William Perkins on Revelation 1:2

Vers. 2. Which bare record of the word of God, and of the testimonie of Iesus Christ, and of the th[illegible: 1 letter]ngs that he saw.

Here is the second argument whereby Iohn describeth himselfe; namely, by this action, or effect, in bearing record to the word of God, for partly by writing the gospell, and partly by preaching, hee bare witnesse, and testified that the word of God was true. And because the word of God hath diuerse parts, the Law and the Gospell; he shews in the next words, that hee meanes especially the Gospell, adding, and of the testimonie of Iesus Christ, that is, of those things which Iesus sayd and did. And that no man might cal into question the truth of his testimonie, hee professeth himselfe to haue bene an eye witnesse of all those things whereof he bare record, saying, and of all those things which he saw. And here he alledgeth his testimonie to the Gospell, to proue himselfe a faithfull pen-man of this booke, that so it might haue more reuerence: for hee which was faithfull in penning the Gospell of Christ, the same also is faithfull in penning this Prophesie of the Church.

In this testimonie we may obserue, that the doctrine of Gods word is an infallible marke whereby to know the true Prophet of God, and also to distinguish h[illegible: 1 letter]m from all false prophets. God foretold his people, that false Prophets should come among them for their triall, Deut. 13. But how shall they discerne them? surely by their doctrine: for though they shew wonders, yet if their doctrine tend to draw men f[illegible: 1 letter]om the true God to idolatrie, they are false prophets and should die. When our Sauior Christ was asked, By what authoritie hee did those things. Luk. 20.2, 3. He approoued his authoritie by the testimonie of Iohn, (who bare witnesse of him, Iohn. 1.15.) and confirmed the calling of Iohn by the truth of his doctrine, which (themselues being witnesses) was from heauen, Luke 20. ver. 4, 5.

Hereby then we see the error of the Papists, who teach, That the onely note of a true Prophet, is to confirme his doctrine by a miracle, and that hee which cannot doe so, is a false Prophet. But this note of difference is not true: for false Prophets may confirme their lying vanities by signes and wonders, as we may see Deut. 13. And so doth Antichrist, 2. Thess. 2.9.

The sixt argument by which this Reuelation is described, is the order and man[illegible: 1 letter]r of propounding it to the Church, and it stands in foure degrees. First, God the father giueth it to Christ the mediator, and head of the Church. Secondly, Christ giueth it to an Angell. Thirdly▪ the Angell conueyes it to Iohn the Apostle. Fourthly, Iohn di[illegible: 1 letter]ected and assisted by the holy Ghost, deliuereth it to the Churches.

Now as this particular booke was, so no doubt all other holy Scriptures were conueyed to the Church: from whence we may obserue. First, the constant loue of God to his children, by this his special care, in propounding and deliuering his will and word to his Church.

Secondly, that this booke, and so all other parts of holy Scripture, are in their kind most perfect and excellent.

Thirdly, that the Church of Rome blasphemeth in calling the written word of God, a dead letter, and dumbe Iudge; matching generall councels with it for authoritie, and teaching, that the vniuersall consent of the Church is about Scripture, f[illegible: 1 letter]r [illegible: 2 letters]terpretation, and giues life and sence thereto: which otherwise of it selfe were but an inckie letter, and dumbe word.