William Perkins on Revelation 2:8

Verse. 8. And vnto the Angell of the Church of the Smirnians write, these things sayth he that is the first and the last, which was dead and is aliue.

In this verse and the rest that follow, to the twelfth, i[illegible: 1 letter] layd downe the second letter or Epistle of Christ to another church of Asia, called Smyrna. Before the Epistle Christ giues a second particular commaundement vnto Iohn; touching the writing hereof vnto this church in these words, And vnto the Angell of the Church of the Smirnians write: Which is prefixed to this Epistle, that this church, and all other churches of God might bee assured, that [illegible: 1 word] had sufficient warrant and calling for the writing hereof. Which thing is necessarie to euerie pen-man of the holie Ghost, that the church need not to doubt of the authoritie of Scripture, but receiue the same as the pure word of God.

Hence we may gather, that all ordinarie Ministers of the gospell must haue warrant and calling for euery doctrine which they teach in Gods church: The Vse. for the Apostles, that were extraordinarie men, of mo[illegible: 1 letter]e [illegible: 1 letter]xcellent gifts, might doe nothing without warrant. Of the parts of this commaundement we spake in the first verse of this chapter.

The Epistle it selfe followeth, containing thr[illegible: 1 letter]e parts: a Preface, a Proposition, and a Conclusion. The Preface containeth a preparation to the matter of the Epistle, in these words: These things, sayth [illegible: 1 letter]e, that is, the first to [illegible: 1 word] last▪ which was dead, and is aliue. In this Preface he sheweth in whose name this Epistle was written vnto this Church, namely in Christs name: which he setteth downe for two causes▪ First, to stir vp the people in this church to a religious attention, and a reuerent care of receiuing the things therin written, as the pure words of Christ Iesus. Secondly, because no commaundement in the matter of Gods worship and religion is to be receiued from any creature, but from Christ alone. And therefore this Epistle concerning the true worship and religion of God is propounded in his name alone. In this Preface Christ is described by two notable Arguments: First, To be the first and the last: second, that he was dead, but is aliue. The meaning of them both was shewed in the 17 and 18 verses of the former chapter, whence they are borrowed. By the first, Christ would signifie, that he is euerliuing God, without beginning or ending, before all creatures and after them. By the second, that hee is true man, and assumed mans nature to suffer death for our sinnes, and rose againe to liue for euer, and to giue to man eternall life.

In this description two points of doctrine are expressed.

I. That Christ is a person, consisting of two natures; Godhead, and Manhood: He is the first and the last, and therefore God: He was dead, and is aliue, and therefore is true man. If any aske how one person can consist of two natures? Answ. As bodie and soule concurre to make one man: so the Godhead and Manhood of Christ concurre to make one Christ; and therefore are vnited.

II. Doctr. Here is the foundation of all true comfort vnto Gods Church and people, in any miserie or afflictiō. Which standeth in two points: first, that Christ is able to helpe them in any miserie▪ either by freeing them quite from it, or easing them in it, seeing hee is God▪ the first and last. Secondly, that as he is able so he is willing and readie to helpe them; for he is man, who tooke on him our nature, died for vs, and rose againe vnto life, to giue to vs eternall life. This is the very scope and end for which Christ thus describeth himselfe to this church that was in affliction. Here then wee haue direction, where and▪ whence to seeke for true comfort [illegible: 1 span] tribulation of this life; namely, wee must haue recourse to Christ, and in him [illegible: 1 letter]onsider both his abilitie and his willingnesse; to [illegible: 1 letter]ase all [illegible: 1 word] children in affliction. And by these wee must arme our selues against d[illegible: 1 letter]spair[illegible: 1 letter], and against immoderate grief[illegible: 1 letter] and sorrow vnder the crosse▪