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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>R E V E L A T I O N.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Here we have three more of the epistles of Christ to the churches:
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I. To Sardis,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
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II. To Philadelphia,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:7-13">ver. 7-13</A>.
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III. To Laodicea,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:14-22">ver. 14, to the end</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Re3_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Church in Sardis.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These
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things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven
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stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest,
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and art dead.
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2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are
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ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
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3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold
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fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come
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on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come
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upon thee.
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4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled
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their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they
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are worthy.
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5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white
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raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of
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life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before
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his angels.
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6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
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the churches.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The preface, showing,
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1. To whom this letter is directed: <I>To the angel of the church of
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Sardis,</I> an ancient city of Lydia, on the banks of the mountain
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Tmolus, said to have been the chief city of Asia the Less, and the
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first city in that part of the world that was converted by the
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preaching of John; and, some say, the first that revolted from
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Christianity, and one of the first that was laid in its ruins, in which
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it still lies, without any church or ministry.
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2. By whom this message was sent--the Lord Jesus, who here assumes the
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character of him <I>that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven
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stars,</I> taken out of
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:4"><I>ch.</I> i. 4</A>,
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where <I>the seven spirits are said to be before the throne.</I>
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(1.) He hath the seven spirits, that is, the Holy Spirit with his
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various powers, graces, and operations; for he is personally one,
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though efficaciously various, and may be said here to be seven, which
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is the number of the churches, and of the angels of the churches, to
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show that to every minister, and to every church, there is a
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dispensation and measure of the Spirit given for them to profit
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withal--a stock of spiritual influence for that minister and church to
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improve, both for enlargement and continuance, which measure of the
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Spirit is not ordinarily withdrawn from them, till they forfeit it by
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misimprovement. Churches have their spiritual stock and fund, as well
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as particular believers; and, this epistle being sent to a languishing
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ministry and church, they are very fitly put in mind that Christ has
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the seven spirits, the Spirit without measure and in perfection, to
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whom they may apply themselves for the reviving of his work among them.
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(2.) He hath the seven stars, the angels of the churches; they are
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disposed of by him, and accountable to him, which should make them
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faithful and zealous. He has ministers to employ, and spiritual
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influences to communicate to his ministers for the good of his church.
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The Holy Spirit usually works by the ministry, and the ministry will be
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of no efficacy without the Spirit; the same divine hand holds them
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both.</P>
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<P>
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II. The body of this epistle. There is this observable in it, that
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whereas in the other epistles Christ begins with commending what is
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good in the churches, and then proceeds to tell them what is amiss, in
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this (and in the epistle to Laodicea) he begins,</P>
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<P>
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1. With a reproof, and a very severe one: <I>I know thy works, that
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thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.</I> Hypocrisy, and a
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lamentable decay in religion, are the sins charged upon this church, by
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one who knew her well, and all her works.
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(1.) This church had gained a great reputation; it had a name, and a
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very honourable one, for a flourishing church, a name for vital lively
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religion, for purity of doctrine, unity among themselves, uniformity in
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worship, decency, and order. We read not of any unhappy divisions among
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themselves. Every thing appeared well, as to what falls under the
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observation of men.
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(2.) This church was not really what it was reputed to be. They had a
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name to live, but they were dead; there was a form of godliness, but
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not the power, <I>a name to live,</I> but not a principle of life. If
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there was not a total privation of life, yet there was a great deadness
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in their souls and in their services, a great deadness in the spirits
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of their ministers, and a great deadness in their ministrations, in
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their praying, in their preaching, in their converse, and a great
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deadness in the people in hearing, in prayer, and in conversation; what
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little life was yet left among them was, in a manner, expiring, ready
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to die.</P>
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<P>
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2. Our Lord proceeds to give this degenerate church the best advice:
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<I>Be watchful, and strengthen the things,</I> &c.,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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(1.) He advises them to be upon their watch. The cause of their sinful
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deadness and declension was that they had let down their watch.
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Whenever we are off our watch, we lose ground, and therefore must
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return to our watchfulness against sin, and Satan, and whatever is
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destructive to the life and power of godliness.
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(2.) To strengthen the things that remain, and that are ready to die.
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Some understand this of persons; there were some few who had retained
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their integrity, but they were in danger of declining with the rest. It
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is a difficult thing to keep up to the life and <I>power of
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godliness</I> ourselves, when we see a universal deadness and
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declension prevailing round about us. Or it may be understood of
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practices, as it follows: <I>I have not found thy works perfect before
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God,</I> not filled up; there is something wanting in them; there is
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the shell, but not the kernel; there is the carcase, but not the
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soul--the shadow, but not the substance. The inward thing is wanting,
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thy works are hollow and empty; prayers are not filled up with holy
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desires, alms-deeds not filled up with true charity, sabbaths not
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filled up with suitable devotion of soul to God; there are not inward
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affections suitable to outward acts and expressions. Now when the
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spirit is wanting the form cannot long subsist.
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(3.) To recollect themselves, and <I>remember how they have received
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and heard</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>);
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not only to remember what they had received and heard, what messages
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they had received from God, what tokens of his mercy and favour towards
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them, what sermons they had heard, but how they had received and heard,
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what impressions the mercies of God had made upon their souls at first,
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what affections they felt working under their word and ordinances, the
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love of their espousals, the kindness of their youth, how welcome the
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gospel and the grace of God were to them when they first received them.
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<I>Where is the blessedness they then spoke of?</I>
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(4.) To hold fast what they had received, that they might not lose all,
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<I>and repent</I> sincerely that they had lost so much of the life of
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religion, and had run the risk of losing all.</P>
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<P>
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3. Christ enforces his counsel with a dreadful threatening in case it
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should be despised: <I>I will come unto thee as a thief, and thou shalt
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not know the hour,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Observe,
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(1.) When Christ leaves a people as to his gracious presence, he comes
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to them in judgment; and his judicial presence will be very dreadful to
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those who have sinned away his gracious presence.
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(2.) His judicial approach to a dead declining people will be
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surprising; their deadness will keep them in security, and, as it
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procures an angry visit from Christ to them, it will prevent their
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discerning it and preparing for it.
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(3.) Such a visit from Christ will be to their loss; he will come as a
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thief, to strip them of their remaining enjoyments and mercies, not by
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fraud, but in justice and righteousness, taking the forfeiture they
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have made of all to him.</P>
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<P>
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4. Our blessed Lord does not leave this sinful people without some
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comfort and encouragement: <I>In the midst of judgment he remembers
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mercy</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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and here
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(1.) He makes honourable mention of the faithful remnant in Sardis,
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though but small: <I>Thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not
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defiled their garments;</I> they had not given into the prevailing
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corruptions and pollution of the day and place in which they lived. God
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takes notice of the smallest number of those who abide with him; and
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the fewer they are the more precious in his sight.
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(2.) He makes a very gracious promise to them: <I>They shall walk with
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me in white, for they are worthy</I>--in the <I>stola,</I> the white
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robes of justification, and adoption, and comfort, or in the white
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robes of honour and glory in the other world. They shall walk with
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Christ in the pleasant walks of the heavenly paradise; and what
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delightful converse will there be between Christ and them when they
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thus walk together! This is an honour proper and suitable to their
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integrity, which their fidelity has prepared them for, and which it is
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no way unbecoming Christ to confer upon them, though it is not a legal
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but a gospel worthiness that is ascribed to them, not merit but
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meetness. Those who walk with Christ in the clean garments of real
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practical holiness here, and keep themselves unspotted from the world,
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shall walk with Christ in the white robes of honour and glory in the
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other world: this is a suitable reward.</P>
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<P>
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III. We now come to the conclusion of this epistle, in which, as
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before, we have,</P>
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<P>
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1. A great reward promised to the conquering Christian
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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and it is very much the same with what has been already mentioned:
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<I>He that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment.</I> The purity
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of grace shall be rewarded with the perfect purity of glory. Holiness,
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when perfected, shall be its own reward; glory is the perfection of
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grace, differing not in kind, but in degree. Now to this is added
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another promise very suitable to the case: <I>I will not blot his name
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out of the book of life, but will confess his name before my Father,
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and before his angels.</I> Observe,
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(1.) Christ has his book of life, a register and roll of all who shall
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inherit eternal life.
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[1.] The book of eternal election.
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[2.] The book of remembrance of all those who have lived to God, and
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have kept up the life and power of godliness in evil times.
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(2.) Christ will not blot the names of his chosen and faithful ones out
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of this book of life; men may be enrolled in the registers of the
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church, as baptized, as making a profession, as having a name to live,
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and that name may come to be blotted out of the roll, when it appears
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that it was but a name, a name to live, without spiritual life; such
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often lose the very name before they die, they are left of God to blot
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out their own names by their gross and open wickedness. But the names
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of those that overcome shall never be blotted out.
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(3.) Christ will produce this book of life, and confess the names of
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the faithful who stand there, before God, and all the angels; he will
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do this as their Judge, when the books shall be opened; he will do this
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as their captain and head, leading them with him triumphantly to
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heaven, presenting them to the Father: <I>Behold me, and the children
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that thou hast given me.</I> How great will this honour and reward
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be!</P>
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<P>
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2. The demand of universal attention finishes the message. Every word
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from God deserves attention from men; that which may seem more
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particularly directed to one body of men has something in it
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instructive to all.</P>
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<A NAME="Re3_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re3_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Church in Philadelphia.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These
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things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the
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key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth,
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and no man openeth;
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8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open
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door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,
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and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
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9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say
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they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them
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to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have
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loved thee.
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10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will
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keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all
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the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
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11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that
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no man take thy crown.
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12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my
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God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the
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name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, <I>which is</I>
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new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and
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<I>I will write upon him</I> my new name.
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13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
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the churches.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have now come to the sixth letter, sent to one of the Asian
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churches, where observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The inscription, showing,</P>
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<P>
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1. For whom it was more immediately designed: <I>The angel of the
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church of Philadelphia;</I> this also was a city in Asia Minor, seated
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upon the borders of Mysia and Lydia, and had its name from that
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brotherly love for which it was eminent. We can hardly suppose that
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this name was given to it after it received the Christian religion, and
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that it was so called from that Christian affection that all believers
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have, and should have, one for another, as the children of one Father
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and the brethren of Christ; but rather that it was its ancient name, on
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account of the love and kindness which the citizens had and showed to
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each other as a civil fraternity. This was an excellent spirit, and,
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when sanctified by the grace of the gospel, would render them an
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excellent church, as indeed they were, for here is no one fault found
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with this church, and yet, doubtless, there were faults in it of common
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infirmity; but love covers such faults.</P>
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<P>
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2. By whom this letter was signed; even by the same Jesus who is alone
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the universal head of all the churches; and here observe by what title
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he chooses to represent himself to this church: <I>He that is holy, he
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that is true, he that hath the key of David,</I> &c. You have his
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personal character: <I>He that is holy</I> and <I>he that is true,</I>
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holy in his nature, and therefore he cannot but be true to his word,
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for he hath spoken in his holiness; and you have also his political
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character: <I>He hath the key of David, he openeth, and no man
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shutteth; he hath the key of the house of David,</I> the key of
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government and authority in and over the church. Observe,
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(1.) The acts of his government.
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[1.] He opens. He opens a door of opportunity to his churches; he opens
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a door of utterance to his ministers; he opens a door of entrance,
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opens the heart; he opens a door of admission into the visible church,
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laying down the terms of communion; and he opens the door of admission
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into the church triumphant, according to the terms of salvation fixed
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by him.
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[2.] He shuts the door. When he pleases, he shuts the door of
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opportunity and the door of utterance, and leaves obstinate sinners
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shut up in the hardness of their hearts; he shuts the door of
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church-fellowship against unbelievers and profane persons; and he shuts
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the door of heaven against the foolish virgins who have slept away
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their day of grace, and against the workers of iniquity, how vain and
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confident soever they may be.
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(2.) The way and manner in which he performs these acts, and that is
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absolute sovereignty, independent upon the will of men, and
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irresistible by the power of men: <I>He openeth, and no man shutteth;
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|
he shutteth, and no man openeth;</I> he works to will and to do, and,
|
|
when he works, none can hinder. These were proper characters for him,
|
|
when speaking to a church that had endeavoured to be conformed to
|
|
Christ in holiness and truth, and that had enjoyed a wide door of
|
|
liberty and opportunity under his care and government.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The subject-matter of this epistle, where,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Christ puts them in mind of what he had done for them: <I>I have set
|
|
before thee an open door, and no man can shut it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
I have set it open, and kept it open, though there be many adversaries.
|
|
Learn here,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Christ is to be acknowledged as the author of all the liberty and
|
|
opportunity his churches enjoy.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He takes notice and keeps account, how long he has preserved their
|
|
spiritual liberties and privileges for them.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Wicked men envy the people of God their door of liberty, and would
|
|
be glad to shut it against them.
|
|
|
|
(4.) If we do not provoke Christ to shut this door against us, men
|
|
cannot do it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. This church is commended: <I>Thou hast a little strength, and hast
|
|
kept my word, and hast not denied my name,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
In this there seems to be couched a gentle reproof: "<I>Thou hast a
|
|
little strength,</I> a little grace, which, though it be not
|
|
proportionate to the wide door of opportunity which I have opened to
|
|
thee, yet is true grace, and has kept thee faithful." True grace,
|
|
though weak, has the divine approbation; but, though Christ accepts a
|
|
little strength, yet believers should not rest satisfied in a little,
|
|
but should strive to grow in grace, to be <I>strong in faith, giving
|
|
glory to God.</I> True grace, though weak, will do more than the
|
|
greatest gifts or highest degrees of common grace, for it will enable
|
|
the Christian to keep the word of Christ, and not to deny his name.
|
|
Obedience, fidelity, and a free confession of the name of Christ, are
|
|
the fruits of true grace, and are pleasing to Christ as such.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Here is a promise of the great favour God would bestow on this
|
|
church,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
This favour consists in two things:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Christ would make this church's enemies subject to her.
|
|
|
|
[1.] Those enemies are described to be such as <I>said they were
|
|
Jews,</I> but lied in saying so--pretended to be the only and peculiar
|
|
people of God, but were really <I>the synagogue of Satan.</I>
|
|
Assemblies that <I>worship God in spirit and in truth</I> are the
|
|
Israel of God; assemblies that either worship false gods, or the true
|
|
God in a false manner, are the synagogues of Satan: though they may
|
|
profess to be the only people of God, their profession is a lie.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Their subjection to the church is described: <I>They shall worship
|
|
at thy feet;</I> not pay a religious and divine honour to the church
|
|
itself, nor to the ministry of it, but shall be convinced that they
|
|
have been in the wrong, that this church is in the right and is beloved
|
|
of Christ, and they shall desire to be taken into communion with her
|
|
and that they may worship the same God after the same manner. How shall
|
|
this great change be wrought? By the power of God upon the hearts of
|
|
his enemies, and by signal discoveries of his peculiar favour to his
|
|
church: <I>They shall know that I have loved thee.</I> Observe,
|
|
<I>First,</I> The greatest honour and happiness any church can enjoy
|
|
consist in the peculiar love and favour of Christ. <I>Secondly,</I>
|
|
Christ can discover this his favour to his people in such a manner that
|
|
their very enemies shall see it, and be forced to acknowledge it.
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> This will, by the grace of Christ, soften the hearts of
|
|
their enemies, and make them desirous to be admitted into communion
|
|
with them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Another instance of favour that Christ promises to this church is
|
|
persevering grace in the most trying times
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
and this as the reward of their past fidelity. <I>To him that hath
|
|
shall be given.</I> Here observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The gospel of Christ is the word of his patience. It is the fruit
|
|
of the patience of God to a sinful world; it sets before men the
|
|
exemplary patience of Christ in all his sufferings for men; it calls
|
|
those that receive it to the exercise of patience in conformity to
|
|
Christ.
|
|
|
|
[2.] This gospel should be carefully kept by all that enjoy it; they
|
|
must keep up to the faith, and practice, and worship prescribed in the
|
|
gospel.
|
|
|
|
[3.] After a day of patience we must expect an hour of temptation; a
|
|
day of gospel peace and liberty is a day of God's patience, and it is
|
|
seldom so well improved as it should be and therefore it is often
|
|
followed by an hour of trial and temptation.
|
|
|
|
[4.] Sometimes the trial is more general and universal; it comes upon
|
|
all the world, and, when it is so general, it is usually the shorter.
|
|
|
|
[5.] Those who keep the gospel in a time of peace shall be kept by
|
|
Christ in an hour of temptation. By keeping the gospel they are
|
|
prepared for the trial; and the same divine grace that has made them
|
|
fruitful in times of peace will make them faithful in times of
|
|
persecution.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Christ calls the church to that duty which he before promised he
|
|
would enable her to do, and that is, to persevere, <I>to hold fast that
|
|
which she had.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The duty itself: "<I>Hold fast that which thou hast,</I> that
|
|
faith, that truth, that strength of grace, that zeal, that love to the
|
|
brethren; thou hast been possessed of this excellent treasure, hold it
|
|
fast."
|
|
|
|
(2.) The motives, taken from the speedy appearance of Christ:
|
|
"<I>Behold, I come quickly.</I> See, I am just a coming to relieve them
|
|
under the trial, to reward their fidelity, and to punish those who fall
|
|
away; they shall lose that crown which they once seemed to have a right
|
|
to, which they hoped for, and pleased themselves with the thoughts of.
|
|
The persevering Christian shall win the prize from backsliding
|
|
professors, who once stood fair for it."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The conclusion of this epistle,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. After his usual manner, our Saviour promises a glorious reward to
|
|
the victorious believer, in two things:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) He shall be a monumental <I>pillar in the temple of God;</I> not a
|
|
pillar to support the temple (heaven needs no such props), but a
|
|
monument of the free and powerful grace of God, a monument that shall
|
|
never be defaced nor removed, as many stately pillars erected in honour
|
|
to the Roman emperors and generals have been.
|
|
|
|
(2.) On this monumental pillar there shall be an honourable
|
|
inscription, as in those cases is usual.
|
|
|
|
[1.] <I>The name of God,</I> in whose cause he engaged, whom he served,
|
|
and for whom he suffered in this warfare; <I>and the name of the city
|
|
of God,</I> the church of God, <I>the new Jerusalem, which came down
|
|
from heaven.</I> On this pillar shall be recorded all the services the
|
|
believer did to the church of God, how he asserted her rights, enlarged
|
|
her borders, maintained her purity and honour; this will be a greater
|
|
name than <I>Asiaticus,</I> or <I>Africanus;</I> a soldier under God in
|
|
the wars of the church. And then another part of the inscription is,
|
|
|
|
[2.] The <I>new name</I> of Christ, the Mediator, the Redeemer, the
|
|
captain of our salvation; by this it will appear under whose banner
|
|
this conquering believer had enlisted, under whose conduct he acted, by
|
|
whose example he was encouraged, and under whose influence he fought
|
|
the good fight, and came off victorious.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The epistle is closed up with the demand of attention: <I>He that
|
|
hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,</I>
|
|
how Christ loves and values his faithful people, how he commends, and
|
|
how he will crown their fidelity.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Re3_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re3_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re3_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re3_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re3_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re3_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re3_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re3_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re3_22"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Church in Laodicea.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 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;
|
|
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I
|
|
would thou wert cold or hot.
|
|
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
|
|
I will spue thee out of my mouth.
|
|
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods,
|
|
and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched,
|
|
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
|
|
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
|
|
thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be
|
|
clothed, and <I>that</I> the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and
|
|
anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.
|
|
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
|
|
therefore, and repent.
|
|
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
|
|
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup
|
|
with him, and he with me.
|
|
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
|
|
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father
|
|
in his throne.
|
|
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
|
|
the churches.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We now come to the last and worst of all the seven Asian churches, the
|
|
reverse of the church of Philadelphia; for, as there was nothing
|
|
reproved in that, here is nothing commended in this, and yet this was
|
|
one of <I>the seven golden candlesticks,</I> for a corrupt church may
|
|
still be a church. Here we have, as before,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The inscription, to whom, and from whom.
|
|
|
|
1. To whom: <I>To the angel of the church of Laodicea.</I> This was a
|
|
once famous city near the river Lycus, had a wall of vast compass, and
|
|
three marble theatres, and, like Rome, was built on seven hills. It
|
|
seems, the apostle Paul was very instrumental in planting the gospel in
|
|
this city, from which he wrote a letter, as he mentions in <I>the
|
|
epistle to the Colossians,</I> the last chapter, in which he sends
|
|
salutations to them, Laodicea not being above twenty miles distant from
|
|
Colosse. In this city was held a council in the fourth century, but it
|
|
has been long since demolished, and lies in its ruins to this day, an
|
|
awful monument of <I>the wrath of the Lamb.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. From whom this message was sent. Here our Lord Jesus styles himself
|
|
<I>the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the
|
|
creation of God.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>The Amen,</I> one that is steady and unchangeable in all his
|
|
purposes and promises, which are all yea, and all amen.
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>The faithful and true witness,</I> whose testimony of God to
|
|
men ought to be received and fully believed, and whose testimony of men
|
|
to God will be fully believed and regarded, and will be a swift but
|
|
true witness against all indifferent lukewarm professors.
|
|
|
|
(3.) <I>The beginning of the creation of God,</I> either of the first
|
|
creation, and so he is the beginning, that is, the first cause, the
|
|
Creator, and the Governor of it; or of the second creation, the church;
|
|
and so he is the head of that body, the first-born from the dead, as it
|
|
is in
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:5"><I>ch.</I> i. 5</A>,
|
|
|
|
whence these titles are taken. Christ, having raised up himself by his
|
|
own divine power, as the head of a new world, raises up dead souls to
|
|
be a living temple and church to himself.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The subject-matter, in which observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The heavy charge drawn up against this church, ministers and people,
|
|
by one who knew them better than they knew themselves: <I>Thou art
|
|
neither cold nor hot,</I> but worse than either; <I>I would thou wert
|
|
cold or hot,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Lukewarmness or indifference in religion is the worst temper in the
|
|
world. If religion is a real thing, it is the most excellent thing, and
|
|
therefore we should be in good earnest in it; if it is not a real
|
|
thing, it is the vilest imposture, and we should be earnest against it.
|
|
If religion is worth any thing, it is worth every thing; an
|
|
indifference here is inexcusable: <I>Why halt you between two opinions?
|
|
If God be God, follow him; if Baal</I> (be God), <I>follow him.</I>
|
|
Here is no room for neutrality. An open enemy shall have a fairer
|
|
quarter than a perfidious neuter; and there is more hope of a heathen
|
|
than of such. Christ expects that men should declare themselves in
|
|
earnest either for him or against him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. A severe punishment threatened: <I>I will spue thee out of my
|
|
mouth.</I> As lukewarm water turns the stomach, and provokes to a
|
|
vomit, lukewarm professors turn the heart of Christ against them. He is
|
|
sick of them, and cannot long bear them. They may call their
|
|
lukewarmness <I>charity, meekness, moderation,</I> and <I>a largeness
|
|
of soul;</I> it is nauseous to Christ, and makes those so that allow
|
|
themselves in it. They shall be rejected, and finally rejected; for far
|
|
be it from the holy Jesus to return to that which has been thus
|
|
rejected.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. We have one cause of this indifference and inconsistency in religion
|
|
assigned, and that is self-conceitedness or self-delusion. They thought
|
|
they were very well already, and therefore they were very indifferent
|
|
whether they grew better or no: <I>Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
|
|
increased with goods,</I> &c.,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here observe, What a difference there was between the thoughts they had
|
|
of themselves and the thoughts that Christ had of them.
|
|
|
|
(1.) The high thoughts they had of themselves: <I>Thou sayest, I am
|
|
rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,</I> rich, and
|
|
growing richer, and increased to such a degree as to be above all want
|
|
or possibility of wanting. Perhaps they were well provided for as to
|
|
their bodies, and this made them overlook the necessities of their
|
|
souls. Or they thought themselves well furnished in their souls: they
|
|
had learning, and they took it for religion; they had gifts, and they
|
|
took them for grace; they had wit, and they took it for true wisdom;
|
|
they had ordinances, and they took up with them instead of the God of
|
|
ordinances. How careful should we be not to put the cheat upon our own
|
|
souls! Doubtless there are many in hell that once thought themselves to
|
|
be in the way to heaven. Let us daily beg of God that we may not be
|
|
left to flatter and deceive ourselves in the concerns of our souls.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The mean thoughts that Christ had of them; and he was not
|
|
mistaken. He knew, though they knew not, that they were <I>wretched,
|
|
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.</I> Their state was
|
|
wretched in itself, and such as called for pity and compassion from
|
|
others: though they were proud of themselves, they were pitied by all
|
|
who knew their case. For,
|
|
|
|
[1.] They were poor, really poor, when they said and thought they were
|
|
rich; they had no provision for their souls to live upon; their souls
|
|
were starving in the midst of their abundance; they were vastly in debt
|
|
to the justice of God, and had nothing to pay off the least part of the
|
|
debt.
|
|
|
|
[2.] They were <I>blind;</I> they could not see their state, nor their
|
|
way, nor their danger; they could not see into themselves; they could
|
|
not look before them; they were blind, and yet they thought they saw;
|
|
the very light that was in them was darkness, and then how great must
|
|
that darkness be! They could not see Christ, though evidently set
|
|
forth, and crucified, before their eyes. They could not see God by
|
|
faith, though always present in them. They could not see death, though
|
|
it was just before them. They could not look into eternity, though they
|
|
stood upon the very brink of it continually.
|
|
|
|
[3.] They were naked, without clothing and without house and harbour
|
|
for their souls. They were without clothing, had neither the garment of
|
|
justification nor that of sanctification. Their nakedness both of guilt
|
|
and pollution had no covering. They lay always exposed to sin and
|
|
shame. Their righteousnesses were but filthy rags; they were rags, and
|
|
would not cover them, filthy rags, and would defile them. And they were
|
|
naked, without house or harbour, for they were without God, and he has
|
|
been the dwelling-place of his people in all ages; in him alone the
|
|
soul of man can find rest, and safety, and all suitable accommodations.
|
|
The riches of the body will not enrich the soul; the sight of the body
|
|
will not enlighten the soul; the most convenient house for the body
|
|
will not afford rest nor safety to the soul. The soul is a different
|
|
thing from the body, and must have accommodation suitable to its
|
|
nature, or else in the midst of bodily prosperity it will be wretched
|
|
and miserable.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. We have good counsel given by Christ to this sinful people, and that
|
|
is that they drop their vain and false opinion they had of themselves,
|
|
and endeavour to be that really which they would seem to be: <I>I
|
|
counsel thee to buy of me,</I> &c.,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Our Lord Jesus Christ continues to give good counsel to those who
|
|
have cast his counsels behind their backs.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The condition of sinners in never desperate, while they enjoy the
|
|
gracious calls and counsels of Christ.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Our blessed Lord, the counsellor, always gives the best advice,
|
|
and that which is most suitable to the sinner's case; as here,
|
|
|
|
[1.] These people were poor; Christ counsels them to buy of him gold
|
|
tried in the fire, that they might be rich. He lets them know where
|
|
they might have true riches and how they might have them.
|
|
<I>First,</I> Where they might have them--from himself; he sends them
|
|
not to the streams of Pactolus, nor to the mines of Potosi, but invites
|
|
them to himself, the pearl of price. <I>Secondly,</I> And how must they
|
|
have this true gold from him? They must buy it. This seems to be
|
|
unsaying all again. How can those that are poor buy gold? Just as they
|
|
may buy of Christ wine and milk, that is, <I>without money and without
|
|
price,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+55:1">Isa. lv. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
Something indeed must be parted with, but it is nothing of a valuable
|
|
consideration, it is only to make room for receiving true riches. "Part
|
|
with sin and self-sufficiency, and come to Christ with a sense of your
|
|
poverty and emptiness, that you may be filled with his hidden
|
|
treasure."
|
|
|
|
[2.] These people were naked; Christ tells them where they might have
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clothing, and such as would cover the shame of their nakedness. This
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they must receive from Christ; and they must only put off their filthy
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|
rags that they might put on the white raiment which he had purchased
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and provided for them--his own imputed righteousness for justification
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and the garments of holiness and sanctification.
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[3.] They were blind; and he <I>counsels them to buy of him eye-salve,
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that they might see,</I> to give up their own wisdom and reason, which
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are but blindness in the things of God, and resign themselves to his
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word and Spirit, and their eyes shall be opened to see their way and
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|
their end, their duty and their true interest; a new and glorious scene
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|
would then open itself to their souls; a new world furnished with the
|
|
most beautiful and excellent objects, and this light would be
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|
marvellous to those who were but just now delivered from the powers of
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|
darkness. This is the wise and good counsel Christ gives to careless
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souls; and, if they follow it, he will judge himself bound in honour to
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make it effectual.</P>
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<P>
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5. Here is added great and gracious encouragement to this sinful people
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to take the admonition and advice well that Christ had given them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>.
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He tells them,
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(1.) It was given them in true and tender affection: "<I>Whom I love, I
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rebuke and chasten.</I> You may think I have given you hard words and
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|
severe reproofs; it is all out of love to your souls. I would not have
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|
thus openly rebuked and corrected your sinful lukewarmness and vain
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|
confidence, if I had not been a lover of your souls; had I hated you, I
|
|
would have let you alone, to go on in sin till it had been your ruin."
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|
Sinners ought to take the rebukes of God's word and rod as tokens of
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|
his good-will to their souls, and should accordingly repent in good
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earnest, and turn to him that smites them; better are the frowns and
|
|
wounds of a friend than the flattering smiles of an enemy.
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(2.) If they would comply with his admonitions, he was ready to make
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them good to their souls: <I>Behold, I stand at the door and knock,</I>
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&c.,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
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Here observe,
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[1.] Christ is graciously pleased by his word and Spirit to come to the
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door of the heart of sinners; he draws near to them in a way of mercy,
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|
ready to make them a kind visit.
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|
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[2.] He finds this door shut against him; the heart of man is by nature
|
|
shut up against Christ by ignorance, unbelief, sinful prejudices.
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[3.] When he finds the heart shut, he does not immediately withdraw,
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|
but he waits to be gracious, even till his head be filled with the dew.
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|
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[4.] He uses all proper means to awaken sinners, and to cause them to
|
|
open to him: he calls by his word, he knocks by the impulses of his
|
|
Spirit upon their conscience.
|
|
|
|
[5.] Those who open to him shall enjoy his presence, to their great
|
|
comfort and advantage. He will sup with them; he will accept of what is
|
|
good in them; he will eat his pleasant fruit; and he will bring the
|
|
best part of the entertainment with him. If what he finds would make
|
|
but a poor feast, what he brings will make up the deficiency: he will
|
|
give fresh supplies of graces and comforts, and thereby stir up fresh
|
|
actings of faith, and love, and delight; and in all this Christ and his
|
|
repenting people will enjoy pleasant communion with each other. Alas!
|
|
what do careless obstinate sinners lose by refusing to open the door of
|
|
the heart to Christ!</P>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. We now come to the conclusion of this epistle; and here we have as
|
|
before,</P>
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|
<P>
|
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1. The promise made to the overcoming believer. It is here implied,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That though this church seemed to be wholly overrun and overcome
|
|
with lukewarmness and self-confidence, yet it was possible that by the
|
|
reproofs and counsels of Christ they might be inspired with fresh zeal
|
|
and vigour, and might come off conquerors in their spiritual warfare.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That, if they did so, all former faults should be forgiven, and
|
|
they should have a great reward. And what is that reward? <I>They shall
|
|
sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and have sat down
|
|
with my Father on his throne,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
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|
|
Here it is intimated,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That Christ himself had met with his temptations and conflicts.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That he overcame them all, and was more than a conqueror.
|
|
|
|
[3.] That, as the reward of his conflict and victory, he has sat down
|
|
with God the Father on his throne, possessed of that glory which he had
|
|
with the Father from eternity, but which he was pleased very much to
|
|
conceal on earth, leaving it as it were in the hands of the Father, as
|
|
a pledge that he would fulfil the work of a Saviour before he reassumed
|
|
that manifestative glory; and, having done so, then <I>pignus
|
|
reposcere--he demands the pledge,</I> to appear in his divine glory
|
|
equal to the Father.
|
|
|
|
[4.] That those who are conformed to Christ in his trials and victories
|
|
shall be conformed to him in his glory; they shall sit down with him on
|
|
his throne, on his throne of judgment at the end of the world, on his
|
|
throne of glory to all eternity, shining in his beams by virtue of
|
|
their union with him and relation to him, as the mystical body of which
|
|
he is the head.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. All is closed up with the general demand of attention
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
putting all to whom these epistles shall come in mind that what is
|
|
contained in them is not of private interpretation, not intended for
|
|
the instruction, reproof, and correction of those particular churches
|
|
only, but of all the churches of Christ in all ages and parts of the
|
|
world: and as there will be a resemblance in all succeeding churches to
|
|
these, both in their graces and sins, so they may expect that God will
|
|
deal with them as he dealt with these, which are patterns to all ages
|
|
what faithful, and fruitful churches may expect to receive from God,
|
|
and what those who are unfaithful may expect to suffer from his hand;
|
|
yea, that God's dealings with his churches may afford useful
|
|
instruction to the rest of the world, to put them upon considering,
|
|
<I>If judgment begin at the house of God, what shall the end of those
|
|
be that do not obey the gospel of Christ?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+4:17">1 Pet. iv. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus end the messages of Christ to the Asian churches, the epistolary
|
|
part of this book. We now come to the prophetical part.</P>
|
|
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