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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. II.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The apostle John, having in the foregoing chapter written the things
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which he had seen, now proceeds to write the things that are, according
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to the command of God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:19"><I>ch.</I> i. 19</A>),
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that is, the present state of the seven churches of Asia, with which he
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had a particular acquaintance, and for which he had a tender concern. He
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was directed to write to every one of them according to their present
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state and circumstances, and to inscribe every letter to the angel of
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that church, to the minister or rather ministry of that church, called
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angels because they are the messengers of God to mankind. In this
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chapter we have,
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I. The message sent to Ephesus,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>.
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II. To Smyrna,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:8-11">ver. 8-11</A>.
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III. To Pergamos,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:12-17">ver. 12-17</A>.
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IV. To Thyatira,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:18-29">ver. 18</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Re2_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re2_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re2_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re2_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re2_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re2_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re2_7"> </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 Ephesus.</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>1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things
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saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who
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walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
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2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how
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thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them
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which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them
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liars:
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3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake
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hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
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4 Nevertheless I have <I>somewhat</I> against thee, because thou
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hast left thy first love.
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5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent,
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and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly,
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and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou
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repent.
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6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the
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Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
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7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
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the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the
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tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The inscription, where observe,
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1. To whom the first of these epistles is directed: <I>To the church of
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Ephesus,</I> a famous church planted by the apostle Paul
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+19:1-41">Acts xix.</A>),
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and afterwards watered and governed by John, who had his residence very
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much there. We can hardly think that Timothy was the angel, or sole
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pastor and bishop, of this church at this time,--that he who was of a
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very excellent spirit, and naturally cared for the good state of the
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souls of the people, should become so remiss as to deserve the rebukes
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given to the ministry of this church. Observe,
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2. From whom this epistle to Ephesus was sent; and here we have one of
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those titles that were given to Christ in his appearance to John in the
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chapter foregoing: <I>He that holds the seven stars in his right hand,
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and walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:13,16"><I>ch.</I> i. 13, 16</A>.
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This title consists of two parts:--
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(1.) <I>He that holds the stars in his right hand.</I> The ministers of
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Christ are under his special care and protection. It is the honour of
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God that he knows the number of the stars, calls them by their names,
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<I>binds the sweet influences of Pleiades and looses the bands of
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Orion;</I> and it is the honour of the Lord Jesus Christ that the
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ministers of the gospel, who are greater blessings to the church than
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the stars are to the world, are in his hand. He directs all their
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motions; he disposes of them into their several orbs; he fills them
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with light and influence; he supports them, or else they would soon be
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falling stars; they are instruments in his hand, and all the good they
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do is done by his hand with them.
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(2.) <I>He walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks.</I> This
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intimates his relation to his churches, as the other his relation to
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his ministers. Christ is in an intimate manner present and conversant
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with his churches; he knows and observes their state; he takes pleasure
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in them, as a man does to walk in his garden. Though Christ is in
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heaven, he walks in the midst of his churches on earth, observing what
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is amiss in them and what it is that they want. This is a great
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encouragement to those who have the care of the churches, that the Lord
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Jesus has graven them upon the palms of his hands.</P>
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<P>
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II. The contents of the epistle, in which, as in most of those that
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follow, we have,</P>
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<P>
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1. The commendation Christ gave this church, ministers and members,
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which he always brings in by declaring that he knows their works, and
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therefore both his commendation and reprehension are to be strictly
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regarded; for he does not in either speak at a venture: he knows what
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he says. Now the church of Ephesus is commended,
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(1.) For their diligence in duty: <I>I know thy works, and thy
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labour,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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This may more immediately relate to the ministry of this church, which
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had been laborious and diligent. Dignity calls for duty. Those that are
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stars in Christ's hand had need to be always in motion, dispensing
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light to all about them. <I>For my name's sake thou hast laboured, and
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hast not fainted,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Christ keeps an account of every day's work, and every hour's work, his
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servants do for him, <I>and their labour shall not be in vain in the
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Lord.</I>
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(2.) For their patience in suffering: <I>Thy labour and thy
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patience,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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It is not enough that we be diligent, but we must be patient, and
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endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ. Ministers must have and
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exercise great patience, and no Christian can be without it. There must
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be bearing patience, to endure the injuries of men and the rebukes of
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Providence; and there must be waiting patience, that, when they have
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done the will of God, they may receive the promise: <I>Thou hast borne,
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and hast patience,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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We shall meet with such difficulties in our way and work as require
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patience to go on and finish well.
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(3.) For their zeal against what was evil: <I>Thou canst not bear those
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that are evil,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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It consists very well with Christian patience not to dispense with sin,
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much less allow it; though we must show all meekness to men, yet we
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must show a just zeal against their sins. This their zeal was the more
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to be commended because it was according to knowledge, a discreet zeal
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upon a previous trial made of the pretences, practices, and tenets of
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evil men: <I>Thou hast tried those that say they are apostles and are
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not, and hast found them liars.</I> True zeal proceeds with discretion;
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none should be cast off till they be tried. Some had risen up in this
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church that pretended to be not ordinary ministers, but apostles; and
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their pretensions had been examined but found to be vain and false.
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Those that impartially search after truth may come to the knowledge of
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it.</P>
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<P>
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2. The rebuke given to this church: <I>Nevertheless, I have somewhat
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against thee,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Those that have much good in them may have something much amiss in
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them, and our Lord Jesus, as an impartial Master and Judge, takes
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notice of both; though he first observes what is good, and is most
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ready to mention this, yet he also observes what is amiss, and will
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faithfully reprove them for it. The sin that Christ charged this church
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with was their decay and declension in holy love and zeal: <I>Thou hast
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left thy first love;</I> not left and forsaken the object of it, but
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lost the fervent degree of it that at first appeared. Observe,
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(1.) The first affections of men towards Christ, and holiness, and
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heaven, are usually lively and warm. God remembered the love of
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Israel's espousals, when she would follow him withersoever he went.
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(2.) These lively affections will abate and cool if great care be not
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taken, and diligence used, to preserve them in constant exercise.
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(3.) Christ is grieved and displeased with his people when he sees them
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grow remiss and cold towards him, and he will one way or other make
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them sensible that he does not take it well from them.</P>
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<P>
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3. The advice and counsel given them from Christ: <I>Remember therefore
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whence thou hast fallen, and repent,</I> &c.
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(1.) Those that have lost their first love <I>must remember whence they
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have fallen;</I> they must compare their present with their former
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state, and consider how much better it was with them then than now, how
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much peace, strength, purity, and pleasure they have lost, by leaving
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their first love,--how much more comfortably they could lie down and
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sleep at night,--how much more cheerfully they could awake in the
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morning,--how much better they could bear afflictions, and how much
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more becomingly they could enjoy the favours of Providence,--how much
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easier the thoughts of death were to them, and how much stronger their
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desires and hopes of heaven.
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(2.) They must repent. They must be inwardly grieved and ashamed for
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their sinful declension; they must blame themselves, and shame
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themselves, for it, and humbly confess it in the sight of God, and
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judge and condemn themselves for it.
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(3.) They must return and do their first works. They must as it were
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begin again, go back step by step, till they come to the place where
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they took the first false step; they must endeavour to revive and
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recover their first zeal, tenderness, and seriousness, and must pray as
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earnestly, and watch as diligently, as they did when they first set out
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in the ways of God.</P>
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<P>
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4. This good advice is enforced and urged,
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(1.) By a severe threatening, if it should be neglected: <I>I will come
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unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of its place.</I> If
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the presence of Christ's grace and Spirit be slighted, we may expect
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the presence of his displeasure. He will come in a way of judgment, and
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that suddenly and surprisingly, upon impenitent churches and sinners;
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he will unchurch them, take away his gospel, his ministers, and his
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ordinances from them, and what will the churches or the angels of the
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churches do when the gospel is removed?
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(2.) By an encouraging mention that is made of what was yet good among
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them: <I>This thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
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which I also hate,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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"Though thou hast declined in thy love to what is good, yet thou
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retainest thy hatred to what is evil, especially to what is grossly
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so." The Nicolaitans were a loose sect who sheltered themselves under
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the name of Christianity. They held hateful doctrines, and they were
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guilty of hateful deeds, hateful to Christ and to all true Christians;
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and it is mentioned to the praise of the church of Ephesus that they
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had a just zeal and abhorrence of those wicked doctrines and practices.
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An indifference of spirit between truth and error, good and evil, may
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be called <I>charity</I> and <I>meekness,</I> but it is not pleasing to
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Christ. Our Saviour subjoins this kind commendation to his severe
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threatening, to make the advice more effectual.</P>
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<P>
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III. We have the conclusion of this epistle, in which, as in those that
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follow, we have,</P>
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<P>
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1. A call to attention: <I>He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
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Spirit saith unto the churches.</I> Observe,
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(1.) What is written in the scriptures is spoken by the Spirit of God.
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(2.) What is said to one church concerns all the churches, in every
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place and age.
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(3.) We can never employ our faculty of hearing better than in
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hearkening to the word of God: and we deserve to lose it if we do not
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employ it to this purpose. Those who will not hear the call of God now
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will wish at length they had never had a capacity of hearing any thing
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at all.</P>
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<P>
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2. A promise of great mercy to those who overcome. The Christian life
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is a warfare against sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh. It is not
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enough that we engage in this warfare, but we must pursue it to the
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end, we must never yield to our spiritual enemies, but fight the good
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fight, till we gain the victory, as all persevering Christians shall
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do; and the warfare and victory shall have a glorious triumph and
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reward. That which is here promised to the victors is that they shall
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<I>eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of
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God.</I> They shall have that perfection of holiness, and that
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confirmation therein, which Adam would have had if he had gone well
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through the course of his trial: he would then have eaten of the tree
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of life which was in the midst of paradise, and this would have been
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the sacrament of confirmation to him in his holy and happy state; so
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all who persevere in their Christian trial and warfare shall derive
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from Christ, as the tree of life, perfection and confirmation in
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holiness and happiness in the paradise of God; not in the earthly
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paradise, but the heavenly,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:1,2"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 1, 2</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Re2_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re2_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re2_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re2_11"> </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 Smyrna.</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>8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These
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things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is
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alive;
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9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art
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rich) and <I>I know</I> the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews,
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and are not, but <I>are</I> the synagogue of Satan.
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10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold,
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the devil shall cast <I>some</I> of you into prison, that ye may be
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tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
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unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
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11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
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the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second
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death.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We now proceed to the second epistle sent to another of the Asian
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churches, where, as before, observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The preface or inscription in both parts.
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1. The superscription, telling us to whom it was more expressly and
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immediately directed: <I>To the angel of the church in Smyrna,</I> a
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place well known at this day by our merchants, a city of great trade
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and wealth, perhaps the only city of all the seven that is still known
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by the same name, now however no longer distinguished for its Christian
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church being overrun by Mahomedism.
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2. The subscription, containing another of the glorious titles of our
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Lord Jesus, <I>the first and the last, he that was dead and is
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alive,</I> taken out of
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:17,18"><I>ch.</I> i. 17, 18</A>.
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(1.) Jesus Christ is the <I>first and the last.</I> It is but a little
|
|
scantling of time that is allowed to us in this world, but our Redeemer
|
|
is the first and the last. He is the first, for by him all things were
|
|
made, and he was before all things with God and was God himself. He is
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the last, for all things are made for him, and he will be the Judge of
|
|
all. This surely is the title of God, from everlasting and to
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|
everlasting, and it is the title of one that is an unchangeable
|
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Mediator between God and man, <I>Jesus, the same yesterday, to-day, and
|
|
for ever.</I> He was the first, for by him the foundation of the church
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|
was laid in the patriarchal state; and he is the last, for by him the
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|
top-stone will be brought forth and laid in the end of time.
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|
(2.) <I>He was dead and is alive.</I> He was dead, and died for our
|
|
sins; he is alive, for he rose again for our justification, and he ever
|
|
lives to make intercession for us. He was dead, and by dying purchased
|
|
salvation for us; he is alive, and by his life applies this salvation
|
|
to us. And <I>if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled by his
|
|
death, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.</I>
|
|
His death we commemorate every sacrament day; his resurrection and life
|
|
every sabbath day.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The subject-matter of this epistle to Smyrna, where, after the
|
|
common declaration of Christ's omniscience, and the perfect cognizance
|
|
he has of all the works of men and especially of his churches, he takes
|
|
notice,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Of the improvement they had made in their spiritual state. This
|
|
comes in in a short parentheses; yet it is very emphatic: <I>But thou
|
|
art rich</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
poor in temporals, but rich in spirituals--poor in spirit, and yet rich
|
|
in grace. Their spiritual riches are set off by their outward poverty.
|
|
Many who are rich in temporals are poor in spirituals. Thus it was with
|
|
the church of Laodicea. Some who are poor outwardly are inwardly rich,
|
|
rich in faith and in good works, rich in privileges, rich in bonds and
|
|
deeds of gift, rich in hope, rich in reversion. Spiritual riches are
|
|
usually the reward of great diligence; <I>the diligent hand makes
|
|
rich.</I> Where there is spiritual plenty, outward poverty may be
|
|
better borne; and when God's people are impoverished in temporals, for
|
|
the sake of Christ and a good conscience, he makes all up to them in
|
|
spiritual riches, which are much more satisfying and enduring.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Of their sufferings: <I>I know thy tribulation and thy
|
|
poverty</I>--the persecution they underwent, even to the spoiling of
|
|
their goods. Those who will be faithful to Christ must expect to go
|
|
through many tribulations; but Jesus Christ takes particular notice of
|
|
all their troubles. In all their afflictions, he is afflicted, and he
|
|
will recompense tribulation to those who trouble them, but to those
|
|
that are troubled rest with himself.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He knows the wickedness and the falsehood of their enemies: <I>I
|
|
know the blasphemy of those that say they are Jews, but are not;</I>
|
|
that is, of those who pretend to be the only peculiar covenant-people
|
|
of God, as the Jews boasted themselves to be, even after God had
|
|
rejected them; or of those who would be setting up the Jewish rites and
|
|
ceremonies, which were now not only antiquated, but abrogated; these
|
|
may say that they only are the church of God in the world, when indeed
|
|
<I>they are the synagogue of Satan.</I> Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) As Christ has a church in the world, the spiritual Israel of God,
|
|
so the devil has his synagogue. Those assemblies which are set up in
|
|
opposition to the truths of the gospel, and which promote and propagate
|
|
damnable errors,--those which are set up in opposition to the purity
|
|
and spirituality of gospel worship, and which promote and propagate the
|
|
vain inventions of men and rites and ceremonies which never entered
|
|
into the thoughts of God,--these are all synagogues of Satan: he
|
|
presides over them, he works in them, his interests are served by them,
|
|
and he receives a horrid homage and honour from them.
|
|
|
|
(2.) For the synagogues of Satan to give themselves out to be the
|
|
church or Israel of God is no less than blasphemy. God is greatly
|
|
dishonoured when his name is made use of to promote and patronize the
|
|
interests of Satan; and he has a high resentment of this blasphemy, and
|
|
will take a just revenge on those who persist in it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. He foreknows the future trials of his people, and forewarns them of
|
|
them, and fore-arms them against them.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He forewarns them of future trials: <I>The devil shall cast some
|
|
of you into prison, and you shall have tribulation,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
The people of God must look for a series and succession of troubles in
|
|
this world, and their troubles usually rise higher. They had been
|
|
impoverished by their tribulations before; now they must be imprisoned.
|
|
Observe, It is the devil that stirs up his instruments, wicked men, to
|
|
persecute the people of God; tyrants and persecutors are the devil's
|
|
tools, though they gratify their own sinful malignity, and know not
|
|
that they are actuated by a diabolical malice.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Christ fore-arms them against these approaching troubles,
|
|
|
|
[1.] By his counsel: <I>Fear none of these things.</I> This is not only
|
|
a word of command, but of efficacy, no, only forbidding slavish fear,
|
|
but subduing it and furnishing the soul with strength and courage.
|
|
|
|
[2.] By showing them how their sufferings would be alleviated and
|
|
limited. <I>First,</I> They should not be universal. It would be some
|
|
of them, not all, who should be cast into prison, those who were best
|
|
able to bear it and might expect to be visited and comforted by the
|
|
rest. <I>Secondly,</I> They were not to be perpetual, but for a set
|
|
time, and a short time: <I>Ten days.</I> It should not be everlasting
|
|
tribulation, <I>the time should be shortened for the elect's sake.
|
|
Thirdly,</I> It should be to try them, not to destroy them, that their
|
|
faith, and patience, and courage, might be proved and improved, and be
|
|
found to honour and glory.
|
|
|
|
[3.] By proposing and promising a glorious reward to their fidelity:
|
|
<I>Be thou faithful to death, and I will give thee a crown of life.</I>
|
|
Observe, <I>First,</I> The sureness of the reward: <I>I will give
|
|
thee.</I> He has said it that is able to do it; and he has undertaken
|
|
that he will do it. They shall have the reward from his own hand, and
|
|
none of their enemies shall be able to wrest it out of his hand, or to
|
|
pull it from their heads. <I>Secondly,</I> The suitableness of it.
|
|
|
|
1. <I>A crown,</I> to reward their poverty, their fidelity, and their
|
|
conflict.
|
|
|
|
2. <I>A crown of life,</I> to reward those who are faithful even unto
|
|
death, who are faithful till they die, and who part with life itself in
|
|
fidelity to Christ. The life so worn out in his service, or laid down
|
|
in his cause, shall be rewarded with another and a much better life
|
|
that shall be eternal.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The conclusion of this message, and that, as before,
|
|
|
|
1. With a call to universal attention, that all men, all the world,
|
|
should hear what passes between Christ and his churches--how he
|
|
commends them, how he comforts them, how he reproves their failures,
|
|
how he rewards their fidelity. It concerns all the inhabitants of the
|
|
world to observe God's dealings with his own people; all the world may
|
|
learn instruction and wisdom thereby.
|
|
|
|
2. With a gracious promise to the conquering Christian: <I>He that
|
|
overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) There is not only a first, but a second death, a death after the
|
|
body is dead.
|
|
|
|
(2.) This second death is unspeakably worse than the first death, both
|
|
in the dying pangs and agonies of it (which are the agonies of the
|
|
soul, without any mixture of support) and in the duration; it is
|
|
<I>eternal death,</I> dying the death, to die and to be always dying.
|
|
This is hurtful indeed, fatally hurtful, to all who fall under it.
|
|
|
|
(3.) From this hurtful, this destructive death, Christ will save all
|
|
his faithful servants; the second death shall have no power over those
|
|
who are <I>partakers of the first resurrection:</I> the first death
|
|
shall not hurt them, and the second death shall have no power over
|
|
them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_17"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Church in Pergamos.</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>12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These
|
|
things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
|
|
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, <I>even</I> where
|
|
Satan's seat <I>is:</I> and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not
|
|
denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas <I>was</I> my
|
|
faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
|
|
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast
|
|
there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to
|
|
cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat
|
|
things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
|
|
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the
|
|
Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
|
|
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
|
|
fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
|
|
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
|
|
the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the
|
|
hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a
|
|
new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth
|
|
<I>it.</I>
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here also we are to consider,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The inscription of this message.
|
|
|
|
1. To whom it was sent: <I>To the angel of the church of Pergamos.</I>
|
|
Whether this was a city raised up out of the ruins of old Troy, a Troy
|
|
<I>nouveau</I> (as our London was once called), or some other city of
|
|
the same name, is neither certain nor material; it was a place where
|
|
Christ had called and constituted a gospel church, by the preaching of
|
|
the gospel and the grace of his Spirit making the word effectual.
|
|
|
|
2. Who it was that sent this message to Pergamos: the same Jesus who
|
|
here describes himself as one that <I>hath the sharp sword with two
|
|
edges</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:16"><I>ch.</I> i. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>out of whose mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.</I> Some have
|
|
observed that, in the several titles of Christ which are prefixed to
|
|
the several epistles, there is something suited to the state of those
|
|
churches; as in that to Ephesus, what could be more proper to awaken
|
|
and recover a drowsy and declining church than to hear Christ speaking
|
|
as one that <I>held the stars in his hand, and walked in the midst of
|
|
the golden candlesticks?</I> &c. The church of Pergamos was infested
|
|
with men of corrupt minds, who did what they could to corrupt both the
|
|
faith and manners of the church; and Christ, being resolved to fight
|
|
against them by the sword of his word, takes the title of him that
|
|
<I>hath the sharp sword with two edges.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The word of God is a sword; it is a weapon both offensive and
|
|
defensive, it is, in the hand of God, able to slay both sin and
|
|
sinners.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is a <I>sharp sword.</I> No heart is so hard but it is able to
|
|
cut it; it can divide asunder between the soul and the spirit, that is,
|
|
between the soul and those sinful habits that by custom have become
|
|
another soul, or seem to be essential to it.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It is a <I>sword with two edges;</I> it turns and cuts every way.
|
|
There is the <I>edge</I> of the law against the transgressors of that
|
|
dispensation, and the <I>edge</I> of the gospel against the despisers
|
|
of that dispensation; there is an edge to make a wound, and an edge to
|
|
open a festered wound in order to its healing. There is no escaping
|
|
the edge of this sword: if you turn aside to the right hand, it has an
|
|
edge on that side; if on the left hand, you fall upon the edge of the
|
|
sword on that side; it turns every way.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. From the inscription we proceed to the contents of the epistle, in
|
|
which the method is much the same as is observed in the rest.
|
|
Here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Christ takes notice of the trials and difficulties this church
|
|
encountered with: <I>I know thy works, and where thou dwellest,</I>
|
|
&c.,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
The works of God's servants are best known when the circumstances under
|
|
which they did those works are duly considered. Now that which added
|
|
very much lustre to the good works of this church was the circumstance
|
|
of the place where this church was planted, a place where <I>Satan's
|
|
seat</I> was. As our great Lord takes notice of all the advantages and
|
|
opportunities we have for duty in the places where we dwell, so he
|
|
takes notice of all the temptations and discouragements we meet with
|
|
from the places where we dwell, and makes gracious allowances for them.
|
|
This people dwelt where Satan's seat was, where he kept his court. His
|
|
<I>circuit</I> is throughout the world, his <I>seat</I> is in some
|
|
places that are infamous for wickedness, error, and cruelty. Some think
|
|
that the Roman governor in this city was a most violent enemy to the
|
|
Christians; and the seat of persecution is Satan's seat.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He commends their stedfastness: <I>Thou holdest fast my name, and
|
|
hast not denied my faith.</I> These two expressions are much the same
|
|
in sense; the former may, however, signify the effect and the latter
|
|
the cause or means.
|
|
|
|
(1.) "<I>Thou holdest fast my name;</I> thou art not ashamed of thy
|
|
relation to me, but accountest it thine honour that my name is named on
|
|
thee, that, as the wife bears the name of the husband, so thou art
|
|
called by my name; this thou holdest fast, as thine honour and
|
|
privilege."
|
|
|
|
(2.) "That which has made thee thus faithful is the grace of faith:
|
|
<I>thou hast not denied</I> the great doctrines of the gospel, nor
|
|
departed from the Christian faith, and by that means thou hast been
|
|
kept faithful." Our faith will have a great influence upon our
|
|
faithfulness. Men who deny the faith of Christ may boast very much of
|
|
their sincerity, and faithfulness to God and conscience; but it has
|
|
been seldom known that those who let go the true faith retained their
|
|
fidelity; usually on that rock on which men make shipwreck of their
|
|
faith they make shipwreck of a good conscience too. And here our
|
|
blessed Lord aggrandizes the fidelity of this church from the
|
|
circumstance of the times, as well as of the place where they lived:
|
|
they had been stedfast <I>even in those days wherein Antipas his
|
|
faithful martyr was slain among them.</I> Who this person was, and
|
|
whether there be anything mysterious in his name, we have no certain
|
|
account. He was a faithful disciple of Christ, he suffered martyrdom
|
|
for it, and sealed his faith and fidelity with his blood in the place
|
|
where Satan dwelt; and though the rest of the believers there knew
|
|
this, and saw it, yet they were not discouraged nor drawn away from
|
|
their stedfastness: this is mentioned as an addition to their
|
|
honour.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He reproves them for their sinful failures
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there those
|
|
that hold the doctrine of Balaam,</I> &c., and <I>those that hold the
|
|
doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.</I> There were some
|
|
who taught that it was lawful to eat things sacrificed to idols, and
|
|
that simple fornication was no sin; they, by an impure worship, drew
|
|
men into impure practices, as Balaam did the Israelites. Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The filthiness of the spirit and the filthiness of the flesh often
|
|
go together. Corrupt doctrines and a corrupt worship often lead to a
|
|
corrupt conversation.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is very lawful to fix the name of the leaders of any heresy
|
|
upon those who follow them. It is the shortest way of telling whom we
|
|
mean.
|
|
|
|
(3.) To continue in communion with persons of corrupt principles and
|
|
practices is displeasing to God, draws a guilt and blemish upon the
|
|
whole society: they become <I>partakers of other men's sins.</I> Though
|
|
the church, as such, has no power to punish the persons of men, either
|
|
for heresy or immorality, with corporal penalties, yet it has power to
|
|
exclude them from its communion; and, if it do not so, Christ, the head
|
|
and lawgiver of the church, will be displeased with it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. He calls them to repentance: <I>Repent, or else I will come unto
|
|
thee quickly,</I> &c.,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe here,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Repentance is the duty of saints as well as sinners; it is a
|
|
gospel duty.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is the duty of churches and communities as well as particular
|
|
persons; those who sin together should repent together.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It is the duty of Christian societies to repent of other men's
|
|
sins, as far as they have been accessory to them, though but so much as
|
|
by connivance.
|
|
|
|
(4.) When God comes to punish the corrupt members of a church, he
|
|
rebukes that church itself for allowing such to continue in its
|
|
communion, and some drops of the storm fall upon the whole society.
|
|
|
|
(5.) No sword cuts so deep, nor inflicts so mortal a wound, as the
|
|
sword of Christ's mouth. Let but the threatenings of the word be set
|
|
home upon the conscience of a sinner, and he will soon be a terror to
|
|
himself; let these threatenings be executed, and the sinner is utterly
|
|
cut off. The word of God will take hold of sinners, sooner or later,
|
|
either for their conviction or their confusion.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. We have the conclusion of this epistle, where, after the usual
|
|
demand of universal attention, there is the promise of great favour to
|
|
those that overcome. They shall <I>eat of the hidden manna, and have
|
|
the new name, and the white stone, which no man knoweth, saving he that
|
|
receiveth it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. The hidden manna, the influences and comforts of the Spirit of
|
|
Christ in communion with him, coming down from heaven into the soul,
|
|
from time to time, for its support, to let it taste something how
|
|
saints and angels live in heaven. This is hidden from the rest of the
|
|
world--<I>a stranger intermeddles not with</I> this joy; and it is laid
|
|
up in Christ, the ark of the covenant, in the holy of holies.
|
|
|
|
2. The white stone, with a new name engraven upon it. This white stone
|
|
is absolution from the guilt of sin, alluding to the ancient custom of
|
|
giving a white stone to those acquitted on trial and a black stone to
|
|
those condemned. The new name is the name of adoption: adopted persons
|
|
took the name of the family into which they were adopted. None can read
|
|
the evidence of a man's adoption but himself; he cannot always read it,
|
|
but if he persevere he shall have both the evidence of sonship and the
|
|
inheritance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Re2_29"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Church in Thyatira.</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>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These
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things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame
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of fire, and his feet <I>are</I> like fine brass;
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19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and
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thy patience, and thy works; and the last <I>to be</I> more than the
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first.
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20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because
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thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a
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prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit
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fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
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21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she
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repented not.
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22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit
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adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of
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their deeds.
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23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the
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churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and
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hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your
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works.
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24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many
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as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of
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Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
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25 But that which ye have <I>already</I> hold fast till I come.
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26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end,
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to him will I give power over the nations:
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27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of
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a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of
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my Father.
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28 And I will give him the morning star.
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29 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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The form of each epistle is very much the same; and in this, as the
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rest, we have to consider the inscription, contents, and
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conclusion.</P>
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<P>
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I. The inscription, telling us,
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1. To whom it is directed: <I>To the angel of the church of
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Thyatira,</I> a city of the proconsular Asia, bordering upon Mysia on
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the north and Lydia on the south, a town of trade, whence came the
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woman named <I>Lydia, a seller of purple,</I> who, being at Philippi in
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Macedonia, probably about the business of her calling, <I>heard Paul
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preach there,</I> and <I>God opened her heart, that she attended to the
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things that were spoken, and believed, and was baptized,</I> and
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entertained Paul and Silas there. Whether it was by her means that the
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gospel was brought into her own city, Thyatira, is not certain; but
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|
that it was there, and successful to the forming of a gospel church,
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|
this epistle assures us.
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2. By whom it was sent: by <I>the Son of God,</I> who is here described
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as having <I>eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like as fine
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|
brass.</I> His general title is here, <I>the Son of God,</I> that is,
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|
the eternal and only-begotten Son of God, which denotes that he has the
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|
same nature with the Father, but with a distinct and subordinate manner
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of subsistence. The description we have here of him is in two
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characters:--
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(1.) That his eyes are like a flame of fire, signifying his piercing,
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|
penetrating, perfect knowledge, a thorough insight into all persons and
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|
all things, one <I>who searches the hearts and tries the reins of the
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|
children of men</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
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and will make all the churches to know he does so.
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(2.) That his feet are like fine brass, that the outgoings of his
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providence are steady, awful, and all pure and holy. As he judges with
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perfect wisdom, so he acts with perfect strength and steadiness.</P>
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<P>
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II. The contents or subject-matter of this epistle, which, as the rest,
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includes,</P>
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<P>
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1. The honourable character and commendation Christ gives of this
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|
church, ministry, and people; and this given by one who was no stranger
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|
to them, but well acquainted with them and with the principles from
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|
which they acted. Now in this church Christ makes honourable mention,
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(1.) Of their <I>charity,</I> either more general, a disposition to do
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|
good to all men, or more special, to the household of faith: there is
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|
no religion where there is no charity.
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(2.) Their <I>service,</I> their ministration; this respects chiefly
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|
the officers of the church, who had laboured in the word and doctrine.
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(3.) Their <I>faith,</I> which was the grace that actuated all the
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|
rest, both their charity and their service.
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(4.) Their <I>patience;</I> for those that are most charitable to
|
|
others, most diligent in their places, and most faithful, must yet
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|
expect to meet with that which will exercise their patience.
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(5.) Their growing fruitfulness: their last works were better than the
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|
first. This is an excellent character; when others had <I>left their
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first love,</I> and <I>lost their first zeal,</I> these were growing
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|
wiser and better. It should be the ambition and earnest desire of all
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|
Christians that their last works may be their best works, that they may
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|
be better and better every day, and best at last.</P>
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<P>
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2. A faithful reproof for what was amiss. This is not so directly
|
|
charged upon the church itself as upon some wicked seducers who were
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|
among them; the church's fault was that she connived too much at
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|
them.</P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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(1.) These wicked seducers were compared to Jezebel, and called by her
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|
name. Jezebel was a persecutor of the prophets of the Lord, and a great
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|
patroness of idolaters and false prophets. The sin of these seducers
|
|
was that they attempted to draw the servants of God into fornication,
|
|
and to offer sacrifices to idols; they called themselves prophets, and
|
|
so would claim a superior authority and regard to the ministers of the
|
|
church. Two things aggravated the sin of these seducers, who, being one
|
|
in their spirit and design, are spoken of as one person:--
|
|
|
|
[1.] They made use of the name of God to oppose the truth of his
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|
doctrine and worship; this very much aggravated their sin.
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[2.] They abused the patience of God to harden themselves in their
|
|
wickedness. God gave them space for repentance, but they repented not.
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|
Observe, <I>First,</I> Repentance is necessary to prevent a sinner's
|
|
ruin. <I>Secondly,</I> Repentance requires time, a course of time, and
|
|
time convenient; it is a great work, and a work of time.
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> Where God gives space for repentance, he expects fruits
|
|
meet for repentance. <I>Fourthly,</I> Where the space for repentance is
|
|
lost, the sinner perishes with a double destruction.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
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|
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|
(2.) Now why should the wickedness of this Jezebel be charged upon the
|
|
church of Thyatira? Because that church suffered her to seduce the
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|
people of that city. But how could the church help it? They had not, as
|
|
a church, civil power to banish or imprison her; but they had
|
|
ministerial power to censure and to excommunicate her: and it is
|
|
probable that neglecting to use the power they had made them sharers in
|
|
her sin.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
|
|
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|
3. The punishment of this seducer, this Jezebel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:22,23"><I>v.</I> 22, 23</A>,
|
|
|
|
in which is couched a prediction of the fall of Babylon.
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|
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|
(1.) <I>I will cast her into a bed,</I> into a bed of pain, not of
|
|
pleasure, into a bed of flames; and those who have sinned with her
|
|
shall suffer with her; but this may yet be prevented by their
|
|
repentance.
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>I will kill her children with death;</I> that is, the second
|
|
death, which does the work effectually, and leaves no hope of future
|
|
life, no resurrection for those that are killed by the second death,
|
|
but only to shame and everlasting contempt.</P>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. The design of Christ in the destruction of these wicked seducers,
|
|
and this was the instruction of others, especially of his churches:
|
|
<I>All the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins
|
|
and the hearts; and I will give to every one of you according to your
|
|
works.</I> God is known by <I>the judgments that he executes;</I> and,
|
|
by this revenge taken upon seducers, he would make known,
|
|
|
|
(1.) His infallible knowledge of the hearts of men, of their
|
|
principles, designs, frame, and temper, their formality, their
|
|
indifference, their secret inclinations to symbolize with idolaters.
|
|
|
|
(2.) His impartial justice, in <I>giving every one according to his
|
|
work,</I> that the name of Christians should be no protection, their
|
|
churches should be no sanctuaries for sin and sinners.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. The encouragement given to those who keep themselves pure and
|
|
undefiled: <I>But to you I say, and unto the rest,</I> &c.,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
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|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
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|
(1.) What these seducers called their doctrines--<I>depths,</I>
|
|
profound mysteries, amusing the people, and endeavouring to persuade
|
|
them that they had a deeper insight into religion than their own
|
|
ministers had attained to.
|
|
|
|
(2.) What Christ called them--<I>depths of Satan,</I> Satanical
|
|
delusions and devices, diabolical mysteries; for there is a <I>mystery
|
|
of iniquity,</I> as well and <I>the great mystery of godliness.</I> It
|
|
is a dangerous thing to despise the mystery of God, and it is as
|
|
dangerous to receive the mysteries of Satan.
|
|
|
|
(3.) How tender Christ is of his faithful servants: "<I>I will lay upon
|
|
you no other burden; but that which you have already hold fast till I
|
|
come,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:24,25"><I>v.</I> 24, 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
I will not overburden your faith with any new mysteries, nor your
|
|
consciences with any new laws. I only require your attention to what
|
|
you have received. <I>Hold that fast till I come,</I> and I desire no
|
|
more." Christ is coming to put an end to all the temptations of his
|
|
people; and, if they hold fast faith and a good conscience till he
|
|
come, all the difficulty and danger will be over.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. We now come to the conclusion of this message,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:26-29"><I>v.</I> 26-29</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here we have,
|
|
|
|
1. The promise of an ample reward to the persevering victorious
|
|
believer, in two parts:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) Very great power and dominion over the rest of the world: <I>Power
|
|
over the nations,</I> which may refer either to the time when the
|
|
empire should turn Christian, and the world be under the government of
|
|
the Christian emperor, as in Constantine's time; or to the other world,
|
|
when believers shall sit down with Christ on his throne of judgment,
|
|
and join with him in trying, and condemning, and consigning over to
|
|
punishment the enemies of Christ and the church. <I>The upright shall
|
|
have dominion in the morning.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Knowledge and wisdom, suitable to such power and dominion: <I>I
|
|
will give him the morning-star.</I> Christ is the morning-star. He
|
|
brings day with him into the soul, the light of grace and of glory; and
|
|
he will give his people that perfection of light and wisdom which is
|
|
requisite to the state of dignity and dominion that they shall have in
|
|
the morning of the resurrection.
|
|
|
|
2. This epistle ends with the usual demand of attention: <I>He that
|
|
hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.</I>
|
|
In the foregoing epistles, this demand of attention comes before the
|
|
concluding promise; but in this, and all that follow, it comes after,
|
|
and tells us that we should all attend to the promises as well as to
|
|
the precepts that Christ delivers to the churches.</P>
|
|
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