William Perkins on Revelation 3:15-16

Vers. 15. I know thy workes: thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou werest cold or hot. Vers. 16. Therefore because thou art luke-warme, and neither cold nor hot: it will come to passe, that I shall spew thee out of my mouth.

In these words, and so forward to the 21. vers. is contayned the substance, or matter of this Epistle: and it hath two parts: A dispraise, vers. 15.16 17. And Counsell. vers. 18.19.20. They are dispraised for two vices: first, luke-warmenesse, vers. 15.16. Secondly, for their pride. vers. 17.

I know thy workes. This is a generall reproofe, signifying thus much: All thy workes are knowne vnto mee, and I vtterly dislike them. Then followeth the reason of this dislike, Thou art neither cold nor hot: which is a comparison borrowed from waters, wherof there be three sorts: hot, cold, and luke-warme. Now hot and cold waters doe not so much annoy the stomacke, as luke-warme water doth: they are sometimes comfortable to the stomacke, but luke-warme water doth disquiet it, till it bee cast vp, and to these three kindes of waters, hee compareth three sorts of men. By cold water, he vnderstanding such as are enemies to Reliligion: as at this day are the Iewes and Turkes, and other barbarous people. By hot water, he vnderstandeth men that are earnest and zealous of the truth. So that when hee sayth of this Church, Thou art neitheir cold nor hot, his meaning is; thou art neither an open enemie, nor truely zealous of my Gospell.

I would thou werest cold or hot: Christ wisheth not simply, that they were enemies vnto him; but onely in respect of that estate of luke-warmnes, in which they were; as if hee should say: I had le[illegible: 1 letter]er thou werest either cold or hot, than thus luke-warme as thou art. For if we should vnderstand it simply, wee should make Christ to desire that men should bee his enemies. By luke-warme men, he vnderstandeth a people, who are in shew Gods Church, but in truth wante the power of godlynesse, and the zeale of the spirit. Because thou art such (saith Christ to this Church) therefore I will spew thee out of my mouth: that is, looke as hee that hath drunke luke-warme water, cannot abide it on his stomacke, but must needs spew it vp againe; so am I wearie of this thy securite, I cannot abide it, and therefore will I cast thee off from all fellowship with mee, and make of thee which art a Church in shew, to be no Church.

Thus we see their fault, namely, luke-warmenesse; the greatnesse whereof, hee aggrauates; first by comparing it with the extreames, cold and hot, both which he preferreth before it, as may appeare by his wish and desire: And secondly, by the punishment thereof; namely vtter reiection.

Hereby wee must examine our selues, whither this fault may not iustly be charged vpon vs: The vse. after due triall, it will appeare, that wee are guiltie of this sinne. The which that it may the better appear, I will note the seuerall kindes of luke-warme Christians.

The first luke-warme Professor, is the Papist; as the tenour of his Religion, and the manner of his worship of God, doth plainely shewe, for hee doth part stakes with Christ in the matter of saluation, affirming that he receiueth frō Christ to work out his owne saluation, and so assumeth part of Christs glorie to himselfe.

Secondly, all time-seruers are luke-warme Gospellers: that is, all such as alter their Religion with time and state. and of this sort are the bodie of our people, who professe themselues to be of the same Religion the Prince is of: which sheweth euidently, what they will doe in time to come, namely, turne with the time, as their Forefathers haue done:

The Third sort, are the followers of Nicodemus, who came to Christ by night onely: that is, such as say and thinke that they may goe to masse with their bodies, if they keep their hearts vnto God, these halt betweene two opinions, and neither serue God nor Ba[illegible: 1 letter]ll.

Fourthly, all Mediators: such as will make pacification between the Religion of the Protestant and the Papists; so holding our Religion, as not caring [illegible: 1 letter]o embrace theirs also, because they think they differ not in substance, but in circumstances onely. Let these pretend what they will, they are in heart Laoditians.

Fiftly, all Worldlings: which as Christ sayth, Luk. 16.13. Serue God and Mammon, God and the world by setting their heart vpon riches. These men abound euerie where, for though they heare God in the ministrie of his word, and as it were touch him in the Sacrament, yet their hearts are farre from him, running after their couetousnesse, Ezech. 33.31, and who are such, their consciences will witnesse: yea their behauiour proclaimes it to the world; for though they wil heare the word, yet their wit and strength is spent vpon the world, and the thinges thereof.

Sixtly, those that professe Christs Reliligion in outward actions of his worship, but yet in their liues, giue themselues to the common sinnes of the time, some to drunkennesse, to fornication, to couetousnesse or crueltie: some to this sinne, and some to that. To this sort, we must referre those, that in word approoue Religion, and yet their hearts delight is, in garnishing themselues with the monstrous, brutish, and irreligious formes of strange and forraine attire; These spend their time and wit in the decking of their bodies, and so suffer their soules to goe to wracke; when as apparell should bee an occasion to put vs in minde of a shame through sinne: and by modest attire, we should expresse the vertues of the heart, but these hereby professe the vanitie of their minde.

Now, though we be not intangled with these grosse sinnes, yet we cannot excuse our selues from this sinne of luke-warmenesse. For the want of zeale of Gods glorie, of loue to his truth, of care to obey his commaundements, and to keepe good conscience, the want of hatred of sinne, what argue all these but luke-warmenes? Herein wee must lay our hand vpon our mouth with Iob; for wee cannot plead with God, no not for this common sinne. But that we may be out of all doubt that this sinne of luke-warmenesse, hath infected our congregations, as it did this Church of Laodicea: I will make it plaine by the signes thereof, which are common amonge vs, that so wee may the better know our fearefull estate.

The first signe is, Negligence in the duties of that true Religion which we professe: this appeareth sundrie waies; for first, howsoeuer wee come to the assemblies where the word is preached, yet fewe doe profite there, by increase in the knowledge of that Religion which is taught, and in the amendment of life. This may any man see to be true, that hath halfe an eye to looke into the state of our assemblies, and mens owne consciences will heerein witnesse against them. Againe, where Gods word is ordinarily heard, there are verie fewe that spend any time in searching out, and trying whether the thinges bee so or not which are taught them. Nay, men wil not be at cost to buy a Bible: and if they haue one, yet they will not take paines to reade the same, at least in such a constant course as they ought to doe. Thirdly the Lords Sabbath is broken, for though most men at set times will come into the congregation; yet there is not that priuate sanctifying of the Sabbath after the congregations are dissolued, which Gods word requireth; but men betake themselues to their own affaires, and to outward delights; to omit those that haue no care at all of sanctifying the Sabbath in any sort. Now these persons must needs want both knowledge, obedience, and all sound grace that will not set apart some time, wherein they should employ themselues in Gods word: and by these signes it is euident, that there is a greeuous disease of negligence in the duties of Religion, that infects our congregations. Now where this negligence is, though coldnesse be not, there cannot be zeale, and so luke-warmnesse must needs abound.

II. Signe of luke-warmenesse: The Religion of most men is this; In the generall calling of a Christian they shew Religion, but in the affaires of their particular callings, where is religion? In the Church they are good Christians, but in practise of the duties of their particular callings, who sheweth his religion? for when as men should practise their callings, according to Gods word and true godlynesse, they follow the desires of their owne hearts. Little conscience is made of lying and oppression; that loue and plaine dealing, which ought to be between man and man is wanting; which prooueth them plainely to bee luke-warme Gospellers.

III. Signe. There bee many that professe themselues to bee luke-warme, neither hot nor cold. For though all generally come to the hearing of the word, and the receiuing of the sacraments, yet many when they see some make conscience to become answerable in some measure to the word which they heare, and the Sacraments which they receiue, doe take vp in their mouthes this slaunder of precizenesse against them: mocking them for doing that which in the word & sacraments thēselus profes shuld be don. These men will not be enemies to the Religion of Christ; and they professe themselues not to bee zealous, by reproaching zeale in others: Therefore they doe more than these Laodiceans did, euen professe themselues to bee luke-warme. For hee that reproacheth another for zeale in Religion, brandeth himselfe with this sinne of Luke-warmenesse. And who knowes not how many of this [illegible: 1 letter]ort are euerie where? I dare with good conscience say, our congregations generally consist of such. Now marke what followeth hereupon.

First, that our common professors of religion are in worser case than heathen men, Iewes, and Turkes that knowe not Christ. This Christ teacheth in preferring cold persons before the luke-warm; as if hee should say; I had rather thou werest a Pagan, than a Professor without zeale. And 2. Pet. 2.21 Saint Peter to this purpose speaking of such saith; It had beene better they had neuer knowne the way of truth, than after they haue known it, not to obey the commaundements of God. So that vnlesse there be further matter in vs than knowledge and bare profession, our case is worse than the case of Iewes and Turkes. Religion knowne, will not make thee better than them, but it is zeale and obedience that must preferre thee before them.

Secondly, from the consideration of our estate, I gather that wee are in danger to be spewed out of the mouth of Christ, as luke-warme water out of the stomacke. This is the punishment heere threatned, which was written for our instruction, that we might know where luke-warmenesse takes place, there this punishment will follow. Wee may flatter our selues as the men in the old world did, & thinke all is well, neuer regarding till the iudgement come: but the truth is, that in regard of this sinne, we are in danger to bee cut off from the Church, and from true societie with Christ; God can doe this sundrie wayes, either by bereauing vs of his Gospell, and making vs as the heathen; or by sending the enemie among vs, to destroy and root vs out of this land; and euen in our neighbor-countreys, and townes, hee sets spectacles before vs, that by them wee may see how hee can spew vs ou[illegible: 1 letter], & cut vs off from being a people. And thus much of the first fault, namely, luke-warmenesse.