PART X.

THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH IN SARDIS. THE FIFTH SEAL. THE FIFTH TRUMPET. THE FIFTH VIAL.

THIS period of Christian history embraces the events of the Reformation. We have seen from these prophecies, that the Church had scarcely been formed, when men began to decline from the faith and works of CHRIST. And as it must be admitted, that when first principles are departed from, every step taken in that direction must lead us further from the mind and will of God, it is evident that however zealous men may be for the truth, and however earnestly they may desire the welfare of the Church, failure and disappointment will attend every effort that is made to build it up, unless it be in the way of the LORD, and according to the original design or pattern given by Him. If we have departed from the mind and way of the LORD, no true or efficient reformation can be wrought unless we go back to the original pattern and structure of CHRIST's Church, and begin at the beginning. However praiseworthy, therefore, the efforts made by those devoted servants of the LORD at the Reformation, the end could not be otherwise than we have stated. And though there be found in the reformed church a remnant of pure and holy people, they fail to attain the great purpose of GOD in the building up of the Church; there is no unity of design, save that of

Rev. iii. 16.

individual or personal salvation; no building up of a body for a habitation of GOD through the Spirit. And not having the means of unity, divisions necessarily increase more and more, till utter dissolution or dismembership ensues.

We are therefore prepared for the revelation given us in the fourfold series of prophecy which describes the fifth period of the Christian dispensation. The spiritual phase of this period is presented to us in

THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH OF SARDIS.

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of GOD, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before GOD.

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My FATHER, and before His angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Sardis" signifies a Remnant or Prince of joy, and points in its prophetic aspect to the era of the Reformation, at which period, a remnant bearing witness to the truth, and testifying against the corruption of the Church, emerged from its oppressive tyranny, and resorted to a purer worship, by using the Word of GOD uncorrupted by the traditions of men, and fearful per

versions of Rome. These holy and devoted men, like Jacob of old, had earnestly cried unto the LORD, and as a Prince they had power with GoD and prevailed. Therefore were they filled with holy joy and magnified the Name of the LORD because of His faithfulness and truth.

"These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of GOD, and the seven stars." The title, or designation of our LORD, by which this Epistle is headed, is particularly adapted to the spiritual condition and times of the reformed Church, and reveals to us the true character of the Epistle and ground of the complaints made in it. In the prefatory vision to the Epistles, (chapter i.,) the LORD JESUS is represented as "holding the seven stars in His right hand," which we interpreted to mean, the upholding and sustaining of the angels of the Churches in their office by His Apostles. And He is there represented also as walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks." In like manner, the seven Spirits of GOD and the seven stars being coupled together in this Epistle, seem intended to remind the angel of the Church of Sardis, that the gift of the HOLY GHOST cannot be used, save in connection with the ministers of CHRIST. It is important to observe also the difference of expression in regard to the seven stars in the Epistle to Sardis, as well as the making mention of the seven Spirits of GOD, instead of seven golden candlesticks with which the stars are associated in the vision referred to. In that vision, the LORD JESUS expresses His powerful holding of the stars in His right hand, as also in His Epistle to Ephesus; but in the Epistle to Sardis, He speaks of Himself not as holding them, but as possessing or containing them ; not ὁ κράτων, but ὁ ἔχων,

And, knowing as prefixed to each

He that hath the Spirits and the stars. In the vision, His action, direction, and support of the angels are manifested. But in this Epistle, He simply states the fact concerning Himself, that He is the fountain and source of these gifts of ministry and of the Spirit; that both the Spirit and ministry are His. Implying thereby, that though, through the faithlessness of the Church they had ceased to be exercised as at its original constitution, yet they were in Him, and ready to be put forth and brought into active use, for the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the Body of CHRIST, whenever the Church would receive them, and use them under Him, and for Him. we do, that the title of our LORD Epistle, has always an immediate application to the subject matter of the Epistle itself, the cause of warning and rebuke in the one before us, is at once evident. The state of the Sardian Church, as here pourtrayed, shows a short-coming, and a failing to attain to the perfect ordinances of CHRIST. The LORD had delivered them from the cruel tyranny and fearful abominations of the Papacy under which they had groaned for centuries, and filled them with joy, giving them the Spirit of adoption and sonship, but still they sought not the means of attaining unto perfection; they desired not the building up of CHRIST's Church, that she might be made ready for His appearing and kingdom; but were content to be under civil authority, as though the rule of the State could supply APOSTOLIC rule and guidance. Being ignorant of the perfect way of the LORD, they failed to call upon GOD for the fulness of the ministries of CHRIST, and gifts of the Spirit as essential to the perfecting of the Church. As a reformed Church, they stood on a high eminence

11, 12:

above those who were contented to remain the slaves of corruption; but to work the works of GOD, they should have gone up higher, and sat with CHRIST in the heavenlies, that apprehending HIм as possessing the fulness of the HOLY GHOST, and of all ministry, they might receive out of His fulness even grace for grace, according to the measure of the gift of CHRIST: as it is written, "When He ascended up on high, He Eph. iv. 8, received gifts for men and He gave some men apostles; and some men prophets; and some men evangelists; and some men pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of CHRIST, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of GOD, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of CHRIST." For lack of these they failed to do the work of CHRIST, and scattering and division, instead of building up, have been the consequence. Vast and comprehensive as this truth is, such is the instruction conveyed in the designation of our LORD in this Epistle which immediately precedes, or rather is connected with the rebuke.

"I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." However glorious the reformed Church may be in the sight of men, this is the judgment of the LORD respecting it-" Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." What then is the calling of the Church if that to which the Reformers attained be not it? Truly it consists not merely in protesting against evil, but also in holding that which is good. It is that which the very name of Christianity implies. It is the development of the fulness of the HOLY GHOST, in manifested Unity. And herein especially were their works faulty before