CA P. 3. ATe 'eiatiórt b f the ApoCalyp Ie 15 downe, as if a man were forfaken of God. For this caufe hee telleth Lake- them that they are fonnes whom hee is wont to ftrike with fo iharpe waxen punishments, left they fhould difpaire of his fatherly goodnefle by , vain of the grievoufneffe of the punishment. It is now therefore Laodicea no time to brabble and contend together with hating of, and railing upon one another, but wemull rather liften diligently toChrists aia- ram, and either forthwith bethinke our felves of the remedy, or elfe mutt fhortly expea force great and lamentable calamity. Now here we mutt obferve, that he doth reprove and chaften,that is,convineeand [mite; For both thefe things are to be joyned together. It is an unpro- fitable punifhment where words are whiíht,and onely blowes do be- ftir them. Whence it is, that a chafrifernent is rightly called difci- pline, or a difpling, whereby the offender feelethpaine, and findeth matter to learne by, all at once. But what fruit fhall there then be of this long fatting andmtfchievous contention,when as the fonne being convincedand chaftened,thallbe compelled, will he nill he, to makea recantation? Were it not better for him to give care now, and to be teachable,then to flay till he be made tochange his opinion with for- row enough? And yet indeed Chrift bath already convinced,him, whiles many excellent men have laboured now thefe many yeeres together to this purpofe , that their Brethren might undérftand the truth. What remaineth now but that hee fhould at length bring forth, his rods quickly to chaften thofe, whom he hath been fo long in convincing without any fruit or profit. Be fervent therefore. Bend therefore thy. zeale to the utter- mat. The tranflation Both perftft in the former metaphor, but now the Spirit fpeaketh properly , teaching that the former fervent- neffe or boiling in heat, was ,nothing elfe but .eale. Forfake (faith hee) thy lalzewarmnefre : ;Purge out all thy, Roixiifh ¡even ; hang not any longer in the midi between the reformed; Chureher and that that is Antichriftian :.Cafe away -thy honours and riches for his fake who became molt contemptible and poore for thee.: Let faithful¡ Paftors be fet over, every_ Congregation,: Let them that are fet up and, called to places of charge over- foules, be compelled to be diligent : Let,Innovators and corruptors of Doarine be reftrained : Let the ?'aflors_ have the power refto- red unto them, of exercifing, the ceisfures upon their owne tloc`ks; And doe not difpute with Chrift how profitably a Church- policie, that is in ufe among the enemies of the Gofpell, may be joyned with the Gofpell. Fie that reproveth the Eafferne ma -nners among
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