be neuer without veritie, fayth, righteousnesse and charitie, with other giftes of the holy Ghost, least the filthie nakednesse of hypocrisie, and sin,Gala. 5. 2. Cor. 5. Apoc. 17. Esai. 64. 1. Pet. 1. Psal. 31. Rom. 8. for all thy paynted colours appeare to thy confusion. Let thyne owne dyrtie merites alone, & decke thée with the precious deseruings of the sonne of God, that thou mayest hauehave thy sinnes wyped away, cléerely forgiuen, couered, and neuer more imputed vntounto thée by him.
13 And to auoyde the blyndenesse, sée thou anoynt thine eyes, thy mind or affection, thy iudgement or knowledge, with the eye salue of clerenes which is Iesus Christ, the swéete smelling oyntment of health.
14 Consider yt he alone was borne for thée, and dyed for thée. And take him for thy only wisdome,Psal. 18. Iohn. 8. Cant. 1. Esai. 63. Act. 4. 1. Cor. 1. 1. Iohn. … ▪ satisfaction, holinesse, and redemption yt thou mayst hereafter sée. Let this precious lycour take from thine eyes all filthie corruptiō: and whatsoeuer thou shalt hereafter do in word or in déed, doe all in the name of that Lorde, gyuyng thankes vntounto God the father by him. For he is the salue that shall heale thée,Ephe. 1. Coloss. 3. Hiere. 17. and the lighte that shall cléere thée.
THE TEXT.
1 As many as I louelove, I rebuke and chasten, 2. Bee feruent therefore and repent. 3. Behold I stand at the doore and knock, 4. If any man heare my voice and open the doore, I vvill come in vntounto him, 5. and vvil suppe vvith him, and he vvith mee, 6. To him that ouercommeth vvill I graunt, to sit on my seate, 7. euen as I ouercame and hauehave sitten vvith my father on his seate, 8. Let hym that hath eares, heare vvhat the spirite sayeth vntounto the congregations.
THE PARAPHRASE.
Prou. …. Gene. 18. Hebre. 12. 1. Cor. 11. Esai. 5. Luc. 6. Rom. 1.1 So many as I louelove, I rebuke earnestly, least they shoulde perish with the wicked. And those that I fauour I chastē in this life, least they should be dampned for euer. Woe is ye man that hath of me here neither chastisement nor rebuke, but is left without restraynte, wallowyng in the concupiscence and desires of his fleshe. A great signe it is of the indignation of God, where as the other is an euident token of louelove.
2 From henceforth therfore be feruent in the trueth.Iacob. 1. Ephe. 4. Apoc. 2. Cant. 5. Rom. 8. Earnestly embrace it, kéepe it, and follow it. Abhorre thy olde superstitions, and repent from the harte that thou haste béene so longe neyther whotte nor colde.
3 Beholde I stande at the doore of thy harte as one ready to helpe thy weakenesse.2. Thes. 2. Psal. 106. And I knocke at ye portall of thy conscience as one yt would gladly comfort thée, I send forth my heauenlye worde to succoure thée, lighten thée, raise thée vp, & saue thée.
4 If any man with a glad harte wil heare my voyce, or the true preaching of my word,Iohn. 10. Mar. 16. Iohn. 14. Gala. …. Luc. …. and opē the doore of his fayth, thankefully to receyue it, I wil come in vntounto him, enduing with all spirituall delights, as rightuousnesse, peace, louelove, and ioy in the holy Ghost.
5 Yea to hym shall I make manyfest as to my friend the hidden misteryes of the scripture,Iohn. 15. Luc. 14. Math. 8. …. Cor. 2. and secret coū sels of my father. And he shall finallie suppe with me and with him in the eternall habitacle of God, where no harte can estéeme what hee hath prepared for them, that louelove him.
6 That man which through ye earnest zeale of Gods trueth distroyeth hypocrisie, and ouercommeth sin, wil I admit to reigne with mée in the kingdome of my father, and graunt him to sitte with me in the seate of euerlasting peace,1. Iohn. 5. Dani. 2. Apoc. 21. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Cor. …5. Rom. 8. as a déere member of myne owne body, declaring him a tryumphaunt conquerour in mée, ouer dampnation, hell, death, and the diuill, in a glorified nature.
Ephes. 1. Iohn. 12. Apoc. 21. Math. 13. Phil 3. Ephes. 1.7 Euen as my selfe was before, sitting with my celestiall father in the seate of his eternitie. And to hauehave with mée that health, that blessyng, that ioye, that victorie, that honour, power, and glorie, that I hauehave.
8 Let him that God hath giuē eare… vntounto, apply them to his mynde, and marke what the spirite hath héere spoken to the Christen cōgregatiōs, for therevpon resteth his lyfe, or his death, his saluacion or his dampnation.