48 A ee lá velatiònofthe ApocalypÍÍ. C A . z, n.1sui (h n latteryeers he grew fo flothfull and without life , that he became t;pili,s. negligent in that firft labour of his, fu fering fome ofhis flock to pe- tiifh through ignorance, others tobecarried away into deftruc ion through the weaknefle of their flefh, not Petting upon the right and fpeedy way to recover them. This was that love , which Chrift takethfo ill that it fhould be fo filthily laidaide by him. For then doth he fnew himfelf ro be truely loved of a man, when his fheep are fed faithfully and fincerely ; whereunto pertaineth that thrice repeated commandement unto Peter : If thm lovefl mee, feedmyfteep,Ioh.21.i6,17. But in this Church, after fome proceffe of rime, this heat of love waxed cold, or rather altogether vanished away,as is plain by this reproofe. Such is the weaknefs of our mindF, no leffe ready always to rufh into the deftru&ionoffpiritual life,then ourbodiesare haltingevery moment unto our graves. Why then take we fo over great care ofthefe,fo little or'rathernoie at al of the other? The Ephefaans retayned the outward profellion , neither could any calamities take it away from them, as the former verfehath fhewed, yet in the mean time they grewcareleffe of thofe things by little and little, without which true piety cannot stand. Now it feemeth that this leavingof their love fell out at thattime, when Iihn was ban: lhed into Patmos. He would not indure dotibtleffe fo long as he re- rnayned at Ephefus, either the doft,rineor difciplineto decay, but be- ing at Taft deprived of fovigilant a watchman,they fell into this hate- full floathfulncffe. We may take for example hereof thatBifbop, though not of this citie, yet of aplace a djoyning to it, who having certain young men committed by Iohn unto his cuftody,.through the negledingofholy difcipline,fuffered him to become a notorious rob- ber by the high way fide ; for which caufe ?ohn doth , and that not unworthily, upbraid himwith his difhonefty in being fo careleffe of his charge, E'tsfeb.Hifh. Book 3. ch:23. But howfoever the hiftories are filent in difcovering unto us the decay .of Eppherus, it is certain that the Angels of Ephefiu. , did fall into filthy negligence about this tine ; which kind of carelefneffe wee do find toprevaile more and more,by little and little; in and againft thePrimitive Church. In the frft times whiles it had the Apoftles themfelves to rule ït,and t) be eye- witnefles of all things that were done, the diligenceof Elders was fervent, who did bothfaithfully preach the word , and alfòear- ncilly promote thegodlinefs of their flock, by means of difcipline lout at length after forne zoo, yeers fromChrifts birth; they fuffered all things to wax worfe and worfe, with amanifeft declining. How did
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