William Perkins on Revelation 2:3

Verse 3. Thou hast suffered, and hast patience, and for my names sake hast laboured.

Here our Sauiour Christ declareth how this Minister and church of Ephesus opposed themselues against false teachers after their discouerie. The manner we shall see in handling the points particularly as they lie in order. Thou hast suffered, or, Thou hast borne a burden: for the word signifieth to be pressed downe vnder a great burden. This burden was the troubles which false Apostles brought vpon them after they were discouered, partly by open affliction and persecution, partly by the spreading of their hereticall and schismaticall doctrine. These false teachers were Ebion, Cerinthus, Marcion, and such like, who in the dayes of Iohn troubled this church, as hystories do shew.

Here wee may obserue, that it is Gods will, that the best churches should be troubled by wicked men and hereticall teachers, who both by false doctrine and persecution become grieuous burdens. This the Lord permits for weighty causes, I. That true beleeuers may bee excited more constantly to embrace the syncere doctrine of the Gospell: and therefore Iude Iud. 3. most worthily exhorts the Christians in his time to fight for the common faith. II. That professors may be tried whether they soundly hold the doctrine of the Gospell, or not. 1. Cor. 11.19. It is [illegible: 1 letter]ette (sayth Paule) that there should bee heresies in the Church, that they which are sound in the faith, and approoued, may [illegible: 1 letter]ee knowne. III. That God may execute his iudgements vpon wicked men and hypocrites that haue not loued his truth, reuealed vnto them, 2. Thess. 2.10, 11. God gaue them vp to strange illusions to beleeue lies, because they haue not loued his truth. For many know the word, that loue it not.

This must teach vs to take heed of a common scandale in the world, which is, The Vse. to be offended at religion, because there be in the church schismes and heresies: which come not from the Gospell, but from the malice of Sathan, who soweth his tares among the Lords wheate. Wee must consider, that it is the will of God there should be such euils in his church; and therefore should labour to bee so farre from offence, that hereby wee bee rather prouoked with more cheerefulnesse and courage to loue and embrace religion.

And hast patience, and for my name hast suffered, &c. Here is set downe the dealing of this church against these false Apostles in all their persecutions. But first note the coherence of this vertue with the former: Thou hast suffered trouble, and hast had patience. Quest. How can these stand together? It is against mans nature in trouble to be patient: for troubles and afflictions make men discontent, and to fret against God and man. Answ. They stand not by nature▪ but by grace, Rom. 5. vers. 4. Tribulation bringeth forth patience: namely, to all those that haue receiued to beleeue in Christ; for to them God giueth the spirit of meekenesse in their troubles, shedding his loue into their hearts, whereby they are enabled to suffer any thing for his name, euen with ioy.

And hast patience. This is the first means whereby this church opposed her selfe against the false Apostles: they troubled her two wayes; by persecution, and by false doctrine. Now▪ by patience this church opposeth her selfe against their persecutions. And indeed that is the most excellent meanes for any man or any church to oppose thēselues against their enemies, and to vanquish them: for hereby they shall stop their mouths, and if it bee possible win them to their faith and religion.

In this their practise wee haue an example for our direction: The Vse. how to oppose our selues against wicked men, with whom we liue; or any enemie that shall trouble vs, either by oppression, or hereticall doctrines: We must not render taunt for taunt, and abuse for abuse; but labour for patience, not in bearing with their sinnes (that may not bee) but in a meeke enduring of their iniuries and wrongs whereby they trouble vs. Thus shall we stoppe their mouths, and soonest ouercome them.

And for my names sake hast laboured. Here Christ setteth downe the second meanes whereby this church opposeth her selfe against the spreading of false doctrine by these false Apostles, which was the second way wherby they became a burden vnto her. The meaning of the words is this, that they had taken much paines to maintaine the glory of God, and the true doctrine of Christ Iesus, labouring therein as much as the false Apostles did to broach their damnable heresies.

Here wee are taught a second duty how we are to oppose our selues against all hereticall and scismaticall teachers: namely, as they labour to publish their false doctrine; so must wee endeuor to maintaine the glorie of God and his true religion. Hereunto a twofold labour is required: partly of the minister, and partly of the people. The labour of the minister stands in these things principally. I. He must endeuour by reading and studie to furnish himselfe with the true knowledge of the foundation and substance of the Gospel & true religion, that hee may be able soundly and plainly to teach the same. For this cause S. Iohn is commanded to eat the little booke, Re. 10.9, 10, which was as it were by studie and meditation to haue the same digested and setled in his heart. Hence Malachie saith Mal. 2.7. The priests lippes should preserue wisedome, and thither should the people come for instruction. And euerie scribe taught of God must haue store in the treasury of his har[illegible: 1 letter], like a good housholder, Matth. [illegible: 1 span], he must deliuer the whole will and counsell of God, concerning saluation, truly and distinctly vnto his people, as it is propounded in the booke[illegible: 1 letter] of the Prophets and Apostles. This Paul commendeth by his owne example, Act. 20.27. testifying vnto this Church that He had taught them all the will of God, and kept back[illegible: 1 letter] nothing which he was commanded to deliuer vnto them. III. Hee must labour to discerne and bee able to discouer false teachers vnto the people; that hee may not onely know them himselfe, but also cause the church to take notice of them, Tit. 19. Paul requireth that the teacher in the church, Be able to conuince the gainsaiers to his truth. In this discouerie he must do two things. First, detect their hereticall doctrins. Secondly, their wicked maners. Thus dealt our Sauiour Christ in his owne person liuing in the church of the Iewes, with the Scribes and Pharises: he did detect vnto the people their false interpretations of the law, Mat. 5.21, to the end. And also their wicked liues and damn[illegible: 1 letter]ble hypocrisie, Mat. 23.3, 4. &c. to the end. And Saint Paul in all his Epistles, laboureth to discouer the wicked liues, and to confute the hereticall opinions of the false Apostles. IV. Hee must endeuour that the doctrine of the gospell thus published, may edifie. This is the end of all teaching, as Paule sheweth, 1. Cor. 14. throughout the whole chapter. Now it doth edifie, when it is so applied to the hearers, that thereby they are wonne to Christ, suffering themselues to be reformed by it in heart and life, & so made fit for the kingdome of God. V. He must be careful in his own person to become a patterne of the doctrine of the Gospell which hee teacheth, that so the people may haue a double light to follow. This is a notable meanes in the minister to make men loue the Gospell, and the neglect hereof causeth many to contemne and despise the same. VI. Lastly, he must bee diligent in praying for his owne and other particular churches of God, that they may know, beleeue, and obey the same doctrine which is taught them out of Gods word. Thus did Paul as wee may see in his particular Epistles pray for euery church: that by the blessing of the spirit, they might embrace and obey the Gospell of Christ, Phil. 1.4.9, 10. Col. 1.9, 10, 11.

The people also for the name of Christ and his religion, must vndergo a threefold labour. I. Euery one must see that himselfe know and beleeue the true and sincere doctrine of the Gospell. This Christ inioyneth to all, in this commandement, Repent and beleeue, which none can do vnlesse they first know and vnderstand the doctrine thereof: and therfore euery one must do as Mary did, for which Christ so commends her: namely, lay aside matters of lesser moment, & giue our selues to heare and learne the doctrine of Christ, Luke. 10.39.42. II. Euery one must vse all good meanes that knowledge of religion which himselfe hath receiued, bee conueyed to others, And indeed if we truly beleeue, we cannot containe our selues, but must needs teach others. For as Christ saith, He Ioh. 7.38. that drinketh of the water of life, out of his belly shall flow riuers of water of life ▪ streaming out for the good of others. Que. How should priuat men conuey their knowledge vnto others? Answ. I. All maisters and gouernours of families are bound in conscience to teach those that are vnder them the maine points and grounds of true religion: his place requireth gifts, and God lookes for increase. For euery christian family should be a little church, as it is sayd of the house of Aquila and Priscilla, 1. Corinth. 16.19. II▪ Euerie man in his place must labour to conuey that knowledge he hath vnto his neighbour, yea to his enemies. The Iewes Mat. 23.15 would compasse sea and land to make a man a pros[illegible: 1 letter]lite: And Idolaters at this day will trauell farre and neere to make a man of their profession. Much more therefore must all true christians labour to conuey their knowledge to others, so to winne them vnto Christ. III. Euerie man is to edifie those that bee members of the same church, in these three things: faith, hope, and loue, as Iude notably exhorteth in the end of his Epistle, Edifie one another in your most holie faith, verse. 20. Haue compassion of some in putting difference, and others saue with feare in pulling them out of the fire, ver. 22.23. IV. Euery priuat man must professe and defend the true religion of Christ against all the enemies thereof. 1. Pet. 3.15. Be readie alwayes to giue an answer to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. And this confession must be, not onely in word, but in deed. For by a blamelesse and holy conuersation euerie christian holdeth foorth the word of life, Phil. 2, 15, 16.

Seeing the maintenance of true religion is so excellent a worke: The Vse. wee must be admonished euery one in our place, to take paines in all the duties that belong vnto vs: that by vs Christ[illegible: 1 letter] religion may be furthered. For Gods church is not called the piller of truth, onely because the minister thereof maintaineth Gods truth: but also because euery member of the church is as a piller in his place to maintaine and professe the true doctrine of Christ for his glory. Besides, this is a duty of the first table, and therefore we must haue more speciall care for the performance thereof. And thus wee see the two meanes whereby the church of Ephesus opposed her selfe against false teachers.

And hast not fainted. Here Christ setteth downe in what manner this church laboured to maintaine his true religion, and thereby his honor and glory: namely, by constancie and perseuerance in labour. This is an excellent vertue, and a notable example for vs to follow: for we through Gods goodnesse haue the true religion of Christ among vs, and for many yeares sundrie among vs haue maintained the same against all enemies, though not without some trouble and danger. Now this which hath beene done is nothing, vnlesse we hold on our good course constantly, and labour vnto death in the maintenance thereof. This exhortation is the more necessary, because we know not how long we shal enioy the gospel with peace; for vsually after long peace God trieth his by persecution: neither know we by what meanes of triall God will exercise vs. Therefore as we now professe the Gospell, so let vs continue constant therein, and not turne with time or state: for then wee loose our cōmendation at Christs hands. And thus much of the commendation of this church for her vertues.