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
evermore Amen 2. The note of attention to mind this Behold 1. He is alive for evermore Amen even that person that died for us and was buried he is alive for evermore in that his personal body in which he bare our sins on the tree he is raised again now no more to return to corruption Act. 13. 24. He asked life of his father and he gave it him even length of days for ever and ever Ps 21. 3. and so he is become the sure mercies of David Isay 55. 3. with Act. 13. 34. he is the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. He who died for us and now liveth is alive for evermore 1. As the last Adam in whom dwelleth all the fulness of grace and truth and he is and abides the fountain of forgiveness Righteousness wisdom spirit eternal life he is a quickening spirit Col. 1. 18 19 and ch 2. 9 10. Joh. 1. 14. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 45. 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. 2. He is the Bread of life who prevents the dead World with life in due season and ever lives as the receiver and maker free of all that as thus prevented come unto and follow him The Servant namely of sin abideth not in the house for ever But the Son abideth ever Joh. 8. 35 36. And him that cometh he will in no-wise cast out Joh. 6. 33 35 37. Rom. 15. 7. 3. He is alive for evermore as the High-priest This man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood a Priest hood that passeth not from him unto any other Heb. 7. 24. and as the High-priest he maketh intercession for Men he being the one and only mediatour between God and Men Isay 53. 12. 1 Tim. 2. 5. For every High-priest is taken from among Men and is ordained for Men for the good of them Heb. 5. 1. And ever liveth to make Intercession for them that come unto God by him and so is able to the uttermost Heb 7. 8 16 24 25. and ch 6. 20. and ch 7. 28. and ch 10. 12. And so he is the Saviour of all Men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. 4. He ever liveth as the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9 who is now saving them especially 1 Tim. 4. 10. Eph. 5. 23. and will save them hereafter gloriously and eternally Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting Salvation they shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end Isay 45. 17. he is Jesus Christ the anointed Saviour the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 7 8. 2 Tim. 2. 10. Joh. 3. 15 16. 5. He ever liveth as the Resurrection and the life Joh. 11. 25. whose voice all that are in the graves shall hear and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. For as by Man came death by Man also came the Resurrection from the dead For as in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. He shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thes 4. 16. and all shall appear before his judgment-Seat for he is the Lord and Judg of all and to this end he both died rose and revived that he might lord it over quick and dead Rom. 14. 9 12. 2 Cor. 5. 8 10. Act 10. 42. 6. He is alive for evermore as the King who is now set upon God's holy hill of Zion Ps 2. 6. who now exercises his government graciouâ—ly and spiritually and shall hereafter rule and raign gloriously Ps 145. 11 13. and 9. 7 8. and 47. 6 8 Heb. 1. 8 11. The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end Luk. 1. 32 33. and the Kingdom and dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given the Prophet of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all nations shall serve and obey him Isay 9. 6 7. Dan. 7. 27. Amen So be it this is a faithful saying and therefore fear not 2. We have the note of attention to stir us up to mind this Behold This is of great concernment to us to take notice of attend unto and diligently to mind and consider that he who was dead is alive for evermore 1. To admonish and warn us not to reject him or slight his blood once shed and sacrifice once offered For he being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him and therefore if we sin willingly persist so doing there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery Indignation c. Rom. 6. 9 10. Act. 13. 34. Heb. 10. 26 29. Rev. 15. 7. 2. To comfort and encourage us against our discouragements and dyings which is the end why it is spoken at this time as to say a little particularly 1. To encourage any poor sinner or any that after they have tasted the graciousness of the Lord have brought deadness upon themselves whose spirits are dead and their moisture dried up yet to come unto or return to him for he liveth and that for evermore as the fountain of life of forgiveness grace and spirit Ps 36. 6 9. hence the Prophet exhorts O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity and propounds this motive from the Lord to encourage and engage them so to do I am the green fir-tree from me is thy â—ruit found Though thou hast brought deadness and witheredness upon thy self yet in returning to him he will take away all thy iniquities revive and quicken thee for he still abides a quickening spirit Hos 14. 1 9. 1 Cor. 15. 45. Yea our Saviour calls upon and invites every thirster to come unto him and drink and saith He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water Joh. 7. 37 39. and 11. 25 26. Rev. 3. 1. and 21. 6. and ch 22. 17. 2. To encourage his disciples unto all Services though they are as dead ones and have no sufficiency of themselves as of themselves yet he who liveth for ever hath promised to be with them Mat. 28. 18 20. and against all sufferings for his name sake in which the believer is as dying and appointed as a sheep to the slaughter yet he liveth and abideth for ever and is able to save them from their Sins and enemies Heb. 7. 24 26. and to raise them up again and make them partakers of a more excellent life in which the Apostles did comfort and encourage themselves 2 Cor. 4.
his face and his name shall be in their fore-heads c. He subjoyns thereto Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the Prophecy of this Book Rev. 21. and ch 22. 1 6 7 14. To signify to us that such an one shall be compleatly delivered hereafter from all evil and made a partaker of all blessedness and happiness 2. We have nextly propounded to us the reason of their blessedness especially For the time is at hand Now especially they are blessed because of the nigh approaching of the things contained in this Book to wit comparatively to former times because the time is at hand Rev. 22. 7 10. That they may keep themselves pure and not be spotted with the spots that are not of his people as he saith Behold I come as a Thief to wit suddenly and unexpectedly Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame Rev. 16. 15. And because there shall be a speedy performance of the happiness therein promised that they might be engaged not to cast away but hold fast their confidence and in patience possess their souls For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 35 37. And now especially blessed Because it is the time of the end and that which was formerly sealed up is not so now but opened Therefore encouragement is now given to us to look into this Book and in so doing we may expect his presence with us and blessing upon us compare Dan. 12. 8 9. with Rev. 22. 7 10. For the time is at hand Namely It is so in God's account See notes on v. 1. That time in which Christ came into the world and finished the work the Father gave him to do in his own personal body is called The end of the world or worlds Heb. 9. 26. And those days the last days Heb. 1. 1 2. And the pouring forth of his spirit which was said to be fulfilled in the day of Pentecost was said to be in the last days Act. 2. 17. and that time was the last time or hour 1 Joh. 2. 18. and so the time was at hand as compared with former times And this Phrase At hand doth not necessarily denote such a speedy accomplishment of the things spoken of as some would perswade us as may be seen in some instances as when the Lord commands Moses to write a Song for the Children of Israel and therein to declare the Evils and Miseries that would come upon them in the latter days for their iniquity Certainly he hath therein ultimately respect to the Kingdom of God's being taken from them and their being desolated by the Romans in these last days for their rejection of Christ Though evils in the beginnings and so successively came upon them all along when they forsook God and under these sad evils they still remain in these latter of the last times in which we live which are about three thousand years since that Song yet thus it is said in that Song To me belongeth Vengeance and to recompence their Foot shall slide in due time for the Day of their Calamity is at hand and the things that shall come upon them make hast Deut. 31. 19 29. and ch 32. 21 35 43. Thus again when the Lord by the Prophet Isay declares the Destruction that should come upon Babilon It is said Howle ye for the day of the Lord is at hand It shall come as Destruction from the Almighty And yet though that day or time was then said to be at hand it was near about two hundred years before the Kingdom was translated to the Medes and Persians which is the first thing here prophesied of as is said Behold I will stir up the Medes against them and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the Womb c. Isay â—3 1 6 17 18. And ultimately that Chapter may be a Prophesie of the Destruction of Mystery Babylon which is not yet fulfilled as appears by what is said in v. 19 20. compared with Jer. 50. and ch 51. 1 26 64. and Rev. 18. 1 21. for many Prophesies have divers fulfillings at divers times And that which is said in this Verse is a great encouragement to look into read hear and keep the things written in this Book to which we may speak further afterwards Thus far is the Preface Verse 4. John to the seven Churches in Asia Grace be unto you and Peace from him which is and which was and which is to come and from the seven Spirits which are before his Throne Here followeth the Inscription and Salutation of them to whom this Book was to be sent This Revelation was to shew unto Christ's Servants things that must shortly come to pass but it was not given immediately to them as to John It was sent and signified to him v. 1. in trust 1 Cor. 4. 1 2. And here begins his faithfulness according to the trust reposed in him In Verse 1. It is said To shew unto his Servants and here is shewn unto us who are meant thereby to wit the Churches And therefore John directs it to them even to the seven Churches and not only to the Angels though including them also So whereas in ch 22. 6. it is said The Lord God of the Holy Prophets sent his Angel to shew unto his Servants the things that must shortly be done In v. 16. it is thus I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testifie unto you these thing in the Churches To signifie to us that they are they whom he means and intends by his Servants And yet also every one that hath an Ear is called upon to hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches as may be seen in Rev. 2. 7 11 17 29. and ch 3. 6 13 22. In Asia to wit the less which Churches are particularly and by name mentioned to us in verse 11. Now in this Verse we have 1. The Apostle's Vote and Desire for the Churches 2. From whom he desires such Blessings to be vouchsafed to them The Apostles Vote and Desire for the Churches whom he salutes Grace unto you and Peace like to that voted by the Apostles in their Epistles generally for the Churches unto whom they write Grace unto you To wit the free Love and Charity of God towards us in abasing and exalting his Son in our nature for us In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live thorow him 1 Joh. 4. 9 10 14. And Christ by the grace of God tasted Death for every man Heb. 2. 9. And by the Grace of God we are justified freely thorow that Redemption in Christ Jesus even all that have sinned and are come short of the Glory of God Rom. 3. 23 24. And his Grace in preparing forgiveness of Mens Personal Sins the gift of Righteousness and Eternal Life in Christ for them Rom.
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
and they that hear it in hearing shall live they shall never see death Joh 5. 25 with ch 8. 51. It is able to build them up and to give them an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Acts 20. 32. hence David saith I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickned me Ps 119. 93. 1 Joh. 2. 24 25. 2 Joh. 9. But we come to look into and speak unto the words more particularly In which we shall look upon and consider 1. The counsel which our Lord gives unto this Angel and Church in two branches Be watchful This appears to be a general head of instruction encluding all afterwards counselled unto or it is needful therereto And so Be watchful become waking or awake or as some former translations read it Be awake how long wilt thou sleep O sluggard Prov. 6. 9. so watching is opposed to sleep As let us not sleep as do others but let us watch 1 Thes 5. 6. Thus our Saviour when he comes to the Disciples and finds them all asleep saith Watch c. namely awake from your drowsiness and sleepiness Mat. 26. 40 41. It is high time to awake out of sleep when persons have brought themselves into such a miserable condition as this Angel and Church had done like to that awake to righteousness and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame 1 Cor. 15. 134. Now then from hence we may note for our Instruction and usefulness 1. That these who were in a wretched miserable condition were yet asleep and secure and dreamed that their condition was good enough they thought themselves to be free from danger and the subjects of Christ's favour and well-pleasedness they might even lye a-bed and sleep they thought for they had a name among the Churches that they lived though indeed and in truth they were dead thus also it was with Laodicea v. 17. This Angel and Church were like to Jonah in former times when the ship was like to be broken and all in it ready to perish he was gone down into the sides of the ship and he lay and was fast asleep thus it was with these Jonah 1. 4 6. they were like to them that lye down in the midst of the Sea or as he that lieth asleep upon the top of a mast in the very mouth of danger and destruction and yet insensible of it unacquainted with it or unwilling so to be Oh dreadful case Oh deplorable condition Prov. 23. 34 35. they might think their mountain was so strong setled that they should never be moved they should never be in adversity Ps 30. 6 7. That God had so engaged himself to them and their condition was thereby so immoveable that they needed not to fear any evil but might laugh at calamity and destruction Rom. 11. 20 22. Though they had not been led by the Spirit and so were not his sons as to their demeanour yet such impudence might be found with them as to say as they did thou art our Father thou art the guide of our youth Jer. 3. 4. Though we should cease in our Son-like demeanour unto and affection and imitation of him yet he can never cease to be a Father unto us a dangerous presumption and hurtful conclusion so to imagine Deut. 32. 17 19 22. and ch 29. 18 20. Oh be we not thus high-minded but fear Rom. 11. 20 22. or Because they had gotten a name and were well reported of and greatly renowned among the Churches or by the Angels thereof hence they might grow careless and confident that all was well with them Oh take we heed that we be not so deceived our Brethren our Overseers may be deceived and mistaken or upon some by respect possibly they may flatter us and so destroy us As it is said O my people they which call thee Blessed cause thee to erre And they that are blessed of them are destroyed Isay 3. 12. and ch 9. 16. Margin But Christ cannot be deceived or mocked nor doth he accept persons nor take rewards walk we before him and be we perfect Gen. 17. 1. Oh what a â—ad thing will it be in conclusion if we should be secure whilest our course is evil how many are there that are at â—ase and confident of the goodness of their condition who yet are very miserable and when they are convinced of their evil by the spirit of God say it is noâ— he neither shall evil come upon us like them spoken of Joâ— 12. 6. they that provoke God are secure and so continue many of them till they go quick into destruction while they cry peace and safety sudden destruction comes on them as travail on a Woman with Child and they shall not escape Oh that we may not sport our selves in such self-deceivings Jer. 5. 12. 1 Thes 5. 3. Amos 6. 1 7. 2. Or he may signify that their slothfulness sleepiness and security brought them into this condition that though they had a name that they lived yet they were dead yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep so shall thy poverty come as one that travaileth and thy want as an armed Man Prov. 6. 10 11. and ch 24. 33 34. while Men slept the enemy came and sowed his tares as Mat. 25. By this means Satan got his advantage against them hence our Saviour faith Why sleep ye rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation Luke 22. 46. If Men give way to spiritual sleep they may quickly sleep themselves into the sleep of death as Ps 13. 3. Oh therefore let us not love sleep lest we come to poverty but open we our eyes wide that we may be satisfied with bread Prov. 20. 13. Luke 21. 34 36. 1 Pet. 4. 7. 3. In that our Saviour saith to these sleepy ones Be watchful or be awake so he gives us to understand That the way to be recovered out of that sad condition they had brought themselves into was to a-awake out of sleep to cast off their drowsiness and security whereto he is preventing and enabling Men by his calls and arm therein and therewith stretched out as we have said before when they are fast asleep and securely reposing themselves as if the evil should not overtake nor prevent them Loe then he sends forth his voice and that a mighty voice then he rouzes and knocks at the door of their hearts as it is in v. 16. 20. and even saith to them as the ship-master did unto Jonah when he was fast asleep in that great storm what meanest thou O sleeper arise call upon thy God c. Jonah 1. 6. Awake thou that sleepest arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5. 14. Awake to righteousness and sin not c. 1 Cor. 15. 34. And when he is thus speaking unto us and knocking loudly at our hearts then it is good for us to cast off our
his grace the word of exhortation c. and here he calls it the word of my patience Divers titles and names are given to it and several and various instructions are signified to us thereby But still it was Christ's word his Gospel they held fast and kept and not the doctrine of Devils or Mens divers and strange doctrines for to the keeping his word onely such blessedness as here is assured as our Saviour saith Verily Verily I say unto you if a man keep my saying he shall never see death Joh. 8. 51. he that keepeth the law the Doctrine of Christ happy is he Prov. 19. 16. and 29. 18. 1 Joh. 2. 24 27. 2 Joh. 9. 2. Why is the Gospel called here the word of Christ's patience And to that we may say It is so called 1. Because in this word of his is declared to us the great and wonderful patience of Christ in his induring all and all manner of afflictions for our sakes that we might be brought back again to God To that end greatly and wonderfully was he abased for us and for our sakes and good Though he was in the form of God and thought it no robberry to be equal with God yet he took our nature upon him and took upon him the form of a Servant and was here in a poor and mean condition Luke 9. 58. Ps 40. 17. so as others did Minister unto him of their substance Mat. 27. 55. Luke 8. 2 3. And was persecuted all along from his entring into his ministration unto the time of his death Before his hour was come when he first came to Nazareth to preach the Gospel they that heard him were filled with wrath and led him to the Brow of the hill that they might cast him down headlong Luke 4. 16 29. and when he had cured a Man on the Sabbath-day they did persecute and seek to slay him Joh. 5. 16 18. and at many other times Joh. 7. 30 32. and chap. 8. 37 40 59. and chap. 10. 39. and chap. 11. 53. c. and what reproaches and reproachful words fell upon him and were cast out against him They said he was a Samaritan and had a Devil called him Beelzebub deceiver accused him for blasphemy against God and for perverting the Nation and being an enemy to Caesar And when his hour was come and he was betrayed into the hands of sinful Men how they dealt with him is recorded in and by the Evangelists and Apostles And he endured great things from the hand of his Father He was tormented for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities It pleased the Lord to bruise him he did put him to grief he made his Soul an offering for our sins Isay 53. 5 10. he spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all Rom. 8. 32. He did forsake him and gave unto him a bitter cup to drink Ps 22. 1 2. Joh. 18. 11. And yet in all he was patient he did patiently continue in well-doing and did always those things that pleased his Father Joh. 4. 33 34. and 8. 28 29. and ch 9. 3 4. Though Satan and his instruments thrust sore at him that he might fall and to move him from his Father's way yet he was not rebellious neither turned away back But went on glorifying his Father on earth and finisht the work which the Father gave him to do Isay 50. 4 8. Joh. 17. 4. he did not fail neither was he discouraged by all he met with Isay 42. 1 3 4. And he was patient in enduring afflictions from the hands of Men he did not fret against those who were instruments of evil to him nor was he impatient towards them but indured great contradiction of sinners against himself Heb. 12. 3. Though he was so great and came to seek their good and so powerful yet when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not 1 Pet. 2. 21 23. though he was oppressed and afflicted yet he opened not his mouth He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he open'd not his mouth Isay 53. 7. But gave his back to the smiters and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair Isay 50. 5 6. he was meek and lowly in heart Mat. 11. 29. when he was condemned and killed he did not resist Luke 9. 53 56. Jam. 5. 6. yea he sought the good of them who sought his hurt and prayed for them for his love they were his adversaries but he gave himself to prayer Ps 109. 4 5. when he was crucified and hanged between two malefactors then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luke 23. 34. and he was patient under the hand of his Father he endured the cross and drank off chearfully that cup which his Father gave him to drink Heb. 12. 1 2. Joh. 18. 11. when he cried out and roared by reason of the weight of the judgment of this World which was inflicted on him yet then he acknowledgeth his Father's righteousness and purity and saith But thou art holy O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel Ps 22. 1 3. and under all his afflictions and wonderful sorrows he waited patiently for Gods salvation As the Prophet signifies speaking of him and in his person and saying I waited patiently for the Lord and be enclined his ear and heard me Ps 40. 1 3. and still waits as it were with much patience for the glorious administration of his Kingdom and will do so untill all his enemies shall compleatly and visibly be made his foot-stool he tarries and awaits his Father's time for this Ps 110. 10 11. Heb. 10. 12. Rev. 11. 15 17. 2. The Gospel is also called the Word of his patience because it doth declare his and his Fathers present patience and long-suffering in the daily administration of his Government and that towards sinful and rebellious ones which proceedeth from his Charity 1 Cor. 13. 4. On such he waits that he may be gracious to them Isay 30. 8 18. He is long suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. He gave â—â—zabel that false Prophetess space to repent of her fornication See the notes on ch 2. v. 21. And though Laodicea was become lukewarm and he therefore threatens to spue her out of his mouth yet he saith Behold I stand at the door and knock Rev. 3. 20. And when God is even provoked to cut Men off and cast them out of his Vineyard for their barrenness and unfruitfulness he mediates for further sparing and procures more long-suffering for them Luke 13. 6 7. Isay 42 1 2 19 20. Yea thorow him are vouchsafed riches of goodness forbearance and long-suffering to impenitent ones to lead them to repentance Rom. 2. 4 5. with 2 Pet. 3. 9 15. and towards his people in a peculiar consideration he is meek and lowly
Pet. 5. 10. 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. they are now Kings and Priests and shall reign with Christ on the earth Rev. 5. 9 10. ch 20. 4. An huge encouragement and motive to engage us to hold fast the word of Christ as afterwards we may see 1 Cor. 9. 26 27. Phil. 3. 7 11 c. 2. How is this Crown called theirs To which we may answer and say It is not called theirs because it is merited by them for so it is not they are not worthy of the least of all Gods Mercies and Favours and therefore not of this which is the greatest In this respect it is Christs reward Rev. 22. 12. Christs Kingdom 2 Pes. 1. 11. Christs Glory c. 2 Thes 2. 14. But it is called theirs 1. Because it is prepared for them who come unto and abide in Jesus Christ Mat. 20. 23. and ch 25. 34. 1 Cor. 2. 9. 2. Because it is promised by him that cannot lye to be given to them that are and abide faithful unto the Death Rev. 2. 10. To such as love him and keep his Commandments Tit. 1. 1 2. with Jam. 1. 12. Gal. 3. 29. Jam. 2. 5. 3. Because they are the Heirs of it To as many as received Christ to them he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name and if Sons then Heirs Heirs of God and Joynt heirs with Christ Joh. 1. 12. with Rom. 8. 17. and they are now by Faith and Hope receiving it Heb. 12. 28 29. Now then when he saith that no Man take thy Crown We may learn from hence 1. That the work of those that endeavour to draw us from Christ is to deprive and bereave us of our Glory and Crown The Thief comes not but to kill and to steal and to destroy Joh. 10. 10. Prov. 7. 24 27. and ch 9. 13 18. their end is destruction Phil. 3. 19. And so the end of them particularly who would take away the Gospel from us is to subvert our Souls and beguile us of our Reward Col. 2. 18 22. 2 Joh. 9. as it 's said of the wicked one he comes and takes away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved Luke 8. 12. 2. That it is possible the Believers may lose and have their Crown taken from them and even be excluded and shut out of the Kingdom of Christ and of God Hence we have such admonitions and cautions given to such as have received Christ and been made the Sons of God by Faith in Jesus Christ to take heed that none did deceive them and to abstain from such iniquities as provoke God to wrath and deprive them from having any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Eph. 1. 14. and 4. 30. with ch 5. 3 7. Col. 2. 6. with ch 3. 5 6 Gal. 5. 21. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Even the Children of the Kingdom in this peculiar consideration may be cast out Mat. 8. 11 12. The Apostle Paul writing to the believing Thessalonians saith to them God hath called you unto or into his Kingdom and Glory and thanks God without ceasing that when they received the word of God which they heard of them they received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which did effectually work also in them who did believe and yet presently after he saith to them When I could no longer forbear I sent to know your Faith lest by some means the tempter have tempted you and our labour be in vain 1 Thes 1. 3 6 8. and ch 2. 12 14. with ch 3. 1 5. Our Saviour saith to his Apostles Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel And yet Judas who had obtained part of this Ministry by transgression fell away Mat. 19. 28. with Acts 1. 17 25. and this may preserve us from high-mindedness and engage us to fear Rom. 11. 20 22. and to look diligently that none of us fail of or fall from the grace of God that no root of bitterness springing up trouble us and thereby many be defiled Heb. 12. 15 28 29. and this leads us to another Instruction viz. 3. The way for us to be assured of our Crown is to hold fast what we have even the word of Christs patience the Gospel of Christ so will he give unto us Eternal Life and we shall never perish neither shall any pluck us out of his hand Joh. 10. 27 30. The word of his Grace is able to build us up and to give us an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified Rom. 1. 16. Acts 20. 32. this is the word of the Kingdom Mat. 13. 19. the Gospâ—l of the Kingdom Mat. 4. 23. and 9. 35. and ch 24. 14. The Kingdom of Heaven is entailed upon it as it were so as they that put it away reject the Kingdom of God Luke 10. 9 11. and judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life Acts 13. 46. and they that heartily receive it are Children of the Kingdom Mat. 13. 19 38. and shall in holding it fast enter into this Kingdom gloriously hereafter Prov. 4. 4 9. The words therein contained are the words of Eternal Life Joh 6. 68. in holding this fast we shall never taste death Joh. 8. 51. neither the Devil nor his Instruments shall prevail against us 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. Eph. 6. 10 17. Rev. 12. 10. Oh then Hold that fast which thouâ— hast that none take thy Crown Verse 12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out And I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God new Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven from my God and I will write upon him my new name In this verse are contained many promises and encouragements to encourage us to hold fast the Gospel of Christ and to take to us the whole armour of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day and having overcome all to stand In which we have to mind and consider 1. The subject of these promises or every one that shall certainly be made a partaker of that which is here propounded and promised and that is him that overcometh see the notes before on ch 2. v. 7. and ch 3. v. 5. 2. The promises themselves whereto we shall speak in order that is to say 1. I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God A Pillar namely 1. An eminent one so the word signifies where it is said when James Cephas and John who seemed to be or were counted Pillars Gal. 2. 9. even such as were of reputation amongst the Churches and teachers v. 2. so here him that overcometh will I make a Pillar he
shall be put upon the victors and conquerors as the name of the Husband is upon the wife and so as his name shall be called the Lord our righteousness so this is the name wherewith she the Church shall be called the Lord our righteousness compare Jer. 23. 6. with ch 33. 16. Rev. 19. 7 8. Or as the Lord saith thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name thou shalt no more be termed forsaken neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate But thou shalt be called Hepzi-bah that is my delight is in her and thy land Beulah that is married for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy land shall be married Isay 62. 2 4. A name better then of Sons and Daughters Isay 56. 15 16. all this will he write upon them that overcome who hath the writers inkhorn by his side spoken of Ezek. 9. 2 4 11. and this honour shall all his Saints have Hallelujah Ps 149. see the notes before on ch 2. v. 17. Verse 14. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches see the notes before on ch 2. v. 7. Verse 13. And unto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write see the notes before on ch 2. v. 1. These things saith the Amen the faithful and true witness the begininng of the creation of God We have from the beginning of this verse to the latter end of the eighteenth verse spoken in a Treatise called Needful Counsel and therefore might forbear to speak anything hereto But because these notes may be some-what uniform possibly some may read or hear these that have not that or a time or heart to do it therefore I shall more briefly write over again somewhat of that which is fore-printed in that book These things saith the Amen Thus our Lord begins to describe himself to this Angel and Church he is the Amen to wit he in whom all the promises of God are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. ratified confirmed and sealed even by his precious blood which is the blood of the new Testament and everlasting covenant Mat. 26. 28. Heb. 10. 29. and ch 13. 20. Those great and precious promises ministred in the Gospel which pertain to life and godliness yea in which are contained and given all things for this life and that to come are not only assured by the word of God and confirmed by his oath which yet are two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye and therefore might quicken and encourage lukewarme ones to flee for refuge to lay hold on that hope set before them But also they are actually made firm by the blood of the Testator who is also in the vertue thereof raised and as the fore-runner entred into Heaven and is the mediatour of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions uâ—deâ— the first Testament they which are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance he mediateth and makes intercession for the taking away the iniquities of those that come unto God by him and that the contents of that â—ovenant may be dispenced to them according to their needs and capacities God hath promised and Christ hath actually said and is the Amen to them Rev. 1. 18. Heb. 8. 6. and 9. 15. It may seem in that Jesus Christ doth first describe himself by this title of the Amen that these lukewarme ones did not keep in believing remembrance the promises and the firmeness and immutability of them and certainty of their performance according to the tenour of them being ratified by such precious blood and ascertained by such a faithful and true witness and therefore they grew sluggish remiss and indifferent and there was great abatement of their former â—ervency either fearing they should be left in sufferings or not provided for or dispenced unto according to their wants and therefore to recover them he telleth them his name is the Amen The consideration hereof is powerful to stir up to diligence and to recover us from our decays to cause us that we shall not be slothful but diligent followers of them who thorow faith and patience inherit the promises Heb. 6. 10 20. To strengthen us to hold fast the profession of our Faith without wavering and â—o consider one another to provoke to love and good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together Heb. 10. 22 25. To engage us to come out from among Men and to be separate and not to touch the unclean thing But to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. and 7. 1. If these exceeding great and precious promises given to the Apostles to minister and ministred by them in and with the glorious Gospel be in us received and entertained by us and abound if they be suffered to dwell richly in us and to have their perfect work so as we limit them not nor hold them in unrighteousness they make us that we shall not be idle or â—nfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they will provoke us to flee from and escape the corruption that is in the World thorow lust and besides giving all diligence thereto they will enable and stir us up to add to our 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 To these things will these precious promises confirmed by such precious blood enliven and quicken us if they be suffered to dwell richly in us For hereby we shall be made partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4 9. Oh exercise we our selves to godliness to Christ who is the root and foundation of godliness for it is profitable to all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. with ch 3. 16. How effectual were the promises with the partriaâ—chs in former times when they were not so confirmed as now to make them forsake their country kindred and Fathers house To confess themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth c. These believed caused Abraham the Father of the faithful not to consider his own body now dead neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb But was strong in Faith giving glory to God and being fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able to perform and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him who hath performed the promise made to the Fathers in raising Christ from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Gen. 12. 1 3. Heb. 11. 13 16. Rom. 4. 16 25. with Acts 13.
both thus frequently it is said of him He looked Beheld or saw namely had his eyes opened as Numb 24. 3 4. in order before the Vision or Revelation was vouchsafed as chap. 6 c. And so it was with the holy Prophets in former times Ezek. 1. 4. and chap. 10. 1 9. Dan. 10 5. and chap. 12. 5. And in many other places Quest But what caused him still to look and to be in this expecting posture Answ 1. The charge given him in Chap. 1. vers 19. concerning the things he had seen in the vision of the Son of man c. And the things that are concerning the Seven Churches And the things which shall be hereafter which begin here as is said before And so he had good ground and reason therefrom to look as knowing the faithfulness of him that gave that commandment to him He believed and therefore he looked for Christs revealing to him further things than he had yet seen and future also See the Notes after on Chap. 5. Vers 6. 2. The sweetness and pleasantness of that which he had already beheld might also provoke him still to look and to expect and long for more so it is an ordinary way My Son saith the Holy Ghost eat thou honey because it is good and the honey-comb which is sweet to thy taste So shall the knowledg of wisdom be unto thy soul when thou â—ast found it then thine expectation shall not be cut off Prov. 24. 13 14. signifying to us that such is the sweetness and delightfulness of knowledg the knowledg of wisdom that it will move and provoke them who have tasted it earnestly to desire and expect more Thus it was with David who had tasted the sweetness thereof How frequently doth he cry after more and pray unto God Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law Make me to understand the way of thy precepts Teach me O LORD the way of thy statutes give me understanding Teach me good judgment and knowledg c. Psal 119. 12 18 19 27 33 34 66 125. He opened his mouth and panted because he longed for Gods commandments vers 129 131. And so also should we be looking did we indeed perceive and taste the sweetness and excellency of the knowledg of God in Christ Prov. 2. 1-3-10 Joh. 4. 10. Psal 119. 97 -103. 3. There follows next in order to be considered by us an admirable thing presented to the Apostle And Bâ—hold a door was opened in heaven From whence we might note in general That while he was thus expecting to receive some further knowledg he did not wait or look in vain but Christ shewed him great and mighty or hidden things which he before knew not Jer. 33. 3. And so more generally they that look unto him shall be enlightened and their faces shall not be ashamed Psal 34. 5. Matt. 13. 11 -16. Hence the Prophet saith I will look unto the LORD I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me Mic. 7. 7. Isa 49. 23. More particularly Behold a dore was opened in heaven Behold A wonderful thing that such a favour should be vouchsafed to mortal sinful man and he should be so strengthened to behold things above And consider this well set your hearts to it to this which followeth in all this vision for it is that which is before God in Heaven A door was opened that he might see there thorow thorow this door passage or entrance It was opened he did not he could not open it himself but it was opened to him that looked It was opened by Jesus Christ who is himself the Door by whom we may come to the father and by whom only Joh. 10. 7 -9. and chap. 14. 6. we have liberty to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus By a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us thorow the veil that is to say his flesh Heb. 10. 19 20. And he hath the keys the keys of Hell and Death Chap. 1. 18. the key of the house of David Chap. 3. 7. of the seven seals to open them Chap. 5. and 6. Of the Scriptures and of the understandings of men As it is said he opened the Scriptures unto the understandings of his Disciples and opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Luk. 24. 26 32 44 45. This door here spoken of was opened to him of the Lord 2 Cor. 2. 12. He calls upon us to open the door of our hearts when he is knocking thereat and preventing us with power and ability so to do Cant. 5. 2. Rev. 3. 20. But this door he openeth who hath all power in Heaven Matt. 28. 18. this he opened into Heaven so as there might be seen by those unto whom it was opened something of what was in Heaven So Ezekiel saith The heavens were opened and be sâ—w viâ—ions of God Ezek. 1. 1. And our Saviour promises to his Disciples Hereafter ye shall see the â—eavens opened Joh. 1. 51. See also Act. 7. 55. Rev. 11. 19. and chap. 15. 1 5. This was shewn to the Apostle in an extraordinary way and by him revealed to us that we may see into Heaven by faith thereby 4. We have an account given us of a voice speaking with him And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me c. This first voice which he heard is said to be 1. As of a trumpet A great loud and awakening voice Lo he sendeth forth his voice and that a mighty voice Psal 68. 33. To signifie the weightiness of that which was spoken and to the end he might attentively hear and diligently hearken to it As it is said hearken to the sound of the Trumpet Jer. 6. 17. Isa 18. 3 See the Notes on Chap. 1. vers 10. So Christ speaks with a mighty voice in his Gospel so as he causes the dead to hear that they might hear in hearing and their souls live Joh. 5. 25. Isa 55. 1 -3. And commandment is given to Zion and Jerusalem who bring good tidings to get them up into the high mountains to lift up their voice with strength to lift it up and not be afraid Isa 40. 9 that the Inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth might hear this good news so sounded forth by them Isa 18. 3. Rev. 14. 6. 2. This voice though like a Trumpet yet was articulate for it was a voice talking with him not afrighting but familiarly lovingly and sociably talking with him a phrase oft used in and about the visions of God as Zech. 1. 9 13 14 19. and Chap. 2. 3. and Chap. 4. 1 4 5 c. Rev. 17. 1. and Chap. 21. 9 15. Christ strengthened his Servant John to hear this loud voice speaking to him and talking with him And this voice was talking with him causing him to know and understand what it spake Dan. 8. 18 19. It was informing him
is the first begotten of the dead who loved us and gave himself for us c. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Rev. 1. 5 6 2. And hast redeemed us to God by thy blood ouâ— of every kindred and tongue and people and nation Where consider we 1. What Christ further did for and to them upon the account whereof he is to be glorified by them And â—ast redeemed us unto God 2. By what means he did this By thy Blood 3. Out of or from amongst whom he so redeemed them Out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation 1. What Christ further did for and to them upon the account whereof he is to be glorified and for which all these holy ones here spoken of do praise and laud him And hast redeemed us unto God We may here for our usefulness enquire and consider Of what redeeming or buying do the Saints here speak and mean To which we may give answer and say 1. There is a Redemption wrought for men without them in and by Jesus Christ our Lord whereby he hath redeemed them unto himself from under the first judgment and condemnation Rom. 5. 18. and from perishing for ever in that first death which was the wages of that disobedience of the first publick man in whom all sinned and from whom they come forth into the world naturally and necessarily polluted and defiled Rom. 5. 12 15 19. When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law even all mankind for they were all fallen under it both Jews and Gentiles and become subject and obnoxious to the judgment of God Gal. 4. 4 5. with Rom. 3. 9-19 And he hath redeemed them from the câ—rse of the Law being made a curse for them Gal. 3. 13. He gave himself a ransome and price of redemption for all men 1 Tim. 2. 6. And he hath redeemed them in and by himself for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 22-24 He hath bought them who by denying him bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2. 1. Redeemed them who transgress and speak lies against him Hos 7. 14. Deut. 32. 6. He hath bought all men with a precious price and his they are Psal 100. 1-3 He hath died for all and is raised again and hath purged away the guilt of their first sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God Abolished their first death and will in due time dâ—stroy it and hath destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil Heb. 2. 9-14 and Chap. 1. 3. He hath born the judgment of the world and cast out the Prince of this world out of his Principality which he had gotten over mankind and hath drawn all men unto himself to be under his authority and Lordship Joh. 12. 31 32. To this end he both died and rose and revived that he might be the Lord c. Rom. 14. 9. And to a gracious end hath he died for all and thus redeemed them that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but unto him that died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Henceforth the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22 23. In this sense he is the Redeemer and Saviour of all men and he hath also obtained eternal redemption for them Heb. 9. 12. 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. Luk. 24. 46 47. But this Redemption is not here directly spoken of and though it be fundamentally supposed and included yet it is so rather in the former expression viz. Thou wast slain 2. There is a Redemption also which he is now working during the day of his grace and patience wherein he is buying men in their own persons of both these the Apostle in other expressions speaks saying God was in Christ to wit when one died for all and rose again reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses to them This was that which he was working and wrought for men without them in the person of Christ and before it be preached to them and is the same with that first Redemption we have been speaking of and then it presently follows in the next verse We pray in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God this is a following work which in the preaching and by the discovery of the former he is working in men and is the same with that redeeming we are now speaking of 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. and so he who is the redeemer of men in the former sensâ— is teaching them to profit and leading them by the way they should go and so redeeming them in their own persons who yet hearken not to hâ—s Commandments but deprive their souls of good Isa 48. 17 18. And he doth redeem them who yield up themselves to him and are not disobedient to the heavenly call he doth buy them off themselves he gives himself to them for them as a man gives himself to a maid for her that they might be his and be married to him who is raised from the dead and he might be theirs their head and husband Ephes 5. 25 26. And so he râ—deems them from all their iniquities and delivers them from or chuses them out of this present evil world and purifies them unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14 Gal. 1. 4. and of this redeeming he here directly speaks as plainly appears by all the context to which we shall not here speak further because we shall have apt occasion to mention it again and speak further to it in what follows There is also a Redemption which he will glâ—riously effâ—ct and accomplish hereafter but of that we shall not speak here any thing further Now between Christs redeeming men in the two former considerations there are several differences and dissimilitudes some of which we may briefly mention and which have been intimated in what we have spoken As to say 1. As to the effecting the former there was nothing required of men but it was done for them without them in and by Jesus Christ Gal. 3. 13. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 19. But as to the latter there is something required of them as God is working in them both to will and to do of good pleasure viz. to look unto Christ and be saved to be reconciled unto God Phil. 2. 12-16 Isa 45. 21 22. 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. 2. The first is for all men 1 Tim. 2. 6. for the world of mankâ—nd 2 Cor. 5. 19. and so all are bought with a price 2 Pet 2. 1. Gal. 4. 4 5. with Rom. 3. 19. In the second sense all are not redeemed though in due time Christ be redeeming them