familiar in Scripture so of the Paschal Lamb it is said It is the Lord 's passeover that is a Sign or commemoration thereof Exod. 12. 11 12. so when the Lord saith this is Jerusalem it is easy to understand this to be the meaning of that expression This is a sign or figure representing Jerusalem Ezek. 5. 1 6. with ch 4. 1 4. so again that Rock was Christ to wit Christ was the mystery or secret signified thereby 1 Cor. 10. 4. see also the notes on ch 5. v. 8. and is it not as easy to understand that saying in like manner This is my Body to wit the sign and commemoration thereof as the Apostle saith Do this in remembrance of me relating therein Christs words and as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup it is bread still after consecration ye shew forth the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11. 23 26 28. surely were these persons who otherwise construe it as desirous to seek after the truth as they are thirsty of innocent blood they would not be so ignorant as they are of the meaning of this and such-like symbolical sayings 2. He saith not The seven stars are the seven Angels though he calls them in the symbol seven starrs yet he names them not in opening the mystery seven Angels but the Angels and yet when he opens the mystery of the seven candlesticks he still calls them seven Churches surely to intimate that the Angels were not seven individual persons but indefinitely those that were Guides unto the seven Churches and went before them in the Word of the Lord. If any say it may be enough to conclude them to be but seven Individual Persons because they are called the seven Stars Rev. 1. 16 20. and ch 2. 1. and ch 3. v. 1. I answer 1. That might rather have sufficed as with respect to the seven Candlesticks to call them Churches because he had called them seven Churches before verse 4. and named them particularly verse 11. and yet here again he calls them seven Churches whereas he never calls the seven Stars seven Angels And besides 2. Though the several Epistles be directed to the several Angels and every particular Epistle to the Angel yet it appears there was more than one individual person intended thereby as to instance though that Epistle to the Church in Smyrna be directed to the Angel yet he saith to him Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation Rev. 2. 10. So to the the Angel of the Church in Thyatira he saith Vnto you I say and unto the rest c. And I will give to every one of you c. v 23 25. In both which it appears that more than one person is meant by the Angel But we may now enquire and consider for our further usefulness 1. What are these Angels here spoken of 2. Why are they called and compared unto Angels 1. What are these Angels here spoken And to that we say They are not those Glorious Spirits most frequently so called the Word Angel denotes not the nature but office of persons and it appears that by Angels here are not meant those glorious Spirits ministring Spirits because he fortifies some of these against and signifies they should suffer tribulation and be cast into Prison by the Devil c. And commends some for their patience in tribulation and râ—proves some of these for evils sound with them ch 2. 1 5. and v. 8 10. Nor are they the Churches but distinguished from them nor are they false Teachers but they are the Messengers of the Churches sent for the good of them and such as went before them in the Word of the Lord their Bishops or Overseers So the Baptist is called a Messenger or Angel Mat. 11. 10. and the Priests in former times Mal. 2. 7. That which some say that by Angels cannot be meant Overseers because they are said to be the Angels of the Churches whereas they are not sent by them is of no great weight for of the Churches may mean not sent from them but for the good of them as the Angels of the little ones are not sent by them but imployed for the good of them Mat. 18. 10. 2. Why are they called and compared unto Angels In general as hath been said they are so called because they are sent for the benefit of them for the Word Angel is used generally for any Messenger Jam. 2. 25. and particularly to denote that these Bishops or Overseers are or should be as to their Office and fitness for it like in some respect to those invisible and Holy Spirits 1. Like them they are or should be furnished with Wisdom from above for the good of others 2 Sam. 14. 20. for he that sends a message by the hand of a Fool cutteth off the Feet and drinketh dammage Prov. 26. 6. 2. Because it is their Office to ascend upon the Son of Man to Heaven in their Prayers and in prayers to God for those over whom they are set yea and for the good of all Men 1 Tim. 2. 1 8. Gen. 28. 12. with Joh. 1. 51. And to descend upon him and bring down Messages from Heaven that they may be apt to teach others 3. Like the glorious Spirits they should have their conversation in Heaven be more abundantly sequestred from the things here below in their hearts and it behoves them especially not to intangle themselves with the affairs of this life Phil. 3. 17 20. 2 Tim. 2. 3 4. that they may mind things above and be like the Angels beholding the glory of the Lord and doing his Commandments hearkening unto the voice of his word Mat. 18. 10. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Ps 103. 20. AN EXPOSITION On the second CHAPTER OF THE REVELATION Chap. 2. Verse 1. Vnto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write these things saith he that holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand who walks in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks HERE begins the account of the several Epistles or Messages which John is commanded to write and send to the several Churches before-named and though every particular Message directly and especially concerns that Angel and Church whereto it is expresly directed yet they are of usefulness and for instruction to all the Churches and to every one that hath an Ear and needful to be considered by them as afterwards will appear to which in due place In this first Verse we have to mind and consider 1. The Person or Persons for whom this Message or Epistle is to be written and to whom to be sent Vnto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write 2. The person from whom it comes described to us These things saith he that holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand c. 1. The person or persons for whom this Message or Epistle is to be written and unto whom it is commanded to be sent Vnto the
day saith Christ John 9. 4. he continually sought the good of Men and especial good of believers he did not fail noâ— was discouraged Joh. 8. 12. and ch 9. 5. Isay 42. 1 3 4. and he was patient under affliction and persecution when they condemned and killed him he did not resist Jam. 5. 6. Though he knew no sin yet when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not 1 Pet. 2. 21 23. Though he could have destroyed them all yet he indured the contradiction of sinners against himself Heb. 12. 3. and he waited patiently for the Lord till he inclined his ear and heard him and brought him out of the horrible pit and out of the miry clay c. Ps 4. 1 2 3. 2. It is that patience which he is effecting in us by his Gospel which is called the Word of his patience See the notes on Rev. 3. v. 10. 2 Pet. 1. 4 6. In which he is discovering to us what Christ hath done and is become And this is called in this respect the patience of Christ 2 Thes 3. 5 and there are many Arguments contained in the Gospel which are proper and powerful to effect and maintain this patience in us thorow the Influence of the holy Spirit which doth accompany it as to say Herein is declared to us that Christ hath indured the Cross and overcome it and is now on the right Hand of the Throne of God and so hath abolished Death and all afflictions Heb. 12. 1 2 3. 2 Tim. 1. 8 10. and that he is become our rightful Lord and the author and orderer of all Afflictions to us Ps 39. 9. 1 Sam. 3. 18 and also herein is discovered to us his gracious end in all the tribulations he is permitting and ordering to us that all is for our good and profit that we might be partakers of his holiness here and of his glory hereafter Heb. 12. 1 10. 2 Cor. 4. 16 18 Isay 27. 8 9. Mark 10. 38. and herein also is set before us a Blessed hope to effect this patience hence it is called The patience of hope 1 Thes 1. 3. Rom. 2. 7. and the Apostle instricts the believers to rejoyce in hope and be patient in tribulation Rom. 12. 12. and ch 8. 24 25. Heb. 10. 34 36. Col. 1. 11. Now here noâ—e 1. He was in tribulation and patience Men may be so he was so and they were so and having access by faith into the grace of God in Christ tribulation worketh patience Rom. 5. 2 3 5. Jam. 1. 2 4 5. 2. He was in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ this is the way for us to possess our souls in patience by being in the believing mindfulness and consideration of his Kingdom and having a lively hope to be made partakers of it in due season If we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it Rom. 8. 24 25. 2 Cor. 4. 16. 17 18. 4. We have the place where John was when this Revelation was sent and signified to him In the Isle that is called Patmos It may seem he was banished thither as appears by the next words for the word of God c. this he speaks of himself and so he signifies to us 1. That those that are dearly beloved of the Lord may be persecuted and expelled out of their own Countries for the Gospel's sake and driven from the places of their abode Act. 13. 50 51. so was David 1 Sam. 26. 19. Ezekiel ch 1. 1 Daniel ch 1. 1 6. so it is is said of those worthies They wandred about in Sheep skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted tormented of whom the World was not worthy they wandred in deserts and in Mountains and in dens and caves of the earth Heb. 11. 37 38. so our Lord Jesus was driven from one place to another Joh. 10. 39 40. and ch 11. 53 55. and he doth signifie that his Brethren may be strangers and expelled out of their native Countrey or from their own habitations Mat. 25. 35 38 43 44. 1 Thes 2. 16 17. Heb. 13. 2 1 Pet. 1. 1. Nay that which added to John's affliction was that he was alone in a great Measure and separated from his Brethren and herein worse then Ezekiel or Daniel and like that Ps 102. 5 6. 1. Beloved think it not strange concerning such a fiery trial as this is for the name of afflictions have been accomplished in eminently holy ones in former times 1 Pet. 4. 12. and ch 5. 10. 2. Judge not according to outward appearance they may be most beloved that meet with sharpest afflictions in this World for Christ's sake and many times God singles out the strongst and most beloved for the greatest sufferings 1 Cor. 4. 11 13. It was a great infirmity found with the Prophet to conclude that he had washt his hands in vain Because all the day long he had been plagued and chasten'd every morning Ps 73. 1 3 13 14 22. 3. Set not your affections on your Countries or habitations nor seek for a continuing city here Col. 3. 2. Heb. 13. 13. In a moment you may be driven from your homes and places of abode Oh suffer the grace of God to crucify you to the World that you may hate and forsake all in comparison and for the sake of Jesus Christ Luk. 84. 26 27 33. 2. That often times those who are adversaries to the Gospel have the greatest spight at such as are teachers of others and go before them in the Word of the Lord and especially at the most eminent of them so it seems the Apostles generally were in affliction and under persecution when other believers endured no such thing yea when some of them talked of reigning the Apostle Paul saith I think that God hath set forth us the Apostles last as it were Men appointed to Death for we are made a spectacte to the World and to Angels and Men see 1 Cor. 4. 8 9 13. Acts 14. 5 7 19. and ch 17. 5. Eph. 3. 13. 3. When the Apostle John was in this Isle and thus banished he had these visions and Revelations of the Lord vouchsafed to him so it was with Ezekiel when he was in Captivity Ezek. 1. 1 3. and ch 40. 1. c. and with Daniel ch 1. 3 6. and ch 2. 14 25. and ch 4. 8. c. and ch 5. 10 13. and ch 7. and ch 8. c. where-ever we are he can reveal to us secret and hidden things none no person or place can shut out his Light and instruction from us or hinder us from his gracious presence and many times when his people are under eminent sufferings for his names sake he then draws neer unto them and manifesteth himself and his things to them his Blessings are on the heads of them that separate and separated from their Brethren Gen. 49. 26. and though their enemies think evil against them in persecuting and banishing them yet God
what have I to do with thee mine hour is not yet come Job 2. 4. And to his Brethren My time is not yet come but your time is alway ready Joh. 7. 6. He knowes the fittest day for every purpose and thing but this is a great part of Man's misery he knows not the opportune season Eccl. 9. 12. Or 2. On the Lords Day The Sabbath-day or day of rest that seventh part of time set apart and sanctified for more solemnly waiting upon him and thereto ceasing from our own works And this may be called the Lord's Day 1. Because at first God took up his rest in Jesus Christ our Lord and was refreshed and therefore set apart the seventh day as a token thereof had he not found out this ransome and had not Christ interposed himself and undertook to work redemption for us there had been no Sabbath for us to have observed his undertaking to do what the Father appointed to him at first and actually performing and accomplishing it in due time is the ground and reason of this days being set apart and sanctified Gen. 2. 2 3. with Heb. 4. 3 4. Exod. 31. 16 17. with Joh. 5. 19 22. Hence the Preface to all the Commandments and particularly to their remembring to keep holy the Sabbath-day was that he brought them out of the Land of Egypt which was a Type of the redemption wrought in and by Jesus Christ Exod. 20. 2 8. 2. It is the Lord's Day also that of which Jesus Christ the Son of Man is the Lord and actually so become as he hath died for us and is risen again and hath restored our loss whereby he is become the rightful Lord of all that was made for Man even for the good of Man Ps 8. 4 9. with Heb. 2. 6 9. and particularly of this Day as our Saviour saith The Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for the Sabbath therefore the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath Mat. 12. 8. Mark 2. 27 28. 3. It is the Lords Day because we should herein be exercised to the Consideration and Remembrance of what Christ hath suffered and done for us and is become that he by the Grace of God tasted Death for every Man and is risen from the Dead for their justification and is become the one and only Foundation of Faith and Hope for us poor Sinners The Stone which the Builders refused is become the head of the Corner This is the LORDS doing it is marvellous in our Eyes This is the day which the LORD hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it To such an end should this Day be set apart that we may be glad in his work in redeeming us from the curse of the Law and triumph in the works of his hands Ps 118. 2 4. Ps 92. Title and Verse 1 4. Isay 28. 12. And it is a Sign that he doth sanctifie us and shews how we may be sanctified and now be entring into rest not by works of righteousness that we have done or can do but by believing in and coming unto Jesus Christ Exod. 31. 13 14. Rom. 4. 5. Tit. 3. 4. Mat. 11. 27 28. Heb. 4. 3. Isay 58. 13. And on this Day we should be exercised unto the consideration of that rest which remaineth for the people of God which in due season Christ will give unto them Acts 3. 19 20. Heb. 4. 3 8. 2 Thes 1. 5 6. And indeed to such an end should this day be set apart and that we should do no servile work thereon for works of Piety Mercy and Necessity they are Sabbath-day works but it should not be prophaned with common and ordinary words or works Isay 58. 13. Neh. 10. 31. and ch 13. 15 22. Jer. 17. 21 27. Men may pretend to a great deal of zeal and strictness in observing it and yet not be exercised to the consideration of Christ as the ground and end of it yea they may be so far from that that they may be Enemies to him and his Gospel Joh. 5. 16 18. and ch 7. 22 23. and ch 9. 14 16. On this Day he heard this Voice which might be an encouragement and provocation to us to keep it holy and therein to remember the Lord's Death and what he hath thereby done for us and obtained and is become and the love of both Father and Son therein commended to us 3. We have an account in general given to us of what he heard on that day And heard behind me a great Voice as of a Trumpet And heard behind me like what Ezekiel saith I heard behind me a Voice of a great rushing Ezek. 3. 12. like that saying also Isay 30. 21. At such a time and in such a manner as he least expected not before him but behind him or ever he was aware he was thus unexpectedly favoured Gen. 28. 10. A great Voice as of a Trumpet So he heard also ch 4. 1 2. And before the little Book was given unto him ch 10. 3 4. Doubtless this loud Voice was to awaken him and prepare him to give earnest heed to what was spoken and to signifie the weightiness of what he was about to speak that it was no vain thing but somewhat of great importance and concernment and that which was worthy to be heard minded and considered by him and us To such end and purpose he sent out his Voice and that a mighty Voice And it behoves us all seeing the matter of what was then spoken is recorded and preserved on record that we should diligently bow down our Ears hereto and hear these words of the wise and not lightly or heedlesly pass it over as if it were not worthy our most serious meditation and consideration Verse 11. Saying I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last And what thou seest write in a Book and send it to the Seven Churches which are in Asia unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna and unto Pergamos and unto Thyatira and unto Sardis and Philadelphia and unto Laodicea In this Verse the Apostle gives unto us a more particular account of what he heard In which we have to consider 1. A description of him that speaketh I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last 2. A charge and commandment given to the Apostle In which also we have 1. The Subject matter of what he should write and send what thou seest 2. What he commands him to do with this write in a Book and send it 3. To whom unto the seven Churches which are in Asia c. 1. A Description of him that speaketh I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last The latter opens the Former as we have seen See the notes on v. 8. I am the first and the last so v. 17. ch 2. 8. and ch 22. 13. The King of Israel as is said Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel and his Redeemer the LORD of Hostes I am the first and I am the last c. Isay
bearing the Judgment of the World he hath cast Satan the Prince of the World out of his principality Joh. 12. 31. and all power is given unto him both in Heaven and on Earth Mat. 28. 18 20. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. Joh. 5. 27. and ch 3. 35. with ch 10. 17. Because he humbled himself and became obedient unto death the death of the Cross therefore also hath God highly exalted him and given him a name above every name c. Phil. 2. 6 7 8 9 10. And seeing he hath and hath thus obtained the Keys of Hell and Death it may be of much usefulness unto us as to say a little 1. Herein we may see the preciousuess of the sufferings and blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 19. 2. It may admonish us not to have idolatrous esteems of Men make not great Men your arme for Men of low degree are Vanity and Men of high degree are a Lye to be laid in the Ballance they are alike lighter than Vanity Ps 62. 9. How high or great soever they are they are Men and not God Isay 31. 3. therefore trust not in them nor in the most learned skilful and mâ—st experienced Physicians for they have not the Keys of Hell and Death if he will not with-draw his anger the proud helpers do stoop under him Job 9. 13. What Man whether wisest or greatest or strongest or richest or healthithiest is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his Soul from the Hand of Hell Ps 89. 48. and 146. 3 4. 3. This consideration may encourage his Servants not to be afraid of their Enemies for not they but he hath the Keys Acts 26. 17. All power is given unto me both in Heaven and on Earth Go ye therefore Disciple all the Nations c. saith our Saviour unto his Apostles Mat. 28. 18 20. Heb. 2. 14 15. 1 Cor. 15. 58. 4. Fear him so as not to provoke him Luke 12. 4 5. Exod. 23. 21. for our breath is in his hand and the Keys of Hell and Death are in his hand Ps 107. 10 12. 5. Pray unto and seek help of him and in his name and come unto God by him to whom should a people seek but to their God When we fall down and there is none to help us yet in crying to him he can save us out of our Distresses and bring us out of Darkness and the shadow of Death and break our bands asunder For he hath broken the Gates of Brass and cut the Bars of Iron in sunder Isay 8. 19. Psal 68. 18 20. and 107. 13 16. Jer. 30. 12 18. 6. It may comfort them that wait upon him and keep his way that though they must dye yet he liveth and hath the Keys of Hell and Death and will in due season open their Graves and bring them forth and make them partakers of everlasting Life Joh. 6. 40. and ch 11. 25 26. 1 Thes 4. 15 18. 2 Cor. 4. â—2 14 17. These things our Lord sets before his Servant John when he was as dead and greatly afraid to revive him and to strengthen him and encourage him against his fearâ— And let us learn from hence 1. When we are â—ainting and fearful to look unto Jesus and consider his Blood and the Glory he hath received therethorow as these things are discovered to us in the Gospel as the Apostle exhorts saying laying aside every weight and the Sin which doth so easily beset us let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of the Faith who for the Joy set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God For consider him lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds Heb. 12. 1 3 4. and ch 3. 1 2. The Gospel is the word of life the spirit of life is in it Phil. 2. 16. that will quicken us again Ps 119. 50 93. That is proper to bind up the broken-hearted who are broken and shattered with sorrow or fear Isay 61. 1 2. Luke 4. 18. Oh consider we not our selves or any goodness or worthiness of ours but consider his first love manifested in his laying down his life for us and the glory he hath received and shall appear in give more earnest heed to the things we have heard that we may encourage our selves in the Lord 1 Sam. 30. 6. Joh. 6. 63. 1 Joh. 4. 14 18 19. Christ comforts not John immediately though he was as dead but declares the word of life to him 2. Or when we see others surprized with fear or overwhelmed with grief with this Gospel lift up the hands that hang down Rom. 1. 16. Isay 40. 1 2 9. Verse 19. Write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter This charge and commandment he giveth to him again he had given John such a like command before v. 11. and now reneweth it to signify to us the weightiness of the things to be written and that they might be conveyed to the Churches and for us and for our use and benefit in these latter days For whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our learning Rom. 15. 4. and who shall hinder us from looking hereinto That charge in v. 11. and this here are given in general some other are more particular as ch 14. 1â— and ch 19. 9. c. This charge and commandement he gives to him after he had strengthened him Dan. 10. 17 19. his yoke is easie and his burthen is light Mat. 11. 30. 1 Joh. 5. 3. and indeed he had given such a discovery of himself before that there was no cause for John to fear for he who thus enjoyned him was able to stand by him and save him It was the LORD that spake who could but prophesy and write Amos. 3. 8. It was the first and the last that gave this charge to him Josh 1. 7 9. Jer. 1. 8 19. Write saith Christ to him but what should he write some thus read it the things which thou hast seen both the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter summing them up in two Branches or particulars and hereby signifying as if John had seen all he was to write before his charge was given to him which doubtless he had not and therefore we shall look upon the word 's as we have them rendred to us and as a commandment to write three things viz. 1. The things which thou hast seen namely in vision as v. 11. and so what he had seen from v. 12. to this verse not all he had foreseen but what he had now seen in which our Lord doth give a brief discovery of himself of his death resurrection everliving and his Glory Power and Majesty Christ first shews him this that it might be instructive to him to look unto Jesus that he might be enlightened Ps 34. 5 8.
the law and obtained eternal redemption for us when we were in our filth and blood said unto us live when we were in woful misery when the Sorrows of death compassed us and the pains of Hell gat hold on us and we found woe and trouble yet then caused his goodness to pass before us and commended and discovered his love to us and overcame us as bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke and spake peace to us and quieted our fears removed our sorrows comforted our hearts delivered our souls from death our eyes from tears and our feet from falling that we might walk before him in the land of the living in whom still dwelleth and abideth all the fulness even all the fulness of the God-head bodily and in whom is all compleatness prepared for us Do we thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is he not our Father that hath bought us hath he not made and established us ask thy Father and he will shew thee thine elders the prophets and Apostles and they will tell thee do ye thus render to the Lord for all his benefits love and kindness as to forsake him and lightly or more lightly than formerly esteem the rock of your Salvation of the rock that begat you are ye so unmindful and have you forgotten God that formed you Deut. 32. 5 7 15 18. Is this your kindness to your friend that hath so loved you and made it known to you and still continues his goodness to you and waits upon you that he may be gracious unto you O remember the former days remember your affliction and misery the distress that sometimes you were in and what a joyful sound the Gospel was then unto you and how your hearts did burn within you in love to Christ his cross and sufferings and consider what a loss you are now come to and for this weep let your eye your eye run down with water weep and howl for such an unkind and unworthy return to him and give no rest to your eyes nor slumber to your eye-lids until you return to the days of your youth the love of your espousals surely the oneness of the Lord being seriously minded and considered by us would engage us to return to him from whom we have departed and to be â—ervent in unâ—eigned love to him Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and Soul and mind and strength and thy neighbour as thy self Deut. 6. 4 6. with Mark 12. 29 30. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of light with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth wherefore my Brethren let every Man be swift to hear c. Jam. 1. 17 18 19. 2. This is a great evil an evil that provoketh to leave the first love because in our abating in our love to Christ and leaving our first â—ervency of affection to him and his Gospel and people and the societies thereof we shall be very injurious and harmful to others and even by such remission of love secretly signify unto them that the longer we know Christ and the more acquainted we are with him the less amiable and desirable he is to us and the less delightful to us and therefore is he no more delighted in by us and so we lay a stumbling block in the way of the blind and give offence to the World and hinder others from seeking after and following the Lord when persons are zealous and â—ervent in their affection unto and pursuit after the Lord their zeal provokes very many 2 Cor. 9. 2. Thus it appeared in the spouses earnestness in seeking for and inquiring after and highly and delightfully valuing and setting forth the excellency comliness of her beloved while she was thus exercised this heat of love in her to Christ and following hard after him causeth the daughters of Jerusalem to enquire after him and to say whither is thy beloved gone O thou fairest among Women whither is thy beloved turned aside that we may seek him with thee Can. 5. 8 16. and ch 6. 1. love even hot and fiery love to Christ and the fruits thereof are strong as death as death is strong and overcomes the mightiest and stoutest so ardent love is proper to overcome others also even our enemies and to bring them in to Christ Cant. 8. 6 7. with Rom. 12. 19 21. when the believers did cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart and continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and were together continuing daily with one accord c. The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Acts 2. 42 47. Joh. 13. 34 35. But now when the first love waxes cold and believers have little or less heart to Christ and his Gospel than formerly this puts a discouragement upon others and hinders them from seeking after him and strengthens them in their evil ways so much the Lord signifies in saying to his people in former times My people have forgotten me days without number why trimest thou thy way to seek love Therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways Jer. 2. 31 33. And indeed this decay of mens first love to Christ will be visible and evident to others it cannot be kept so secret but it will be seen and come abroad for such as leave their first love will leave their first works also as v. 5. 3. Abatement in the first love is a great evil a provoking evil in believers because those in Christ's Church have great advantage to grow and increase in love to him and to his Gospel and it is expected from them that they go on from strength to strength Ps 84. 4 7. and in beholding him with open face in the glass of the Gospel they are changed and metamorphosed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. In giving diligence to the exceeding great and precious promises ministred in and with the Gospel they shall be made partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the World thorow lust and not only so but they may add to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness Brotherly-kindness and to Brotherly-Kindness Charity 2 Pet. 1. 4 7. these things may be in them and abound v. 8 Choice giâ—ts are now given to men to this purpose that they might not be as children tossed to and fro but truthing it in love might grow up into Christ in all things who is the head from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the
2 3 4. 2. We have nextly to consider the promise it self and blessedness therein contained which is propounded unto the Churches and to be heard by every one that hath an ear assured and ascertained to him that overcometh as his undoubted portion I will give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God Where we have to consider and speak unto 1. The person promising I 2. The promise will give 3. The thing promised to eat of the tree of life 4. The place where this tree is and where he shall eat it which is in the midst of the Paradise of God 1. The Person promising I to wit Jesus Christ he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand and walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks v. 1. hence we may note The promises are Christ's to give and he hath power to bless us and make us partakers of all the blessings promised To Christ are the promises made and in him confirmed Gal. 3. 16 17. In him all the promises of God are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. he hath by his blood confirmed them and hath power to perform and fulfil them hence also he speaks in such-like language to others of the Churches as I will give to eat of the hidden Manna and I will give him a white-stone and in the stone a new-name written Rev. 2. 17. To him will I give power over the nations c. v. 26. 28. see also ch 3. 5 12 21. The Father so loveth the Son because he laid down his life for us that he might take it up again that he hath given all things into his hand Joh 3. 35. with ch 10. 17. All things are delivered unto him of the Father Mat. 11. 27. And all power and Authority is given unto him to give what is good to give to Men repentance both grace space of repentance Acts 5. 31. Rev. 2. 21. To give forgiveness of sins to them that believe Acts 5. 31. and ch 10. 43. and ch 13. 39. To give unto them the power to become the Sons of God Joh. 1. 12. To pour forth his spirit unto them and make known his words Prov. 1. 23. To give them peace Joh. 14. 27. To pour forth unto them the spirit of grace and supplication Zech. 12. 10. To give unto them eternal life Joh. 10. 27 28. and ch 17. 2. and they that are Christ's are Abraham's seed and heires according to promise Gal. 3. 29. he hath now all to give who loved us and gave himself for us this is matter of great instruction and consolation to us and might move and prevail with us to come unto him continually and in so doing he will give us rest Mat. 11. 27 28 29. 2. The promise will give in which is signified unto us 1. The time when he will give this that is here promised and that follows mens overcoming and is consequential thereto he will give as is here promised after men have totally and finally overcome hence when he describes the subject of the blessedness here promised he doth it in the present time To him that overcometh But when he propounds the blessedness it self he doth it in time to come I will give and in such-like language he speaks to all these Churches as Rev. 2. 7 17 26 29. and ch 3. 5 6 12. and v. 21 22 and so it is like that of the Apostle ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise Heb. 10. 36. To them who are faithful unto the death he will give a crown of life Rev. 2. 10. Indeed now in this day and before they have overcome he doth give unto the believer all things that pertain to life and Godliness thorow the knowledge of himself that they may overcome he sends them not to warfare at their own charges and in their overcoming he is filling them with joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. Though now they see him not yet believing they rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory receiving the end of their faith even the salvation of their Souls 1 Pet. 1. 8 9. now their spirit is life for righteousness sake and in coming unto him the living-stone they are made lively stones their souls do live Joh. 6. 35 40 51 55 57. Rom. 8. 10. Gal. 2. 20. 1 Pet. 2. 3 5 But that which here and elsewhere he promises to these Churches is future and which follows their having overcome Then these promises shall be fulfilled to them in spirit when their spirits are made perfect when they will be in a far better condition then now they are Isay 57. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 6 8. Phil. 2. 21 22. Rev. 14. 13. and the most full and glorious performance hereof will be when the body is raised and the soul and body reunited even in the first resurrection the resurrection of the just and from thence for ever Rom. 8. 23 25. Jam. 5. 7 8. And so our Lord Jesus doth signify that there is after we have overcome after this earthly house of our Tabernacle is dissolved a future and more glorious state to be entred into and enjoyed immediately after we dye in spirit and in the first resurrection and thence to all eternity in soul and body and otherwise why should we fight or go to or undertake this warfare If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. but there is a World to come Luke 20. 35 36. Eph. 1. 21. Heb. 2. 5. a life to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. and he that overcometh shall inherit in the World to come the life to come even everlasting life Mark 10. 29 30. and he shall not be hurt of the second death the wrath to come Rev. 2. 11. with 1 Thes 1. 10. And this our Lord would now have us to mind and consider even what is to come after we have finished our course to mind this especially that we may not faint but continue to the end looking not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things that are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 13 14. and ch 5. 1 8. Heb. 11. 13 16 24 26. 2. We may nextly consider in the promise the freeness of it I will give what is freer then a gift It is a reward indeed but it is not of debt or from any desert of the overcomer but of grace All is of grace from first to last from the foundation to the top-stone Zech. 4 7. to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Rom. 4. 4 5. wages and gift are opposed the one to the other The wages of sin is death but
hast thou reproached and blasphemed And against whom hast thou exalted thy voice I know thy rage against me Isay 37. 23 28. 5. And he sees and takes notice of their blasphemy and persecution of his people Ps 10. 14. Jer. 18. 23. Ps 94. 1 8. And this may comfort his people and help them to commit their cause to him to whom vengeance doth belong c. Verse 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life In this verse after he had given this Angel and Church some account of his knowledge as we have seen before in v. 9. our Lord doth here 1. Give a caution and warning unto them Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer 2. He gives some intimation and account of the things they should suffer with the time and end thereof Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days 3. He gives to them needful counsel Be thou faithful unto death 4. And propounds to and sets before them blessed encouragement that they might receive his counsel And I will give thee a crown of life 1. The warning and caution which he gives unto this Angel and Church Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer here we may note some things signified to us 1. In that he signifieth that they were in tribulation v. 9. and here and after gives us to understand that they were still to suffer and be in tribulation so we may receive this Instruction That while they are in this World tribulation is to be expected by the believers one affliction succeeding and following upon the neck of another Many are the afflictions of the righteous Ps 34. 19. In the World ye shall have tribulation saith our Saviour Joh. 16. 33. 2 Tim. 3. 12. As it was with Israel of old so it is true of the Israel of God Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say many a time have they afflicted me from my youth The plowers plowed upon my back they made long their furrows Ps 129. 1 3. The believers are now hated of all men for Christ's name-sake And when permissive commission is given to their enemies they will be instruments of affliction and grievance to them Acts 14. 22. now they sow in tears Ps 126. 5 6. yea many afflictions they meet withal from such as pretend themselves to be and would be accounted the most sincere Christians as we have seen in v. 9. and this shews that here is not their rest they are not yet perfect as to attainment Isay 14. 3. 2 Thes 1. 5 6. Rev. 21. 3 4 5. and also we may learn from hence that we cannot know love or hatred by any thing here they may be loved peculiarly that are in troubles frequently and they may be hated comparatively and woes denounced against them that are at ease in Zion Amos. 6. 1. Ps 73. 2 12. and 11. 5 6. Heb. 12. 5 7. 2. In that he saith to these Fear none of those things c. so he signifieth to us That even the believers themselves are liable to fear timerousness and cowardice aswell as others and need to be admonished thereof and strengthened there-against yea and the best and most upright of them also such were this Angel and Church for our Saviour faults them for nothing and yet gives this caution to them such a like caution our Saviour gives unto his disciples generally Fear not little flock Luke 12. 32. And the Apostle Paul was not ashamed to remember and acknowledge to the Corinthians that he was with them in weakness and in fear and in much trembling 1 Cor. 2. 3. Gal. 4. 13 14. see the notes on Rev. 1. v. 17. We have fear in us as a natural infirmity of the flesh and are subject and ready to pollute our selves therewith and to be under the power thereof and therefore we need to be warned there-against and to receive admonition And in general we may note that seeing this admonition is given to such as were blameless and unreprovable in his sight That such persons as do not sin at present but have kept themselves pure yet they may be warned of what is evil and should not take it ill so to be And particularly this conâ—ideration that believers are now liable to fear might be useful to us That we should not be discouraged or despond because we are sometimes fearful but to remember that holy ones were subject thereto formerly and we might therefore learn to pity one another and not to trust or glory in our selves or in other 3. We may further note from hence that such as have been in tribulation and affliction formerly and have behaved themselves unreproveably therein may yet fear when a new trouble and trial comes upon them see v. 9. so much also the Apostle intimates when he writes to the Hebrews and saith call to remembrance the former days in which after ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of affliction partly whilest ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions and partly whilest ye became companions of them that were so used for ye had compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods But notwithstanding all this it appears that though they had so well behaved themselves formerly in afflictions they were afterwards ready to fear and needed to be warned thereof hence to the former he adds Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward for ye have need of patience Heb. 10. 32 36. such as have in former times patiently endured and not feared need to be again encouraged and strengthened and stirred up to courage when a new trial is ordered to them Hence the Apostle saith to Timothy Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life whereunto thou art called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses 1 Tim. 6. 12 14. Acts 18. 9 10. with ch 13. 51 52. and 14. 1 21. and ch 23. 11. They have no sufficiency of themselves as of themselves to any thing that is good 2 Cor. 3. 5. but need continually to be strong in and strengthened by the Lord Eph. 6. 10 12. or they may fear some things they may suffer though they might endure many things yet there may be some affliction some particular trial that may be dreadful and terrible to them hence he here saith Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer or fear nothing Heb. 13. 5 6. Rom. 8. 35 39. Fear not want nor enemies Some may think they could endure reproach or evil words but not bodily persecution some may endure imprisonment but not spoiling of their goods some may chearfully undergo
all but death Some such a kind of death but not another which may be more painful or shameful but nothing we may suffer should be feared as he saith I will fear none evil Ps 23. 4. And as the Apostle Paul saith none of the things I suffer move me nor do I count my life deer unto my self that I may finish my course with joy Acts 20. 24. 4 In that Christ saith fear none of those things c. And cautions against fear so he signifieth that sinful slavish fear is very hurtful and to be avoided and taken heed of by us It will hinder Men from being faithful to the death whereto this Angel and Church are counseled in the latter end of this verse It brings men into bondage to sin and Satan Heb. 2. 15. The fear of Man brings a snare Prov. 29. 25. It makes men ashamed of Christ and his words in an evil and adulterous generation and puts Men upon seeking to save their lives when they are called to lay them down 2 Tim. 1. 7 8. Mat. â—6 24 26. It weakens Men and makes them faint-hearted to good Jer. 51. 46. Zech. 8. 13. And will lay them open to temptations and snares Gen. 20. 2 11. and ch 26. 11. and even apt Men to deny Christ Mat. 26. 69 74. and will if feared and yielded up to expose Men to the wrath to come the fearful and unbelieving c. shall have their part in the lake of fire burning with brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 8. Great need we have therefore to receive this admonition and to seek help in the name of the Lord against this fear and this leads us to another Instruction namely 5. There is that contained in the Testimony of our Lord that may strengthen us against this fear of evil and they that hearken to Christ therein and heartily embrace his Gospel shall be strengthened as wisdom saith whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil Prov. 1. 33. such an one shall not be afraid of evil-tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord His heart is established he shall not be afraid c. Ps 112. 6 8. Prov. 3. 21 27. Ps 27. 1 3. and 46. 1 5 6. And here particularly to encourage and strengthen their hearts against the fear of evil he thus describes himself to them in v. 8. These things saith the first and the last the omnipotent he that was and is and is to come that hath all power to help and will help and strengthen those that come unto and follow him he will be their shield and their exceeding great reward as he saith to Abram Gen. 15. 1. and ch 17. 1. Isay 41. 4 10. see notes on ch 1. v. 8. and v. 11. Which was dead he hath died for us he was delivered for our offences as if he should say what-ever you meet with I have endured the same I was dead for you In and by which death he hath satisfied for your sins and in which his love was brightly manifested look unto him Heb. 12. 1 2 3. Rom. 5. 2 3 5 6 10. Gal. 2. 20. And is alive he hath received justification for us Rom. 4. 25. overcome Death and Devil Ps 98. 1. Acts 2. 25. Isay 43. 1. with Gal. 3. 13. and hath all power to forgive sins and to comfort in all tribulations and trials and to cause all to work together for good and to deliver out of trouble fear not see notes on ch 1. v. 18. and ch 2. v. 8. 2. We have nextly to consider and speak unto the account which the first and the last gives of the things they should suffer with the end and time thereof Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days 1. Their sufferings are thus exprest The Devil shall cast some of you into prison Where again let us consider 1. The Person that should afflâ—ct them the principal agent The Devil 2. The affliction it self he should inflict on them shall cast into prison 3. The Persons whom he should cast into prison some of you 1. The Person or principal agent herein The Devil not immediately but in and by his instruments and agents and what they do in fulfilling his lusts he may be said to do and it may bear his name as it is said upon another account concerning Joseph and the Prisoners whatsoever they did there he was the doer Gen. 30. 22. so it is here whatsoever the Devils Servants do by his impulse and insâ—â—gation and in obedience to him he is the principal doer thereof whosoever committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning when others sin by his temptation and instigation he sinneth therein principally 1 Joh. 3. 8 12. and ch 5. 19. Job was in Satan's hand and he it was that afflicted him and impoverisht him but he did not inflict all upon him immediately but stirred up his instruments to serve his design The Sabeans fell upon the oxen and asses and took them away and slew his Servants c. And the Caldeans made out three bands and fell upon the camels and carried them away and slew his Servants with the edge of the sword c. Joh. 1. 12 15. 19. so Judas is called a Devil because he was led and acted by him Joh. 6. 70. and Christ saith to Peter Get thee behind me Satan c. he gives his name to him because he did his evil work Mat. 16. 20 23. with 1 Joh. 3. 10. and he that hateth his Brother is of the wicked one as Cain was 1 Joh. 3. 12 13. the Devil is he that is said to deceive the whole World though it is their iniquity to be deceived by him and their unbelief is that which lays them open to and fits them for being deceived by him The God of this World blinds the minds of them that believe not Rev. 12 9. and ch 20. 2 3 10. with 2 Cor. 4. 4. and Acts 13. 10. and ch 5. 3. so here The Devil shall cast some of you into prison that is he shall stir up some that are in power under the heathen Roman Emperors to imprison you and what they do as acted by him he is the doer of it and indeed those heathen powers were so ruled by Satan or the Devil that he was said to be in the throne as it were Rev. 12. 3 10. and here this evil one is called the Devil because he prevailed by his false accusations to cause the Heathen powers to persecute and imprison Christ's Servants for â—e is the accuser of the Brethren Rev. 12. 20. and so the word Devil signifies a slanderer or false accuser and so the Word in the plural number is translated slanderers 1 Tim. 3. 11 and false accusers 2 Tim. 3. 3. Tit. 2. 3. 2. The affliction it self he the devil should inflict upon them shall cast
and the extent thereof both as to the Persons and as to the time of your tribulation 3. We have now in order to speak unto The good and needful counsel which he gives unto these Be thou faithful unto death That is to say Be thou faithful in the Lord as to the faithful in Christ Jesus Eph. 1. 1. To the Saints and faithful Brethren in Christ Col. 1. 2. 1 Tim. 6. 2. continue in the faith grounded and setled and be not moved a-away from the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 23. stand fast in the faith 1 Cor. 16 13. as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith Col. 2. 6 7. And Be thou faithful unto the Lord Acts 16. 15. In holding fast and holding forth the glorious Gospel unto death Tit. 1. 9. In rendring Christ's praise glorious and proclaiming the Lord's goodness and not thine own Prov. 20. 6. In resisting and striving against sin even unto blood Heb. 12. 4. In a patient continuance in well-doing Rom. 2. 7. Heb. 10. 36. In all be thou stedfast and unmoveable 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be thou constant and turn not aside from following him but cleave unto him with full purpose whatever afflictions or tribulations ye meet withal be faithful confessors and martyrs Rev. 1. 5. and ch 3. 14. continue unto the end in induring afflictions fight the good fight of faith till death Faithful is more then elected or chosen simply as that is more then called as is signified to us in that it is said they that are with the lamb are called and chosen faithful Rev. 17. 14. and ch 12. 11. Now in that he gives such counsel to these he signifieth unto us 1. That constancy in the faith and profession of it and in enduring the afflictions of the Gospel is needful and requisite for those that shall hereafter inherit eternal life It is not enough that men run well at the first but also that they hold on unto the end of the race Because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold But he that shall endure unto the end thy same shall be saved Mat. 24. 11 12. and ch 10. 22. So the Lord saith concerning Solomon I will establish his Kingdom for ever if he be constant to do my commandments But otherwise â—aith David to him If thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever 1 Chron. 28. 7 8 9. The just shall live by faith but if he draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10. 38. Though our Saviour finds no â—ault with this Church for any evil yet he signifies by this Counsel that it was needful for them to abide constant unto the end And so he doth when he sends a message to the Church in Philadelphia which was also unreprovable at that time and the only one of the seven that was so besides this yet to that Church also he saith hold that fast which thou hast that no Man take thy Crown See the notes on ch 3. v. 11. 2. In this counsel is also signified to us That those that are at present in Christ and whom he blames not for any thing but greatly commends may that notwithstanding possibly not abide faithful unto the conclusion of their lives But either because of the love of the World or for fear of somewhat to be parted with or endured may depart or stand off from Christ by an evil heart of unbelief Heb. 3. 1. with v. 12 13. This admonition is given to all believers not only to little Children and young Men but unto Fathers also Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him The love of money is the root of all evil which while some have coveted after they have erred from the faith c. 1 Joh. 2 15 16. with 1 Tim. 6. 9 10. 2 Tim. 4. 10. such as go right on their way may possibly be hindred or turned aside therefrom and such as were once faithful may be corrupted 1 Tim. 1. 20. 2 Tim. 2. 18. 1 Chron. 28. 7 8 9. Mat. 24. 45. c. Heb. 10. 23 26. see the notes on v 5 of this chapter 3. They may be faithful unto the end for he is faithful to confirm them unto the end that they may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ God is faithful by whom they were called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. 1 Thess 5. 22 24. There is no Iniquity with the Lord our God Jer. 2. 1 5 12. 4. Faithfulness is required but unto death they that are constant thereto shall from thenceforth be so established for ever that they cannot possibly be unfaithful they shall then be pillars in the house of God and shall go no more out see the notes on Rev. 3. v. 12. They shall then be delivered compleatly and everlastingly from sin Heb. 12. 4. and from enemies after they are once dead their enemies have no more that they can do Luke 12. 4. henceforth there is certainly laid up for them a crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give them at that day 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. Then they are blessed indeed and more blessed than they were in former times Rev. 14. 13. from thenceforth there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from one place or state to another cannot Luke 16. 26. constancy is no longer required of them but until their earthly house of this Tabernacle be dissolved Then they shall enter into peace and rest in their beds each one walking before him and in his uprightness And they shall not be hurt of the Second Death v. 11. 4. We have a gracious promise and powerful encouragement propounded to and set before them to engage them to receive and obey the Counsel fore-spoken to And I will give thee a Crown of Life Which is not absolutely assured unto them but respectively to wit in their being faithful unto the Death To the former Words of this sentence we have spoken before see the notes on v. 7. Onely here we may briefly speak to these two things 1. Enquire what is this Crown of life 2. Shew he can and will give it to these and such-like 1. The Crown of life doth signify to us their reigning in life by and with Jesus Christ when they have finished their course here in spirit And in the resurrection of the just in Soul and body reunited Rom. 5. 17. and so life in scripture when taken as here is the same with the Kingdom of God compare Mat. 18. 9. with Mark 9. 47 48. and Mark 9. 43 45 47. And that which in one place the Apostle James thus expresseth the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him in another it is thus the Kingdom
14. Joh. 5. 28 29. Actâ— 24. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 26. But now the second death here spoken of more particularly is that 1. Which shall be executed on Men not for their sinning in Adam nor for their partaking necessarily of filth and pollution but for their own personal Sinnings against light and grace vouchsafed and extended to them thorow the one and onâ—ly mediatour Jesus Christ who gave himself a ransom for all And so for their willing ignorance of God unbelief and disobedience to his Gospel and goodness by all means witnessed to them Then there shall be no occasion for the use of that Proverb the fathers have eaten Sowr grapes and the Childrens teeth are set on edge But the Soul that sinneth personally and impenitently it shall dye Jer. 31. 29 30. Ezek. 18. 1 4 23. Rom. 2. 4 6. and ch 1 18 21 28. Joh. 3. 16 18 19 36. he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16. 15 16. he will in flaming fire take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess 1. 8 9. he will then execute Judgment upon and convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds and hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 14. 15. the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and Idolaters and all liers shall have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 8. Eph. 5. 3 6. 2. Their Judge and he that shall condemn them and adjudge them to the second death will be the Lord Jesus who died and rose for them God hath ordained him the Judge of quick and dead Acts 10. 42. and ch 17. 30 31. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10 11. Mat. 25. 30 41. Joh. 5. 22 27. Rom. 14. 9 10 11. Isay 45. 22 23 24. 3. The rule according to which he will judge them will be not the law as they fell under it in Adam but the Gospel So the Apostle saith both as with respect to them that have sinned without the law or Doctrine of the Lord and as with respect to them that have sinned in the law That God shall judg the secrets of them by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel Rom. 2. 11 12 16 Joh. 12. 47 50. Isay 30. 33. 4. The time when they shall be adjudged to this second death will be after they are raised out of the first after that the Judgment Heb. 6. 2 3. and ch 6. 27. All that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of Man and shall come forth they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. Rev. 20. 14 16. It is therefore called the wrath to come 1 Thess 1. 8 10. 5. It will be so dreadful and terrible both on Soul and Body Mat. 10. 28. that there will be no mixture of mercy in it now in the hand of the Lord there is a cup and the wine is red It is full of mixture and he poureth out of the same but the dreggs thereof all the wicked of the earth shall wring out and drink Ps 75. 8. they shall not then have so much as a drop of water to cool their tongues when they are tormented in that flame Luke 16. 24 25 26. Rev. 14. 10. yea then the Lord will laugh at their calamity and mock when their fear cometh When their fear cometh as desolation and their destruction as a whirlewind when distress and anguish cometh upon them then they shall call upon him but he will not answer they shall seek him early but they shall not find him for that they hated knowledge and did not chuse the fear of the Lord Prov. 1. 24 26 32. 6. As to the duration of it it will be to all eternity both on Soul and Body Mat. 10. 28. there shall never be a dissolution of Soul and Body any more for the first death and Hell shall be destroyed 1 Cor. 15. 26. being cast into the lake of fire which is the second death Rev. 20. 14. And so their torment will be eternal and without any intermission The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever And they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast c. Rev. 14. 11. the breath or spirit of thâ— Lord like a stream of brimstone shall kindle that fire that is unquenchable Isay 30. 33. with Mat. 3. 11 12. Luke 3. 17. they shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thess 1. 8 9. Then shall the King say to them on his left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25. 41. and ch 18. 8. 7. Herein they shall have this as a worm gnawing upon them to all eternity The remembrance of what Christ suffered for them and how he redeemed them from the curse of the Law and obtained eternal life into the nature of Man for them and his grace brought salvation to them whereby they might have been saved from their sins and been delivered from this wrath to come And that they slighted and rejected this Saviour and his salvation hated instruction and their heart despised reproof they hated knowledge and did not chuse the fear of the Lord But by observing lying vanities they forsook their own mercy Prov. 1. 24 31 32. and ch 5. 12 13 Jona 2. 8. that they fled from him transgressed and spoke lies against him who redeemed them Hos 7. 13. denied the Lord that bought them and so brought upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. that they lost their own Souls Mat. 16. 26. and put away from them and judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life Acts 13. 46. The remembrance hereof will be terrible and inconceivably tormenting to them which it would not be if Christ had not given himself a ransome for them or if there had been no eternal life prepared for them or it might not have been had by them But this will be the worm that never will dye That when God had no pleasure in their destruction none at all and Christ was gathering them as an hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and the holy Spirit was opening their eyes and turning them from darkness to light yet notwithstanding all they would not come to Christ but loved darkness rather then light they would not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved but loved their sins and vanities more then Christ Therefore they shall go into everlasting punishment 2 Thes 2. 10 12. Joh. 3. 19. see Mr. Tho. More senior his discourse of the Precious blood of Christ ch 11. Now of this Second death he
for the glory of his name he would come quickly and fight against these evil ones if this Angel and Church repented not otherwise in their repenting this occasion would be removed Yea and if they repented not he would fight against these Balaamites and Nicolaitans and so vindicate the honour of his name for the good and conviction of the professed heathen amongst whom they were that they might know he is one that loveth righteousness and hateth iniquity that so they might seek and worship him with his people whereas if his people did reject and cast off these evil workers and so had their conversation honest amongst the Gentiles this would cause them to glorify God in the day of their visitation 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. And Christ would not upon that account quickly fight against these false teachers with the Sword of his mouth 4. If this Angel and Church did not as here they are counselled unto repent his fighting against those false teachers would be a powerful means to awaken them to repent and to occasion and provoke them to wash their feet in the blood of the wicked Ps 58. 9 10. so when he was punishing the enemies of his people he said surely thou wilt fear me thou wilt receive instruction c. Zeph. 3. 5 7. or if they did not repent they should hereby know he would punish them also As he saith in his Epistle to Thyatira I will cast her Jezabel the false Prophetess into a bed and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation except they repent of their deeds and I will kill her Children with death and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your works Rev. 2. 22 23. Ps 94. 10. By all which we may in some Measure see that they are most uncharitable to evil and corrupt teachers as well as to their own Souls who have and countenance them For by so doing they provoke Christ more immediately to fight against them Quest 2. It might be further queried whether Christ's fighting against these false teachers would be also a testimony of displeasure unto this Angel and Church for so it appears to be in that he saith and threatneth I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them c. Ans To this we may say yes certainly it would be so however in the sight of the heathen that could not distinguish between persons and things that differ Ezek. 5. 8. 14. with ch 9. 4 5. Verse 17. He that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches see the notes before on v. 7. To him that overcometh see the notes before on v. 7. and on ch 3. v. 5. will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and I will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no Man knoweth saving he that receeiveth it In the latter part of this verse we have a gracious promise and encouragement propounded to us I will give to eat of the hidden manna c. wherein consider we for our usefulness 1. What is this hidden Manna here spoken of 2. In what respect or consideration it is said to be hidden 3. How will he give to him that overcometh to eat thereof 1. What is this hidden Manna here spoken of And to that we may say our Lord Jesus Christ sheweth unto us what is meant thereby to wit himself In that when the Capernaites say unto him Our Fathers did eat manna in the desert as it is written He gave them bread from heaven to eat Then Jesus saith unto them verily verily I say unto you Moses gave you not that bread from Heaven but my Father giveth you the true bread from Heaven For the bread of God is he that cometh down from Heaven and giveth life unto the World And again Jesus saith unto them I am the bread of life c. Joh. 6. 30 35. the Lord himself is the true bread Isay 55. 2 3 6. And himself as he hath partaken of our nature and been delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification the bread that he will give the true manna is his flesh which he hath given for the life of the World his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed Joh. 6. 48. 51 58 63. he is indeed the meat which God hath prepared for us to â—eed upon Ps 22. title and v. 26. Joh. 6. 27 35. and he may be called and compared to Manna 1. Because as Manna was provided for and promised to them when they were very evil and behaved themselves unworthy Exod. 16 2 4. So Jesus Christ was fore-ordained and given when we were sinful and pollutted ones and had by our sin deserved to have perished for ever Gen. 3. 15. while we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5 6 8. Christ once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit 1 Pet. 3. 18. 2. Manna was given without any labour or work of theirs without any plowing or sowing of theirs as is signified to us in what the Lord said unto Moses Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you It came down as the rain or showers upon the grass that tarrieth not for Man nor waiteth for the Sons of Men Exod. 16. 4. with Mica 5. 7. So also it is true of this heavenly and spiritual bread even Jesus Christ It was not of mens providing or preparing but God prepared himself this lamb for a burnt-offering Gen. 22. 8 14. he found out this ransom Job 33. 24. while we were yet without strength and ungodly ones Christ died for us Rom. 5. 6. my Father saith our Saviour giveth you the true bread from Heaven All things are of God Joh. 6. 32. and ch 3. 14 16. 2 Cor. 5. 18. with Joh. 1. 13. Job 28. 12 20 27. 3. Manna was ground in a mill or beaten in a morter and baked Numb 11. 18. so Jesus Christ was broken for us that he might become good food for us to feed on that he might be bread of life for us 1 Cor. 11. 24. he was tormented for our transgressions bruised like bread-corn Isay 28. 28 for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him It pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief Isay 53. 4 6 10. This corn of wheat fell into the ground and died God brought him into the dust of death and he gave his flesh for the life of the world and so is become living quickning bread for us to feed on Joh. 6. 51. with ch 12. 23. he was made the curse of God for us that he might redeem us from the
curse of the law Joh. 12. 27 31. Gal. 3. 13. and ch 4. 4 5. Rom. 8. 32. 4. Manna was a sweet and pleasant food to eat delightful to the taste the taste of it was like wafers made with honey Exod 16. 31. So is Jesus Christ become thorow his personal abasement and sufferings in the vertue whereof he is raised again he is infinitely sweeter than honey and the honey-comb As the Lord signifies when he in viteth every thirster to come unto him hearken diligently unto me saith he and eat ye that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness Isay 55. 1 3 5. I sate down saith the spouse under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste Cant. 2. 3. Oh taste and see that the Lord is gracious He is so in himself whether men taste and perceive it or no but they prove him so to be whoso hear and learn of the Father as to come unto and eat him Ps 34. 8. with 1 Pet. 2. 3 4. Joh. 6. 56 57. 5. Manna came down with the dew of heaven Exod. 16. 13 14. when the dew fell upon the camp in the night the manna fell upon it Numb 11. 9. so Christ in and by his Gospel and spirit cometh down and so cometh down that a Man any man may eat thereof and not dye Deut. 32. 2 3. with Joh. 6. 33 50 63. and hence our Saviour said unto his disciples when he sent them forth to preach the Gospel he that heareth you heareth me And he that receiveth you receiveth me c. Luke 10. 16. Mat. 10. 40. Joh. 14. 21 23. Eph. 3. 17. 6. Manna was too much sleighted undervalued and loathed by them in process of time though at the first they admired thereat and said what is this Exod. 16. 15. yet afterward they murmured thereat and were discontented and said Our Soul is dried away there is nothing at all be sides this manna before our eyes Numb 11. 6. and ch 21. 5 And therefore the Lord was angry with them and sent fiery serpents amongst them Numb 21. 6. So Jesus Christ though he be a wonderful gift of Gods grace and an everlasting witness and commendation of God's love to us is yet rejected and despised of Men Isay 53. 2 4. he is disallowed indeed of Men 1 Pet. 2. 4. and of the builders also v. 7. and too much and too often by such as have formerly tasted his graciousness Gal. 4. 15. Rev. 2. 5. and ch 3. 3. whereby God is greatly provoked to anger And how shall they escape who neglect so great salvation Heb. 2. 1 3. But we shall adde no more hereto because these things are more fully spoken to and may be seen in Mr. Thomas Moore seniour his uncovering of mysterious deceits Page 115 117. 2. We come next to shew why Christ is here called hidden manna and that is 1. Because he is the mystery of that former Manna the secret thereof that was a type or figure of Jesus Christ as he is the secret of the Tabernacle and temple so it is here Ps 27. 4 5. and indeed Christ was the secret or hidden thing typed forth by the shadows of the law generally they had a shadow of good things to come but the body is of Christ Col. 2. 16 17. Heb. 10. 1. so here particularly the former manna typified or shadowed forth Jesus Christ as the bread of life Joâ— 6. 32 35. and so Christ may be called the hidden Manna with reference to that manna in the Pot that was kept in the holiest Exod. 16. 33 34. Heb. 9. 4. which was a type of Christ who died for all yea rather is risen again and who is gone up into Heaven it self Acts 2. 30. 1 Pet. 3. 21. Luke 24. 51. with Mark 16. 16. 2. Hidden manna Christ may be called possibly to denoâ—e the excellency of this manna as those things which are most rich and excellent are called hidden things so we read of treasures hid in the sand Deut. 33. 19. and hid treasures Job 3. 21. Prov. 2. 4. so hidden wisdome is the most excellent wisdom 1 Cor. 2. 7. and the hidden Man the most excellent 1 Pet. 3. 4. So Jesus Christ is the Manna infinitely more excellent than the former Manna was As will appear if we consider 1. That was called Angels food as it is written Man did eat Angels food Ps 78. 25. But Christ is said to be and is the bread of God Joh. 6. 33. 2. That was typical bread But Christ is the truth thereof My Father saith he giveth you the true bread from Heaven Joh. 6. 32. and as far as the truth exceedeth the type and the substance the shadow so far doth Christ excel and go beyond that manna 3. That was dead bread If it were kept long it would putrify and corrupt as it is said some of them kept of it until the morning and it bred worms and stank Exod 16. 20. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. his blood is incorruptible blood 1 Pet. 1. 10. And he is raised again now no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 32 34. And is and abides for ever the true God and eternal life 1 Joh. 5. 20. and that manna was dead bread also in this respect it would not give life unto or quicken such as were dead But Christ is the bread of life for he cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world the dead World Joh. 6. 33 35. He causeth the dead to hear his voice and they that hear shall live Joh. 5. 24 25. he is the life Joh. 14. 6. 4. Though that came down from heaven yet it seems not from the highest Heaven but from the clouds as it is said He commanded the clouds from above and rained manna Ps 78. 24 25. and our Saviour saith Moses gave you not that bread from Heaven Joh. 6. 32. But Christ's Father giveth him who is the true bread from Heaven the highest Heaven and he came and cometh down therefrom Joh. 6. 32 33 38 42 50 51 58. 5. That would not preserve the eater from death but as our Saviour saith your Fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead Joh. 6. 49 58. But Christ is the living bread that came down from Heaven If any Man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever whoso eateth his flesh and drinketh his blood hath eternal life and he wil raise him up at the last day he that eateth of this bread shall live Joh. 6. 50 51 53. 58 6. That manna was not prepared for all the World but for Israel and â—he mixed multitude that were with them in the wilderness Numb 11. 4 6. But Christ the bread of life is the Saviour of the World Joh. 4. 42. and the bread which he will give is his flesh which he hath given for the life of the World Joh. 6. 51. and he
of this World and how doth she cry up her self to be the only true catholick Church and how boasts she of her unity succession number antiquity infallibility c. Rev. 17. 3 5. and ch 18. 7 16. 6. And lastly This whorish Church is here compared to Jezabel of old and called Jezabel to signify the miserable end and conclusion thereof so abiding and continuing as afterwards followeth 2 King 9. 32. 35. Rev. 2. 21 23. and sad and miserable will be the conclusion of mystery Babilon her plagues shall come in one hour death and mourâ—ing and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Rev. 18. 5 8 10 16. 21. and ch 19. 1 2 3. Now in that this is the Charge he draws up against this Angel Because thou sufferedst that Woman Jezabel So we may note from hence 1. That it is an evil thing in Christ's Angels and Churches to suffer false teachers to teach amongst them and their doing so is very displeasing to him and dangerous to themselves 2 Joh. 9. 11. 2 Cor. 15. 12. 2 Cor. 11. 1 3 19 20. See the notes on ver 14. Yea though his Angels and Churches have not been corrupted or polluted by their Instructions which cause to err from the words of knowledge yet he is angry with his people for suffering such amongst them as we have seen before in ver 13 14. Nay though this is the last Branch of the commendation of this Angel and Church that their last works were more than their first Yet he immediately subjoyns thereto notwithstanding I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that Woman Jezabel to teach c. Some may say though we do give entertainment unto and suffer false teachers amongst us yet we still hold fast the forme of sound words and abound in good works Well though all this be true yet the same Christ saith of this Angel and Church he saith it who perfectly knows all things Nevertheless all this he was angry with them and draws up this charge against them 2. In that Christ had before commended this Angel and Church for their Charity and Service or Administration and now blames and reproves them for suffering this false Prophetess among them so he plainly signifies to us and gives us to understand that it is no Charity nor service of love to suffer false Teachers Nay it is opposite to love and the service thereof so to do It is hatred to them to suffer Sin upon them and to strengthen them in their lies and errors Lev. 19. 17. And it 's hatred to our selves though we be not ensnared by them for thereby we are partakers of their evil deeds 2 Joh. 10. 11. And it 's hatred unto others because by occasion of our suffering them they may entertain their evil Doctrines and either be hindred from receiving the Gospel or be removed therefrom after they have given entertainment to it It is a fruit of Charity to forbid and hinder false teachers what we can lawfully so much the Apostle signifieth to us when he saith to Timothy I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine to wit beside the Doctrine of Christ To which he adds by and by Now the â—â—d of the charge is Charity c. even Charity towards them and others also 1 Tim. 1. 3 5. Oh! say some and too many I cannot but be charitable towards them and think well of them though in some things they dissâ—nt from the Doctrine of Christ Alas thou mistakest who so speakest It is not Charity however thou callest it but hatred to them Jer. 23. 15. But it is an old trick of the Devil 's to call evil good and good evil that the evil may be embraced and the good rejected and abhorred by us 2. Christ gives a more particular account of Jezabel's Evil and therein intimately of his Angels and Churches evil in permitting and suffering her And this is propounded to us 1. By what she said of her self which calleth her self a Prophetess This was the evil of Jezabel and is so of other false Teachers to profess themselves to be what they are not even true Teachers or Ministers of Christ If she were a Prophetess she was a bad one and somewhat like the Prophetess Noadiâ—h that did what she could to hinder the building of Jerusalem Nehem. 6. 9 14. She calleth her self a Prophetess either so in an extraordinary sense and so prophesying signifieth predicting or fore-telling future things Thus in former times many false Prophets pretended to Prophecy 1 Kings 22. 10 12. Jer. 5. 31. and ch 14. 13 14. and ch 27. 9. And thus our Saviour tells his Disciples that there would arise false Prophets and they would shew great signs and wonders c. Mat 24. 11 24. Or rather more ordinarily she called her self a Prophetess that is a Teacher of others and such an one as pretended to speak unto Edification and Exhortation and Comfort See 1 Cor. 14. 1 3. In this sense Teachers answer to Prophets 2 Pet. 2. 1. and this it seems the Word Prophetess doth here signify because of what follows viz. to teach c. and how many false teachers both of the Male and of the Female Sex are there in our days that call themselves Christ's Ministers who yet are led by the Spirit of errour and delusion Jer. 23. 21. Ezek. 13. 2 4. See the Notes on Verse 2. need we have therefore to look to our selves that we be not corrupted by them from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus they come in their own name and exalt themselves and men are more ready to give entertainment to them than unto those sent by Christ Mat. 7. 15. 1 Joh. 4. 1 6. with 2 Joh. 7. 8. Joh. 5. 44. 2 Cor. 11. 1 3 13 20 21. 2. We have an account given us of the evil work of this Woman Jezabel which is to teach and seduce my Servants c. Where consider we 1. What her act her evil act was To teach and seduce to teach things which she ought not to teach and which Christ's Servants ought not to receive Tit. 1. 11. Christ doth not teach his Servants to commit Fornication nor would he have them to learn this Lesson but this is the work of Evil Teachers of such as consent not to wholesome words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. He gives them good Counsel and wholesom Instructions even to worship God in Spirit and in Truth Joh. 4. 22 24. as he â—aith Hear the Instruction of a Father for I give you good Doctrine for sake you not my Law Prov. 4. 1 2. He neither teacheth his Servants any such evil Lesson nor would have them receive it from any other but cautions them there-against and saith Learn not the way of the Heathen for the
and for ever if they continue therein namely such as trecherously depart from the Lord as a wife from her husband after they have been espoused to him yea in some respect their evil may be greater then Jezabel's and thus will he deal with all who continue guilty of this evil he will render indignation and wrath tribulation anguish unto every Soul of Man that doeth evil whatever he hath done formerly unto the Jew first and also to the Gentile for there is no respect of persons with God Rom 2. 8 11. Oh then Let us have no fellowship with such unfruitful works or workers of darkness for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness And what communion hath light with darkness and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols Eph. 5. 11. 2 Cor. 6. 14 16. Prov. 13. 20. If any Man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. 3. But we may also take notice of this that Christ threatneth them not absolutely but conditionally except they repent of their deeds where also 1. He signifieth to us that while it is called to day the greatest and most notorious sinners may repent and turn to the Lord and find mercy with him There is forgiveness with him that he may be feared plenteousness of redemption that he may be hoped in by such Ps 130. he gives space and grace of repentance unto rebellious ones such was Jezabel and her companions see the notes on v. 20. and v. 21. 2 Pet. 3. 9 25. Ezek. 14. 6. This may therefore preserve us from concluding what will be the future state of such as are at present guilty of and polluted with spiritual fornication or adultery Mat. 21. 29. 2. The end of Christ and God in him in threatning judgments is that such polluted ones might repent and turn unto him from all their fins and abominations Jer. 18. 8 11. Rev. 9. 20 21. and ch 16. 9 10 11. 3. If such will not repent and turn iniquity will at last be their ruine Luke 13. 3 5. see the notes before on the word Repent on v. 5. and v. 16. of this chapter Verse 23. And I will kill her Children with death and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts and I will give unto every one of you accoring to your works In this verse we have to consider and take notice of these things 1. A further threat expressed and I will kill her Children with death 2. The effect hereof even of his threats and judgments on that woman Jezabel her Paramours and Children And all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts 3. A signification and declaration of Christ's impartiality in his retributions and rewards and I will give unto every one of you according to your works 1. We have a further threat expressed and therein still a further intimation of Christ's displeasure against Jezabel And I will kill her Children with death The Subjects of our Lord's threat are Her Children Not the Children brought forth by natural generation or not them in that consideration or on that account for though they are not therefore the Children of God in a peculiar consideration they which are the Children of the flesh these are not the Children of God Joh. 1. 13. Rom. 9. 8. yet Children are the beritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward the reward of his abasement and sufferings Ps 127. 3. they are graciously given by him Gen. 33. 5. and they are born unto him Ezek. 16. 20. with v. 36. and being baptized into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and so brought into the congregation of Christ of such little ones is the Kingdom of God Mat. 19. 13 14. Mark 10. 13 14. and unto the Children in this sence he is vouchsafing means and discovering his goodness when they come to the use of understanding Ps 14. 2. and 36 7. and 107. 8 15 21 31. and he doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the Children of Men Lam. 3. 32 33. Nor are the Children here spoken of the Children of the Church namely such as they have been instruments of begetting thorow the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation for the seed of his Church is blessed he will pour his spirit upon her seed and his blessing upon her off-spring Isay 45. 3. for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their off-spring with them Isay 65. 23. and in due season all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed Isay 61. 9. and ch 54. 13. Prov. 11. 21. But here by Children we are to understand the Children of whoredomes of their spiritual whoredoms and fornications such as are begotten by evil doctrines see v. 23. worshippers and practises Children that are corrupters who have forsaken the Lord and provoked the holy one of Israel to anger who are gone away backwards a Isay 1. 1 4. the seed of evil doers the Children of the sorceress the seed of the adulterer and the whore the Children of transgression and seed of falshood Isay 14. 20. and ch 57. 3 5. with 2 Joh. 9. such Children whose Mothers have played the harlots and they that conceived them have done shamefully strange Children such as are begotten of divers and strange doctrines Hos 2. 2 5. with ch 5. 7. with Heb. 13. 7 9. such as are either born of the doctrines of Devils in a more gross consideration of most hellish doctrines and so are Children of the Devil Children of hell 1 Tim. 4. 1. with Acts 13. 10. Mâ—t. 23. 15. or of the doctrines of Men Col. 1. 11. which in some sort may also be said to be the doctrines of Satan and they who are born of them to be of the evil one as our Saviour said unto Peter get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest the things that be of men implying that the savouring Men's things in opposition to the doctrine of Christ about his sufferings and resurrection makes Men to be of Satan Mat. 16. 21 23. and in such a sense they who are born of Men's doctrines in which they oppose the weighty matters of God's law they are of Satan and are originally of their Father the Devil Joh. 8. 41 44. so those who are born of the doctrine of the Pharisees in and by which they shut up the kingdom of Heaven against Men are the Children of the devil as they also are who are born of this doctrine that Christ died not for all nor tasted death by the grace of God for every Man but only for the elect c. such are therein of Satan these new Pharisees are like to the old ones Mat. 23. 13 15. and they are the Children of the evil one who are born of the doctrine of the Saducees who say there is no resurrection of the dead and so by
necessary conâ—equence deny that Christ is raised again or that say the resurrection is made or past already 1 Cor. 15. 12 34. 2 Tim. 2. 17 19. with 1 Tim. 1. 19. 20. Now these Children are such whom the Son of God threatens and of whom he saith I will kill them with death he here by death he means not nor intends the first death only or directly for it is appointed unto Men unto all both good and bad once to dye to dye that death Heb. 9. 27. what man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his Soul from the grave Ps 89. 47 48. But he will kill them with the second death destroy them with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power he will not only kill them with grief here Jam. 2. 6 9. and ch 4. 2. But he will cut them off and destroy them for ever if they continued such manner of persons and did not repent them of and turn from such evil doctrines and deeds Now here we may note in that our Lord Jesus thus threatneth and I will kill her Children with death 1. That Christ hath power to cast both Body and Soul into and destroy them in hell Mat. 10. 28. Luke 12. 5. he will in the last day say to them on his left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels and these shall go away into everlasting punishment Mat. 25. 41 46. and this might therefore ingage us to fear before him Luke 12. 4 5. and to hold fast grace whereby we may serve him acceptably with reverence and Godly fear for our God is a consuming fire Heb. 12. 28 29. Exod. 23. 21. 2. In that he saith I will kill her Children so we may note that false and Idolatrous teachers and seducers are not barren But too oft they bring forth and have many too many Children many follow the pernicious ways of these false teachers who privily bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them whereby the way of truth is evil spoken of 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. many saith Christ shall come in my name and shall or will deceive many and many false Prophets shall rise and will deceive many Mat. 24. 4 5 11. 24 25. many by means of false Prophets go in at the wide gate and walk in the broad way that leadeth to destruction Mat. 7. 13 15. and especially in these last times many are corrupted by seducers and deceivers as it is said now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter days some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4. 1. and by mystery Babilon particularly many are deceived for all nations have drunk of the wiâ—e of her fornication and the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her Rev. 17. 2 5. and ch 18. 3 23. 3. The Children false teachers and seducers bring forth and which continue such shall be destroyed by Christ as it is said They have dealt trecherously against the Lord for they have begotten strange Children now shall a month devour them with their portions Hos 5. 7. with Zech. 11. 8. these Children they bring forth to the murderer Hos 9. 13 16. The Lord will not have mercy upon them for they be the Children of whoredoms Hos 2. 2 5. The heresies of false teachers are Heresies of destruction damnable Heresies and they who receive and follow them bring upon themselves also destruction in conclusion 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. 2. We have declared to us the effect of his threats against and judgments executed upon that Woman Jezabel her Paramours and Children And all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and heart In which we may note for our instruction and usefulness 1. That the Son of God searcheth the reins and hearts 2. That all the Churches shall know he doth so by the judgments which he will execute upon seducers and idolatrous ones so persisting 1. That Christ who is the Son of God searcheth the reins and hearts The reins to wit the affections lusts and desires and hearts that is to say the cogitations understandings judgments c. These two words the reins and hearts comprehend the whole inward Man the whole Soul or Spirit He searcheth the reins and hearts namely he diligently enquireth thereinto he makes a diligent search or secret search Jer. 2. 34. he searcheth them as with candles Zeph. 1. 12. and by searching he seeth the inward thoughts wills and affections so whereas it is â—aid in one place thou seest the reins and the hearts in another it is said thou seest the reins and the heart compare Jer. 11. 20. with 20. 12. or he knoweth the heart and reins Jer. 17. 9. with v. 10. The Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts 1 Chron. 29. 9. he knoweth the secrets of the heart all the secret thoughts lusts turnings and windings thereof all things are naked to him as is imported to us in that description he gives of himself v. 18. who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire see the notes before on ch 1. 14. there is not a thought in our heart not a lust itching desire in our reins but he perfectly searcheth it out and knoweth it altogether Ps 139. 1 4 13. so it is said of Jesus that he perceived the thoughts of Men Luke 5. 22. that he knew their thoughts Luke 6. 8. that he perceived the thoughts of their hearts Luke 9. 47. and ch 11. 17. Mat. 9. 4. he knew all Men and needed not that any should testify of man for he knew what was in man Joh. 2. 24 25. he knoweth the hearts of all men Acts 1. 24. with v. 6. yea also the thoughts of the wise 1 Cor. 3. 19. yea he knoweth all things There is no creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Joh. 21. 17. with Heb. 4. 11 13. Yea Hell and destruction are before the Lord how much more then the hearts of the Children of men Prov. 15. 11. with Job 26. 6. And this may be useful to us 1. To shew unto us that Christ is Jehovah see the notes on ch 1. v. 8. he is the true God and eternal life 1 Joh. 5. 20. see the notes on ch 5. v. 8. For this is Gods peculiar to know and declare unto Man what is his thought Amos 4. 13. with Mat. 9. 4 5. This is peculiar to the most high God to know the hearts of Men as Solâ—mon saith Thou thou only knowest the Hearts of all the Children of Men which Christ the Son of God also doth as is said Compare 1 Kings 8 39. and 2 Chron. 6. 30 with Joh 21. 17. and Acts 1. 24. Now either Christ is Jehovah one in
Churches Heb. 4. 12 13. Ps 33. 15. All the Churches shall know saith Christ that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts and I will give to every one of you according to your works see notes on ch 2. v. 23. hence he saith to every one of the Churches I know thy works that is he takes notice of them and considers of what nature or kind soever they be see notes on ch 2. 1. and the consideration hereof may be useful to us 1. To preserve us from or purge out of us those foolish blasphemous and Athestical thoughts whereby Men think to hide their doin the dark from his all-seeing eye Thus some wickedly reasoned thorow their ignorance and blindness as it seems in that the Lord saith can any hide themselves in secret places that I shall not see them Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Jer. 23. 24. Isay 29. 15. Thus again it is said Is not God in the height of Heaven and behold the height of the stars how high are they and thou sayest how doth God know can he Judge thorow the dark cloud Thick clouds are a covering to him that he seeth not c. Job 22. 12 14. and ch 24. 15 17. and ch 34. 22. 2 It might also and would be powerful to preserve us from putting forth our hand to iniquity were it considered by us that he searcheth into and knoweth all our works and why wilt thou my Son saith the holy Spirit be ravisht with a strange Woman For the ways of a Man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings Prov. 5. 20 21. Ps 44. 20 21. Job 31. 1 4. O then walk we before him and be we perfect see notes on ch 2. v. 23. 2. Herein is affirmed that Christ did not upon search find their works perfect before God they might be and it appears they were perfect before Men before the Angel or Angels and Churches Because they had a name amongst them that they lived as before v. 1. others thought and spake highly honourably of them to their hurt and prejudice it seems But here our Lord Jesus he who is holy he who is true deals faithfully with them and undeceives them and others concerning them and saith Thy works have not been found by me perfect before God and his open rebuke and conviction was better than secret love or their Brethren's high commendations of them Faithful were the wounds of this Friend Prov. 27. 5 6. Ps 141. 5. But may not the same be said of all believers works Are any of their works perfect before God Is there not imperfection in them all To that we may say they are not compleatly perfect not so according to the strictness of the law or letter for there is not a just Man upon the earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccl. 7. 20. there are iniquities cleaving to their holy things and so to their best works doings and performances So as if God should strictly observe the failings and imperfections cleaving to them he might wipe them our and reject them Exod. 28. 38. with 1 Pet. 2. 5. Neh. 13. 14 22 31. But yet Blessed is the Man to whom the Lord will not impute sin Rom. 4. 5 8. and Ps 32. 1 2. Blessed are the perfect or undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart They also do no iniquity they walk in his ways Ps 119. 1 2 6. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit such God justifies not as to their persons only but also as to their works and who then shall condemn them Rom. 8. 1 33 34. A Man's works may be said according to the rule of the Gospel to be perfect when they are done in union with Jesus Eph. 2. 10. and so are produced by the Faith of the Gospel which faith worketh by love and these two are the new creature Gal. 5. 6. with ch 6. 15. when they proceed from the grace of God which brings salvation to all Men known and heartily believed whereby the heart is purified and body washt with that pure water so as according to the teachings thereof denying ungodliness and worldly lusts they walk soberly righteously and godly in this present World Looking for that blessed hope c. Tit. 2. 11 14. and the end of this conversation is that God in all things may be glorified thorow Jesus Christ and therein the good of Men and Brethren is endeavoured and pursued 1 Pet. 4. 11. 1 Cor. 10. 32 33. see the notes on ch 2. v. 5. and thus the works of the weakest as well as of the strongest may be perfect before God for whosoever abideth in Christ sinneth not 1 Joh. 3. 6. Verse 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee The former part of this verse contains in it a gracious direction which our Lord gives to this Angel and Church and it refers to what goes before as is evident In v. 1. he had said thou art dead and here Remember therefore to the end thou mayest be revived quickned enlivened and comforted and it 's like to that Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen see notes on ch 2. v. 5 and so that here directed to is like to what the Psalmist provokes his Soul unto when the sorrows of death compassed him Return saith he unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee to wit in that thy rest Ps 116. 3 7. or like to what Jonah relaâ—es when my Soul fainted within me I remembred the Lord and my prayer came in unto thee into thine holy Temple Jonah 2. 4 7. that which did enliven them at the first when they were dead in sins and trespasses was also powerful to revive them again even Christ as declared in the Gospel and so the Gospel of Christ which is the word of life Phil. 2. 16. Or this may have reference unto the former part of v. 2. Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain which are ready to dy But how should they do that thus Remember therefore â—ow thou hast received and heard c. the weakness of God even the foolish preaching of Christ crucified is stronger than Men It is the power of God whereby thou mayest be enabled to strengthen those dying things Rom. 1. 16 17. 1 Cor. 1. 17 22 25. Or this direction instruction may have reference to the latter clause of v. 2. or to Christ himself as convincing them of and reproving them for what was amiss in them I have not found thy works perfect before God Remember therefore c. like that ch 2.
thou in Heaven but he and there was none on earth that thou didst desire besides him Ps 73. 25. this gift was then a precious stone a stone of grace in thine eyes Prov. 17. 8. all other things were undervalued and lightly esteemed by thee in comparison hereof Oh Remember this Yea and Remember how in or after what manner thou hast received and heard how efficacious then this joyful sound was upon thee and how it turned thee to God from idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thes 1. 6 9. and how when he had broken thy yoke and burst thy bands thou saidst I will not transgress Jer. 2. 19 20. by this precious blood displayed before thee in the Gospel thou wast redeemed from thy vain conversation thereby thon wast redeemed from the earth and from among men 1 Pet. 1. 17 19. Rev. 5. 9. and 14. 4 5. thou didst escape the pollution of the World thorow the knowâ—edge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 2. 2â— and then resolvedst that seeing he had delivered thy Soul from death thine eyes from tears and thy feet from falling thou wouldst walk before the Lord in the land of the living Ps 116. 7 9 16 17. when his loving-kindness was first before thine eyes this prevailed with thee to walk in his truth and to come out from amongst Men and be separate Ps 26. 3 8. sin was rendred so exceeding sinful to thee in the cross of Christ as that thou saidst how shall I live any longer therein Rom. 6. 1 4 and all idols so unsatisfying and unprofitable that thou criedst out what have I any more to do with idols Hos 14. 1 8. then the Gospel wrought effectually in thee 1 Thes 2. 13. then thou hadst the work of Faith and labour of love for the Gospel came not to thee in word only but in power c. 1 Thes 1. 3 5. then it begat in thee love enflamed love to him delight in him contentment with him desires after him high praises and commendations of him readiness and cheerfulness in suffering for him confident dependance on him and expectation of all things pertaining to the life that now is and that to come from him such was the kindness of thy youth and love of thy espousals that thou wast then holiness to him given up and dedicated to him and couldest follow him thorow the wilderness thorow a land of deserts and of pits c. Jer. 2. 1 2 5. with Heb. 10. 32 34. 1 Thes 1. 5 6. Deut. 32. 10 12. This he directs and calls upon them now to Remember even how they had received and heard 2. We come now to speak unto the Act or exercise whereto he directs and exhorts this Angel and Church Remember now this doth signify either 1. Remember that is keep and retain in memory as 1 Cor. 15. 2. that these things may not run away from you as water out of a leaking vessel Heb. 2. 1. So the Lord commanded his People Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy that is keep this always in your minds Exod. 20. 8. with Deut. 5. 12. Or 2. Remember that is recall or bring it back to your minds And so here we are to understand it for they had forgot how they had received and heard as it plainly appears by what is said in General and particularly by what follows viz And hold fast so remembring signifies a considering of the former things as Isay 43. 16 18. Or bringing again to mind as remember this bring it again to mind Isay 46. 8 9. Or a recalling or making a thing to return to our hearts as Lam. 3. 20 21. or a setting it before ones face or a setting it before ones face or in ones view for as forgetting is a casting behind ones back so opposite thereto Remembring is a setting a person or thing before ones face and so in ones sight that it may be always lookt upon and viewed Ezek 23. 25. and thus here we are to understand the expression thou hast forgotten how thou hast received and heard O call to remembrance these first and former things We â—ome now briefly to note some instructions from this branch of the direction because we have spoken to the same before see the notes on ch 2. v. 5 1. Herein is signified to us in that he saith Remember c. that they had forgot and we are too apt to forget how we have received and heard to suffer a forgetfulness of the precious blood of Christ and love therein commended and what Blessedness we did at first partake and speak of Gal. 4. 13 15. with ch 3. 1. hence that admonition we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip for how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Heb. 2. 1 3. and ch 10. 32 34. 2. The forgetting and letting these things slip out of our minds is a great and provoking iniquity and that which leads into all other evils and brings into a dying and dead condition This iniquity was that which brought deadness on this Angel and Church and was the reason of the imperfection of their works before God as is here intimated to us As the Apostle saith By this ye are saved if ye keep in memory c. So we may say on the contrary this is the high way to bring destruction upon our selves if we forget the sufferings of Christ and the love of both Father and Son therein manifested and everlastingly demonstrated to us and to expose our selves to the displeasure of God 1 Cor. 15. 9 4. Heb. 2. 1 2 4. 3. The calling to remembrance how we have received and heard is the way to be recovered out of our sad condition and evils when we are dead and our works imperfect before God Gal. 1. 6. and ch 3. 1 5. and ch 4. 12 16. Thus the Apostle when he admonishes the Hebrews not to cast away their confidence and is setting before them the great danger of drawing back and departing from the living God by an evil heart of unbelief he then exhorts them to call to remembrance the former days in which they were illuminated as that which was proper to recover and preserve them from such transgressions as they were polluted with or inclined unto in any measure Heb. 10. 38. Ps 77. 10 11. and 42. 6 7. Such is the graciousness faithfulness of Christ to such forgetful hearers as that when they have forgotten how they have received and heard and forgotten him days without number yet while it is called to day he is their remembrancer by his Spirit who hath the seven Spirits of God Joh. 14. 26. So the Lord in former times was to his people when they forsook him and lightly esteemed the rock of their salvation when of the Rock that begat them they were unmindful and had forgotten God that formed them Then he saith to them Remember
still to abide in him or else they are not the subjects nor will be made partakers of the blessedness here spoken of unless they be faithful to death they will not have the crown of life ch 2. 10. hence this saying is not only added in the close of those Epistles written to the Churches that were faulty and faulted but to such also as were not so and against whom our Lord had no exception As to the Church in Smyrna to those upright ones in the Church in Thyatira to the Church of Philadelphia To these all who are not reproved or however not the first and the last but greatly commended he still saith To him that overcometh c. ch 2. 8. 11. v. 24. 26. and ch 3. 7 12. Though Christ had said to these few names in Sardis they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy v. 4. yet it 's only assured to them as abiding faithful and enduring to the end Mat. 10. 22. and ch 24. 13. As the Lord saith when I shall say to the righteous that he shall surely live If he trust to his own righteousness and commâ—â—iniquity all his righteousness shall not be remembred but for his iniquity that he hath committed he shall dye for it Ezek 33. 13 18. and ch 18. 24 26. and 3. 20. see notes on ch 2. 10. and ch 3. 11. and as what we have said as with respect to them who had forgotten and let slip how they had received and heard and had defiled their garments may encourage and provoke them to turn to him from whom they had revolted So this also as it is spoken to them who had let the word of Christ dwell richly in them and had not defiled their garments it may encourage them to continue in their good way and admonish them not to depart from him unto the fellowship of whom they are called not to be highminded but fear for the goodness of God his peculiar goodness is to them that continue in his goodness otherwise they also should be cut off Rom. 11. 20 22. they are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus and now the just shall live by Faith but if he draw back if he by an evil heart of unbelief depart from the living God his Soul shall have no pleasure in him Gal. 3. 26 29. with Heb. 3. 12. and ch 10. 38. 1 Cor. 10. 12. 2. We have also to consider The blessedness it self promised and assured to him that overcometh and propounded both to such as had and to such as had not defiled their garments that they might overcome to the end And this in three Branches that is to say 1. The same shall be clothed in white raiment to wit in the righteousness of Christ Isay 61. 10. In the Lord they shall be justified and in him they shall glory Isay 45. 25. And they shall be perfectly conformed to the image of Christ In Spirit when they are absent from the body and in due season in Soul and body re-united even in the resurrection from the dead the first resurrection Rev. 6. 9 11. and ch 19. 8 9. see notes before on v. 4. Now here he signifies to us In that this Branch of blessedness and what follows is thus propounded and assured to him that overcometh indefinitely and indifferently even to such as had and to such as had not polluted their garments That in the eternal judgment such as have sometimes demeaned themselves unworthily and yet afterwards have considered their ways and turned their feet to God's testimonies shall even be dealt with and honoured as the rest that have abidden faithful and have not so turned out from Christ Jesus Thus he speaks to the Church in Laodicea which was become luke-warme and he threatens to spew her out of his mouth and she was generally polluted and none but polluted ones in her yet to that Angel and Church he saith To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne Rev. 3. 15 16 21. So 〈◊〉 speaks to them in the Church of Thyatira in which Church it â—â—â—ms some had not the Doctrine of Jezabel but held fast Christ's Doctrine and some were polluted with the doctrine of that evil and false prophetess yet to all he saith to all the Churches and all in them He that overcometh shall be thus and thus blessed and alike blessed see ch 2. 23 29. there is not here or any-where to any of these Churches one reward propounded to some in one Church and another to others in the same Church or one thing promised to one overcomer and another thing to others but the same to all he that overcometh shall inherit all things Rev. 21. 7. And let not them who have continued faithful and who have not defiled their garments murmur or be discontented or troubled hereat because he will give to those who have been foiled and yet have overcome at last even as he will unto them Is it not lawful for him to do what he will with his own why should their eye be evil because his is good Mat. 20. 11 16. Luke 15. 25 32. Nor let any of us say let us turn aside and return to evil ways and because where sin abounded grace abounded much more let us then continue in sin that grace may abound Rom. 5. 20 21. and ch 6. 1 2. for in so doing we may provoke him to cut us off in such our departure from him our times are in his hand and he may and there is abundant cause to fear he will take away our breath and cut us off in such wickedness Ps 94. 23. Deâ—t 29. 18 20. And then we are gone for ever and shall be punisht with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord 2 Thes 1. 8 10. or if he so deal not with us but spare our lives and thorow his grace that brings salvation to him that is joyned to all the living we be recovered yet he may break our bones and cause the terrour of him who is the almighty to fall upon us Ps 51. 8. he may permit and order the sorrows of death to compass us and the pains of Hell to get hold of us Ps 116. 37. and may remember such iniquity against us till we dy and his judgments may never depart from us as long as we remain in this World 1 Sam. 3. 14. 2 Sam. 12. 10 14. Isay 22. 14. but let the consideration of what hath been said provoke and encourage wanderers and backsliders to return to him from whom they have fallen by their iniquities and cause us all to admire at the riches of the Lords goodness towards vâ—le sinful and polluted ones David who sinned so greatly in the matter of Vriah shall be a Prince hereafter And the house of David as God as the Angel of the Lord being while the day of grace lasted washt in that fountain which is opened for the house of David c. Zech. 12. 8.
to chuse the good and refuse the evil for of such is the Kingdome of Heaven as our Saviour saith Mat. 19. 13 14. Mark 10. 13 14. Luke 18. 15 16. Mat. 2. 16 18. with Jer. 31. 15 16 17. Gen. 17. 7 8 12 14. 2. We come next to consider and shew that it is possible that some Mens names may be blotted out of the Book of life And so indeed 1. Men's names may be blotted out of the general Book of life and are so if they continue in their ignorance of God or disobedience to his Gospel till the day of God's patience beat an end towards them So the Lord saith Whosoever hath sinned against me him will I blot out of my book Exod. 32. 33. And the Psalmist imprecates thus Let them be blotted out of the Book of the living and not be written with the righteous Ps 69. 28. For though he who descended into the lower parts of the earth who by the grace of God tasted death for every man be now ascended up on high and hath led captivity captive and received gifts for Men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them yet he will wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses Ps 68. 18 21. his Spirit will not always strive with Men nor will he still hold open the door but will rise up and shut it and then there will be no more opening Gen. 6. 3. Luke 13. 25 26. This may therefore admonish us all to strive to enter in at the strait gate to seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is â—igh Luke 13. 24. Isay 55. 6 7. 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. Heb. 3. 7 8. 2 Pet. 3. 15. Eccles 9. 10. 2. Yea mens names may be blotted out of the special Book of life and out of the Holy City and our Saviour saith If any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things which are written in this Book Rev. 22. 19. If a Man abide not in Christ he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered and Men gather them and cast them into the Fire and they are burned Joh. 15. 6. And it 's in this place supposed that if those who had defiled their Garments or if those who had not defiled them did not overcome to the end their names should be blotted out for this is the peculiar blessedness of him that overcometh that his name shall not be blotted out to which after O let none of us then speak peace to our selves in any evil way though our names are written in the Book of life for they that forsake the Fountain of living waters shall be written in the Earth though formerly they were written in Heaven Jer. 17. 13. Deut. 29. 18 20 Ezek. 13. 9 10. 3. But this is the blessedness of him that overcometh whether of him that hath not let slip how he received and heard and so hath not defiled his Garments And of him that hath done so and yet is seasonably recovered their names shall never be blotted out of the Book of life but all happiness is assured to them as may be seen in ch 2. 7 11 17 26. and ch 3. 12 2â— and ch 21. 7. So far will he be from blotting out their names out of the Book of Life that he will hereafter gloriously write upon them the name of his God and the name of the City of his God new Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven from his God and his new name See notes after on Verse 12. How might the consideration hereof cause them to rejoyce because their names are written in Heaven Luke 10. 21. And still provoke them to fight the good fight of Faith to resist unto blood striving against sin Satan and the World and to that end to have and hold fast the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the victory that overcometh the World even our Faith who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 1 Tim. 6. 12. Heb. 12. 4. 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. Eph. 6. 10 12 18. considering also what follows viz. 3. But I will confess his name before my Father and before his Angels Now herein is signified to us 1. That he that doth not overcome to the end Christ will not confess his name but he will deny him hereafter that in this day either thorow fear or flattery turned aside from the Faith or profession thereof As our Saviour saith whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with his holy Angels Mark 8. 38. Luke 9. 22 26. whosoever shall deny him before Men him also will Christ deny before his Father which is in Heaven Mat. 10. 33. And before the Angels of God Luke 12. 9. he will deny them saying I know you not or I know not this or these Men or Man As Peter was said to deny his Master in saying I know him not compare Luke 22. 57. with ch 13. 24 28. this is a Faithful saying for if we be dead with him we shall also live with him But if we deny him he also will deny us 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. And Oh how sâ—d a thing will that be to be denied and disowned of the Lord of Glory in that day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God! Oh that it may be seriously and seasonably considered by us 2. But he will confess his name that overcometh whoever he be or whatever he hath been before his Father and before his Angels that is he will own them for his then manifestly he will publickly own them in that day Indeed now all his delight is in the Saints that are in the earth c. And he doth take up their names into his lips Ps 16. 3 4 he bears their names upon his heart and upon his arme and theâ—ein answers unto the highpriest's bearing the names of the Children of Israel in former times Exod. 28. But this is matter of faith to us But hereafter he will publickly and visibly own them and say they are mine and thus he will do before his Father and before his Angels Whosoever saith our Saviour shall confess me before Men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 10. 32. And before the Angels of God Luke 12. 8. Hâ— will then say to every such an one Well done good and Faithful servant c. Mat. 25. 21. c. He will set them on his right hand Matth. 25. 31 33 34. And therefore how might the consideration hereof
he will not forgive if we sin against him and serve other Gods and continue so to do but will spue such at last out of his mouth though he be longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and goodness He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches for he can do the same to any particular person that hath an ear if he grow Luke warm and remiss which he can do and threateneth to do to such a Church Oh that every one of us may consider that our standing is by faith that so we may not be high minded but fear The Apostles had a good use of considering the terrour of the Lord to quicken them to diligence in seeking and serving the Lord and the Apostle Paul including himself with the holy brethren saith If we sin will fully after the knowledge of the truth received their remains no more sacrifice for sin But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and siery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Oh consider this ye that forget God! Exod. 23. 20 24. Rev. 3. 16 22. Rom. 11. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 8 11. 1 Cor. 9. 27. Heb. 10. 26 29. Verse 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 or pitâ—ous and poor and blind and naked This verse containeth in it either 1. An evidence and demonstration that they were Lukewarme and is a declaration of the cause and reason of their Lukewarmeness their high thoughts and conceits of themselves made them so and so there was more hope of a fool of such as were cold than of them Prov. 26. 12. when Men are highly conceited of themselves and think they are already rich this will make them grow indifferent remiss and slothful and though they come daily and sit before God as his people and seem to take delight in aproaching to him and remain in the assemblies of his people yet it will make them do what they do out of custome and for fashions sake or in service to some idol and will cause them to be like a door that turns upon his hinges it will keep them at a stand and though they go backward and forward like such a door yet they will at last be but where they were at first they will not grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ It will hinder them from being hot from such a prizing of Christ as to hate all for his sake that they may win him and be found in him Prov. 26. 12 16. The full Soul loatheth the honey-comb and that causeth a Man also to wander from his place as a bird from her nest Prov. 27. 7 8. Thus it was with Israel of old when they were low and mean and little in their own eyes and in the day of their espousals Oh then what fervency and heat of Spirit and demeanour was found with them they followed the Lord out of the land of Aegypt and thorow the wilderness thorow a land of desarts and pits thorow a land of drought and of the shadow of death thorow a land that no Man passed thorow and where no Man dwelt But when they conceited themselves to be rich and said they were Lords free persons now no longer in bondage as when they were in Aegypt they were now brought out of the house of Servants a type of the state of this World and were become owners grown rich and increased with goods now they were become possessours and had need of nothing Then their former fervency was gone they would come no more to him but forsook him when he led them by the way and forgat him days without number and trimmed their way to seek love elsewhere and yet wiped their mouthes and said they were innocent and therefore surely his anger should turn away from them and still flatter'd him with their lips and called him my Father and the guide of my youth Jer. 2. 2 7 31 35. Oh! Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled Mat. 5. 6. but the full and rich he sends empty away Luke 1. 53. The Apostle Paul confesseth and acknowledgeth that he had not yet attained neither was already perfect and therefore forgetting the things behind and reaching forth to the things before he pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ he ran as for his life and did strive as for an incorruptible Crown and he instructs the believers who were perfect upright-hearted to be like-minded with him to reckon themselves to be imperfect as to attainment That so they also might run with Patience the race set before them Phil. 3. 12 16. 1 Cor. 9. 24 25 26. Whereas on the other hand when Men begin to take notice of themselves and to think too highly of themselves and of their knowledge and attainments this cuts off the feet and makes persons to be Lukewarme and when a price is put into their hand for getting wisdom they have no heart thereto This high thought of themselves makes them sit loose from Christ and though it blow up Men like a bladder yet it doth not build them up according to that we all know we have knowledge knowledge even the knowing and taking notice of our knowledge puffeth up as with wind but it edifieth not as charity doth which is not puffed up and when Men are puffed up by their fleshly mind it takes them off from an high estimate of Christ and causes them to wander from him and not to hold the head compare 1 Cor. 8. 1. with ch 13. 4. and Col. 2. 18 19. It is much to be feared that we also have too high conceits of our selves and therefore though we are not quite cold yet such thoughts make us Luke-warme Oh that we might come to the light of the Lord and therein see and examine our selves and if this iniquity be with us put it far away for this thinking too highly of our selves is that which is the cause of our loath some temper 2. This verse is a reason of Christ's threatning and of that woe and judgment threatned v. 16. I will spue thee out of my mouth Because thou sayest I am rich c. Oh! what a provocation to Christ is it that such babes as we are should boast as if we were come to a perfect Man that we should imagine and say we have need of nothing when so little a portion is known of him by us that we should think and say we are whole what need have we then of a Physician what need of a mediatour to intercede for us we do by such-like thoughts and sayings make the cross of Christ and preaching of it foolishness to our selves and render it a needless and undeâ—â—rable thing and they do lead us to set light by and undervalue Christ and to give our hearts unto and take
the Soul cannot be good Prov. 19. 2. Hence he instructs us to cry after knowledge and to lift up our voice for understanding Prov. 2. 1 2 3 6. and calls upon all the ends of the earth to look unto him and be saved Isay 45. 22. and ch 65. 1 2. Thus I have briefly put down somewhat of that which is more fully largely and distinctly spoken unto on this v. 18. in the Treatise caled Needful counsel and desire that may be more minded and diligently considered by them that have it in their hands Verse 19. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten Be zealous therefore and repent This is that which the Amen the faithful and true witness adds after he had faulted threatned and given wholesome and Needful counsel to this Angel and Church The Lord will not cast off for ever but though he cause grief yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies For he doth not afflict willingly or from his heart nor grieve the Children of Men Lam. 3. 31 33. though for their iniquity he was wroth and smote them he hid himself and was wroth and they went on frowardly in the way of their heart yet though he saw their ways he healed and restored comforts unto them Isay 57. 16 18. he thus speaks to these that they might not faint in their sighing and say there is no hope he hath forgotten to be gracious Therefore to preserve or deliver them from such-like thoughts or conclusions he acquaints them with the graciousness of his heart toward them and shews his loathness with their destruction and that it was in love to their Souls he had been so chiding and chastening them even as he said to his people in former times In one place I will cast them out of mine house I will love no more In another and afterwards he thus speaks to them How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah my heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together c. Hos 9. 15. and ch 11. 4 8 9. see also Jer. 31. 18 19 20. So he now acquaints this Angel and Church that it was his love to them that led him to be reproving them for their evils and threatning to cast them out of his mouth and that he had a gracious end towards them herein And that we might know and consider that in love and faithfulness he convinces us of and rebukes us for our follies and wandrings Now in this verse we have to consider 1. An assertion or affirmation of the faithful and true witness As many as I love I rebuke and chasten 2. Good and wholsome counsel and exhortation given unto them from the former Be zealous therefore and repent 1. An assertion or affirmation of the faithful and true witness wherein consider we 1. The subjects concerning whom he speaks As many as I love who are they 1. Generally all Mankind with a love of pity and compassion while it is called to day and this he hath undeniably-manifested in his great abasement and sufferings for them herein perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us 1 Joh. 3. 16. The love of Christ was and is for ever herein commended and demonstrated and herein to be discerned because this one this single and singular person died for all even for all of Mankind who were dead condemned to dye and dead in sins and trespasses 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Tit. 3. 3 4. and therefore and therethorow all nations and peoples are called upon to praise him Because his merciful kindness is great toward them Ps 117. 1 2. and he that seeth the Son seeth the Father also Joh. 12. 45. he so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Joh. 3. 16. he gave him by his grace to taste death for every Man Heb. 2. 9. and thorow Christ he is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and great in mercy The Lord is good and loving to all and his tender mercies are over all his works he is kind to the unthank-ful and evil Psal 145. 8 9. Matth. 5. 44 46. But 2. He loves them that love him with peculiar manner of love Prov. 8. 17. Joh. 14. 21. with a love of wellpleasedness The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him in them that hope in his mercy he is nigh to all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth Ps 147. 16 11. and 145. 18 19. and he is rich in the streams of his pity and compassion toward them The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10. 12. As a Father pitieth his Children the Lord pitieth them that fear him Ps 103. 11 13. Jam. 5. 10 11. And of both these we may understand it though especially of the latter 2. That which is here affirmed concerning as many as he loves viz. I rebuke and chasten I rebuke namely convince them of their evils and reprove them for them as the Lord saith I have been a rebuker of them all Hos 5. 2. and chasten viz. Inflict judgments and punishments upon them Ps 6. 1. and 38. 1. and usually in this order he proceeds he first â—hews them with his prophets and slays them with the words of his mouth and then his judgments are as the light that goeth forth Hos 6. 3 5. Micah 6. 8 10 11. Job 33. 13 18. and so indeed he doth rebuke and chasten when need is as many as he loves he rebukes the simple who love their simplicity and scorners who delight in scorning and fools that hate knowledge Prov. 1. 20 23. his Spirit is convincing and reproving the World of sin of righteousness and of judgment Joh. 16. 8 11. and he doth also chasten visit and and try them Job 7. 17 18. 1 Cor. 10. 13. and especially and more frequently he doth rebuke and chasten his own people Ps 73. 13 15. he that chastiseth the heathen shall not â—e correct to wit his own people Ps 94. 8 10. every branch in Christ that beareth fruit he purgeth that it might bring forth more fruit Joh. 15. 2. Ps 94. 12 13. and 11. 5. Prov. 3. 11 13. And this may be useful to us to inform us 1. That seeing as many as he love she rebukes and chastens all such may and do need to be rebuked and chastened even such also as he loves with peculiar manner of love for in many things they offend all Jam. 3. 2. There is not a just Man upon the earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccl. 7. 20. 2 Chron. 6. 36. It is only when need is that they are in heaviness thorow many temptations and trials either to correct and punish them for some evils committed by them or some good omitted or to purge out of them some polluting thing that sticks close to them or preserve them from some
16. Acts 3. 20 21. then he will receive them to himself who live and dye in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ Joh. 14. 1 3. But now here he speaks of his gracious and spiritual coming see notes on ch 2. v. 5. we are not to understand it as if Christ would come in personally no more than we may that of Jerusalem even the houses buildings or inhabitants coming into them Jer. 51. 50. or the Corinthians being personally in the Apostle 2 Cor. 7. 3. Phil. 1. 7. But he will come in to them by his Spirit and riches of grace and consolations in hearing his voice and opening the door to let that in he will come in and the Father also like that If any Man love me he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Joh. 14. 23. with Isay 57. 15. he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son 2 Joh. 9. In the heart of such an one Christ dwelleth by faith even by the word of faith received Eph. 3. 16. Ps 24. 7 9. he would come in by his Spirit to quicken enliven heat and comfort the hearts of them Rom. 8. 9 11. to enrich them with the riches of grace and to be in them the hope of glory who were wretched and miserable and poor c. Col. 1. 27. to enlighten them in their blindness and manifest himself to them more and more to discover his excellency to them Joh. 14. 21 23. to make them fruitful and enable them to bring forth much fruit Joh. 15. 4 7. to give them the victory over their Spiritual enemies 1 Joh. 4. 4 5. and to feast with them as afterwards followeth 1. We may here then see the graciousness of Christ and his readiness to forget all past in their yet obeying his voice he will not retain anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Micah 7. 18. see Luke 15. 20 32. Oh how willing and forward is he to overlook all past and and to come in to them on their opening the door for he is the sanctifier and clean-maker of them Ezek. 36. 25 26. Eph. 5. 25 26. 2. Let it then provoke and encourage us however we have sinned yet to return and open to him that we may have this blessed guest without whose spiritual incoming and indwelling we must needs be miserable know ye not saith the Apostle that Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 4. And to move us all to hear his voice and open the door he further saith And will sup with him This contains in it what he will do now in this life in part and what he will do hereafter fully and gloriously 1. Now he will sup with every such an one namely receive accept and â—eed upon the fruits produced in and thorow them by his Spirit Thus when the spouse desires Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits he saith I am come into my garden my sister my spouse I have gathered my myrrhe with my spice I have eaten my honey-comb with my honey Cant. 4. 16. and ch 5. 1 2. and ch 8. 1 2. these pleasant fruits are such as should be laid up for the beloved Cant. 7. 13. the tree brings not forth fruit for it self if it doth it is empty and barren in a spiritual consideration how fruitful soever it be as it is said Israel is an empty vine he bringeth forth fruit unto himself Hos 10. 1. But now he will sup with them who hear his voice and open the door and bring â—orth fruit meet for him by whom they are dressed Heb. 6. 7. Prov. 23. 15 16. he will take away the mixtures and will eat the fruits produced by his Spirit in and by them 1 Pet. 2. 5. Gal. 5. 22 23. And he with me namely every such an one shall eat of the fatness of his house and he will make them drink of the river of his pleasures Ps 36. 7 8. and 65. 4. and that is the Lord himself and that feast treasured up in him Ps 42. 1 3. and 34. 8. and 22. 26. and 63. 1 5. which is prepared for all Isay 25. 6. Luke 14. 17. he shall be a partaker of that one bread even eat the flesh of Christ which was given for the life of the World and drink his precious blood which is the blood of the new Testament and everlasting covenant Joh. 6. 35 51 58. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Joh. 1. 29. Isay 55. 1 3. Cant. 2. 3 4. 2. And hereafter gloriously and for ever he will sup with him and he with Christ they shall mutually feast together Rev. 2. 7 17. Ps 36. 7 9. Luke 22. 29. 30. Rev. 19. 7 9. Verse 21. To â—im 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 Here is great incouragment propounded to and set before this and all the Churches to engage them to overcome In which is somewhat supposed of Christ and somewhat proposed to us and promised to the victor or conquerour 1. That which is supposed of Christ is here declared to us in two branches 1. That he overcame 2. That he is set down with his Father in his throne 1. That he overcame to wit all his and our enemies as with respect to their first work in which they thought to have destroyed us in the first publick Man his is the power and the glory and the victory 1 Chron. 29. 11. By his God he hath run thorow a troop and leaped over a wall Ps 18. 29. he once in the end of the World appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself and in him is no sin for he hath purged or made purgation of our sins Heb. 9. 26. 1 Joh. 3. 5. Heb. 1. 3. he hath abolished and overcome death the first death 2 Tim. 1. 10. and is risen from the dead 1 Cor. 15. 55 57. and will in due season destroy it Isay 25. 6 8. 1 Cor. 15. 26. he hath overcome the Devil broken his head spoiled his plot and taken away his principality Gen. 3. 15. with 1 Joh. 3. 8. Luke 11. 21 22. he who by the grace of God tasted death for every Man hath thorow death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil and that he might deliver them who thorow fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 9 14 15. Col. 2. 15. Ps 68. 18. he is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet Sing praises to to our God sing praises Ps 47. 4 6. and to this end he hath delivered us from our enemies that we might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives Luke 1. 74 75. he hath prevailed against his enemies Isay 42.
the sea also therefore it is said of and by the Prince thereof Thus saith the Lord God Because thine heart is lifted up and thou hast said I am God I sit in the seat of God in the midst or heart of the sea Ezek. 28. 2. Thus also when the Lord threatens to punish Egypt in order thereto he saith he will take away their rampart and defence The waters shall fail from the sea and the river shall be wasted and dried up and they shall turn the rivers far away and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up Isa 19. 5 6. Thus here before the throne there was a sea of glass a blessed defence and protection a sea of salvation or for safety to his people in all times of trouble As it is said God is a refuge and strength a very present help in trouble therefore will we not fear though the earth be moved c. There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved c. Psal 46. 1 2 4 7 8. There now in a first fruits and hereafter gloriously the glorious Lord shall be to them that dwell on high who have their converâ—ation in heaven a place of broad rivers and streams where shall go no gally with oars neither shall gallant ship pass thereby and so they shall be out of the reach of danger Isa 33. 14 16 21. with Job 11. 9. and Psal 104. 25. This sea shall be a wall unto them on the right hand and on the left a wall of safety and salvation so as none shall really harm them Exod. 14. 22 29 30. with Isa 26. 1. And this sea is said to be of glass like unto crystal or ice for that word signifies both to signifie that it is a smooth sea not like the troubled sea whose waters cast up mire and dirt Isa 57. 20. but a quiet still sereâ—e sea like ice and to give us to understand that such as attempt to harm them that dwell in heaven their foot shall slide in due time and they shall fall and be destroyed Deut. 32. 35. Psal 73. 18. This sea of glass will prove the terâ—ible crystal unto them Ezek. 1. 22. Or more particularly By this sea of glass like unto crystal there may be respect and reference to the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt and from Pharoah and all his host God then saved them by the sea which was a wall of salvation to them Exod. 14. 29 30. And the waters thereof were then congealed like ice or crystal Exod. 15. 8. And this may further appear to us in what is again spoken of this sea Rev. 15. 2 3 I saw saith the Apostle a sea of glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the beast c. stand on the sea of glass having the harps of God and so prepared to sing and then it follows And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God even that song which he and Israel sang when God by means of the sea had saved them and destroyed their enemies Compare and consider Rev. 15. 2 3. with Exod. 14. 29 30. and chap. 15. And indeed by that sea he secured his ancient people from the hurt of their enemies while they pursued them and before they were destroyed Exod. 14. 22-29 This in the truth of it is the sea of which that was a type And Gods Israel may even now sing by faith because of this sea of salvation according to what is said of some They shall lift up their voice they shall sing for the Majesty of the Lord they shall cry aloud from the sea Isa 24. 13 14. with Nah. 3. 8. and of whom he there speaks is very evident not of the Inhabitant of the earth for fear and the pit and the snare shall come upon him and he shall weep and cry bitterly but of the righteous who have their dwelling in heaven even in the secret of the most high who shall lodg under the shadow of the Almighty Isa 24. 10 12 14 16 17. 2. Or also By this sea of glass like unto crystal there is respect had to the sea the molten sea which was made by King Solomon and placed in the temple 1 King 7. 23. which temple was a figure of heaven as the Apostle gives us to understand Heb 9. 24. or to that more ancient one the Laver which Moses made by Gods appointment and placed in the tabernacle before the temple was built Exod. 30. 18. and the Molten sea is called a Laver as may be seen by comparing 1 King 7. 23. with ver 30. And the truth or antitype of this Laver or Sea may be the precious blood of Christ unto which also the hearty believers now come by faith as the Apostle saith Ye are come to Jesus the Mediator of the new testament or covenant and to the blood of sprinkling Heb. 12. 22 24 which blood of his is compared to a Laver as it is said He hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Rev. 1. 5. and his blood is that fountain opened now in these last days in which he actually poured out his soul unto death and in which the Gospel is now preached according to the revelation of the mystery Zech. 13. 1. hereby this sea this red-sea may be meant which our Lord Jesus carried up into heaven as the former high-priests entred the typical holy places which were the figures of the true with the blood of others Lev. 16. 15. Heb. 9. 7 25. so our great High-priest Jesus the Son of God entred within the veil even into the holy heavens not with the blood of others not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood Heb. 9. 12 25. and this sea of his blood is said to be before the throne as speaking good things for men generally by it he is making intercession for the transgressors Isa 53. 12. and abiding in the virtue of it the one and only Mediator between God and men 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. and ever living to make intercession for them that come to God by him and is therefore able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. with chap. 12. 24. and this blood as is said is signified to be in heaven For as in former times the High-priest brought the blood of the goat of the sin-offering within the veil and sprinkled it upon the mercy-seat and before the mercy-seat so our true High-priest is with his own blood entred into that within the veil even into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of Goe for us Compare Lev. 16. 15. with Heb. 6. 19 20. and chap. 9. 24 25. and chap. 12. 24. and hence such as are lovers of his cross and gloriers in it even in the blood of his cross are said to have their
of the Angels but as they were sinning Angels as they kept not their first estate but left their own their proper habitation or house They had an house prepared for them in Heaven at first and given to them and that was their proper house as they were created of God at fiâ—st in the truth but because they kept not their principality nor abode in the truth in which they were created but left their proper house and sinned against God they were cast down to Hell Everlasting fire was prepared for the Devil as a Devil as one that abode not in the truth and his Angels and not for Gods Angels 2 Pet. 2. 4. Jude 6. 1 Tim. 3. 6. Matth. 25. 41. with John 8. 44. And that mankind fell under his wrath and the sentence of death it was because of sin By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5. 12. and chap. 6. 23. And when they had thus sinned and God might righteously have cast them off and destroyed them for ever yet then God manifested he had no pleasure in the everlasting destruction of any of mankind in that he devised such a blessed device that his banished should not be expelled from him He so loved the world of mankind that he gave his Son by his grace to taste death for every man John 3. 16 17. Hebr. 2. 9. and raised him from the dead for their justification Rom. 4. 25. with chap. 3. 23 24. And Christ hath purged away the guilt of that first sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God 2. Cor. 5. 19 21. with Hebr. 1. 3. abolished that first death which otherwise would have been everlasting 2 Tim. 1. 10. with Rom. 6. 23. and will in due season destroy it 1 Cor. 15. 26. and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil Hebr. 2. 9-14 So as no man shall perish for ever in that first death but all shall be raised out of it by the man Jesus Christ who is become the resurrection and the life 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. And when raised no man shall be cast into the second death for that first sin and sinfulness simply but for loving darkness rather than light after light was vouchsafed to them The soul that sinneth it shall dye Jer. 31. 29 30. Ezek. 18. 1 2 4. And now he hath declared that he doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of men no not with such afflictions as are but for a moment Lament 3. 32 33. It is his work his strange work his act his strange act Isa 28. 21. Hebr. 12. 10. Much less doth he delight in the eternal ruine and misery of any of them no not of the vilest of them while it is called to day This was not his will or pleasure concerning them or any of them in creating them nor is it in preserving them while they are joyned to all the living Eccles 9. 4. So much himself plainly intimates to us in his own word saying Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should dye saith the Lord God And not that he should return from his ways and live Whereto himself gives answer saying I have no pleasure none at all in the death of him that dyeth saith the Lord God Ezek. 18. 23. with vers 31 32. And lest we should thorow unbelief question the truth of his word to put an end to all strife and gainsaying he hath confirmed the same with his Oath charging his Prophet thus to speak say unto them As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wiâ—ked turn from his way and live Ezek. 33. 11. with Hebr. 6. 16 17 18. He is not willing that any should perish 2 Pet. 3. 9. Ezek. 18. 30 31 32. But 2. His will and pleasure in creating them was 1. That they might know and have fellowship with and serve him who is their Creator and therefore he made them in a good and honourable condition God said Let us make man in our Image after our likeness and let them have dominion c. So God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him c. to wit in knowledg righteousness and true holiness Col. 3. 10. Ephes 4. 24. Gen. 1. 26 27. Psal 49. 12-20 God made man upright Eccles 7. 29. And as he made them in that good upright and holy condition so it was his pleasure they should have continued therein For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness his countenance doth behold the upright Psal 11. 7. I know O my God saith the Prophet that thou hast pleasure in uprightness 1 Chron. 29. 17. with Psal 5. 4. and Eccles 5. 4. And of such Angels as abode in that holy and honourable state he made them in it is said They do his pleasure Psal 103. 20 21. And it also appears that it was his will and pleasure that mankind should have continued in that good and upright condition he made them in In that he gave them such an easie and gracious law to testifie their love obedience and subjection to their Creator in only forbidding them to eat of one tree whereas many were allowed them And in that he so threatned them that in the day they eat thereof in dying they should dye Gen. 2. 16 17. In which he plainly signified that it was his pleasure that they should not eat thereof and he was greatly displeased with them when they had transgressed his Commandment And therefore it was not his will they should have eaten thereof Psal 101. 3. 2. And for his pleasure they are and are preserved and continued and that to a gracious end while they are joyned to all the living when mankind had sinned he â—ound out a ransom and provided a remedy for them He so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son John 3. 16 17. And Christ came from Heaven to do the will of him that sent him the pleasure of his Father John 6. 38. Hebr. 10. 5 8 9. Isa 53. 10. And his will was that Christ should dye for all men and rise again and deliver them from perishing for ever in that first death 2 Cor. 1. 10. And that he should obtain eternal life into himself for them 1 John 5. 10 11. and be a Testimony to them in due time that thorow him they might be saved John 3. 17. and chap. 12. 47. In all which we may see that his will concerning mankind is that they should be saved and come to the knowledg of the truth 1 Timothy 2. 4 5 6 7. that he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance to which end his grace bringeth salvation to all men 2 Pet. 3. 9. Tit. 2. 11. Ezek. 18. 23 30 32. and chap. 33. 11. This is his will that they should be sanctified and
in the second and general resurrection Rev. 20. 12 c. 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. John 5. 21. 3. And the seed of the righteous before spoken of even all their children that were according to the Lords Ordinance and Institution brought into the family of Abraham or Church of Christ whether by circumcision as formerly or by baptism as since the resurrection and ascension of Christ and who dyed in infancy or before they came to the use of understanding shall reign on the Earth Indeed for such as whose circumcision or baptism was carelesly or willingly neglected when there was an opportunity they are cut off from the congregation of the Lord as it is said The uncircumcised man-child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised that soul shall be cut off from his people he hath broken my covenant Gen. 17. 14. Josh 5. 5 6. But as for the rest that have been brought into the congregation of the Lord according to his order they shall inherit this honour and blessing Gen. 17. 7. 9. The soul of the fearer of the Lord shall dwell at ease and his seed shall inherit the earth Psal 25. 12 13. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his commandments His seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the upright shall be blessed Psal 112. 1 2. To this purpose are the words spoken by the Lord to comfort Rachel When she was weeping for her children because they were not Thus saith the Lord refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears for thy work shall be rewarded saith the Lord and they shall come again from the land of the enemy to wit death 1 Cor. 15. 26. and there is hope in thine end saith the Lord that thy children shall come again to their own border to wit into the land of Canaan when it is made new Jer. 31. 15 17. with Matth. 2. 16 18. of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 19. 14. Mark 10. 14. Lukâ— 18. 16. But we shall here add no more to that first particular 2. How shall the persons before spoken of reign or of what reigning is here and elsewhere spoken meant and intended and what is contained therein To this we shall give answer and say 1. It is a reigning as kings as is here plainly signified thou hast made us unto our God kings and we shall reign c. they shall have great authority judgment and government committed to them when Christ as King shall reign in righteousness they as Princes shall rule in judgment Isa 32. 1. Indeed it is still Christs Throne his Kingdom and Dominion Rev. 3. 21. Dan. 7. 27. He shall have the pre-eminence as he hath highly deserved and merited Col. 1. 18. He will then gloriously appear to be Gods first-born higher than these kings also Rev. 1. 5 6. Psal 89. 26 27. But they are by God called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. And hereafter unto these Saints of the most high shall be given the Kingdom and Dominion c. Dan. 7. 27. they shall sit as kings on the throne of Jesus Christ Rev. 3. 21. they shall judg to wit govern the world namely in such a sense as is answerable unto though far more excellent and glorious than the judgment and government of Judges Princes and Potentates now see 1 Cor. 6. 1 2 4. they shall reign every one of them authoritatively as our Lord Jesus signifies in the Parables he speaks to this business wherein he saith to his faithful servants I will make thee ruler over many things or persons as things many times includes persons Matth. 25. 21 23. with 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. so it is said It came to pass that when he to wit Christ was returned having received the kingdom then he commanded his servants to be called to him c. Then came the first saying Lord thy pound hath gained ten pounds and he said unto him Well thou good servant have thou authority over ten cities and unto another he said Be thou also over five cities Luke 19. 15 17 19 27. To this purpose also the Apostle John speaks saying And I saw to wit in vision thrones for these kings to sit upon and they sate upon them and judgment to wit rule and government as the word frequently signifies was given unto them and they lived and reigned c. to wit as kings upon thrones Rev. 20. 4. with Psal 122. 4. And thus here Every one of the Saints having Harps and golden Phials c. melodiously sing saying Thou hast made us unto our God kings and we namely every one of us shall reign c. Revel 5. 8 10. And this will further appear also in what follows to be spoken unto by us 2. It is such a reigning also as will be free from persecution and trouble from all molestation and disquietment from enemies they shall then delight themselves in the abundance of peace Psal 37. 7 11. In the days of Christ the true Solomon the righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace till there be no moon Psal 72. 7. For Satan shall then be bound during the thousand years of this glorious and peaceable reign whose work it hath been and will be until that time to accuse the brethren and deceive the world to disquiet and persecute the accused Saints I say with the Scripture He shall be bound and cast into the bottomless pit and shut up and a seal set upon him that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled c. Rev. 20. 1 3. with chap. 12. 9 10. And then the oppressor shall be broken in pieces indefinitely considered Psal 72. 3 4. The extortioner shall be at an end the spoiler cease and the oppressors shall be consumed out of the land or earth Isa 16. 4 5. Psal 37. 10 11. Then indeed compleatly God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying c. Rev. 21. 1 2 4 The Sun shall no more light on them nor any heat and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 7. 16 17. And this consideration detects and refutes that fond mistake of a learned man Dr. H. on chap. 1. 6. as if this reign began in Vespasian's days c. in which there was not such hot persecution as before and as in Domitian's but some comparative tranquillity yet with persecution whereas the reign which is the hope of the Saints is such an one as is without persecution and not to be enjoyed till the suffering-time be over and past and is therefore spoken of as consequential thereto as the Apostle saith If so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified together for I reckâ—n that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Where the
the gift of God is eternal life thorow Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. 23. All the blessedness promised is freely promised and will be dispensed and rendred of grace and if of grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace Rom. 11. 6. It is indeed assured to him that overcometh and every such an one shall certainly have this promise performed but not as if there were any such worth or merit in his Act of overcoming as to deserve what is here promised for alas there is so much pollution and unworthiness cleaving to the believers best deeds that God may justly wipe them out and punish them who do them Neh. 13. 14 22. nor are they nor can they otherwise be acceptable unto God but by Jesus Christ who takes away the iniquity of their holy things and perfumes them with the incense of his sacrifice and so renders them acceptable to God Exod. 28. 38. with 1 Pet. 2. 5. Rev. 5. 8. and ch 8. 3 5. yea if they had done all the things which are commanded them yet our Saviour instructs them to say we are unprofitable Servants we have done that which was our duty to do Luke 17. 10. And besides there is no proportion between their overcoming and the reward For I reckon saith the Apostle that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8. 17 18. and therefore it is well said I will give 3. Yea and the certainty of his performance hereof may be imported and signified for he is faithful that promised as is evident in that he was faithful unto him that appointed him and the holy brethren are called upon to consider him in that respect Heb. 10. 23. with ch 3. 1 2. It is the Lord the righteous Judge will make good his word and promise in due time 2 Tim. 4. 8. 3. We come nextly to consider the thing promised To eat of the tree of life Truly this he now gives by faith but hereafter he will do it more fully and gloriously Cant. 2. 3 4. Now by the tree of life is meant Jesus Christ himself of whom it is said he is a tree of life to them that lay hold on him and happy is every one that retaineth him Prov. 3. 18. he is the green tree Luke 23. 31. the green fir-tree from whom all our fruit is found Hos 14. 8. of whom the tree of life in the earthly paradise was a type Gen. 2. 9. and ch 3. 22. he hath obtained life into himself for us Heb. 9. 12. And as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself Joh. 5. 26. This is the record that God hath given of his Son that he hath given to us Mankind eternal life and this life is in his Son yea he is the true God and eternal life 1 Joh. 5. 10 11 20. And in due time he cometh down spiritually from Heaven and giveth life unto the dead World Joh. 6. 33. And eternal life now by faith to him that seeth him and believeth on him Joh. 6. 40. and ch 17. 2. Now this is that which he here promiseth to give unto him that overcometh To eat of this tree of life which is a great blessing Blessed saith he are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in thorow the gates into the city Rev. 22. 2. 14. Such an one as overcometh shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of God's house and he will make him drink of the river of his pleasures for with him is the fountain of life Ps 36. 7 9. and 16. 11. of this tree of life they shall eat and be satisfied Ps 22. 26. they shall then have compleat satisfaction delight and complacency in Jesus Christ In him shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Isay 45. 23 25. with Phil. 2. 8 10. And they shall then for ever praise him their heart shall live for ever yea their whole Man for this was the property of the typical tree of life that if they had eaten thereof they should have lived for ever Gen. 3. 22. and they shall then eat him and live and never dye Joh. 6. 57 58. not only now do they feed on him but shall do so for ever hereafter his sufferings with the ends and vertues thereof shall be remembred fed upon praised and delighted in for ever This is the Song not only of that part of the family of God which is upon the earth but of that part also which is in Heaven Thou art worthy c. for thou wast slain c. Rev. 5. 8 9. 10 11 12 13 14. How doth this set forth the excellency of him unto us and how might it engage us to come continually unto and follow him 4. We have an account given us of the place where this tree of life is In the midst of the paradise of God or as some read it of my God What is meant by the paradise here spoken of we may be helped to understand by the scripture The word Paradise in general doth signify a pleasant orchard or place of trees and so it is rendred orchard in Eccles 2. 5. Cant. 4. 13. And particularly hereby is meant in the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles Heaven it self or that glorious place into which Christ is entred so it appears by what our Saviour said to the penitent thief This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Luke 23. 43. and this further appears in the use of it by the Apostle Paul who in one verse saith Such an one was caught up to the third Heaven In another it is thus exprest he was caught up into paradise 2 Cor. 12. 2 4. he that descended into the lower parts of the earth is now ascended far above all Heavens all Heavens visible to us into Heaven it self Eph. 4. 8 10. with Heb. 9. 26. which must needs be a place of infinite joy pleasure and delight and of this Eden which signifieth a place of pleasure or delight was a figure Isay 51. 3. Now here we may note for our instruction 1. That Jesus Christ is gone up into and is in Heaven in that most glorious place And there he shall remain until the times of the restitution of all things Acts 3. 20 21. he was carried up into and received in Heaven Luke 24. 51. Mark 16. 19. Act. 1. 11. 1 Pet. 3. 22. There he is and there he shall remain as the tree of life until the new Jerusalem shall come down from God out of Heaven And then he as the tree of life shall come down and yeild his fruit every moneth And the leaves of this tree shall be for the healing of the nations Rev. 21. 2 3. with ch 22. 2 14 16. God shall then send us Jesus who now is preached unto us Acts 3.
cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the World Joh. 6. 33. he hath by the grace of God tasted death for every Man and is raised again for their justification And God hath given us mankind eternal life and this life is in his Son Heb. 2. 9. Rom. 3. 23 24. 1 Joâ— 5. 10 11. and in due season he lighteth every Man that cometh into the World Joh. 1. 4 9. and ch 8. 12. 7. That manna ceased to be their food when they were come into the land of Canaan they had then new and other meat to eat as it is said The manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land neither had the Children of Israel manna any more but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan c. Josh 5. 11 12. But Christ abideth the bread of life for ever as here he saith To him that over-cometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna c. namely after he hath overcome to which afterwards 3. Hidden manna Christ may be called Because he is not now fully known by any nor his preciousness and excellency and this is true most fully with respect to those who are and remain in darkness and ignorance The natural Man cannot know him nor those spiritual things in him because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. no Man knoweth the Son but the Father Mat. 11. 27. Prov. 30. 4. And what our Saviour said to the Jews may be extended more generally to all while they are of the World they neither know him nor his Father Joh. 8. 19. they know not the excellency of his sufferings nor how good and excellent food he is become for the Soul to seed on The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness 1 Cor. 1. 18. 22 24. The God of this world blinds the minds of them that believe not c. 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. And therefore they are spending their money for that which is not bread Isay 55. 1 2. yea the wisest Men of the world are naturally ignorant of him Mat. 11. 25 27. Christ â—rueified is to the greeks who seek after wisdome foolishness 1 Cor. 1. 22 23. yea and the manna is in a great measure hidden from and unknown to the believers though they know so much of him as to come to him as the bread of life yet the full excellency of him is not revealed in any Revelation vouchsafed The Aposiles knew him in part and prophesied in part 1 Cor 13. 9 12. And if he and his beauty and glory be not fully revealed much less is he fully discerned and known for many things contained in the Revelation of him are not fully understood The love of Christ passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. the peace of God which Christ hath made by the blood of his cross and is become and which is in him passeth all understanding Phil. 4. 7. The Apostle did still seek to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings Pâ—il 3. 10 11. 1 Joh. 3. 2. and much less is he fully known by any of us 4. He is hidden manna kept safe and secure laid up in Heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt nor can theeves break thorow and steal Col. 1. 5 6. with 1 Tim. 1. 1. and Luke 12. 33. he is hid in God and our life is hid with Christ in God so as the gates of hell shall not prevail against him neither the power nor policy thereof Col. 3. 3. Joh. 14. 10. with Mat. 16. 18. And in him who is in the Father are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2. 3 9 10. 5. Hidden manna he is not seen otherwise than by faith which is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. and therefore also he is eternal for the things that are seen are temporal but the things that are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 18. all other meat is perishing meat But his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed even such as endureth unto everlasting life Joh. 6. 27 55. But unto this we have spoken somewhat before 3. We come now to consider how Christ will give this hidden Manna to eat to him that overcometh To which we may say That without all peradventure he will give it continually to them now by faith that they may overcome and in their overcoming to strengthen their hearts as bread is said to strengthen the heart of Man Ps 104. 15 and to comfort them in all their trials and conflicts Gen. 18. 5. this enduring bread the Son of Man will continually give unto them Joh. 6. 27 51. But here in this promise he most fully if not only intends he will give to them this hidden manna hereafter to eat after they have over-come in spirit and in the first resurrection most gloriously compleatly and eternally so as then they shall be abundantly satisfied with this fatness of his house and he will make them drink of the river of pleasures for with him is the fountain of life Ps 36. 8 9. he will then give himself unto them and those everlasting consolations in himself so as they shall be compleatly and eternally satisfied therewith Indeed now they are so satisfied as not to hunger after any other bread or thirst after any other drink Joh. 6. 35. and ch 4. 13 14. But yet still the more they tast his graciousness the more they hunger and thirst after him Mat. 5. 6. Cant. 2. 3 5. their souls follow hard after him Ps 63. 1 8. they follow on to know that they may more know him Phil. 3. 7 10. Hos 6. 3. they are breathing for him looking for and hasting unto the coming of his day and longing for his appearing Ps 14. 7. Tit. 2. 14. 2 Pet. 3. 12 14. Rev. 22. 16 17 20. But then their desire shall come and be accomplished Phil. 1. 23. Prov. 10. 24. and ch 13. 12 19. when they awake in the morning of the resurrection they shall be satisfied with God's image even with Jesus Christ Ps 17. 15. with Heb. 1. 3. They shall then hunger no more neither thirst any more for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them even with himself and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters even unto himself also for he is meat and drink and herein also preferred before the typical manna Rev 7. 16 17 with Joh. 6. 51. Jer. 2. 13. hope and desire shall then cease in their compleat and glorious enjoyment of him in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. And seeing he will give to them who have overcome this hidden manna it sheweth unto us that this is most excellent and precious and worthy to be remembred by us at all times and it may instruct us now to feed on it It is that which