William Perkins on Revelation 1:19

Vers. 19. Write the things which thou hast seene, and the things which are, and the things which shall come hereafter.

Here S. Iohn propoundeth a second action of Christ. For hauing confirmed Iohn against his great feare, hee giueth him a commaundement to write the things which he had seene, &c. This commaundement was giuen to Iohn in the eleuenth verse, and is here againe repeated for these causes: First, that Iohn might see the special care of Christ ouer his church that he still continueth a prouident head thereof for their good estate after his ascention. Secondly, that Gods church in all ages may vnderstand, that it is necessarie men should know the estate of the church to bee subiect vnto troubles, that thereby they may better arm themselues against the euils to come. Thirdly, that Iohn might be fully assured of his calling, to write and publish this booke. Fourthly, that Gods church in all ages might be out of doubt, that this booke is no deuice of man, but a booke of God, and part of holy Scripture reuealed from Christ to Iohn for the good of his church. If it be sayd: though Christ did faithfully reueale his will, yet Iohn might erre in publishing it. Answ. As Christ deliuered this to Iohn, so hee receiued and published it faithfully, without all fault either in matter or manner: for we must make a difference betweene the Prophets and Apostles, and all other teachers. As the Prophets in former times, so the Apostles in the New Testament were called immediately by Christ, and had such speciall assistance of Gods spirit, that they could not erre, when they propounded by preaching or writing any doctrine of Christ vnto the church of God: this appeareth by the promises of Christ made vnto them, Luk. 10.16. He which heareth you, heareth me, and be which refuseth you, refuseth me: and [illegible: 1 letter]e which refuseth me, refuseth him that sent me. Againe, Matth. 10.20. It is not you which speake, but the spirit of your father speaking in you. Ioh. 14.26, hee promiseth to send his spirit to be their comforter, which shall teach them all things: yea, to lead them into all truth, Iohn 16.1[illegible: 1 letter]. Which promise some apply [illegible: 1 word] al Gods ministers; but if we marke the circumstances therof, we shall see that properly it agreeth to the Apostles: for though in others the certaintie hereof cannot be affirmed, yet in them it may: for which cause, in the counsell at Ierusalem thus they write vnto the churches: It seemed good to Act 15 28. the holy ghost and to vs; as being assured of the certaine direction of the holy ghost: which no ministers euer since could say, being subiect to errour both in speaking and writing. This distinction must bee held for the certainetie of our faith in the points of Religion, and for our assurance of the faithfull penning and publishing of this booke. And thus much of the causes of this repetition.

In the words of this commandement is contained the diuision of this whole booke, Write the words which thou hast seene▪ that is, set downe what I haue shewed thee in this vision. And which are ▪ that is, all things which I reueale vnto thee touching the present estate of the church. And which are to come hereafter: that is, those things which concerne the future estate of the church to the end of the world, as I will reueale it vnto thee. Thus then is the whole booke distinguished. I. It containeth things touching the present estate of the church in Iohns da[illegible: 1 letter]es. II. It entreateth of things which concerne the future estate thereof from Iohns time to the end of the world.

The Vse. Hence obserue the lawfulnesse of the art of Logicke: for diuisions be lawfull (else the holy ghost would not here haue vsed them) and so by proportion are other arguments of reasoning: and therefore that art which giueth rules of direction for the right vse of these arguments is lawfull and good. Those men then are farre deceiued, who account the arts of Logicke and Rhetoricke to be friuolous and vnlawfull, and in so saying, they condemne the practise of the holy ghost in this place.