of the church in Philadelphia of old in else fell around it, "stood erect," our keeping his word, a name and memorial of enemies themselves being judges, his faithfulness has been left on earth, while in a scene of ruins.' the higher glories promised to those that overcame, shall be ratified in heaven; and toward them, but not them only, shall the glorified Redeemer confirm the truth of his blessed words, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God;" even as assuredly as Philadelphia, when all a column "And unto the angel of the CHURCH of the LAODICEANS write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my see. (Rev. iii. 14, &c.) All the other mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich churches were found worthy of some comand increased with goods, and have need mendation, and there was some blessing in of nothing; and knowest not that thou art them all. The church of Ephesus had wretched, and miserable, and poor, and labored and not fainted, though she had blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy forsaken her first love; and the threatened of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest punishment, except she repented, was the be rich; and white raiment, that thou removal of her candlestick out of its place. mayest be clothed, and that the shame of A faithless and wicked few polluted the thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint churches of Pergamos and Thyatira by their thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest | doctrines or by their lives; but the body was sound, and the churches had a portion with their character, though not with their in Christ. Even in Sardis, though it was profession, they disregarded the words of dead, there was life in a few who had not one who was wiser than Solomon, and who defiled their garments; "and they shall had laid down his life for their sakes: they walk with me in white, said the Lord, for did not strive to enter in at the strait gate; they are worthy. to be perfect was no purpose of theirs; there was no fight in their faith, no running in their race, no wrestling in their warfare, no victory in their work. Yet they could show a goodly form or framework of religion, on which they had raised many a high hope. But in what the Spirit said to the church in Laodicea, there was not one word of approval; it was lukewarm without exception, and therefore it was wholly loathed. The religion of Jesus had become to them as an ordinary matter. They would attend to it just as they did to other things which they loved as well. The sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross was nothing thought of more than a common gift by man They were not constrained by the love of Christ more than by other feelings. They could repeat the words of the first great commandment of the law, and of the second, that is like unto it; but they showed no sign that the one or the other was truly a law to them. There was no Dorcas among them, who, out of pure Christian love, made clothes for the poor. There was no Philemon, to whom it could be said, "The church in the house," and who could look on a servant as a brother beloved." There was no servant who looked to the eye of his Father in heaven more than to that of his master on earth, and to the recompense of eternal reward more than to the hireling wages of a day; and who, by showing all good fidelity, sought to adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things. There was nothing done, as every thing should be, heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. The power of the world to come, and of that which now is, hung, as it were, even balanced in their minds; each had its separate influence and weight, even to a scruple; and they were kept distinct, as if there should never be any interference between them, or as if they were to hang in separate scales. They trusted to redemption through Christ, while they were not redeemed from sin, nor actuated by the love of God. They used the means of grace, but neglected the end for which that grace had appeared. They were rich, they thought, and increased with goods, and had need of nothing But they wanted zeal; and all they had was nothing worth. Whatever they vainly imagined themselves to be, the Spirit knew them truly, and told them what they were, even wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. They had done no evil, they thought, but they did little good. And they neither felt nor lived as if they knew that whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Their lukewarmness was worse, for it rendered their state more hopeless than if they had been cold. For sooner would a man in Sardis have felt that the chill of death was upon him, and have cried out for life, and called to the physician, than would a man of Laodicea, who could calmly count his even pulse, and think his life secure, while death was preying on his vitals. The character of lukewarm Christians, a self-contradicting name, is the same in every age. Such was the church of the Laodiceans. But what is that city now, or how is it changed from what it was? Laodicea was the metropolis of the Greater Phrygia; and, as heathen writers attest, it was an extensive and very celebrated city. Instead of then verging to its This was given unto the world, and that decline, it arose to its greatest eminence only unto God, as if these Christian men had about the beginning of the Christian era. been full of the faith, that the revealed will "It was the mother-church of sixteen of the Most High had no title to a supreme bishoprics." Its three theatres, and the ascendency over them, that all the deeds immense circus, which was capable of condone in the body would never be brought taining upward of thirty thousand spectators, into judgment, and that lukewarmness was the spacious remains of which (with other requital enough for redeeming love. Their ruins buried under ruins) are yet to be only dread seemed to be lest they should seen, give proof of the greatness of its be righteous overmuch. And for fear of ancient wealth and population, and indicate that, which would have been inconsistent too strongly, that in that city where Chris Was the church itself dead, yet the few names in which there was life were all written before God, and not one of those who overcame would be blotted out of the book of life. All the seven churches were severally exhorted by the Spirit according to their need. The faith delivered to the saints was preached unto them all; and all, as Christian churches, possessed the means of salvation. The Son of man walked in the midst of them, beholding those who were and those who were not his. tians were rebuked without exception for | acter, or rebuked and warned according to their lukewarmness, there were multitudes its deeds. Was the church itself pure, the who were lovers of pleasure more than lovers diseased members alone were to be cut off. of God. The amphitheatre was built after the Apocalypse was written, and the warning of the Spirit had been given to the church of the Laodiceans to be zealous and repent; but whatever they there may have heard or beheld, their hearts would neither have been quickened to a renewed zeal for the service and glory of God, nor turned to a deeper sorrow for sin, and to a repentance not to be repented of. But the fate of Laodicea, though apposite, has been no less marked than that of Philadelphia. There are no sights of grandeur nor scenes of By the preaching of the gospel, and by temptation around it now. Its own tragedy the written word, every man in each of the may be briefly told. It was lukewarm, and churches was warned, and every man was neither cold nor hot; and therefore it was taught in all wisdom, that every man might loathsome in the sight of God. It was be presented perfect in Christ Jesus. And loved, and rebuked, and chastened in vain. in what the Spirit said unto each and all of And it has been blotted from the world. It the churches which he that hath ears to hear is now as desolate as its inhabitants were was commanded to hear, the promise of everdestitute of the fear and love of God, and lasting blessedness, under a variety of the as the church of the Laodiceans was devoid most glorious representations, was given, of true faith in the Saviour, and zeal in his without exception, restriction, or reservation, service. It is, as described in his Travels to him that overcometh. The language of by Dr. Smith, utterly desolated, and love, as well as of remonstrance and rebuke, without any inhabitant, except wolves, and was urged even on the lukewarm Laodiceans. jackals, and foxes." It can boast of no And if any Christian fell, it was from his human inhabitant, except occasionally when own resistance and quenching of the Spirit; wandering Turkomans pitch their tents in from his choosing other lords than Jesus to its spacious amphitheatre. The finest have dominion over him; from his lukewarmsculptured fragments are to be seen at a ness, deadness, and virtual denial of the considerable depth, in excavations which faith; and from his own wilful rejection of have been made among the ruins. (Arun- freely-offered and dearly-purchased grace, del's Travels, p. 85.) And Col. Leake sufficient, if sought, and cherished, and observes, There are few ancient cities more likely than Laodicea to preserve many curious remains of antiquity beneath the surface of the soil; its opulence, and the earthquakes to which it was subject, rendering it probable that valuable works of art were often there buried beneath the ruins of the public and private edifices." A fearful significancy is thus given to the terrific denunciation, "Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. Each church, and each individual therein, was weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, according to their works. Each was approved of according to its char zealously used, to have enabled him to overcome and triumph in that warfare against spiritual wickedness to which Christ hath called his disciples; and in which, as the finisher of their faith, he is able to make the Christian more than conqueror. But if such, as the Spirit described them and knew them to be, were the churches and Christians then, what are the churches and what are Christians now? Or rather, we would ask of the reader, what is your own hope toward God, and what the work of your faith? If, while Christianity was in its prime, and when its divine truths had scarcely ceased to reach the ears of believers from the lips of apostles, on whose heads the Spirit had visibly descended, and cloven tongues, like as of fire, had sat; if, even at that time, one of the seven churches of Asia had already departed from its first love; if two others | one; and precious in his sight is the death were partially polluted by the errors in of his saints. Some, on the other hand, may doctrine, and evils in the practice, of some be sunk into the depths of Satan, though in of their members; if another had only outward fellowship with a church, were such a few names that were worthy, and yet to be found, as pure as once was that of another none; and if they who formed the Thyatira. Whatever, therefore, the profeslast and worst of these thought themselves sion of your faith may be, seek the kingdom rich and increased with goods, and that they of God and his righteousness; that kingdom had need of nothing; and knew not that, which is righteousness and peace and joy in being lukewarm, they were wretched, and the Holy Ghost, and that righteousness miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; which is through faith in Christ, who gave have you an ear to hear or a heart to under- himself for the church, that he might sanctify stand such knowledge? and do you, profess- and cleanse it. And whatever dangers may ing yourself a Christian, as they also did, see then encompass you around, fear not only no cause or warning here to question and believe; all things are possible to him that examine yourself, even as the same Spirit believeth. would search and try you, of your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and patience? What is your labor of love, or wherein do you labor at all for His name's sake by whose name you are called? What trials does your faith patiently endure? what temptations does it triumphantly overcome? Is Christ in you the hope of glory, and is your heart purified through that blessed hope? To a church we trust you belong; but whose is the kingdom within you? What principles ever actuate you which Christ and his apostles taught? Where, in your affections and life, are the fruits of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance? Turn the precepts of the gospel into questions, and ask thus what the Spirit would say unto you, as he said unto the churches. It was by keeping the word of the Lord, and not denying his faith, by hearing what the Spirit said, that the church of Philadelphia held fast what they had, and no man took their crown, though situated directly between the church of Laodicea, which was lukewarm, and Sardis, which was dead. And dead as Sardis was, the Lord had a few names in it which had not defiled their garments-Christians, worthy of the name, who lived, as you yourself should ever live, in the faith of the Lord Jesus-dead unto sin, and alive unto righteousness; while all around them, though naming the name of Jesus, were dead in trespasses and sins. Try your faith by its fruits; judge yourself that you be not judged; examine yourself whether you be in the faith; prove your own self; and with the whole counsel of God, as revealed in the gospel, open to your view, let the rule of your self-scrutiny be what the Spirit said unto the churches. What the Spirit said unto primitive and apostolic churches, over which "the beloved disciple" personally presided, may suffice to Many prophecies remain which are not prove that none who have left their first love, here noticed. But were any gainsayers to if ever they have truly felt the love of Jesus ask for more obvious facts and some demonthat none who are guilty of seducing stration of the truth of prophecy, which others into sin and uncleanness that none your own ears might hear and your eyes see, who have a name that they live, and are dead you have only to hear how they speak evil - and that none who are lukewarm are of the things that they understand not worthy members of any Christian communion; how they speak great swelling words of and that while such they continue, no vanity to allure others, promising them liberChristian communion can be profitable to ty while they themselves are the children of them. But unto them is "space to repent" given. And to them the word and Spirit speak in entreaties, encouragements, exhortations, and warnings, that they may turn from their sins to the Saviour, and that they may live and not die. But were there one name in Sodom, or a few in Sardis, that are the Lord's, he knows and names them every corruption; you have only to look on these scoffers, and mockers, and false teachers, who have come in the last times; who walk after their own lusts, who despise government, who are presumptuous and self-willed, and who foam out their own shame, to hear and to see the loud and living witnesses of the truth of God's holy and unerring word. (2 Pet. iii. 3; Jude 13.) Such have been, or interpreting, or prophesying, and without which you would be as nothing, though you understood all mystery and all knowledge. From the want of this the earth has been covered with ruins. Let it be yours, and however poor may be your earthly portion, If you have seen any wonderful things it will be infinitely more profitable to you out of the law of the Lord, and have looked, than all the kingdoms of the world, and all though from afar off, on the judgments of their glory. Prophecies shall fail; tongues God that have come upon the earth, lay not shall cease; knowledge shall vanish away; aside the thought of these things when you the earth and the works that are therein lay down this book. Treat them not as if shall be burned up; but charity never they were an idle tale, or as if you yourself faileth. were not to be a witness and more than a If you have kept the word of the Lord, witness of a far greater judgment, which and have not denied his name, hold that fast shall be brought nigh unto you, and shall be which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. But if heretofore you have been lukewarm, your own. If, in traversing some of the plainest and destitute of Christian faith, and zeal, paths of the field of prophecy, you have been and hope, and love, it would be vain to leave led by a way which you knew not of before, you with any mortal admonition; hear what let that path lead you to the well of living the Spirit saith, and harden not your heart waters, which springeth up into everlasting against the heavenly counsel, and the glorilife to every one that thirsts after it and ous encouragement given unto you by that drinks. Let the words of our Lord and Jesus of whom all the prophets bear witness, Saviour Jesus Christ be to you this well- and unto whom all things are now committed spring of the Christian life. Let the word by the Father. "I counsel thee to buy of of God enlighten your eyes, and it will also me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rejoice your heart. Search the Scriptures; rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be in them there are no lying divinations; they clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedtestify of Jesus, and in them you will find ness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes As eternal life. Pray for the teaching and the with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. aid of that Spirit by whose inspiration they many as I love I rebuke and chasten; be were given. And above all Christian vir- zealous, therefore, and repent. Behold, I tues, that may bear witness of your faith, stand at the door and knock: if any man put on charity, love to God and love to man, hear my voice, and open the door, I will the warp and woof of the Christian's new come in to him, and will sup with him, and vesture without a seam; even that charity, he with me. To him that overcometh will I or love, by which faith worketh, which is the grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I fruit of the Spirit, the end of the command- also overcame, and am set down with my ment, the fulfilling of the law, the bond of Father in his throne. He that hath an ear perfectness, and a better gift and a more to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith excellent way than speaking with tongues, unto the churches." CHAPTER XIV. DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AS FORETOLD BY CHRIST. THE Jews remain to this day not only the guardians of the Old Testament scriptures, but living witnesses of the truth of many prophecies, which, in the first ages of their history, unfolded their fate until the latest generations. Jewish and heathen historians fully describe the dreadful miseries which they suffered when all their cities were laid |