William Perkins on Revelation 1:14

Verse 14. His head and haires were white as white wooll and as snow: and his eyes were as a flame of fire.

In the third place: Iohn here describeth Christ by the parts of his body. The whitenesse of his head & haires, signifieth the eternitie of Christ. For howsoeuer as hee is man; he had a beginning▪ yet in regard of his godhead he is eternall, and therefore is called, The antient of dayes, Dan. 9. and is sayd to haue beene in the beginning, Iohn. [illegible: 1 letter].1. that is, to haue had a beeing before all other things had their beginning.

In this resemblance of his eternitie, by head and haires as white as wooll and snow, hee giueth vs to vnderstand an honour and prerogatiue in the aged man, whereby he excelleth the yonger sort: to wit, the horenesse and whitenesse of his haire, for which cause in the word of God it is set forth by most worthie comparisons: as by the white Almond tree, Eccles. 12.5. And by a glorious siluer crowne, not made by man, but by the hand of God set vpon his head. And herein doth this excellencie of the aged consist; that they beare the image of Gods eternity before all that are of yonger yeares. From whence all yonger men are taught to reuerence the aged by [illegible: 1 letter]ev. 19.23. rising vp before them: acknowledging thereby the preheminence of the hoare head.

Againe, hereby the aged are taught to carrie themselues answerable to their estate and condition, they ought to excell all their yongers in knowledge, wisdome, and experience of good things, 1. Iohn. 2.13. I write vnto you fathers (that is aged men, who by reason of yeares are fathers) because you haue knowne him who is euerlasting.

Also they must be holy, as hee that is eternall is holy, whose eternitie they shew forth: And therefore Salomon saith The white head is a crowne of glorie when it is found in the way of righteousnesse: that is, in one that walketh in the way of righteousnesse, Prover. 16.31. for his white haire signifieth, that hee hath spent much time and care about good duties. But it is no ornament vnlesse it be ioyned with holinesse of heart and life. Which I say because many yonger men, excell the aged in the knowledge of God, & other vertues: which is a shame to the gray headed, for as they go before others in yeares, so they ought to excell in pietie, knowledge, and all vertues: Ignorance and loosenesse of life is a foule vice in any; but in him that bares the siluer crowne it is intollerable. For how can they looke for reuerence from the yonger, when as they bee farre inferior to them in gifts of grace? It is no excuse for old men to say, Their wits are not so ripe▪ as young mens are; and their memorie failes them. Their aged ignorance argueth that they spent the time of their youth loosly and prophanely: For they that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall bring forth fruit in their age, Psal. 92.13, 14. A plant is young, and therefore he that would weare the crowne of glory in his age, must receiue the sap of grace in the house of God while hee is young.

And his eyes were as a flame of fire, here Iohn proceedeth in describing the parts of Christs bodie. In the handling whereof it is hard for any to set downe certainely, what the holy Ghost intendeth in euery particular. It shall be sufficient for vs to follow that interpretation which is most probable and best agreeing with the tenor of Gods word.

In this description of Christs eyes, are signified to vs two things: first, that Christ the mediator and redeemer of his church, is of most quicke, sharpe, and piercing sight, so as hee beholdeth all things that are done vpon the earth: yea, he seeth into the very secret thoughts of mens hearts, thither can the eyes of his godhead more easily pierce, than fire can doe into the substance of bodily things. And there is great necessitie it should be so, for being head and gouernour of his church, he must know all the parts and members thereof: he must behold their seuerall estates, and see the malice and practises of Sathan, and other enemies against them.

Now in that Christ our Sauiour hath this piercing sight, we are taught to haue care, not onely of our words and actions, but also of the very secret thoughts, purposes, and desires of our hearts: for the piercing eye of Christ seeth them all, therefore we must be sure they bee well ordered. In the courts of men, thoughts and inward motions beare no action, but with God it is otherwise. Christ Iesus hath a fierie eye, that seeth into all our thoughts, and there hee holdeth a court of iudgement. Therefore we must keep a godly watch ouer all the imaginations of our hearts, that they may be approued of Christ, least for them wee bee iudged and condemned.

Secondly, this teacheth vs in matters of religion to bee that indeed which we seeme to bee in profession. For though wee may deceiue men, which know not our hearts, yet we cannot deceiue Christ: for by his fierie eyes he seeth whatsoeuer is in vs. And yet the common practise of the world is here to be reproued, who tearmeth them hypocrits that take vpon them any profession for the name and religion of Christ. But herein men goe beyond their calling: it belongeth onely vnto the piercing eye of Christ, to iudge and looke at mens hypocrisie of heart.

Secondly, by these fierie eyes is signified, That Christ is full of anger, wrath and iudgement against all sinners, readie to take vengeance on all those that will not yeeld subiection vnto him by turning from their sinnes, and beleeuing in him: for Christ as he is a Sauiour, so is he a Iudge; and therefore in the parable he sayth: Those mine enemies that would not that I should rule ouer them, Luke 19.27. bring them hither, and stay them before mee. The consideration hereof serueth to awake many an one out of the sleepe of sinne. This age is miserable, if wee regard the practise of faith and repentance which God requireth; for men liue in ignorance without knowledge, they goe on in loosenesse of life without reformation; which is both scandalous vnto men, and odious vnto God: not one of an hundred turneth to God at the preaching of his word, renewing his wayes by dayly repentance. But vnto many it is meat and drinke to go on in those sinnes wherein their harts delight. But let these men consider, that Christ is a righteous Iudge, beholding his enemies with fierce and fierie eyes, alwayes readie [illegible: 1 word] take vengeance on them that doe no[illegible: 1 letter] repent: and therefore they must in time consider their estate, for if they perseuere in their euill wayes as they haue begun, the truth is, hee still beholdeth them with his fierie eyes, and though in his great patience hee spare them for a time, yet at length he will put in practise the execution of his iudgement, and slay them for enemies: as it is in the parable, Luke 19 27. Let them remember what a fearefull thing it is to fall into the hands of God, if his wrath bee kindled neuer so little, Psal. [illegible: 1 letter].12.