William Perkins on Revelation 3:11

Verse. 11. Behold, I come shortly: hold that which thou hast, that no man take thy crowne.

Here is Christs commandement to this Church; wherein consider first what hee inioyneth them: then the reason thereof. The thing he enioyneth is this; Hold fast that which thou hast; that is, hold as it were with both hands, that little meaof faith and grace which thou hast receiued from me, and in no wise part with the same. This Commandement hath beene before expounded, Chap. 2. vers. 25.

The reasons to enforce this Commandement are two. One going before it, in these wordes; I come shortly: That is, either in the generall iudgement, or by death vnto thee particularly. Before this reason is put a note of attention, Beholde; to giue vs to vnderstand, that the speedy comming of Christ vnto vs, either by death in particular, or in iudgement generall, is a matter of great moment neuer to be forgotten, but [illegible: 1 letter]aid vp & treasured euen in the bottome of our hearts. Herein we must not flatter our selues, and say with the bad seruant; Mat. 24.48, My master doth foreslowe his comming: for that is the cause of so much wickednesse and impenitencie as is in the world. But rather with an ancient Ierome. Father, thinke we euer heare the sound of his trumpet.

This dayly perswasion of the speedy comming of Christ, is of notable vse. For first, it will daunt the most desperate wretch that is, and make him to tremble in himselfe, and restraine him from many sinnes. And if a man belong to God, and be yet a loose liuer, this perswasion will rowze him out of his sins, and make him turne vnto God, by vsing the meanes of repentance: for who would not seeke to saue his soule, if he were perswaded that Christ were now comming to giue him his finall reward? Secondly if a man haue grace and haue repented, and do beleeue; this perswasiō is a notable means to make him constant in euery good dutie, both of pietie to God, and of charitie towards his brethren. Thirdly, this serueth to comfort any person that is in affliction: for when hee shall beleeue this which Christ hath said, I come shortly: he cannot but thinke but his deliuerance is at hand; for at his comming, hee bringeth perfect redemption to all his Elect.

The second reason is set after the commandement; that no man take thy crowne: that is, the crowne of thy glory, euen euerlasting life. This must not be restrayned to the minister of this Church, taking it only for the crown of his ministery, though it bee also vnderstood of him; but the same must bee referred to the whole Church: as if our Sauiour Christ should say; If thou holde not fast thy faith and other graces, thou wilt loose the crowne of glorie that is ordayned for thee.

Hence some gather, that a man ordained to life may finally perish, because another may haue that crowne which was ordained for him. But this is a flat abuse of this, and such like Texts of scripture: for the words are not absolute, that a man may loose his crowne; but conditionall: Hold fast, or els thou shalt perish, and loose eternall life▪ though it bee ordained for thee. Now the vse of such speeches, is not to signifie falling from grace, but to shew vnto vs our owne weaknes in our selues; that we might acknowledge, that if wee were left of God wholly to our selues, we could not but perish. Therefore they serue to stir vp the child of God to humble himselfe in the acknowledgement of his owne weakenesse, vnto a carefull vsing of the meanes to come to saluation. Like as a father that takes his childe and sets him on a horse, guiding the horse with one hand, and holding him with the other; and then saith vnto the child, take heed least thou fall: Not meaning thereby that the childe shall fall, but intending to make him sit faster; & to let him know that if he should leaue him, he would fal.

Secondly, Christ vseth such speeches, that thereby hee may make his Church perseuer in grace vnto the end: for all exhortations and threatnings in Gods word, are instruments of perseuerance in grace vnto Gods children: because as God hath appointed who shall bee saued certainly, so hee hath ordayned certaine meanes to bring the same to passe: part whereof are exhortations & threatnings, which doe not import any finall relapse, but serue as meanes & causes of perseuerance: and for this end, doth Christ here bid this Church, hold fast, lest another take her crowne.

In this threatning wee may note, that when God withdrawes his grace from one man, or his blessings from any one people for the abuse thereof, hee hath others ready to bestow the same vpō, who will vse the same well: when Iudas was cut off from the Apostleship, Matthias was chosen in his roome: and when the Iewes by infidelitie fell away from God, he had the Gentiles in store to ingraffe in their stead; for the the arme of God is not shortned. When any one people shall abuse his Gospel, he can giue it to another that will bring foorth the fruit thereof, Mat. 21.43.

This must bee thought vpon, for by Gods mercy wee are now Gods people, The vse. and doe inioy his Gospell; but wee must not flatter our selues herewith, for if wee abuse the same, wee must know that hee hath another Nation in store, whom wee now contemne, whither hee can send his Gospel, and cause them to bring forth the plentifull fruits thereof. Wee therefore must imbrace and hold fast this blessing of God which now wee inioy, and shew foorth the power of obedience, or else God will take it from vs. And we know not how neere this iudgement is, seeing other particular iudgements haue not brought vs to repent. And what else meane the rumors of warres? are they not Gods warnings, bidding vs holde fast his Gospel, or else it will bee taken from vs? Although therefore wee loose all other things; as honour, riches, lands, or life it selfe; yet let vs holde fast our crowne: When the Arke of God is gone, no glorie is left, 1. Sam. 4.21.