A 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 . The second Edition reuised and enlarged after a more perfect copie , at the request of M. PERKINS executors , by THOMAS PIERSON , Preacher of Gods word . Hereunto is prefixed an Analysis of the Vision in these three Chapters : And a twofold Table added ; one of places of Scripture : the other of speciall points to bee obserued .

LONDON , Printed by Adam Jslip for Cuthbert Burbie , and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Swan . 1606.

IVST cause there was ( Right worshipfull ) as well in respect of the reuerend Author , whose rest is now in glory ; as also of the godly Reader , whose good herein claimes speciall stroke ; that some refining hand should recommend vnto the Church of God , a more perfect coppie of this godly Exposition , than the first edition hereof did affoord : and yet no cause I find , why your worthie children , who no doubt for the Authors sake , did more gratefully accept the former dedication , should by me be depriued of their right : Nay rather , as they in heart ( I am persuaded ) did highly honour the Author , for his double labor in Christs vineyard ; so do I reioyce , this recompence is returned for their loue , That with this worke , their memorie with posteritie shall long endure . And sith my paines herein yeelds me this right , to make choyce of some , to whom I also may commend the patronage hereof ; I presume to present the same vnto your Ladiship . If this bee any kindnesse on my behalfe , I confesse it is farre short of your desert , and of my desire : some others ( I know ) may challenge me herein , as vnmindfull of their loue ; yet because God may offer me opportunitie hereafter , to giue them good content this way , I will intreat their patience for this time , that I may ioyne the mother with the children , in this worke of loue , to affoord tuition to these godly labours of the dead . It fits you best ( good Madam ) in many respects , for neither will your children complaine of your admission into the society of their right , nor you esteeme the lesser hereof , because of their claime hereto by former possession . They are your owne , and you theirs ; this comes vnto you all , as vnto one , accounting your vnited loue for greater safetie : and looke what grace it finds by your protection , like grace it yeelds by many a good instruction . Salomon saith , a a Prou. 13.15 . Good vnderstanding maketh acceptable , ( meaning to such as feare God , for b b Prou. 1.22 . fooles hate knowledge ) how welcome then will this be vnto you , who c c Prou. 7.4 . haue sayd vnto Wisedom , thou art my sister , and do esteeme the words of her mouth , d d Ier. 15.16 . The ioy and reioycing of your heart ; sith herein you shall find on euery leafe , some pleasant fruit of the tree of life : a tast whereof I will here set before you , that you may iudge the better of the store . When the Disciples harts were full of greefe for Christs departure then at hand , Philip sayd vnto him in the name of all , e e Ioh. 14.8 . Shew vs the father and it sufficeth . Loe Chap. 1. ver. 4 ▪ here , behold and you shall see , not the father alone , but with the father , the spirit of grace ; and with them both the Vers. ● . Son of God , so liuely described to your view , that you may truly say of this knowledge ( God sanctifying the same vnto your soule ) a a Ioh. 17. ● . It is eternall life ▪ When Christ would harten his Disciples for the great worke of their ministerie , hee doth it by the promise of his presence , saying , b b Mat. 28 20. Be hold I am with you alway . The euidence and fruit whereof , you shall Vers. 1● . hereby so well perceiue , that hereupon I trust , both you and many moe , will learne to say with Dauid in temptation , c c Psal. 16.8 . I haue set the Lord before me alway ; for he is at my right hand , therefore I shall not slide : And with Ieremie in affliction , d d Ier. 20.11 . The Lord is with me like a mightie Gyant , therefore my persecutors shall be ouerthrowne , and shall not preuaile . What shall I say more ? It would be too long to speake of the dignitie of Christs Church and ministerie here handled at large : and to instance in particulars through the seuen Epistles to these seuen Churches of Asia : onely this , in the Preface of each Epistle learne what Christ is in himselfe , and to his Church ; In the Matter , behold the state of euery Church , and see what Christ approueth , and what his soule detesteth ; In the Conclusion , see his bountie towards his children , and the dutie of all to him againe . The handling of these things will much delight your Christian heart : for beside the e e 1. Cor. 2.4 . Plaine euidence of the spirit , in opening the text , which is best pleasing vnto God , and most profitable to his Church ( wherein this godly Author had a speciall grace ) the application is so fit and pertinent to our times , that I had welnigh sayd , He did foresee what we now behold ; and hath foretold , what we for our lukewarmenesse , and decay in loue , may iustly feare : f f 2. Tim. 1.7 . Consider what I say , and the Lord giue you vnderstanding in all things . Hold fast that which you haue , bee faithfull vnto death , and the Lord will giue you the crowne of life , g g Heb. 6.10 . For God is not vnrighteous , that he should forget your workes and labor of loue , which you haue shewed towards his name , in that you haue ministred vnto the saints , and yet do minister . Now the God of hope , h h Rom 15.13 . fill you with all ioy and peace in beleeuing , and increase your ioy by the constant i i 2. Ioh. 4. walking of your children in the truth : Yea the same Lord , k k 2. Co● 9. ● . make all grace so to abound towards you all , that alwayes hauing all sufficiencie in all things , you may abound in euery good worke , l l Philip. 1.11 . which is by Iesus Christ vnto the praise and glorie of God ; vnto whose gracious protection both now and euer , I humbly commend your Ladiship , with your godly familie .

It pleased Christ , who is called in this Reuelation , a a 1. Reu. cap. 15. that faithfull witnesse , that first begotten of the dead , b b V●rs . 8. that Prince of the kings of the earth , c c Vers. 18. Alpha and Omega , the first and last , d d Ve●s . 16. he that hath the keyes of hell and of death , e e Vers. 14. which hath that sharpe sword , f f Vers. 15. his eyes like fire , g g Chap 2.1 . his feet like brasse , h h Chap. 3.1 . the seuen Spirits of God , the seuen Starres in his hand , i i Ve●s . 7. the key of Dauid , who is called here k k Vers. 14. Amen , the beginning of the creatures of God ; and in Daniel , hee that l l Dan. ● . 22 . reuealeth secrets , it pleased this Christ to reueale secrets to Iohn . Not by dreame as to m m Gen. 28. Iacob , or apparition , as to n n Exod. 3. Moses , or by voice as o o Gen. 3 to Adam ; but partly by vision , and partly by voice , as he did when he turned p p Acts 9. Saule into Paule . This Iohn was Legatus à Latere , that embassadour who leaned on his Lords breast . He writeth Christs historie , there he sheweth his loue to Christ : hee writeth the Churches historie , 〈◊〉 Gospell . 〈◊〉 Reuelation there Christ sheweth his loue to him : especially in this , that he will doe nothing , which he doth not reueale to his q q Amos 3 7. seruant this Prophet . For the Church in his time , wee may see how it stood , in the three first Chapters : and what condition it should haue for the time to come , it is plainely set downe in the rest of this booke . The co●te●ts of the whole Reuelation . If we respect the generall estate of the Church , after Iohn had described the authors of this Reuelation , which are God the Father , chap. 4. and Christ his Sonne , chap. 5. hee commeth to the workes of God , which are predictions , chap. 6. obsignations , chap. 7. indignations , chap. 8 , 9. Predictions of things to come , obsignations of such as must be saued , and indignation on things to be destroyed . And for the more particular estate of the Church , hauing ( chap. 10. ) shewed his warrant to write , he commeth to her actions : first , in her Prophets : secondly , in her bodie . In her Prophets , their fighting , falling , rising , chap. 11. In her bodie , comparing her to a woman clothed with the Sunne , chap. 12. and describing her by her combats , conquests , triumphs : her combats defensiue , chap. 13. and offensiue in Christ , by words , chap. 14. threatnings , chap. 15. and iudgements , chap. 16. her victories gotten against that r r The Church of Rome . whore , chap. 17. and 18. the s s The Romane Emp●re . Beast , chap. 19. and the t t The d●●●ll . Dragon , chap. 20. And all that glorie which shee shall haue in the kingdome of God , is vnder the type of Ierusalem most comfortably set downe , chap. 21.22 .

The things in this booke were ( I grant ) very darke to them that liued in the dayes of Iohn , as the Prophecie of Daniel was to them who liued in the time of Daniel . But as that Prophecie being fulfilled , wee can now tell what was foretold in it : so many things being fulfilled which were foretold in this booke , we may easily see what is meant by it : and the posteritie to come shall better vnderstand this booke than wee doe , because it may bee all things are not yet fulfilled . Neither is this booke like the cities of the u u Num. 13. Anakims , or the w w Gen. 3. tree of knowledge which may not be reached to : for x x Reuel. 1.3 . blessed is hee that readeth the words of this booke . But to come to these three Chapters written by Iohn surnamed the Diuine , and expounded by one a most worthie Diuine . The first Chapter is a Proeme or Preface to the booke : the two latter are Epistles dedicating this booke . The dedication is made to y y Reuel. 2.3 . seuen seuerall Churches , and by name to the Ministers which are called Angels . In the word of God Ministers haue many excellent titles giuen them , ( though now they are scarcely graced with titles ) they are called z z Gen. 20. Prophets , a a 1. Sam. 9. ● . Seers , b b 2 Pet. 1.13 . Remembrancers , c c Isa. 58.1 . Trumpets , d d Ex. 3.1 . Watchmen , e e Cor. 3. Husbandmen , f f Luk. 12.14 . Stewards , g g Prou. 9.4 . Maydens , h h Ezec. 47. Fishers , i i Ma●h. 23.24 . Leaders , k k 1. Pet 5.1 . Elders , l l Mar. 9.50 . Salt , m m Dan. 12.2 . Starres , n n 1. Cor. 11.10 . Angels , and o o Ezec 14.2 . Shepheards . Prophets to teach , Seers to foretell , Remembrancers to put in mind , Trumpets to sound , Watchmen to admonish , Husbandmen to plow vp , Stewards to distribute , Maidens to keepe pure the doctrine of truth , Fishers to catch men , Leaders to goe before , Elders to gouerne , Salt to season , Starres to giue light , Angels to declare , and Shepheards to feed : to feed ( I say ) soundly by doctrine , liberally by charitie , and religiously by life . By doctrine : for Sacerdos sine doctrina , est nauis sine velis , a Priest without knowledge , is a ship without sailes . By liberalitie : for a a Naz. in ora . de pauper . Nihil habet homo adeò diuinum quàm benefacere , Man is in nothing more like God , than in doing good . By life : for cuius vita despicitur , eius oratio contemnitur : his words are not esteemed , whose life is not approoued . And that it may be said of them as it was of Origen : Quale habuit verbum , talem habuit vitam : as his words were , so were his workes . They must not be barren like mount b b 2. Sam. 1.21 . Gilboah , but c c 1. Sa. 1.24 . weaned as Samuel was , before they be offered vnto the Lord They must be pure water if they will cleanse others , and more than whetstones , if they will sharpen others . They must bee in d d Gen. 19. integritie Abrahams , e e Num. 12.3 . in meekenesse Moses , f f Exod. 4.14 . in knowledge Arons , g g 2. Cor. 11.23 . in paines Paules , h h 1. Sam. 12. and in praying Samuels : and remember , that as Augustine sayd , Manus pauperum sunt gazophylacium Christi , The hands of the poore are the treasurie of Christ . I need not speake much of the dutie of a Minister : for euery one will teach him his dutie , that will not bee ranged within any dutie himselfe .

These Churches were then like i i 1. Chr. 12.14 . Dauids Worthies , excellent aboue all the Churches of the world : but because they lost their first k k Reuel. 2.4 . loue , l l Vers. 10. were not faithfull to the death , m m Vers. 14. maintained the doctrine of Balaam , n n Vers. 20. suffered women to teach , o o Cap. 3.1 . bare a name onely to liue , p p Vers. 8. had but a little strength , q q Vers. 16. were neither hote nor cold , and r r Cap. 2.21 . repented not as they should haue done , of all their sinnes , they are reprehended by Iohn , threatened by Christ , and the Candlesticke of the Gospell is now taken away from them . Iam seges est vbi Troia fuit : Now Mahomet rageth , where Messiah did raigne . Are they reprehended ? let vs hearken : are they threatened ? let vs feare : are they fallen ? let vs labour to continue . From Iohns reprehension we see , that ( as one said ) hereof our Elders haue complained , hereof doe we complaine , Seneca . and hereof they which liue after vs will complaine , that men waxe worse , and liue not according to the doctrine of Gods word . From Christs threatning we see , that God is mercifull , s s Deut. 20 10. who first offereth peace before he fight against vs , that we being forewarned , might be fore-armed . And by the wofull downefall of these seuen Churches , let t t 1. Cor. 10.12 . vs that stand take heed that we fall not : for if God spared not the u u 2. Pet. 2. old world who despised Noah , the Sodomites who vexed Lot , w w Mat. 23 . 3● . Ierusalem which abused the Prophets , x x Orosius sayth that these cities for 〈◊〉 cause , fell by an earthquake . Colossa , Hierapolis , and Laodicea , who reiected Paule , and these Asian Churches who did not grow in righteousnesse as they did in riches , how shall wee escape y y Heb. 2.3 . if we neglect so great saluation ? and for this cause these Sermons are most worthie to be considered of in this present age . O then let vs now z z Rom. 13. consider this season : a a Rom. 12.11 . redeeme the oportunitie , b b Heb. 3. & Psal. 95. not harden our hearts , but regard the time of our present visitation . As the day openeth and shutteth with the Sunne , so saluation openeth and shutteth with the Gospell . c c Heb. 3.13 . Whilest it is called to day let vs heare his voice : d d Prou 10 5. He that laboureth in Summer is the sonne of wisedome , but he that sleepeth in haruest is the sonne of confusion .

All things in the world doe take their time , the bird to build her neast , the husbandman to sow his seed , the mariner to goe to sea , the gardener to set his trees , the sicke patient to take physicke , the cooke to season meats , and the dresser of the vineyard to gather his fruit . It will bee too late to build in Summer , to sow in haruest , to go to sea when the ship is launched , to transplant trees when they are old , to take physicke when we are dying , to season meates when they are vnsauorie , and when winter is come to gather fruit . The a a Mat. 25.10 . fiue foolish virgines came too late , Diues b b Luk. 16. in hell repenteth too late , the time present is onely ours . Solum tempus presens est nostrum , Seneca . Is the figge-tree fruitlesse ? it shall heare that sentence , c c Luk. 13. Neuer fruit grow on thee any more . d d Eccl. 18.18 . Get thee then righteousnesse before thou come to iudgement : vse Physicke before thou be sicke , and whilest thou maiest yet sinne , shew thy conuersion , as the wise man exhorteth euery man . But alas , whereunto shall I liken this generation ? We are like the Ephesians , wee haue e e Apoc. 2. lost our first loue ; or the Laodiceans , we are f f Apoc. 3. neither hote nor cold : or the twilight , neither day nor night : or the Autumne , neither faire nor foule : or one sicke of an ague , one day well , another ill : or a man in a Lethargie , neither aliue nor dead : or Hermaphroditus , neither male nor female : or to those creatures called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which liue in water or on land : or the Lionesse , which the oftener shee breedeth , the fewer cubs she beareth : or the Mariner , who is onely good in a storme : or the Marigold , that shutteth and openeth with the Sunne : or the Mermaids , which are halfe flesh , halfe fish . I would to God wee were either hote or cold : that as the hotest regions bring foorth sweetest spices , so most zealous people might be most fruitfull in good workes : that as the Sunne in the heauen is swiftest at her setting , so the sonnes of God might bee best at their ending . But is it so ? no : the more wee are taught , the more ignorant are many ; and the older we are , the colder in religion . We haue indeed many of vs , as it was said of Aristogiton , Martem , or rather religionem in lingua , religion in tongue : but when triall is made of vs , euery g g Plutarch in Ph●cion . Phoc●on can espie our halting : and then with h h Theatrum Philos. lib. 5. cap. 30. Archilochus we thinke it better clypeum abiicere quàm interire , euen to cast off all religion , than to vndergoe the least disgrace for religion .

i i Treatise of Apostacie , cap. 2. The Moone desiring to be apparelled as the rest of the Planets , answer was made her , That her diuerse chaunges could admit no kind of habite : and we desiring to be attired with the robes of Christians , it is to bee feared , that since we tread k k Apoc. 12.1 . That is , all earthly vanities . not the Moon vnder our feet , we shal neuer be clothed as the Church was , with the l l Apoc. 12.1 . That is , Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse . Sunne . m m Ho● . 14.10 . Who is wise , and he shall vnderstand these things ; and prudent , and he shall know them . Let vs therefore labor to n n 1. Pet. 3.19 . grow in grace , to abound in knowledge , to be full of good works , and to ouercome all the vnderminers of our future saluation . Then shall we o o See Reu c. 2.23 eat of the tree of life , not be hurt of the second death , tast of the hidden Manna , haue power ouer nations , bee clothed in white , made pillars in Gods temple , and sit with Christ Iesus in the throne of his father . And though the p p 1. Sam. 22.7 . sonne of Ishai cannot make vs Captaines of thousands , yet that Sonne of Dauid will q q Gal. 3.27 . make vs the sonnes of God . That we may doe so , we must beleeue the Gospell , put on Christ Iesus , and bee renewed by repentance ; The first is necessarie , the second comely , the third profitable . To come to the first ; it is necessarie we should beleeue : for hee that r r Ioh. 3.18 . beleeueth not , is condemned alreadie , he is condemned in the counsell of God , in the ministery of the word , and in his owne conscience , & he shall be condemned in the day of iudgement ; for s s Ioh. 3.38 . the wrath of God abideth vpon him . The more I consider the fruits of faith , the more I see the necessitie of faith . t t Eph. 2. ● . Through it we are saued : u u Rom. 5.1 . by it we are iustified : w w Heb. 1.4 . in it we liue . We are saued from Sathan , iustified before God , & liue in the Church . In the Church ? nay , by it we liue in heauen : for x x Ioh. 3.16 . hee that beleeueth in the Sonne of God , hath euerlasting life . Faith is that which y y Act. 15.9 . purifieth the heart , maketh the whole man to z z Psal. 119.32 . run the wayes of Gods commaundements , a a Rom. 5.2 . giueth entrance to grace , b b Heb. 10.3 . accesse to God in prayer , c c Heb. 11. made the Elders well reported of , and each Christian to d d 2. Cor. 1.24 . stand to the profession of Christ . It is that e e Eph. 3.17 . hand by which wee must apprehend Christ : that f f Eph. 6.16 . shield by which wee resist all the fierie darts of the diuell : and that g g Mat. ● . 13 . meanes by which we do good to others . h h Gal. 3.7 . By faith we receiue the spirit : i i Rom. 8.1 . are members of Christ : k k Col. 3.12 . we are risen with him : l l Eph. 3.17 . he dwelleth in our hearts : m m Ioh. 6.35 . we feed on him continually : n n 1. Pet. 5.8 . resist Sathan : o o Ioh. 1.13 . are the children of God : p p Heb. 4.2 . and the word which we heare becommeth profitable . And what shall I say ? faith is of such a qualitie , that it q q Colos. 2.7 . vniteth vs to Christ , r r 2. Cor. 13.5 . Rom. 8. maketh vs certaine of our saluation , s s 1. Tim. 3.13 . bold in our profession , ministreth t t Phil. 3.28 . true ioy , u u Mat. 15.28 . giueth temporall blessings , w w Luk. 17.19 . sanctifieth our gifts , and maketh vs refuse the x x Heb. 11 24. pleasures of this present world . In a word , no sinne can condemne him who hath this true faith , and no vertue can saue him who wanteth it .

To come to the second , which is Christ , the obiect of faith . The most comely garment that euer we can weare , it is to be couered with the y y Rom. 13.13 . robes of Christs righteousnesse . z z Gen. 27.15 . Iacob was blessed by Esaus garments ; and we are blessed by Christs garments . What wee see through a greene glasse , seemeth all to be greene : and what God seeth through Christ it is all amiable . We must put on this apparell , not as the Church in the Canticles : a a Cant. 5.3 . How Christ is to be put on . I haue put off my clothes , how shall I put them on againe ? or as a gowne , that wee cast off when we come to our home : but we must so put him on , that we neuer put him off againe . Wee must put him on by imputation , imitation , infusion , and profession : by imputation of his righteousnesse , imitation of his vertues , infusion of his spirit , and profession of his name . Thus we must labour to get Christ : for what though a man could command the earth with Alexander , the b b Exod. 14. sea with Moses , the c c 2. King . 1. fire with Eliah , and the d d Ios. 10. Sunne with Iosuah ? What though he were as rich as e e 1. King . 4. Salomon , as wise as f f 2. Sam. 16.23 . Achitophel , as strong as g g Iud. 16. Sampson , as swift as h h 2. Sam. 18.19 . Ahimaaz , as beautifull as i i 2. Sam. 18. Absolon , as fortunate as k k Theatrum Philos. lib. 2. cap. 33. Metellus , and descended as l l Phi● . 3.8 . Paul was of the bloud royall of Princes , yet hauing not Christ hee hath nothing . Yea say a man had the abstinence of Aristydes , the innocencie of Phocion , the holinesse of Socrates , the almes deedes of Cimon , the moderation of Camillus , the honestie , iustice , and faithfulnesse of both Catoes , all these out of Christ , were but m m Augustine . splendida peccata , and to be esteemed as n n Phil. 3.10 . dung , in regard of Christ . For haue him and haue all things , want him and want all things : he is in , at , and after death aduantage . I come to the last , it is profitable to repent : for if we o o Ier. 4.1 . Reasons of repentance . turne to the Lord , he will turne to vs : and that wee may turne , consider his p p Rom 2. mercies in forgiuing , his q q Gen. 30.9 . benefits in giuing , his r r Rom. 2.5 . patience in forbearing , and his s s Isa. 26.9 . iudgements in punishing . t t Act. 17.30 . The word preached , u u 1. Pet. 4.3 . sinnes committed , and that w w Luk. 13.24 . few shall be saued : x x Eccl. 12.1 . the shortnesse of life , y y Psal. 90.12 . the vncertaintie of life , z z Heb. 9.26 . and the certaintie of death : a a 1. Cor. 2.9 . the ioyes of heauen , b b Mat. 25.46 . the torments of hell , the c c Luk. 15.10 . comfort of the elect , and that else wee can haue no d d Eccles. 41.1 . comfort in death : e e Ier. 7. pray wee cannot vnlesse wee repent , and f f Luk. 13 2. Act. 2.40 . perish wee shall vnlesse we repent : but blessed shall we be if we do repent . But manum de tabula Magister adest : this discourse following will teach vs these things : and it am I bold to present to your worships . Iohn sent his Reuelation to manie Churches ; and I present his Epistles to manie worthie personages : and to whom may I better present them then to you . Iohn was a Disciple full of loue , and you are brethren full of loue . The Preacher of these Lectures was well knowne to manie , but to none better than to many of you , especially to those who were in my time worthie members of that most worthie g g Christs colledge . Colledge with him . And the rather I do it , that times to come may reioyce in the Lord , that from one honourable roote haue issued so manie profitable branches to the Church . You are six brethren as pillars of your house , there were three sisters as fruitfull vines of the same : one is not , but is with the Lord , and her I knew a Ladie of admirable vertues : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ale●a●der . The Lady Wray . the other two are , and long may they be so . You are all brethren by nature of one venter , nation of one country , grace of one spirit , affection of one heart , fortune in great fauor , and of one hope by your holy behauiour . And a a 1. Thes. 4.9 . concerning brotherly loue , I need not to write vnto you : for you are taught of God to loue one another . Your b b Which had 〈…〉 sonne● . Plutarke . Scilurus at his death need not to teach you concord , by giuing to each of you a sheafe of arrowes , which cannot well bee broken whilst they are conioyned : for you by your amitie make your selues inuincible . If c c The●trum 〈◊〉 . pag 294. Chilo the Lacedemonian died for ioy to see one sonne crowned at Olympus , and d d ●ul . Gel. lib. ● 〈◊〉 . Diagoras Rhodius did the like , when his three children got the garland at a wrestling : and e e Gen. 45.28 . Iacob so reioyced to heare of his sonne Ioseph , to bee aduanced greatly in the kingdome of Aegypt : how might that happie father of yours reioyce , to see at one time , one son sitting as high Sheriffe of the shire , another preaching before the Iudges of Assize , and the third pleading as Councellor at the barre , and all the rest of great expectation in the kingdome ? Thus f f Pro. 10.1 . wise sons are a ioy to their parents , and all may g g Psal. 133.1 . behold how good and comely a thing it is for brethren to dwel together in vnitie . Aristotle could say , that parents were not blessed , vnlesse they were after their death blessed in their children . Lib. 10 〈◊〉 . And surely it is no small part of a fathers blessednesse , to see his children like to flourish when he is gone . Nay of all monuments that parents can leaue behind them , there is none ( as one saith ) like to a vertuous son . But all parents are not to be blessed . h h Genes. 4. Adams two sonnes could not agree in one field , i i Gen. 21.9 . Abrahams in one house , k k Gen. 25. ●●atrum gratia rar●● . Isaaks in one wombe , l l 2. Kin. 1. Dauids in one pallace , nor m m Luk. 12.13 . two brethren in the diuision of an inheritance . And though concord amongst brethren ( especially such as deuide the inheritance ) be very rare , yet do you , euen in this , most comfortably agree . You are not as Simeon & Leui , Romulus and Remus , Eteocles and Polynices , Atreus & Thyestes , Aeta and Perseus : but as Castor and Pollux , Dauid and Ionathan , Ioseph and Beniamin ; and ( as a true friend is described to be ) n n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . one soule in two bodies : It seemeth that as Agrippa the brother of Augustus was beholding to Salust for that one sentence , Small things increase by concord , but perish through discord : so you haue all learned the same lesson , as being persuaded , that as the members of a body being once dismembred , they cannot possibly be ioyned againe : so if naturall brethren be once vnnaturally disioyned , no glue will conioyne them fast againe . It were infinit to shew examples of brotherly loue and hatred , o o See French Academ pag. 542 , &c. and othe●s haue eased me of this paines . Now that good God , who hath brought you from one roote , placed you in one countrey , aduanced you to like credit , and giuen you one heart , giue you also one inheritance in the kingdome of heauen . Thus right worshipfull , I am bold to speake vnto you , and the world knoweth I speake the truth , and the Lord knoweth I desire not to flatter . Go on therefore I beseech you , continue in loue , bee setled in the truth , and labour to honour him who thus honoreth you . Be not caried away with the p p Lud●mur he 〈◊〉 bla●d a fallentis imag●●e mundi . shew of this world , but thinke religion the best nobilitie , and that as q q Prudentius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Prudentius sayd : Generosa Christi secta nobilitat viros , Cui quisquis seruit , ille verè est nobilis . He noble is that comes of Christ his race : Who serues this Lord , he surely is not base . And this made Theodosius more to thanke God , H●st Eccles. that he was a Christian than a king ; considering that hee must lose the one , hee could not lose the other . Now as to one of you I am bounden in parcicular , and by him , being a Minister , the despised ministerie is not a little graced : ●o for him I pray , M. Doctor Montagu . that hee may be an a a Gen. 20. Abraham to our Abimelech , a b b 2 Sam. 12. Nathan to our Dauid , a c c 2. Kin. 11. Iehoida to our Ioash , d d Ier. 38. an Ebedmelech to Ieremiah , an e e 2. King . 4.1 . Elisha to the widow of this Prophet deceased , a light in the Court , a trumpet in the Church , and that f f ●sther . 5.2 . Ahashuerosh may long hold out his golden Scepter vnto him : that by his meanes g g 〈◊〉 regis , deest regibus qu● verum dicat . great men may not want such as will tell them the truth : no h h Plu. in vit● Alex. reports , that Iupiters Priests called Alexander by the name of Iupiters sonne . earthly Alexander accounted a sonne of Iupiter , and that no man may be more respected than a good i i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . pag. 42. Pastor : and that he may euer remember that saying of wise Salomon : k k Prou. 22.11 . He that loueth purenesse of heart , for the grace of his lips the King shall be his friend . His Cyrus will not be spoken to verbis bissinis in silken words , to his Alexander he needeth not speake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , either sweet words or no words . For if one Antiochus might bee surnamed holy , and another good Prince called the Good King : much more may he , whose religious knowledge surpasseth all the Princes that haue beene of this nation : and whose humilitie is such , that hee will haue his sonne to remember , l l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . pag. 95. O dictum ver● regium . that hee differeth not in stuffe , but in vse from the rest of his people , and that by Gods ordinance . I am the bolder for that one to make choyce of all in the dedication of this booke : no man knew , loued , conuersed with , and respected this Author more than he . He resorted to him in his health , visited him in sicknesse , and preached a learned Sermon for him at his death . Concerning this author , as he sayd of Carthage , I had rather bee silent then say little , and his worthie labours doe speake enough for him , by name that his m m Problem● Theologicum . Posthume , dedicated to his excellent Maiestie , by n n Maister Samuel Ward , Fellow of Immanuel Colledge . an excellent Diuine . In a word therefore , whatsoeuer this man did , he desired to profit others by it : he thought ( as it is written o o Autor vit● B●r. l●● . 2. cap. 4. & 7. of Bernard in his life ) that hee was not his owne man , but deputed to the seruice of others . He was neuer idle , but as p p Hieron ad Marcellam . Hierome reporteth of Ambrose , and Bernard of himselfe , he did either reade , or meditate , or pray , or conferre , or counsel , or comfort , or write , or preach . And thus ( as the q q Aliis in●er●i●●s , meipsam consum● . Embleme is of a faithfull Teacher ) he , like a waxe candle , in giuing light to others , in a short time extinguished himselfe . Yet in this short time of his , what art was he not maister of ? what vertue was hee not endued with ? He was a complet Diuine , and hath his blessings in the Church , that no mans writings are read of all sorts , and in all countries with greater grace and profit than his . Hee was peaceable in the Church , patient of wrongs , and free from ambition . For as Ierome sayd of Nepotian , Aurum calcans , schedul●s consectabatur : hee regarded not his purse , but followed his booke , and as Bernard sayd , he liued in terra auri sine auro , in a kingdome of gold without gold . An excellent gift he had to define properly , diuide exactly , dispute subtilly , answere directly , speake pithily , and write iudicially : and how hee preached , if these Sermons doe giue a testimonie , what witnesse had they who often heard him themselues ? I haue published of his now two Discourses , and I onely did it , that these his labours might not perish : I haue no benefit by them , but exceeding great paines . And since I vnderstand that his other labours are in the hands of his friends , to make benefit for his children , I will ease my selfe of the like labour , and be a meanes that they may haue the benefit of the future impressions of this booke : the which , how faithfully I haue published , I appeale to the godly and indifferent Reader , and I hope no honest minded man will be hired to calumniate it . Thus as one desirous to be seruiceable in my calling , profitable to the Church , not forgetfull of my friend , and to testifie the happinesse of your house , which was in your fathers time , and is now ( as it is sayd of Aurelian the Emperours , ) Refertapi●s & Ecclesia Dei , replenished with the godly , and a Church of God , and withall to leaue a monument of my duty to you all , I haue as you see , published this exposition of seuen Epistles vnder your eight names , nothing doubting but it will bee as welcome to you , as by your countenance it may bee profitable to the Church . The God of heauen giue you all that blessing of blessings , Epist. ad Iulianum . which ( if Ierome say true ) few men haue , that you may transire à deliciis ad dilicias , go on from grace to grace , and be a long time happie in this life , and euer for happie in the life to come . London : Saint Martins in the fields , from my worshipfull friend Maister Oldisworths house , 2. Tim. 1 16. by which familie ( as Paul was by the house of Onesiphorus ) in the time of this late ( and I wish I may say ) the last visitation , I haue receiued no small refreshing .