386 verse Christ's epistle to the church in Thyatira. SECT. await us. It is only for a limited time that he can occasion tribiv ulation to any of the people of God; and our blessed Lord will never be unmindful of that gracious promise, Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. O! let us by faith survey that innumerable company, who, though they have fallen by the stroke of the first death, have been, and shall for ever be, unhurt by the second: that blessed society who are en11 circled with immortal crowns, which their triumphant Leader, whom they followed with such undaunted fortitude, hath bestowed upon them; who, though they partake no longer of the bread that perisheth, nor are feasted with earthly viands, are yet 17 eating of the hidden manna; who have received the white stone, in token of their absolution; and while the names and memory of many of them have sunk into oblivion, and the honours attending others are of little consequence, they are known in the heavenly regions by a new name, conferred as a mark of favour and distinction by the King of kings, and Lord of lords. We are drawing on, if we are true Christians, to the completion of that blessed hope. And that we may not be disappointed, may we, 14, 25 by Divine grace, be preserved from the artifices of those who 19 call themselves the people of God, while they are indeed of the synagogue of satan, and from whatever, like the doctrine of Balaam, would insnare our consciences, and defile our souls. SECT. v. Rev. SECT. V. The epistles,which Christ charges St. John to write to the churches of Thyatira and Sardis. Rev. II. 18, to the end. Rev. III. 1-6. REVELATION II. 18. AND to the angel, or Christian minister, of REV. II. 18. AND unto the church in Thyatira, angel of the write, These things ii. 18 and penetrating as a flame of fire, and his feet saith the Son of God, 19 shining like fine brass: I know and approve who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy thy works of piety, which are many, and which, to be more than the first. to teach and to se things sacrificed un to idols. and she repented He had a few things against them. 387 V. Rev. ii. 20 20 Notwithstand complain. Nevertheless, I have a few things secr. ing, I have a few against thee; and particularly, that thou perthings against thee, because thou suffer mittest that woman Jezabel, (for she deserves est that woman Jez. no better name, than of that infamous and idolaabel, which calleth trous harlot,) who audaciously and falsely says, herselfa prophetess, that she is a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my duce my servants servants, in order to avoid persecution, to comto commit forni- mit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to cation, and to eat idols.b And she is the more inexcusable, 21 as I have given her sufficient time to repent of 21 And I gave her fornication, and she repented not; but conher space to repent tinued her enormities with increasing aggraof her fornication, vation. But behold, at length I will execute 22 judgment upon her. And let the process of 22 Behold, I will my righteous vengeance be observed: I am just preparing to cast her into a bed; and will mit adultery with bring those who commit fornication with her, her into great tribu- who suffer their consciences to be debauched lation, except they by such licentious and detestable principles, repent of their deeds. into great tribulation, unless they speedily re23 And I will kill pent of their wicked works. And I will slay 23 her children with her children, those that presume to follow her death; and all the in her wickedness, with sudden and inevitable that I am he which death; and all the churches shall know, that searcheth the reins though I am very long suffering with respect and hearts; and I to many sinners, and am unwilling immedi not. cast her into a bed, and them that com churches shall know ately to come to extremities; yet I am not to That woman Jezabel.] When the description of the followers of Jezabel, in this verse, is compared with what was before said of the Nicolaitans, (verse 14, 15,) the resemblance appears so great, that I am induced to believe it is the same heresy which is represented under both these views; namely, the doctrine of those who taught it was lawful to dissemble our religious principles, and occasionally to conform to superstition and idolatry, in order to avoid persecution. And as Jezabel was so infamous an idolatress, and so great a mistress of seducing arts, there was an evident propriety in such a representation, 1 Kings xvi. 31; xxi. 25. Some have fancied this was some female heretic. Dr. Scott thinks it to have been Helena, the harlot of Simon Magus, the great ringleader of the unclean sect of the Gnostics. (See Scott's Christian Life, Vol. I. p. 231.) Whether these words refer to any woman, who was in the plot, or only mean to describe a person of such seducing and dishonest practices, I cannot determine, though I rather incline to the latter. Compare verse 15, note 8. b Commit fornication, and eat things sacrificed to idols.] Perhaps both of these might be the same; as it is well known idolatry is in many places in the Old Testament, and in several passages in this book, represented as adultery and fornication. • I am he who searcheth-the hearts.] This manner of speaking is much more remarkable, than if it had only been said, that I search the heart: which remark answers the train of Mr. Emlyn's reasoning against the argument brought from this text, to prove Christ's proper Deity. 388 v. The faithful are ordered to be steadfast, till he come. SECT, justice of my proceedings with respect to this so- will give unto every ciety, as well as all others, and will give to every one of you accordone of you according to your works, and according to your works. ii. 23 ing to those principles from which I know Rev. not 24 they have proceeded. But I say to you who 24 But unto you I are faithful, even to the rest of those that are say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, As in Thyatira, As many as do not hold this per- many as have not nicious doctrine, and who have not known the this doctrine, and depths of Satan, as they proverbially speak, nor which have make themselves the instruments of accom- Satan, as they speak, known the depths of plishing the designs of his infernal policy; I will put upon you I will lay upon you no other burden,d will not none other burden. severely reprove you for that mixture of human infirmity, which is to be discerned every 25 where. Nevertheless, what you have received, 25 But that which as of Divine revelation and command, hold ye have already, hold fast till I come. fast till I come, and let nothing prevail upon you to make a sacrifice of your regard for me and my cause, for neither my ability, nor inclination, to reward those who are faithful, will ever 26 be diminished. And as for him that conquers, and keeps my works unto the end, notwithstand- overcometh, and ing the vigorous efforts of the enemies of my unto the end, to him keepeth my works gospel, to wrest it from him, or induce him to will I give power deny it, though he should be ever so much ex- over the nations : posed and overborne now, I will, at length, give him complete power and victory over all the nations that have combined against my peo27 ple, And I will raise him to the dignity and glory of sharing with me in my final triumph; of iron as the vesand he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and sels of a potter shall they shall be at once dashed in pieces with it, like they be broken to a potter's vessels in like manner, as I have also re- received of my Fathshivers :) even as I ceived the promise of my Father in that ancient er. No other burden.] Lord Barrington imagines this refers to the gospel decree addressed to Gentile proselytes, now abolished with the Jewish polity. As if it had been said, Though things strangled, and blood, were formerly forbidden, as well as idolatry and fornication, yet I will not subject you to this injunction. Bar. Ess. iv. p. 20., Power over the nations.] This power over the nations, of breaking them to pieces like a potter's vessel, &c. cannot, I think, be understood, of temporal dominion; for as the promise is made to every conqueror, and many Christians fell by the oppres 26 And he that 27 (And he shall rule them with a rod : sive power of the enemy, and would, considering their present circumstances, be degraded rather than exalted, if raised to the possession of any earthly dominion and triumph, it appears to be much more properly explained of that final triumph of Christ over his enemies in the last day, when he shall crush them all to utter and irrecoverable ruin, and all his saints raised from the dead, and clothed with robes of glory, shall sit down with him on his throne, and constitute that illustrious body, which in, and with their exalted head, shall subdue every opposing power. Christ's epistle to the church in Sardis. 389 V. oracle, (Psal. ii. 9,) the accomplishment of SECT. which all my faithful subjects shall see; for they shall behold all their enemies, however Rev. numerous and mighty, laid prostrate at their ii. 27 feet in the dust, and covered with everlasting 28 And I will give confusion. And I will give him, even every 28 him the morning star. one who approveth his fidelity to me, such lustre and glory, that he shall shine in my presence like the morning star, when its sprightly and cheerful beams break through the shades of night, and proclaim the approaching sun. He, therefore, that hath an ear, let him atten- 29 tively hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; for all the churches are concerned in the message I send to each; and the importance of the contents make them worthy of universal regard. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. CHAP. III. 1. Sardis, write, These seven stars; I know hast a And to the angel, or minister, of the church III. 1 And unto the angel in Sardis, write, These things saith he, that hath of the church in the seven Spirits of God; he who presides over, thing's saith he that and orders the dispensations of the Spirit, with hath the seven Spir- respect to his various gifts and graces, and its of God, and the produces thereby such wonderful events as thy works, that thou shall astonish all future ages; and that hath in name that his hand the seven stars, which represent the thou livest, and art ministers of the churches, all whose motions dead. he continues to govern and direct, according to his all wise and gracious pleasure: I know thy works; that thou dost not answer that character which thou generally maintainest in neighbouring churches, for religion and piety. I know, that thou hast a name that thou livest; thou makest a splendid profession, and many of thy brethren are deceived by thy apparent zeal; but thou art indeed dead; there is little real religion lying at thy heart, nor do the uniform fruits of it prevail in thy life and conver2 Be watchful, sation. Be watchful, therefore, that the whole 2 and strengthen the may not be lost; and strengthen the things main, that are ready which remain, and which are ready to die; for to die: for I have I have not found thy works filled up, in the sight not found thy works of God, with that care and fidelity with which perfect before God. they ought to have been discharged; and he, therefore, cannot behold thee with the same approbation and delight, as he does more active, more diligent, and more resolute Christians. And this thy declension in religion is the more aggravated, as thou hast had so many things which re 390 They who overcame, should walk with him in white. SECT. advantages for improvement. V. Rev. received and heard, I will come on thee 4 Thou hast a few which have not defil Remember 3 Remember theretherefore, how thou hast received, and heard; for fore how thou hast though thou mayest forget these advantages, and hold fast, and reiii.3 they are all distinctly in my view; and let it pent. If therefore therefore be thy care to hold fast what yet re- thou shalt not watch, mains; and to repent of that negligence by as a thief, and thou which thou hast lost so many opportunities: shalt not know what therefore, unless thou art watchful, I do now sol- hour I will come upemnly warn thee, that I will come upon thee by on thee. some alarming and awful interposition of my Providence, on a sudden, as a thief, on those that are buried in sleep; and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come upon thee; and the surprise will throw thee into the greatest con4 sternation and distress. But I will do thee the honour, and the justice, to say, that thou hast names even in Sardis, a few names, and people, even in Sardis, cored their garments : rupt and indolent as the general state of it is, and they shall walk who have not polluted their garments, with the with me in white: abominations by which so many have contract- for they are worthy. ed gross defilements. And, as they have been distinguished by their fidelity and their zeal, I will distinguish them by my special favour, and raise them, ere long, to those seats of complete purity and glory, where they shall walk with me in white robes, and attend my joyful and triumphant train; for they are worthy of such distinguished honour, as they have been especially careful to keep themselves from those evils which have been generally prevailing around 5 them. As for the conqueror, he shall be clothed cometh, the same in white raiment; every victor shall wear shall be clothed in the habit of festivity and triumph; and I will I will not blot out his not blot out his name from the book of life, but, name out of the book 5 He that over white raiment; and Walk_with_me in white.] It is well he was sent out from among them in known, that white robes were worn on oc- mourning. L'Enfant Introd. p. 86. See casions of great joy, and sometimes in Ainsworth's Pref. to Gen. triumphant processions; to both which here is, probably, a reference, as indeed it seems that triumph and feasting would naturally go together. Priests also were clothed in white, and the addition of that dignity may also be implied, as certainly coming within the scheme of Christ with regard to his people. (Compare Rev. i. 6.) Some think here is an allusion to the custom of the Sanhedrim, when they examined the candidates for the high priest hood; if they judged him worthy, they gave him a white garment; if unqualified, 8 I will not blot out his name, &c.] I think this plainly implies, that some names shall be blotted out from the book of life; and consequently, as nothing can occasion an alteration in the decrees of God, I think it proves, that the book of life does not signify, the catalogue of those whom God has absolutely purposed to save; but rather the catalogue of those who were to be considered as heirs of the kingdom of heaven, in consequence of their Christian profession, till by apostasy from it they throw themselves out of that society to |