him When he writes to the Believers of the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ and the Requirings Instructions and Consolations thereof then he calls them little Children and my little Children 1 Joh. 2. 1. and ch 3. 18. and now when he is acquainting them with those high things that were revealed to him he intimately calls them Brethren It was much in Joseph when he was advanced to that height that he was next Pharaoh to say I am Joseph your Brother Gen. 45. 4. But this was more remarkable in John when he was so lifted up of the Lord and like unto our Lord Jesus when he was risen from the dead Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father c. Joh. 20 17. Thus John saith not your Father and Head like the Man of Sin but your Brother Oh! if any of us be lifted up in the things of this World or in those more excellent appertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven let us not be exalted above measure thereby but own our selves as Brethren of such Believers before whom we are preferred in these things like him who though he were a King and a Prophet yet was a Companion of all them that feared the Lord and of them that kept his Precepts How poor and mean soever they were yet they were his Brethren and Companions Ps 122. 5. 8. with Ps 119. 63. 2. Observe whom he thus intimately calleth his Brethren and Companions and they are the Churches in Asia the Gentile-Churches and so we may learn 1. The great Mercy of God to us Gentiles John was one of the Natural Branches but by the Blood of Christ we Gentiles are made nigh and contrary to nature are graffed in amongst the Natural Branches and with them partake of the root and fatness of the Olive-tree and so are made Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Household of God Rom. 11. 17 22. Eph. 2. 11 20. A great Mystery and wonderful Grace and Favour That the Gentiles should be Fellow-Heirs and of the same Body and partakers of his Promise in Christ by the Gospel They are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek c. Gal. 3. 26 29. and ch 4. 26 31. Oh that we may not be high-minded but fear Rom. 11. 20. and that we may walk worthy of God who hath called us unto his Kingdom and glory Eph. 3. and ch 4. 1. 1 Thes 2. 12. and may stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and not be again entangled with the yoke of bondage Gal 4. 26 31. and ch 5. 1. 2. Them he calls Brethren intimately of whom or of many or most of whom he was not the first Instrument of begetting them thorow the Gospel and to them he is Commanded to write and writeth what followeth It seems Paul was the first who planted the Gospel in Asia Act. 19. 10 12. and ch 20. 18 24. But on this account he mattered not who was the Instrument whether himself or others as 1 Cor. 15. 11. yet still I am your Brother and Companion So Paul would that the Colossians knew what great Conflict he had for them and for them at Laodicea and as many as had not seen his face in the flesh that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love c. Col. 2. 1 4. Men may love them whom they suppose they have been Instruments of begetting thorow the Gospel because herein they have been honoured while they have too little love for others to whom others have been first Instruments of Good But it was not so with the Apostle 3. Your Brother Yet there were many faults amongst some of them which are reproved by our Saviour As Ephesus had left her first love Rev. 2. 4. Pergamus had them that held the Doctrine of Balaam and the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans v. 14 15. Thyatira suffered that Woman Jezabel which called her self a Prophetess to teach and seduce Christs Servants c. v. 20. Sardis had a name to live and was dead ch 3. 1. Laodicea was lukewarm v. 15 16 17. and yet to them he saith your Brother and Companion not in their evils but in the faith of Christ and a lover of them and a seeker of their good He did not presently cast them off or unbrother them because such evils were found with many of them But ownes himself as their Brother still And doth not Paul the same when he writes unto the Corinthians among whom were divisions and factions and who were more Carnal then Spiritual yet he still calls them Brethren See 1 Cor. 1. 10. 12. and ch 3. 1 5. and ch 5. 1 2. and ch 6. and ch 11. 17 33. 2 Cor. 12. 20 21. with ch 13. 11. so he calls the Galatians Brethren who were removed in some measure from him that called them into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel and turned aside to weak and beggerly elements after they had known God or rather were known of him Gal. 1. 6 8 11. and ch 3. 1 5. and ch 4. 8 11. and ch 5. 1 4. and gives this Instruction that if any Man did not obey their word by that Epistle they should note that Man and have no Company with him that he might be ashamed yet saith he Count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother 2 Thes 3. 14 15. so James calls them Brethren when he often and severely reproves Jam. 2 1 5 6. and ch 3. 10. and ch 4. 1 4. and well might John own them as his brethren when Christ still owned them as his Churches and calls these seven Churches Seven golden Candlesticks See Rev. 1. 12. 20. how might it shame us all that are so forward to cast off one another for miscarriages and how doth it reprove them that cast out as Heathen all that are not as they would have them to be Christ when all had forsaken him and fled from him and Peter had denied him with cursing and swearing yet sends this message to them go tell my Brethren Joh. 20. 17. Mat. 28. 10. Learn we of this Apostle who was herein a follower of the Apostle of our profession Jesus Christ 4. Your Brother and Companion Not the Brother and Companion of those false Teachers who did infest the Churches and endeavoured to infect them and to corrupt them from that simplicity in Christ Jesus to wit such as taught the Doctrines of Balaam or of the Nicolaitans nor the Brother of that Woman Jezabel nor of the Children of such false teachers and Doctrines for these are distinguished from the Churches by our Saviour and so are not of the Brotherhood Rev. 2. 14 15 20 23. Such are to be received by us or loved with peculiar manner of love When the Apostle John warns of false Prophets he exhorts Beloved let us love one another and not them with Brotherly love 1 Joh. 4. 1 6
countenance to such as bring them they are hateful to Christ and infectious and hurtful to us their word will eat as doth a gangrene 2 Tim 16. 18. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. Let us then discountenance them and with-draw our selves from all erroneous teachers Eph. 4. 8 16. Heb. 13. 9. The Colossians were as sweetly ordered people And the Apostle was joying in their order and the stedfastness of their faith in Christ and yet there were a few things amiss with them and the Apostle thus reproves them Why as though living in the World are ye subject to ordinances after the commandments and Doctrines of Men Col. 2. 5 6. with v. 20 23. 2. Balaam spoke highly of Christ in his prophecy concerning him both true and excellent things also in that time and which he spake by the knowledg of the most high vouchsafed to him As that he as a star should come out of Jacob a title given unto him in this book Numb 24. 15 17. with Rev. 2. 28. and ch 22. 16. And that a scepter should rise out of Israel that out of Jacob he should come that should have dominion and should destroy his enemies Numb 24. 16 19. with Heb. 1. 8 9. And he did also bless and speak well of the people of God of Israel and of their happiness and good estate Numb 23. 7 10 19 24. and ch 24. 2 9. c. And yet he taught false doctrine in other things and was in a great errour and so were these also certainly of whom our Saviour here speaks and it seems in both respects they were like unto and likened unto him and said to hold his doctrine and this Angel and Church is reproved for having or suffering such amongst them It appears on this account their doctrine was called Balaam's Because as he so they also in some things spake highly of Christ and his people though in other things they erred otherwise it might have been simply said evil doctrine or the doctrine of Jezabell c. and so we may learn That it is a reproveable thing in Christ's Angels and Churches to suffer or have such false teachers amongst them who yet at some times speak highly and honourably of Jesus Christ and such as heartily believe in and cleave to him with purpose of heart surely such in some respects were those that came amongst the Galatians and other Churches formerly they were not open rejecters of Christ but they were such as did believe and yet also they taught the Brethren that except they were circumcised after the manner of Moses and kept the law they could not be saved Acts 15. 1 5. with Gal. 1. 6 9. and ch 4. 9 11. and ch 5. 1 4 12. Col. 2. 9 22. 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. The Apostle saith to the elders of your own selves shall men Men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them Acts 20 28 30. Take we heed of the errors of such as these say not they speak highly and honourably of Christ and of the priviledges of Saints and therefore we may safely have them amongst us and did not Balaam do thus and yet he also erred greatly and so did these that held his doctrine and yet this Angel and Church are reproved for having such evil and erronious teachers amongst them 3. Yea this was one thing that Christ had against this Angel and Church that they had there in that place where Satan's throne was such evil teachers as if he should say though thou in that dangerous place holdest fast my name yet thou hast there such as hold the doctrine of Balaam thou sufferest or too much approvest or countenancest such as are evil and hold errours and so we may learn that if we should be amongst open and professed Idolaters and live in the worst of times yet it will be an evil in us if we should have and suffer seducing spirits amongst us They might think and say we live amongst gross Idolaters and though these who hold the doctrine of Balaam be erronious yet they speak many things well of Christ and his people and therefore we may shew them some respects and give them some countenance we should be uncharitable else and what will those heathenish idolaters say if we wholly reject them will they not say we cannot agree amongst our selves But Christ's thoughts and ours are not the same be times places persons wherein and amongst whom we live never so bad perillous and idolatrous yet he will be angry with us if we countenance or strengthen any in their evils of practice or principle he would have his people zealous and fervent for him and his Gospel and valiant for his truth Jer. 9. 3. when God's people were in captivity amongst heathen and open idolaters yet then he chargeth his Prophet to prophecy against the Prophets of Israel that prophesyed out of their own hearts and to say unto them wo unto the foolish Prophet that follow their own spirit and have seen nothing O Israel thy Prophets are like the foxes in the deserts c. see Ezek. 13. tot with ch 1. 1 2. and in the same captivity also when certain came unto Zerubbabel and Joshua and the chief of the Fathers of Israel and said unto them Let us build with you for we seek your God as ye do and we do sacrifice unto him c. Then Zerubbabel and Joshua and the rest of the chief of the Fathers of Israel said unto them ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God but we our selves together or alone will build unto the Lord God of Israel c. Ezra 4. 1 2 3. Oh! let us then turn away from and reject erronious teachers whatever their professions or pretences otherwise may be for else they may do much hurt to us Rev. 2. 20. cause us to comply a little with them at the first and afterwards more and more and we shall by such compliance do hurt unto them even harden and strengthen them in their evil ways that none of them will return there from Jer. 23. 15. 2. We have the doctrine of Balaam explicated and opened to us who taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the Children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication Where before we come to take notice particularly of the doctrine he taught and evil and wicked counsel he gave we may consider 1. That which was the root of his errour and evil counsel and that was an evil covetousness his heart went after it's covetousness and that was that which did mis-lead him his love of glory honour riches and promotion led him out of the right way in which it seems sometimes he was as the Apostle Peter may signify when he saith of some they have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam of Boser who loved the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2. 15 16. Jude 11. So also these evil
thing will make them accursed also hence God saith Thou shalt not bring an abomination into thine house left thou be a cursed thing like it But thou shalt uttterly detest it and thou shalt utterly abhor it for it is a cursed thing Deut. 7. 26. and again you in any wise keep your selves from the accursed thing lest ye make your selves accursed when ye take of the accursed thing c. Josh 6. 17 18. and ch 7. 1 11 13 15. and ch 12. 20. Isay 63. 7 10. All their wickedness in Gilgal saith the Lord for there I hated them for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house I will love them no more c. Hos 9. 15 17. Gal. 1. 8 9. 2. And more particularly it will provoke Christ to anger and testimonies of displeasure to hold evil doctrines such as tend to the ensnareing and polluting God's people as God fought against Balaam so will he also fight against his followers and such as are like unto him his ways are everlasting Numb 31. 8. those false teachers who privily bring in heresies of swift destruction and their judgment now of a long time lingreth not and their damnation slumbreth not 2 Pet. 2. 1 3 13 15. Those filthy dreamers go in the way of Cain and run greedily after the errour of Balaam for a reward and will perish in the gainsaying of Core Jude 21. Thus saith the Lord Because ye have spoken vanity and seen lies therefore behold I am against you saith the Lord God And mine hand shall be upon the Prophets that see vanity c. because even because they have seduced my people c. Ezek. 13. 8. 10. Jer. 29 20 23. 3. He saith I will fight against them with the sword of my mouth And so he will write their sin upon their punishment they transgressed with their mouths or words and he will fight against them with his word in his Gospel and judgments 2 Thes 2. 8. Isay 55. 11. Rev. 19. 15. and he is strong that executeth his word so that his word and not theirs shall stand Joel 2. 11. Jer. 44. 28. But here we might propound to consideration these two following questions Quest. 1. It might be queried whether in case this Angel and Church did repent Christ would not fight against those false teachers with the Sword of his mouth quickly Ans To this we may give answer and say no it doth plainly appear that if this Angel and Church did receive Christ's counsel and repent he would not quickly fight against those false teachers with the Sword of his Mouth for as hath been said the threat or commination is conditional both as with respect to this Angel and Church and as with respect to those that held evil doctrines amongst them it is thus expressed repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them c. By which it plainly appears that upon their repentance he would defer fighting against the Balaamites and Nicolaitans not as if their repentance would make the evil doctrines or teachers less evil and hateful in themselves or unto Christ But he would delay the execution of his judgments on these false teachers if his people repented otherwise not 1. Because if this Angel and Church repented they would not have such evil teachers amongst them but would cast them out and shew dislike of and displeasure against them For repentance includeth and containeth in it not only a Godly sorrow for and confession of ones evil but a turning there-from hence we have such expressions Repent and turn from your idols and turn away your faces from all your abominations Ezek. 14. 6. Repent and turn from all your transgressions cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed Ezek. 18. 30 32. Jona 3. 8 10. with Mat. 12. 41. It is a putting away the â—vil of ones doings from before God's eyes and ceasing to do evil Isay 1. 6. Now if this Angel and Church thus repented and turn out these false teachers then 1. They would answer the end of Christ as to themselves namely by this means they would free themselves from the seducements of these evil teachers and how pleasing would this be to Christ who loves his Churches with peculiar manner of love and is not willing that any of his little ones should perish 2. And by their turning out and so punishing and publickly testifying their dislike of evil teachers it would cause Christ not to punish more immediatly when his Servants faithfully punish what is evil he will not quickly take the Sword into his own hand otherwise he will had Eli curbed and punished his Sons God had not used that means which he afterwards more immediatly made use â—f I have told Eli saith the Lord that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth Because his Sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not 1 Sam. 2. 30 34. with ch 3. 11 13. And so here If this Angel and Church did eject and cast out these false teachers Christ would say as he doth by the Apostle concerning the inâ—â—stuous Corinthian sufficient unto them is this censure or punishment which was inflicted by many 2 Cor. 2. 6. Numb 25. 3 9. Josh 7. 4 26. 2. If they repented and turned out these evil teachers from amongst them this would be a good and effectual means of awakening these evil ones and engaging them to consider their principles doctrines and ways and turn from them And then Christ would also second his Angel and Church in giving these corrupt teachers further space of repentance as v. 21 22. for he is not willing that any no not seducers should perish while it is called to day but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 3 4 9. this is the way to cause such evil workers to bethink themselves and relinquish their evil doctrines and therefore the Apostle delivered Hymeneus and Alexander unto Satan and cast them out that they might learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim. 1. 19 20. 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. And on the other hand if they suffered them or still had them amongst them it would tend to strengthen them in their pernicious doctrines and ways and so Christ would more immediately be engaged against those evil teachers that they might repent 3. Christ cannot endure that his name should be polluted amongst the heathen but will assert and vindicate the honour thereof hence the Lord saith many times I wrote for my name sake that it should not be polluted before the heathen Ezek. 20. 9 14 22. Ps 79. 9. and 115. 1. now if this Angel and Church did not repent and cast out those evil and corrupt teachers the heathen idolaters would reproach and blaspheme the worthy name of Christ and say it was a doctrine of looseness and licentiousness and taught Men to commit idolatry and to act all manner of uncleanness and filthiness whatever Therefore
with-hold his blessed Spirit from them as hath been said 2. He hath them in his right hand To signify to us that he hath preferred these for choice work as vessels of Honour and imployes them in the most excellent service even to serve him with their spirit in his Gospel Rom. 1. 9. They are vessels of Honour sanctified and made meet for their Masters use 2 Tim. 2. 21. Thus having in the right hand doth signify in scripture the giving preeminence unto such above others Gen. 48. 13 20. and the being placed at the right hand doth denote that such are exalted to honour 1 King 2. 19. and so it is in this business He hath or holds as ch 2. 1. with Heb. 12. 28. them in his right hand To give us to understand that his power is engaged for them in their holding forth the word of life to save them from all evil and enemies whatsoever he hath them in that hand wherewith he hath destroyed the Devil as to his first work for his own right hand hath gotten him the victory Ps 98. 1. Exod. 15. 6 12. and with which hand he saveth them that put their trust in him Ps 17. 7. and will destroy all his and their enemies in due season his hand shall find out all his enemies his right hand shall find out those that hate him Ps 21. 8 9. herewith he will save them that are faithful with him Ps 108. 6. and hold them up and uphold them even with the right hand of his righteousness Ps 139. 10. Isay 41. 10. Joh. 10. 27 28. and indeed those that go before others in the word of the Lord need the exercise of his glorious power for them and on their side for holding them up in their goings and strengthening them to their services and saving them from their enemies for they are Men wondred at and especially hated and Satan and his instruments seek by all means to discourage and destroy them Mat. 10. 22. 1 Cor. 4. 9 13. See notes on v. 9. 4 They are in his right hand in which is eternal life length of days is in his right hand even life for evermore Prov. 3. 16. with Ps 21. 4. and this he will give unto them who by a patient continuance in well-doing seek for Glory Honour and Immortality Rom. 2. 7. and this may incourage and strengthen them now to hold on their way and shew forth the praises of him who hath committed to them the Word of Reconciliation for in due time they shall reap this life everlasting if they saint not Gal. 6. 6 8. see notes on ch 5. v. 1. 2. We have next to consider what proceeded out of his mouth and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged Sword namely His Word or the words of his mouth very sharp like a Sword with two mouths or edges as is said The word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword Heb. 4. 12. and Christ saith concerning his Father he hath made my mouth like a sharp Sword c. Isay 49. 1 2. Now his word is As a sharp two-edged Sword to searching all the thoughts and intents of the heart and to discern what all are whether they are for him or against him Yea to search as the High-priests under the law did in the sacrifices which were brought them whether those that pretend to be for him be so or no Rev. 2. 23. To this purpose the Apostle speaks saying The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of of Soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a diâ—cerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12 13. This word makes manifest the secrets of the heart of Men in their attending to it as the Apostle signifieth If all prophecy and there come in one that believeth not or one unlearned he is convinced of all he is judged of all and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest c. 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. This word is even like him whose word it is and who is also called the word of God seeing and searching into the inward parts of the belly discerning those things most hidden and which are furthest off from our sight and inspection Act. 2. 23 37. This word of our great High-Priest will cut us down the Back-bone as it were and lay us open and find us out if we appear to be his disciples and are not so indeed but only cleave to him and his people with flatteries yea it doth discover and make manifest all and that to a gracious end while it is called to day that Men might awake and stand up from the dead and so consider themselves and their ways as to turn their feet unto his Testimonies Jam. 1. 22 23 24. 2. As a sharp two-edged Sword To fight with against his enemies or pretended friends that grieve his good spirit and rebel against him so as even to slay them therewith as I have hewed them by my prophets I have slain them by the Words of my mouth Hos 6. 5. herewith he will fight against his Angels and Churches if they sin against him and entertain such teachers and doctrines amongst them as tend to the turning them away from the faith and especially he will fight against evil teachers therewith Thus he describes himself to the Angel of the Church in Pergamus These things saith he who hath the sharp Sword with two edges I know thy works c. But I have a few things against thee because thou hast here them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam So hast thou also them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the Sword of my Mouth Rev. 2. 12 13 14 16. Or more generally when his people are guilty of great abominations and persist therein and repent not thereof he will use this sharp Sword against them with this Word which is as a Sword the prophet Ezekiel came to destroy the City Ezek. 43. 3 and the Lord saith to Jeremy Behold I have put my words in thy mouth See I have this day set thee over the nations and over the Kingdoms to root out and to pull down and to destroy and to throw down c. Jer. 1. 8 10. and in due season he will slay all the wicked whether in or out of the Church As it is said He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked Isay 11. 4. Rev. 19. 15 21. And herewith also he will defend from danger build and plant all those that follow him and cleave unto him with full purpose Jer. 1. 10. and seeing his word is as a sharp two-edged Sword it may instruct us to take it and make use of it that we may overcome all our enemies As it is
evil way and the froward mouth do I hate saith Wisdom Prov. 8. 13. Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his Neighbour and love no false Oath for all these are things that I hate saith the LORD Zech. 8. 17. Deut. 12. 31. and ch 16. 22. He hateth Wickedness even all and all manner of Iniquity And we should be like-minded after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and hate it also Ps 5. 5 7. Heb. 1. 9. Rom. 15. 7. 4. Thou hatest the Deeds of the Nicolaitans Though he speaks not here of their Doctrines yet afterwards he doth in verse 15. It was an hateful Doctrine and their Deeds were hateful also divers and strange Doctrines produce and bring forth evil and abominable works The Gospel of Christ only in which is contained wholesome words is a Doctrine according to Godliness 1 Tim. 6. 3. And those who from the heart obey it are made free from Sin Rom. 6. 17 18. 1 Thes 2. 13. with ch 1. 9 10. Now are 〈◊〉 clean saith our Saviour thorow the word that I have spoken to you Joh. 15. 3. Anâ— therefore we may be sure that they do not heartily believe the Gospel who walk in crooked paths his words doe good to them that wâ—lk upâ—â—ghtly Mica 2. 7. Ps 17. 4. Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord They also do no Iniquity they walk in his way Ps 119. 1 3 9 11. But now an evil 〈◊〉 brings forth â—vil fruiâ— wormewood and gall Deut. â—9 18 19. Heb. â—2 15. 16. 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. Jude 3 8. 2 Pet. 2. 1 3. Needful therefore it is â—or uâ— to reject their divers and strange doctrines Heb. 13. 8 9. to go from the presence of those foolish ones in whom we perceive not the lip of knowledg Prov. 14. 7. and ch 19. 27. not to hearken to the wâ—rds of such Prophets for if we doe they will make us vain for they speak a vision of their own hearts not out of the mouth of the Lord Jer. 23. 9 10 14 16. and ch 50. 6. Eph. 4. 13 15. Our Saviour signifies to us that the Doctrine of the Pharisees was Hypocrisy and thâ—nce and therefore also their workes were hypocritical Mat. 16. 6 12. with Luke 12. 1. and Mat. 23. Those Doctrines which say it is no mortal but a venial sin to commit fornication lead others to pollute themselves therewith Those Doctrines in which Men say it is lawful to worship or serve Images To adore the bread and wine when consecrated That say Christ died not for all Men and all he died for shall be saved with an everlasting Salvation that mens states were fixed in a personal consideration before they were born And that the one and least part of Men cannot possibly perish and the other and greatest part cannot possibly be saved That once in Christ and ever in Christ necessarily That there is no resurrection from the dead c. are hateful Doctrines and bring forth hateful works and deeds and many times men hold fast or return to evil Doctrines that they may go on securely in their evil ways As the Apostle Paul saith The time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their own lusts heap up to themselves teachers having itching ears And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to fables 2 Tim. 4. 2 3 4. 2 Pet. 3. 2 3 4. Isay 30. 10 11. Jer. 5. 21. Mic. 2. 11. Hos 4. 9. We come now to speak more particularly unto this verse Thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans c. What these Nicolaitans were or what were their hateful deeds is not so shewn unto us in scripture that I can their find it out There is not particular account given us therein either of their Doctrines or works But as is generally supposed and said Their Doctrine was such as in which they held that Women and wives were common and accordingly they did shamelesly give themselves over to walk in the lust of the flesh and to commit all uncleanness with greediness like to those amongst us who are called Ranters Now then here note In that they are called Nicolaitans it appears that even in the Apostles time there were hereticks and evil workers amongst the Churches not only did they prophesy that there should be such in succeeding ages as the Apostle Paul saith Of your selves shall Men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them Acts 20. 29 30. â—o Peter saith As there were false Prophets among the people so there will be false teachers among you c. 2 Pet. 2. 1. and ch 3. 3 4. 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. But also there were such in their times in those most pure times and yet the Apostles were more infallible judges than ever were since many false Prophets did then go forth into the world 1 Joh. 4. 1. 2 Joh. 7. there were then many Antichrists 1 Joh. 2. 18 22. There were some that said there was no resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 12. some said the resurrection was made or past already 1 Tim. 1. 20. and 2 Tim. 2. 14 19. some taught others to deny the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1. some told the believers that unless they were circumcised and kept the law of Moses they could not be saved Acts 15. 1. some taught and seduced Christs servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to Idols Rev. 2. 14 20. And so here is mention made of a pernicious sect even the Nicolaitans and this name is twice in this chapter given them by our Saviour which may be the common name by which they were called in those times And if there were so many sects and and heresies in their times I mean in the Apostles days yea and in our Saviours also how can we expect to be free therefrom in these last and worst times in which we live 2 Tim. 3. 1 5 12 13. and how ridiculous unreasonable is it to think that the Man of sin should now rid the Church of all such were he acknowledged the head of the Church and infallible Judge seeing also there are so many sects heresies and divisions amongst them that give such honour to him which appertains not to him at all It is far more reasonable to believe and it is certainly true that if men should give to him that blasphemous honour which he challengeth the Church would be so far from being without sectaries and hereticks that there would be none else therein 2 Thes 2. 1 4 10 12. 2. We may also note in that these are called Nicolaitans That evil teachers and workers do love to be called by and would own themselves as the followers of good men for it seems these were called Nicolaitans after Nicolas the proselyte who was a good Man for ought we read of him Acts 6. 5 7. so the Jews did stiffely plead
having a sharp sword with two edges is proper and powerful to strengthen us to harden our hearts against the fear of Man and to engage us to fear him He is the Lord of hosts mighty in battle The Lord is a Man of war the Lord is his name c. Exod. 15. 1 2. 3. Verse 14. But I have a few things against thee because thou hast there them that hold or hold fast as v. 13. the Doctrine of Balaam who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the Children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to Idols and to commit fornication In this verse we may note in general these things 1. The exception or charge which Christ draws up against this Angel and Church 2. The reason or matter of the charge declared to us 1. The exception or charge which is drawn up against this Angel and Church but I have a few things against thee â—n which we may note 1 In general That those that in the main may be approved of Christ for holding fast his name yet there may be some things amiss with them and blame-worthy in them Thus it was here and in v. 19 20. see the notes before on v. 4. Let such as these then amongst us examine themselves Lam. 3. 40. And not judge them to be hated of Christ or to be none of his peculiar ones who have a few evils Ecâ—l 7. 20. 2. That such is Christ's love to his and hatred to iniquity Heb. 1. 9. that he observes and takes notice of what is blame-worthy in those he approves and commends yea though there be but a few things amiss with them or he hath but a few things against them yet he will not so wink or connive thereat as not to reprove and fault them for them In such like language he also speaks unto and reproves Thyaâ—ira notwithstanding I have a few things against thee v. 20. Ps 99. 6 8. with Numb 20. 10 12. Let the consideration hereof admonish those that are upright-hearted not to indulge themselves in any evil For the Lord the holy one is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity Hab. 1. 13. And it might instruct us to be imitaters of Christ herein when we have plucked the beam out of our own eye let us then pluck out the moâ—e out of our Brothers eye Mat. 7. 3 5. Lev. 19. 17. 3. Though persons have been faithful to him in times places of trial temptation but a few things amiss with them when they have met with temptations to be much worse yet though he takes notice of their courage and faithfulness he will not so overlook their few evils as not to rebuke them for them v. 19 20. Phil. 1. 29 30. with ch 3. 18 19. he would have them to keep themselves pure in such times and places or else let them look for reproof from him 2 Cor. 6. 14 17. and ch 7. 1. Eph. 5. 8 12. Phil. 2. 12 16. Rev. 3. 20. 4. In that he saith I have a few things against thee we may understand by few some little things or small things for so what in one Evangelist is A few things is in another A very little compare Mat. 25. 21. with Luke 19. 17. and Luke 16. 10. I say so taking it we may learn from hence That though the evils these were guilty of were great in themselves yet he calls them few or little That Christ doth so take notice of the times and places in which his people live and the temptations and provocations to evil they meet withall that though he doth not wholly connive at but faithfully reprove them for what is amiss in them yet he doth not so aggravate their evils as he doth theirs that meet not with such provocations or are not in such temptations thus the sin of Israel is graciously excused or extenuated by the greatness of their affliction They hearkened not unto Moâ—es for anguish of spirit and cruel bondage Exod. 6. 9. And our Saviour though he reproves his three disciples and saith what could ye not watch with me one hour yet presently adds the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Mat. 26. 40 41 42 43. and on the other hand David's iniquity is aggravated by the Lord because he sinned so altogegether causelessly when God had every way plentifully and bountifully provided for him and dispensed to him 2 Sam. 12. 1 10. 2. We have the reason or matter of the charge more particularly declared to us and that is done 1. More generally Because or that thou hast there them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam 2. We have his doctrine explicated to us who taught Balaâ— to cast a stumbling-block before the Children of Israel c. 1. More generally The reason or matter of the charge is laid down Because or that thou hast there them that hold or hold fast the doctrine of Balaam In which we may note for our usefulness and instruction 1. That Christ hath a quarrel against such of his Angels and Churches as have or suffer them that hold and teach false doctrines amongst them however otherwise aproved they be though their practises be never so good and though they themselves hold fast his name as this Angel and Church did It is not said to this Angel thou hast or thou holdest the Doctrine of Balaam no But thou hast them that hold c. he is angry with them for this that they had such false and erroneous teachers amongst them such as were like to Balaam who was in a errour Jude 11. unto which his covetousness led him 2 Pet. 2. 18. Christ would have his people go from the presence of those foolish ones in whom they perceive not the lip of knowledge Prov. 14. 7. and ch 19. 27. Balaam's Doctrine is no-where in scripture directly called an hereâ—y but an errour Jude 11. And yet it was their evil to have such as were like him amongst them Christ commends and approves the Angel and Church of Ephesus that they could not bear such as were evil and had tried them who said they were Apostles and were not and found them liers see the notes before on v. 2. And the Apostle John gives this in charge to the Believers If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine the Doctrine of Christ receive him not into your house nor bid him God-speed For he that biddeth him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds 2 Joh. 9 10 11. And when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people insomuch that they trode one upon another Christ began to say unto his disciples first of all Beware of the leven of the Pharisees to wit of their Doctrine which is Hypocrisy Luke 12. 1. with Mat. 16. 6 11 12. 1 Tim. 6. 3 4 5. Oh then let us beware of dogs beware of evil workers Phil. 3. 1 2 3. let us not be carried about with or entertain divers and strange doctrines nor shew any
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
turn the great things of God's law into allegories 2 Pet. 1. 16. 2 Tim. 2. 16 18. and ch 4. 4. The Gospel of Christ they might call Letter as many Antichristian Spirits now do that was but the shell but their Spiritual meanings and corrupt glosses were the kernel that the History but their fables were the mystery they had such depths as lay not in the Letter as they call it They boasted they were wise and the law of the Lord was with them They knew they conceited the spiritual meaning of the sayings of God and that was such as did not plainly appear in nor agree with the import of the expressions of the Holy Ghost Jer. 8. 8 9. and ch 18. 18. as there are the depths of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. so they had their depths also their mystery of iniquity 2 Thess 2. 7. Eph. 5. 11 12. 2. Those depths they know not who have not their doctrine nor doth our Lord put it upon them to search or enquire into them Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life her ways are movable thou canst not know them hear me now therefore O ye Children and depart not from the words of my mouth remove thy way far from her and come not nigh the door of her house saith the holy Spirit Prov. 5. 6 9. Their depths they do conceal and hide from such as reject their doctrine as much as they can till Men listen to them they will not acquaint them with their secrets nor at first unto them until they be snared with the words of their lips but pretend one thing while they intend and mean another They privily bring in damnable heresies and not openly 2 Pet. 2. 1. they only consult to cast down Christ from his excellency they delight in â—ies they bless with their mouth but they curse in their inward parts Ps 62. 4. Though they serve not our Lord Jesus but their own belly their own spirit and wisdom yet they use good words and fair speeches where with they deceive the hearts of the simple pretending to guide them to safety and satisfaction while indeed their end and design is nothing else but destruction Rom. 16. 17 18. Phil. 3. 17 18 19. 3. But the depths they boast of are depths of Satan not of God such as are hatch't in hell and such as tend to exalt Satan's design and Kingdome Their doctrines are doctrines oâ— Devils such as tend to exalt him in the world and such as will lead Men unto everlasting destruction if they be continued in and not turned from And yet they may say as they did we have made a covenant with death and with hell are we at agreement when the overflowing scourge shall pass thorow it shall not come unto us for we have made lies our refuge and under falshood have we hid our selves Isay 28. 14 15 18 20. 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. What he saith and speaketh unto these persons and that followeth viz. I will put upon you none other burden But that which ye have already hold fast till I come where we may inquire and consider 1. What was that which they had already 2. How was that to be held fast by them 3. How long was it to be retained or held fast by them 1. What was that which they â—ad already and which they should hold fast And that is somewhat answering unto and yet opposed unto their doctrine that is to say the doctrine of Christ or Faith of the Gospel which the Angel and Church in Pergamos are commended for holding fast notwithstanding there were false and corrupt teachers amongst them as v. 13 15. and Philadelphia is commended also for having kept Christ's word the word of his patience and not denying his name notwithstanding the Synagogue of Satan amongst them ch 3. 8 10. and is still exhorted to hold fast that which they had as here this Church also is ch 3. 11. and on like occasion as here namely because of seducers such instruction and exhortation is given unto other Churches and believers by this â—aith the Apostle Paul ye are saved if ye keep in memory or or hold fast that which I have preached unto you c. 1 Cor. 15. 1 2 3. Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning 1 Joh. 2. 22 24 26. Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or by our Epistle 2 Thes 2. 8 15. 2 Joh. 7. 9 11. This is that which they had already and which they were to hold fast even the Doctrine of Christ with the Instructions and Commandments thereof Heb. 13. 7 8 9. See the notes before on Verse 13. of this Chapter 2. How was this Doctrine to be held fast by them And that is 1. In the midst of their Hearts in an hearty belief of it and yielding up to it and obeying it from the heart Rom. 6. 17. Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you saith the Apostle Col. 3. 16. Eph. 3. 17. and so rejoyce in Christ works and suffer this faith of the Gospel to purifie your hearts Acts 15. 9. To purifie your souls 1 Pet. 1. 22. Prov. 2. 10 11 16. and ch 3. 1. and ch 4. 4 13. and ch 7. 1 26. 2. They were also to hold it fast in word and conversation Phil. 2. 13 16. To hold fast the Profession of the Faith without wavering Heb. 4. 13. and ch 10. 23. and this is a consequent of the former namely as to word as it is said If thou keep them within thee they shall withall be fitted in thy lips Prov. 22. 18. And this confession with the mouth proceeding from belief with the heart will tend to the further saving our selves and others also Rom. 10. 8 10. 1 Tim. 4. 16. And this holding fast the Doctrine of Christ in our word and confession should be without mixture of our wisdom or of our corrupt glosses additions or takings away therefrom Though we understand it not or though it stand cross to our thoughts and apprehensions yet we should acknowledge and confess the goodness and truth thereof 2 Cor. 2. 17. Prov. 30. 6. Ps 119. 113. Jer. 23. 28. And also in conversation we should hold fast this Doctrine of Christ having our conversation becoming it that we may in all things adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour Phil. 1. 27. with Tit. 2. 10 11 13. Mat. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. and in holding fast the Gospel of Christ in our hearts and from the heart obeying it we shall be made free from Sin and become Servants unto Righteousness Rom. 6. 16 18. And indeed we should so hold fast the word of Christ as to oppose and convince gain sayers and should contend earnestly for it and this we should do together and joyntly Phil. 1. 27. Jude 3. Tit. 1. 9. Gal. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 6. 12. 3. We have in the next place to enquire and consider how long
slack to him that hates him whoever he be he will repay him to his face Thou shalt therefore keep the commandements of the Lord and if thou do the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware to thy Fathers Deut. 7. 9 10 12. Josh 1. 5 7. Numb 14. 8 9. Like whereto is that which Samuel said unto Israel The Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people then might some say our condition is so safe and sure that however we demean our selves we can never be cast off and though we may fall foully cannot fall finally Naâ— but notwithstanding all this saith he If ye still do wickedly ye shall be consumed c. 1 Sam. 12. 22 25. To the same purpose our Lord speaks here unto these Though as if he should say I have made such a promise to you yet hold fast what you have or else you will lose your crown notwithstanding that promise Like that also Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning if that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father and this is the promise that he hath promised us even Eternal Life 1 Joh. 2. 24 25. He is indeed and abides faithful who hath promised but if we sin willingly after the Knowledge of the truth received there remains no more Sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and Fiery Indignation which shall devour the Adversaries Heb. 10. 23 26 29 36 38. See the notes before on verse 4. and verse 5. of this Chapter Now in that our Lord Jesus addeth this Counsel and Exhortation after that promise in verse 10. so it may be useful to us 1. To admonish us all to take heed and beware of high-mindedness Oh let us not be high-minded but fear for if God spared not the Natural Branches to whom pertained the Adoption and the Covenants and the Promises we have cause abundant to fear he will not spare us if we rebel against him notwithstanding any promises made to us Rom. 11. 20 22. with ch 9. 3 4. and Acts 3. 25. Let us not then say Thou Lord of thy goodness and by thy favour hast made our Mountain to stand so strong that we shall never be moved however we demean our selves but let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall Ps 30. 6 7. with 1 Cor. 10. 10 12. Happy is the Man that feareth always but he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief Prov. 28. 14. 2. Having such promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 6. 14 17. and ch 7. 1. and not presume of Gods protection or preservation of us out of his way a wise man fears and departs from evil but the fool rages and is confident Prov. 14. 26. Deut. 29. 12 18 20 c. 3. Let us abide in Christ and in his Doctrine so will he keep us from the evil of all temptations whatsoever He that abides in him sins not he doth not commit sin nor miss his mark 1 Joh. 3. 6. And whosoever abides in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and Son 2 Joh. 9. Col. 2. 6 8. To which end also let us mind and consider the next thing viz. 3. The reason why they should hold that fast which they had That no Man take thy Crown In which words he gives us to understand That there is a Crown which is called their Crown who have kept the word of Christ verse 10. Wherein also we may enquire and consider 1. What is this Crown here spoken of 2. How it is called theirs 1. What is this Crown here spoken of And to that we may say As it hath respect to the Angel directly so hereby is meant the glory of their service in the Gospel even such hearty Believers as were begotten unto and preserved in Christ by their diligent and faithful labouring in the Word and Doctrine with which they that are faithful teachers shall as it were cloth themselves as with an Ornament and bind them on them as a Bride doth Isay 49. 18. Those that are brought in by them instrumentally and preserved in the Faith will be their glory As with respect to such they will rejoyce in the Day of Christ that they have not run in vain nor laboured in vain Phil. 2. 16. and 4. 1. Hence the Apostle Paul saith for what is our Hope or Joy or Crown of rejoycing are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming For ye are our Glory and joy 1 Thes 2. 19 20. and the Apostle John thus speaks Now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming 1 Joh. 2. 28. 2 Joh. 8. Heb. 13. 17. And thus understanding their Crown here so it shews to us that the proper and effectual way for Christ's Angels to keep their Crown and preserve them that hear them is by holding fast themselves the word of Christs patience Hence the Apostle saith to Timothy take heed to thy self and to the Doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee 1 Tim. 4. 9 11 16. and exhorts him to hold fast the form of sound words which he had heard in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1. 13 14. and ch 2. 2. and ch 4. 2 5. and warns him to beware of and to turn away from false Teachers and beseeches him to charge some that they taught no other doctrine beside that of Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 1. 3 15. and ch 2. 4 7. and 6. 3 5. Tit. 1. 9. and ch 2. 11 15. Acts 20. 28 32. and in these Epistles to the Seven Churches in Asia such Angels are commended and encouraged by Christ as did hold fast the faithful word and they are blamed who suffer'd evil teachers among them as Pergamos and Thyatira ch 2. Or as it may have respect to all believers to which we shall especially speak so there is a crown prepared for them A Kingdom prepared for them Compare Jam. 1. 12. with ch 2. 5. And this is sometimes called A Crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. they shall enter into Life eternal and so into the Kingdom Mark 9. 43 47. they shall reign in Life by one Man Jesus Christ Rom. 5. 17. Sometimes it is called a Crown of Glory Prov. 4. 9. Isay 28. 5. They are called to the obtaining the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 2. 14. 1 Cor. 1. 9. sometimes a crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4. 8. with Jam. 1. 12. and Jam. 2. 5. sometimes an incorruptible crown which fadeth not away 1 Cor. 9. 25. with 1
freâ— against the instruments of affliction to them Rom. 12. 12. Heb. 12. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 20. Ps 37. 1 7. Rev. 13. 10. Patience also is to be exercised in hearing the word of truth and continuing in the workes and labour fore-spoken of Act. 26. 3. Rom. 2. 7. and in waiting for the Lord Ps 37. 7 and enduring what God lays upon them for their follies Heb. 12. 1 8 16. 1 Pet. 2. 20. This he takes notice of and approves amongst those whom afterwards he faults for their follies and these three first things mentioned to wit their workes labour and patience are the same with those commmended in the Church of the Thessalonians of which Paul saith Remembring without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope c. 1 Thes 1. 3. see more of patience in notes on ch 1. v. 9. and ch 3. v. 10. And how thou canst not bear them that are evil 1. By them that are evil we may understand either those who were evil teachers who brought divers and strange Doctrines amongst them Heb. 13. 9. such as did not consent to wholsom words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine according to godliness 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. and such are called evil workers Phil. 3. 1 3. And evil Men and seducers are joyned together 2 Tim. 3. 13. and indeed such as these who deny the truth of the Gospel as preached by Christ and his Apostles and bring another Doctrine they are evil and their deeds are evil and hence Timothy is instructed to withdraw himself from such 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. and the believers are warned not to receive such into their house nor bid them God-speed for he that biddeth them God-speed is partaker of their evil deeds 2 Joh. 8. 11. Heb. 13. 7 9. false teachers bring in damnable heresies 2 Pet. 2. 1. their word doth eat as doth a canker or Gangrene 2 Tim. 2. 17 19. and the sheep will not hear them Joh. 10. 8 10. they come to kill steal and to destroy evil doctrines are as dangerous and hurtful as evil practices yea indeed they lead them that receive them into crooked paths and pernicious ways 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. and such evil ones these could not endure As it is said of Christs sheep the sheep follow him for they know his voice And a stranger will they not follow but will flee from him Joh. 10. 4 5. see Rev. 2. v. 13 15. and v. 19 20. And we are instructed to go from the presence of a foolish man when we perceive not in him the lips of knowledg and to cease to hear the Instructions which cause to erre from the words of knowledg Prov. 14. 7. and ch 19. 27. 2 Or by them that are evil may also be meant such as were sinful and vitious in their lives and conversations and such evil ones also they could not bear They did observe that counsel given unto this Church by the Apostle Paul Be ye not partakers with them and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Eph. 5. 3 7 11. they did not sit and keep company with drunkards and profane ones they could not bear them like that Ps 26. 3 5. and 119. 115. and 139. 19 22. and indeed it is unbecoming the Churches to have fellowship with such evil ones also for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness and what concord hath Christ with belial wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you c. 2 Cor. 6. 14 16 18. now from hence we may note for our Instruction 1. That though they had works of faith and labour of love yet they could not bear them that were evil Men may have love and the labour thereof and love and be kind to enemies and evil-doers namely they may love them with a love of pity and compassion and yet not bear or be able to endure them so as to have fellowship with them or to accompany or countenance them in evil Men may have charity and yet not endure evil-workers evil and corrupt teachers or such as are seduced and corrupted by them for charity rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth 1 Cor. 13. 6. so Thyatira is commended for charity and yet reproved for suffering false teachers see the notes on v. 19. and 20. and they may pity and do good to such as are vitious polluted persons in their ways and practises and yet hate their ways and not endure intimate fellowship with them hence the Apostle exhorts If thine enemy hunger feed him If he thirst give him drink but then Dehorts Be not overcome of evil Be as kind to them otherwise as you will or can but still touch no unclean thing Rom. 12. 20 21. Indeed true love and charity worketh no evil to ones neighbour It leads not to commit Adultery or to keep company with others in any unfruitful work of darkness It is hatred to our neighbours not to rebuke them if there be opportunity for it and they will hear Prov. 9. 7 8. but to suffer sin upon them And much more still it is so when we strengthen or countenance them in their evil ways Rom. 13. 8 10. Lev. 19. 17. Jer. 23. 14. Ps 139. 19 22 2. Though they had patience and could patiently endure affliction yet they could not bear them that were evil Tribulations and persecutions were an easier burden to them then evil persons or their evils their evils were more irksom to them then affliction or they were the greatest affliction they would chuse affliction rather then sin contrary to that Job 36. 21. so the Ps cries out woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Cedar Ps 120. 5. so unto these it was even an unbearable weight an unsupportable burden to bear them that were evil It was very grievous and hateful to them as is said of them particularly in v. 6. thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans even as an abominable thing 1 Jer. 44. 4. They could not bear nor endure false teachers false Doctrines very zealous against such also the Apostle was as it appears by the titles he gives them and what he saith concerning them Beware saith he of Dogs beware of evil-workers beware of the concision Phil. 3. 1 3. I would they were even cut off which trouble you Gal. 5. 10 12. Oh that such a temper were more found with us also as was with these for which they are approved and commended Though we should pity pray for and do good and be kind to all as we have opportunity and capacity yet we should not endure their evils much less encourage or strengthen them therein And hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them liars Herein still we have a continuance
of the commendable things in this Angel and Church In which we may note 1. That those who are not Apostles may yet say they are so though in so saying they are liers they may take to themselves such names as appertain not to them and give forth themselves to be what they are not so it was here Now according to the use of this word Apostles in scripture so we may take it in this place also to wit in a double sense 1. And most frequently by Apostles are meant the Apostles of Christ namely such as had seen the Lord Jesus in his personal body and received the Gospel immediately from him and were also immediately commissioned and Authorised by him after he was raised to go into all the World and preach the Gospel to every creature of all the nations for which they received power by the holy spirit 's being given unto them Act. 1. 2 8. The number of whom was twelve unto whom Paul was added afterward being the great Apostle of the Gentiles Gal. 2. 7. and he also saw the Lord and hereby proves he was an Apostle of Christ 1 Cor. 9. 1. as he oft calls himself in his Epistles and he only Peter excepted 1 Cor. 15. 7 9. Acts 9. 4 7 27. and ch 22. 6 14. Gal. 1. 1. c. so these might give forth themselves to be Apostles of Christ to wit of the number of his extraordinary Ambassadours like that said of them by the Apostle Paul such are false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ 2 Cor. 11. 13. and they might pretend that what they declared they had immediately from Christ and therefore they would not be determined by the Apostles Doctrine They were neither of Paul nor of Apollo nor of Cephas but they were of Christ as some said among the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. 12 13. 2. And the secondary Ministers are sometimes called Apostles so Barnabas was Act. 14. 14. And we read of the Apostles of the Churches not only such as might be sent by them but also such as were sent to them by the extraordinary ambassadors of Christ possibly 2 Cor. 8. 23. so Epaphroditus is called the Philippians Apostle or messenger Phil. 2. 25. and such also they or some of them might give forth themselves to be to wit to be owned and approved by the Churches in other parts and by the Apostles also And indeed we may take the word as it is sometimes used generally for Ministers of Christ and such as received and held forth the Gospel as where our Saviour saith The servant is not greater then his Lord nor the Apostle greater then â—e that sent him Joh. 13. 16. and so he signifieth that such as are not the Ministers of Christ and who come not with his word and Gospel may yet say they are the Apostles of Christ or of his or some of his Churches that so they may deceive others and herein they are like to the false Prophets in former times who gave forth themselves to be sent of God Jer. 14. 14 15. and ch 23. 22. and ch 27. 15. and ch 29. 9 21 23. and as there were false prophets among the people so there shall be false teachers among you saith the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 2. 1. many false teachers there were amongst the Christians in the Apostles days some telling them except they were circumcised and kept the law of Moses they could not be saved Act. 15. 1. Gal. 3. 1 3. some saying there was no Resurrection of the dead or that the Resurrection was made or past already 1 Cor. 15. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 17 19. some teaching men to deny the Lord that bought them and so walking in and leading others into pernicious and lascivious ways and practises 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. Jude 3. 4 c. 1. Herein then we may see that evil teachers and false prophets are deceitful workers 2 Cor. 11. 13 15. and use a great deal of cunning craftiness Eph. 4. 14. and will pretend to speak what they believe not and be what they are not Mat. 24. 24. 2 Thes 2. 10. even such as preach another Jesus Spirit or Gospel may yet transform themselves into and call themselves the Apostles of Christ 2 Cor. 11. 1 4. with v. 13 15. therefore they are for their subtilty compared and likened to foxes Cant. 2. 15. Ezek. 13. 4 4. and to serpents 2 Cor. 11. 3. with Gen. 3. 1. Act. 13. 10. they will pretend and give out themselves to be the Apostles of Christ when they are not so but enemies to him and liers like unto Satan Joh. 8. 44. 1 Joh. 2. 22. and like him they may make some right acknowledgment to deceive Mark 1. 24. and ch 3. 11. Luke 4. 34. Act. 16. 16. and though the enemies of Christ and of his Cross and Gospel yet they may speak sometimes honourably thereof for their own ends as they did Act. 19. 13 15. 2. Seeing they may say they are Apostles and messengers of Christ who are not let us take heed to our selves lest such deceive and beguile us as our Saviour saith to his disciples take heed lest any Man deceive you for many shall come in my name saying I am and shall deceive many and again false Christs and false prophets shall rise and shall shew Signs and wonders to seduce if possible even the elect but take ye heed behold I have foretold you all things Mark 13. 5 6. 22 23. Luke 21. 8. 2 Thes 2. 2. Believe we not every spirit let us not be so foolish and simple as to be beguiled by mens good words or high boasts of themselves Rom. 16. 16 17. Indeed we are apt to receive such as come in their own name Joh. 5. 44 and to suffer them gladly and follow them who exalt themselves 2 Cor. 11. 13 15 20. But manifold admonitions are given to us to arme us against them and to engage us to look to our selves that no Man deceive us 1 Joh. 3. 7. 2 Joh. 7. 9. think not you cannot be deceived for it is possibe you may and many will be so Mat. 24. 4 5. nor conceit there is no danger in these deceivers for their heresies are dâ—mnable and destructive as is before said 3. Then also it is good and needful for us not to receive any strangers or such as are unknown to us as bringers or declarers of a doctrine without letters of commendation from such as we doe know and may confide in which was it seemes used and usual in former times So much may be signified in what Paul saith of Timothy in one of his epistles to the Corinthians Now if Timotheus come see that he may be with you without fear for he worketh the work of Christ as I also doe 1 Cor. 16. 10 12. so again need we as some others Epistles of commendation to you or of commendation from you thereby giving us to understand that though he needed none nor
things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him Phil. 3. 4 9. and as is said of Ruth she loved her Mother-in-law and thus exprest it when she said to her Thy sister is gone back Return thou after her And Ruth said Intreat me not to leave thee for whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodg thy people shall be my people and thy God my God c. Ruth 1. 15 18. with ch 4. 15. and it also leads to follow Christ thorow afflictions trials reproaches persecutions c. and to endure any thing for the beloved Love is strong as death the coals thereof are coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it Cant. 8. 6 7. By the first love of Christ our love is made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment there is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not made perfect in love 1 Joh. 4. 16 17 19. the spirit of love is love is opposed unto the spirit of fear and cowardice 2 Tim. 1. 7 8. This is the first love which is usually very intense and hot in the days of mens first knowing believing in and being espoused unto Jesus Christ and God in him As the Lord saith I Remember thee the kindness of thy youth the love of thine espousals when thou wentest after me in the wilderness in a land that was not sown Israel was holiness unto the Lord c. Jer. 2. 1 5. and the Apostle declares how highly Christ was prized by the Galatians and how welcomely the Gospel and its declarers were received at the first when Christ crucified was evidently set forth before their eyes and the grace of God in him Ye received me saith the Apostle as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus for I bear you record that if it had been possible you would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them to me Gal. 4. 13 15. with ch 3. 1 5. 57. so the Apostle speaking unto the Thessalonians sheweth what entrance the Gospel had among them how effectually it wrought producing the work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope and they became followers of the Lord having received the word in much affliction and yet with joy of the Holy Ghost and they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his son from Heaven c. 1 Thes 1. and ch 2. 13. Thus also he saith to the Hebrews call to Remembrance the former days in which after ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions 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 on me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing of your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance Heb. 10. 32 34. such-like â—fficacy the Gospel also had upon these Ephesians at the first and such ardent love they had to Christ therein preached among them so as they turned from Diana the former object of their love and worship unto Christ The name of the Lord Jesus was so magnified among them that many that beleeved came confessed shewed their deeds many also of them which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men and they counted the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of â—ilver which are about six thousand two hundred and fifty pounds in our account as some judge so mightily grew the word of God and increased Acts 19. 17 20. Eph. 2. 2 7 11. This was their first love 4. Yea this love is also exercised and shewed forth in loving his Word and Gospel as is before intimated in which he and his love are set forth and discovered to us Ps 119. 47 48 97 98 113 127 128 140 163 167. as our Saviour saith He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me And again If any Man love me he will keep my word Joh. 14. 21 24. And hereby we do know we know love approve delight in him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him but whoso keepeth his Word in him verily is the love of God perfected Hereby know we that we are in him 1 Joh. 2. 3 5 8. and ch 5. 2 3. And this love is also exercised and evidenced towards the Brother-hood so as to love them with a pure heart â—ervently 1 Pet. 1. 21 22. To delight in and have them as our Companions and to delight in the Fellowship and Societies of them as our Brethren Thus it is said of the Believers in former times They connued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and all that believed were together c. Acts 2. 41 47. and ch 4. 23 24 32. Thus when the Apostle exhorts the Hebrews Let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together To move them also hereto he saith Call to remembrance the former days in which ye were illuminated as signifying their first love was exercised in loving one another and in assembling themselves together And the Remembrance and Consideration thereof was proper and powerful to cause them to return thereto again Heb. 10. 23 25. with v. 32. Thus when the Gospel was first received by these Ephesians it produced in them love to all the Brethren See Eph. 1. 13 15. Col. 1 4. 1 Thes 2. 13. and ch 4. 9. And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him If a man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a liar for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen 1 Joh. 4. 19 21. and ch 5. 1. Yea this love is also exercised in loving and pittying all men in loving our Enemies blessing them that curse us doing good to them that hate us and praying for them that despitefully use us and therefore our Saviour exhorts and instructs them that hear unto these things Luke 6. 27 36. His love known and believed moves to seek the good of the Souls of all and to sound forth the word before them to hold forth the word of life in word and conversation Joh. 4. 28 29. Rom. 1. 8. Tit. 3. 3 5. with Acts 9. 20 22. and ch 2. 46 47. 1 Thes 1. 7 8. and ch 3. 12. Prov. 29. 10. Phil. 2. 12 16. Now this was the first love they had left that â—ervency and intensiveness of love to Christ and God in him his Cross Person Gospel and one to another and to
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
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
2 7 11. and ch 2. 14 16. 2. To signify that it is a Doctrine of unseen things so the apostle opposeth faith and sight 2 Cor. 5. 7. Heb. 11. 27. and saith faith is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. and so is the Doctrine of the Gospel such a Doctrine as in which unseen things are evidenced and demonstrated unto us as to shew a little paaticularly The person of Christ and his abasement sufferings and resurrection we never saw with bodily eyes as the Apostle saith whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not c. 1 Pet. 1. 8. But he is discovered to us in this faith this doctrine of unseen things so as thereby we may see him who is otherwise invisible to us Heb. 11. 27 and in this Gospel his sufferings are set forth evidently before our eyes Gal. 3. 1. and herein we may be assured of his resurrection from the Dead Acts 13. 32 34. his glory is an unseen thing as to us otherwise than as demonstrated to us in his word and so we may see Jesus who was made a little lower than the Angels crowned with glory and honour Heb. 2. 9. we all with open face in this glass may behold the glory of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. what he is now doing is unseen to us he is gone up into heaven and we see him not Joh. 16. 10. nor do we see the hope of the Gospel that blessed hope even the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour hope that is seen is not hope for what a Man seeth why doth he yet hope for Rom. 8. 24 25. 2 Cor. 4. 13 18. Luke 17. 22 now are we the Sons of God saith the Apostle John But it doth not yet appear what we shall be But we shall see him as he is which now we do not 1 Joh. 3. 1 2. But on all these things we may look in this Doctrine of unseen things as the Apostle saith we look on the things not seen which are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 18. see Mr. Thomas Moore his Teaching in temptation Page 146 158 And this is here called my faith namely the faith of Christ 1. Because it is the faith or Doctrine of or concerning him he is the subject matter of it Gal. 2. 16. Phil. 3. 9. as it is said The Gospel is concerning Jesus Christ our Lord who was made of the â—eed of David according to the flesh and determined the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 1 3 4. so the first and fundamental things of the Gospel are how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures and that he was seen of Cephas c. 1 Cor. 15. 1 3 4. 5. hence it is called the Gospel of Christ Rom. 1. 16. the word of Christ Col. 3. 16. the faith of Christ Rom. 3. 22. Jam. 2. 1. c. 2. It is his faith that of which he is the Lord hence it is called the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of Glory Jam. 2. 1. and this is contained in the unity of the spirit there is one Lord one faith of which he even Christ is the one Lord Eph. 4. 4 5. he and he only hath authority to impose upon us what is to be believed by us and hath imposed this faith upon us The apostle Paul saith of himself and his Brethren not that we have dominion over your faith but are helpers of your joy 2 Cor. 1. 24. and if the apostles of the lamb had not what mortal or meer Man hath we should call no Man our Rabbi the Lord of our faith and consciences the father of our spirits but Jesus Christ not the Man of Sin neither head nor body nor both conjoyned thus we should onely honour Christ in receiving and being determined by his word as to faith and worship Mat. 23. 8 10. Rev. 14. 9 10 12. 3. And it is his faith as now revealed which he hath preached and made known to us in these last days he is the author and finisher of iâ— Heb. 12. 2. God hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son Heb. 1. 1 2. and though he imployed instruments for preaching the Gospel according to the Revelation of the mystery yet they spake nothing to us but what they received from him 1 Cor. 11. 23. and ch 1. 1. 11. 12. and so it should be received and entertained by us 1 Thes 2. 13. This was that faith the faith of Christ which these had not denied how strongly soever they were tempted or provoked thereto by favour or terrour and this is the commendable account our Lord gives of them thou holdest fast and hast not denied they did confess and not deny somewhat like unto that said of the Baptist concerning Christ he confessed and denied not but confessed Joh. 1. 20. They did not confess Christs faith at one time and deny it at another but they did constantly and continually confess it and not deny it somewhat like that also which our Saviour speaks in the commendation of the Church in Philadelphia thou hast kept my word and hast not denied my name Rev. 3. 8. Now a Man may be said to deny 1. When in words they renounce Christ or his faith and this also a Man may do in a lower or in an higher degree as we may see in the Apostle Peter's three denials of Jesus Christ as to say 1. A Man may be said to deny the fait when being asked about it by others he doth nor give a direct answer to â—e question but pleadeth ignorance and â—aith he knows not what he â—aith or means by such a question propounded that he may save or secure himself from danger or persecution 2. A Man may be said to deny it in an higher degree when he more confidently pleads ignorance about the object to be believed and saith he knows it not he knows not Christ or his faith or Gospel he is a stranger thereto ignorant thereof and unacquainted therewith Or 3. He may be said in a very High degree and in an Higher than any of the former to deny it when with curses and oaths he doth disown the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ or renounce it see all in Mat. 26. 34 69 74. Mark 14. 66 71. The Holy Ghost instructs us to be ready always to give an answer unto every Man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us with â—eekness and fear 1 Pet. 3. 15. and our Lord hath set us an example â—e witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate and before the Jewish council 1 Tim. 6. 13. though as to many things that were lighter or wherein himself was reproached he pleased not himself nor answered any thing when the Jews sought false witness against him Rom. 15. 1 3. yet
teachers who held the doctrine of Balaam were led out of the right way by their covetousness their love of money as was foretold by the Apostle Peter saying There will be false teachers among you who privily will bring in heresies of destruction even denying the Lord that bought them and thorow covetousness will they with feigned words make merchandise of you c. 2 Pet. 2. 1 3. with v. 14. 15. Jude 11. 16. and indeed The love of money is the root of all evil which while some have coveted after they have erred from the faith c. 1 Tim. 6. 9 10. 2 Tim. 4. 10. and needful it is that we should all of us take heed and beware of it and especially that they should flee from it and avoid it that go before others in the word of the Lord as the Apostle saith to Timothy But thou O Man of God flee these things 1 Tim. 6. 9 11. and such as are inclined unto and polluted with this iniquity of covetousness should not be chosen into the ministry 1 Tim. 3. 5. and v. 8. Tit. 1. 5 8. For this will lead them to be angry with and prepare war against them that put not into their mouths Mica 3. 5. and cause them to speak things which they ought not unto others Tit. 1. 8 9 10. 2. This covetousness of Balaam's led him 1. To endeavour to change and alter God's word and mind plainly made known and declared to him For God said unto Balaam thou shalt not go with the messengers of Balac thou shalt not curse the people at which time he did not go though his mind was too much inclined to the journey but he said unto them The Lord refuseth to give me leave to go go with you Numb 22. 5 14. yet when Balac sent again Princes more and more honourable then the former he was not content with what God had at the first spoken to him but again gives entertainment unto his messengers and entreateth them to tarry that night also that he might know what the Lord would say to him more v. 15. 20. as if though he had revealed his mind plainly enough before yet there might be some secret will in God coutrary to his revealed Or he might move him to change his mind or word well God came unto Balaam and said unto him If the Men come to call thee rise up and go with them But yet the word that I shall say unto thee that shalt thou do But he it seems never stays for being called but rose up in the morning and sadled his ass and went with the princes of Moab v. 15. 21. And when God's anger was kindled because he went and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him he then saith If it displease thee I will get me back again of which he needed not to have made an if v. 22. 35. And when he came to Balac he went from one place to another with him that he might if possible change God's mind and curse Israel and to that end Balac brought him and he went into the High places of Baal v. 36. 41. thence to the top of Pisgah ch 23. 13 14. then to the top of Peor that looketh toward Jeshimon v. 27 28. c. To such evils will covetousness and the love of Honour Glory and applause of great ones bring a Man And it seems thorow covetousness these evil teachers in the Church of Pergamos who held the Doctrine of Balaam did also endeavour to change the word and Gospel of Christ to make it speak for them as the Apostle Paul saith there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ Gal. 1. 7 8 9. And the Apostle Peter saith the unlearned unstable wrest those things that are hard to be understood as they do also the other scriptures which are more plain and easy to be understood 2 Pet. 3. 16. So the false teachers amongst the Corinthians did endeavour to beguile the believers as the Serpent beguiled Eve namely by telling them that God spake one thing and meant another 2 Cor. 11. 2. 3. with Gen. 3. 1 6. and how ready are they that have received the grace of God when they come to ask counsel in any matter if it like them not and they receive it not to endeavour to alter God's word or if they go to one friend and he gives wholsome and good counsel to them and they are not well-pleased with it how hastily run they to another that they may get meat for their lust and have their minds satisfied and many times in testimony of severe displeasure they are answered according to the Idols of their hearts and stumbling-blocks of their iniquitiâ—s Ezek. 14. 3 4 7 9 11. Jer. 42. 2. 6. 20. and ch 43 2. 2. When Balaam could not change God's mind he plainly giveth a bad counsel as here and so it was with many false prophets they proceeded from evil to evil and waxt worse and worse 2 Tim. 3. 1 3. and left the word of God and spake a vision of their own hearts and not out of the mouth of the Lord Jer. 14. 14. and ch 23. 9 16 23 32. and so did Balaam as here it followeth Who taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the Children of Israel c. Numb 31. 16. This was the evil doctrine of Balaam and also such like evil doctrine was held and taught by these false teachers here a great evil here let us for our usefulness consider 1. The person he taught was Balac the King of Moab he gave this evil counsel to him because the words and actions of Kings have usually greater influence upon Men than others and their counsel is more readily embraced and entertained Rev. 13. 3 8. as they may be and are instruments of much good to others when they are good themselves So they do much hurt when they are evil even to God's people also 2 Chron. 21. 11 13. 2 King 21. 11. and ch 23. 15. and too oâ—t these evil teachers inâ—inuate themselves into the affections of Kings and great ones and are too readily embraced by them when the true ones are lookt upon and dealt with as enemies to them and so it appears these corrupt teachers who are here likened to Balaam gave evil counsel to the Heathen Emperour or some Governours under him by their word or by their example also for so one may teach to wit with his feet and fingers Prov. 6. 13. 2. That which Balaam taught Balac to do was to cast a stumbling-block to lay a snare for the feet of others to scandalize and offend them which is a very great evil hence our Saviour saith whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea Mat. 18. 6 9. And the causing a stumbling-block before others
us see Judg. 8. 24 27. with Exod. 28. 4. 1 Cor. 10. 14 20. and indeed this Idolatry is spiritual fornication for therein the heart unchastly and trecherously departs from the Lord and God whose name is jealous and who is jealous cannot endure it Exod. 20. 5. And therefore he gives this charge to his people in former times Take heed to thy self lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee but ye shall destroy their altars break their images and cut down their groves for thou shalt worship no other God for the Lord whose name is jealous is a jealous God Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they go a-whoreing after their Gods and do sacrifice unto their Gods and call thee and thou eat of their sacrifice c. Exod. 34. 12 13 14 17. Deut. 4. 24. and ch 5. 9. and ch 6. 15. Josh 24. 19 20 23. 2. Or also by fornication in this place may be meant bodily and carnal uncleanness and filthiness of the flesh and Balaam did teach Balac to cast this stumbling-stone also before the Children of Israel to entice and tempt them to commit carnal fornication with the Moabitish Women and they too readily were enticed and polluted as it is said The people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab Numb 25. 1. of this the Apostle also speaks and saith neither let us commit fornication as some of them committed and fell in one day three and twenty thousand 1 Cor. 10. 8. And thus understanding fornication for the filthiness of the flesh also we may note for our usefulness 1. That spiritual and carnal fornication and uncleanness usually go together so it was in this instance as hath been said and as is said These caused the Children of Israel thorow the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor Numb 31. 15 16. with ch 25. 2 3. And so it is said of mystery Babilon that she is the Mother of â—arlots and abominations of the earth and that with her the Kings of the earth have committed fornication And that she did corrupt the earth with her fornication both spiritual and carnal Rev. 17. 2 5. and ch 19. 2. Thus it is said of Judah in one place she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and stocks signifying her spiritual uncleanness In another it is said when I had fed them to the full then they commited adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houses They were as fed horses in the morning every one neighed after his neighbours wife And again The land is full of adulterers I have seen in the Prophets an horrible thing they committed adultery both carnal and spiritual Jer. 3. 9. with ch 5. 7 8. and ch 23. 10 11 13 14. with v. 27. And indeed when the hearts of men unchastly and adulterously depart from the Lord and they commit spiritual fornication they fit themselves thereby for all bodily and carnal evil also and provoke God to give them up thereto Whose pleaseth God shall escape from the Woman whose heart is snares and nets and her hands as bands but the sinners shall be taken by her Eccles 7. 26. Hos 2. 2 3. with ch 7. 3 4. 2. The way evil teachers walk in to draw believers from Christ is to preach such Doctrine or give such counsel as tends to gratify the flesh and many times to gratify it in this particular lust of uncleanness so it was with those false teachers the Apostle Peter speaks of who were like to if not the same with these Balaamites here mentioned They were lascivious persons and had eyes full of an adulteress and that cannot cease from sin beguiling unstable souls And they did allure thorow the lusts of the flesh thorow much wantonness those that were clean escaped from them that live in errour while they promised them liberty they themselves were the Servants of corruption c. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2 14 19. they turned the grace of our God into lasciviousness and did defile the flesh and entice others so to do also and as it here appears taught those that were in power and authority thus to debauch Christs disciples and to lay this stumbling-block before them to tempt them to commit fornication even outward and corporal also Jude 3. 4 8. Needful therefore it is for the believers to mortify thorow the spirit their members upon the earth daily and continually fornication uncleanness c. Col. 3. 5. to flee fornication 1 Cor. 6. 18 19. and not to let any Man deceive with vain words as if fornication were no great evil or but a venial sin for no whoremonger nor unclean person hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God But for this the wrath of God cometh upon the Children of disobedience Eph. 5. 3 6 7. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. and to beware of false Prophets who come to them in sheeps-cloathing but are inwardly ravening wolves for if they listen to them and entertain their evil doctrines they wil cause them to go astray and walk in the broad way which leadeth to destruction Mat. 7. 13 15. Jer. 23. 10 16. there is no doctrine according to Godliness but the doctrine of Christ 1 Tim. 6. 3. all divers and strange doctrines tend to gratify the flesh Verse 15. So hast thou them also that hold the Doctrine of Nicolaitans which thing I hate To this we have said somewhat before on v. 6. of this chapter It is said of them that their Doctrine led to all uncleanness and filthiness But here we note in that Christ saith which I hate that evil doctrines are hateful to Christ and so they should be to us also and herein they are more hateful than evil practices because they directly tend to vitiate and corrupt the understandings of Men and if the eye be evil the whole body will necessarily be full of darkness and Men will fearlessly act all manner of iniquity Luke 11. 34. Verse 16. Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the Sword of my mouth After our Saviour had drawn up his charge against this Angel and Church for having evil and corrupt teachers amongst them as we have seen before in the two former verses he now adds these words unto them In which we have to consider and speak unto these following things 1. A counsel or exhortation which he gives unto them Repent 2. A conditional threat or commination and that 1. With respect to this Angel and Church or else I will come unto thee quickly 2. With respect to the false teachers And will fight against them with the sword c. 1. A needful counsel and exhortation which he gives to this Angel and Church Repent Note 1. That Christ doth first convince Men of evil and draws up his charge
before he call them to repentance so v. 4 5. of this ch and ch 3. 1 2 3. so he saith As many as I love I convince or rebuke and chasten therefore repent Rev. 3. 19. After I was instructed saith Ephraim I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded c. Jer. 31. 19. He first sheweth unto men their work and their transgressions that they have exceeded he openeth also their ear to discipline and commandeth that they return from iniquity Before he expecteth they should repent Job 36. 9. 10. This was a great evil found with Job's friends that they faulted him greatly for being a notorious transgrâ—ssour and concluded him to be an hypocrite But though they were so forward in their reproof they fell short in and were â—low to the proof of what they said hence Elihu saith I gave ear to your reasons whilest ye searched out what to say yea I attended unto you and behold there was none of you that convinced Job or that answered his words Job 32. 11 12. and so what charges did the Jews draw up against our Saviour and how did they fault and reprove him for being a sinner Sabbath-breaker blasphemer liar deceiver and what not but they did not convince him of any evil hence that challenge which of you convinceth me of sin Job 8. 46. But now our Lord Jesus Christ doth first convince his Angels and Churches of evil and detects their iniquities and seâ—s them in order before them before he saith to them Repent All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light wherefore hesaith awake thou that sleepest arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light c. Eph. 5. 13 15. 2. In that he gives this counsel unto this Angel and Church so he giveth us to understand That those who are upright in the main may have some particular evil or evils of which they need to repent or else Christ will be angry with them indeed just persons such as do no iniquity need no repentance Luke 15. 7. But alas there is no Man that sinneth not at one time or another 1 King 8. 46 47. there is not a just Man upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not Eccles 7. 20. Job was an upright Man one that feared God and eschewed evil And the Lord saith unto Satan concerning him Hast thou considered my Servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and upright Man one that feareth God and escheweth evil Job â— 1 8. and ch 2. 3. And yet there was some evil found with him some over-high conceits of himself and he when he was convinced acknowledgeth so much and saith Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay mine hand upon my mouth and again he saith Now mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Job 40. 2 5. and ch 42. 4. 6 There is this account given of Hezekiâ—h that â—e trusted in the Lord God of Israel so that after him there was none like him among all the Kings of Judah nor that were before him for he clave unto the Lord and departed not from following him c. 2 King 18. 5 8. And yet at one time his heart was lifted up for which he needed repentance and he did humble himself for the pride of his heart c. 2 Chron. 32. 25 26. And this may give us all occasion to suspect our selves and to search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord Lam. 3. 40. see also 2 Cor. 7. 9. and ch 12. 21. 2 Sam. 12. with Ps 51. 3. And more particularly In that he calls this Angel and Church to repentance upon the account aforesaid so he signifieth to us that it is an evil and therefore to be repented of to have or suffer evil and corrupt teachers amongst us this plainly appears here in this place as also this is the charge drawn up against the Angel of the Church in Thyatira by our Saviour who saith unto them I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that Woman Jezabel which calleth her self a Prophetess to teach and to seduce my Servants c. Rev. 2. 20 22. yea though this Angel and Church did hold fast Christ's name and had not denied his faith for which they needed no repentance yet because they had evil teachers amongst them they herein did evilly and are exhorted to repent for it for we need not repent of any thing nor are called upon by the holy Ghost so to do but of what is evil Ezek. 18. 30. And indeed this is an evil thing as is before shewed It is dangerous unto our selves we may be ensnared by them or however in tolerating and countenancing them we shall be partakers of their evil deeds 2 Joh. 10. 11. It is hurtful to the false teachers themselves and tends to strengthen and confirm them in their evil doctrines 2 Joh. 11. Jer. 23. 14. and it is harmful unto others And as the Apostle saith in another case so it may be said in this If any Man see thee which hast knowledge entertain or encourage false teachers shall not he be emboldned to follow thine example and so may thy weak Brother perish for whom Christ died And it is still a greater evil in Christ's Angels to suffer false teachers and therefore so frequently Paul gives such warnings as these to Timothy from such with-draw thy self 1 Tim. 6 3 5. and ch 1. 3 4 7. and ch 6. 20. 21. shun prophane and vain bablings for they will increase to more ungodliness And their word will eat as doth a cancker or gangrene c. 2 Tim. 3. 1 5. 13 14. Other instructions from this counsel we have before noted on the like occasion on v. 5. see the notes there on Repent which may be usefully considered 2. We have in the next place to consider our blessed Saviour's conditional threat or commination and that 1. With respect unto this Angel and Church Or else I will come unto thee quickly come unto thee namely to testify displeasure against thee or to judge thee see the notes before on the latter end of v. 5. 2. As with respect to the false teachers And will fight against them with the Sword of my mouth here he changeth the phrase and saith not I will fight against thee but against them namely them that hold those evil and pernicious doctrines before spoken of where we may learn 1. More generally and as with relation to v. 15. where he saith I hate the Doctrine and here I will fight against them That if Men hold hateful doctrines or do hateful deeds it will at last provoke Christ to fight against their persons and their iniquity if continued in will be their ruine the everlasting ruine both of Soul and Body Ezek. 18. 30. and ch 24 1 4. Mens teaching receiving and retaining the accursed
customs or statutes of the People are vain The Stock is a Doctrine of Vanities c. Jer. 10. 2 6 10. and ch 12. 16. Nor would he have his People enquire of false Teachers or Worshippers how they worship their Gods lest it prove a Snare unto them Deut. 12. 30. and ch 13. 1 5. And seduce or cause Christ's Servants to err This Woman Jezabel was not faulted for teaching simply by our Lord Jesus for Women may lawfully be teachers of good things Tit. 2. 3. though they are to keep silence in the Churches 1 Cor. 14. 34 36. 1 Tim. 2. 12. Nor were the Evil Prophets in former times blamed and faulted for teaching simply they might with Gods allowance and successfully have taught Gods Word and walked in his way as the Lord saith If they had stood in my Counsel and had caused my people to hear my words then they should have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings Jer. 23. 21 22. But this Woman Jezabel is faulted and threatned because she did in her teaching seduce or make to err Christs Servants and therefore Christ reproves this Angel and Church because they suffered her to teach false Doctrine and to corrupt the Believers from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus And such teachers as direct us to worship any other besides God in Christ as he hath revealed himself unto us in his word are seducers and deceivers by whomsoever they are ordained or approved Ezek 13. 10. 1 Tim. 4. 1. And she is here said to seduce Christ's Servants though they were not seduced eventually by her because it was her endeavour and the end of her teaching so to do so the Apostle John saith These thingâ— have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you they seduce you though you are not seduced by them 1 Joh. 2. 26. In some such sence God is said to purge lead teach turâ— convert such as are not purged led taught turned or converted Ezek. 24. 13. Rom. 2. 4. Isay 48. 17 18. Acts 26. 18. Psal 19. 7 8. 2. We have the Persons whom they so teach and seduce my Servants to wit Christ's Servants such as have the Faith of our Lord Jesus and obey him for his servants they are to whom they yield obedience Rom. 6. 16. Such as serve him in the things in which his Kingdom doth consist Rom. 14. 17 18. even his Churches and the praticular members thereof Rev. 22. 6. with ver 16. Such as these especially the false teachers seduce and endeavour to corrupt and turn from the Faith in which they are led and acted by Satan the adversary of Believers Prov. 9. â—6 Mat. 24. 24. 2 Cor. 11. 1 3. 1 Pet. 5. 8 9. 1 Joh. 2. 18 24. 26. 3. We have an account what she teacheth and seduceth them to do viz. To commit Fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols See the notes before on ver 14. of this Chapter Verse 21. And I gave her space to repent of her Fornication and she repented not Or as some Copies have it She would not repent In this Verse we have an account given unto us 1. Of the Goodness and Graciousness of our Lord Jesus towards this Whorish Woman or Society And I gave her space to repent of her Fornication 2. Of her continued evil that notwithstanding And she repented not Or And she would not repent 1. We have an account given us of the goodness and graciousness of our Lord Jesus towards this whorish Woman or Society And I gave her space to repent of her Fornication In which we may observe for our Instruction 1. Herein is intimâ—ted to us that not only she seduced by teaching Doctrinally Christ's Servants to commit fornication c. as v. 20. But also she did her self commit fornication and adulâ—ery v. 22. and so she taught and seduced them also practically and so very frequenly the wicked ones not only transgress with their tongues but also they speak with their feet or walkings and teach with their fingers oâ— works Prov. 6. 12 13. 2. Herein is also intimated to us That the space of repentance which is given to poor sinners is Christ's gift and God's gift thorow him as here the Son of God saith I gave space to repent alas there had been no time no space given to transgressours to a gracious end had not Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every Man and been raised again for their justification When God is so provoked by Mens iniquity as to cut them off from the land of the living then Christ while it is called to day mediates and intercedes for further sparing to be vouchsafed to such rebellious ones that he may dig about them and dung them Luke 13. 6 9. he makes intercession for transgressours Isay 53. 12. and the long-suffering which is afforded unto all Men to the end they might not perish but come to repentance is called and is to be accounted the long-suffering of our Lord of our Lord who was crucified for us who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification It is procured for them and continued to them by and thorow the sufferings sacrifice and mediation of the Son of God who gave himself a ransome for all men 2 Pet. 3. 9 15. with Rev. 11. 8. Rom. 4. 24 25. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. So the Apostle Paul saith That in him who was before a blasphemer persecuter and injurious one Christ did shew all long-suffering c. 1 Tim. 1. 13 16. and hereto his charity leads him for charity suffereth long and is kind all the while 1 Cor. 13. 4 8. Lam. 3. 22. 3. We may here also take notice unto whom Christ and God in and thorow him doth give space of repentance while it is the day of his grace and patience to wit unto the greatest and most notorious sinners as is here signified in â—aying I gave her space c. her who was not only guilty of fornication both spiritual and carnal but taught and seduced others to commit the same iniquities even the Servants of Jesus Christ also Yea unto her he gave space of repentance who was called and compared to Jezabel not only for her fornication and paintings but for cruelty also to Christ's disciples who were so indeed so the Lord in former times did forbear and give space of repentance unto Manasseth who made his Sons to pass thorow the fire and observed times and used enchantments and dealt with a familiar Spirit and with wizards and seduced Judah to sin with his Idols and to do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the Children of Israel And who shed innocent blood very much untill he had filled Jerusalem from the one end unto the other 2 King 21. 2. 16 with 2 Chron 33. 1 Tim. 1. 13 16. Jer. 2. 20 28 30 33. with ch 3. 1 5. In which we may see his loathness with the
Essence with the Father or else that is not truly affirmed by Solomon which were high Blasphemy to conceive and utter and lying against God for he spake as he was moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 20. with 1 Kings 9. 3. And so much also may be imported in this saying of the Son of God I am he which searcheth the Reins and Hearts As if he should say I am he that Jehovah spoken of of whom it is said I Jehovah search the Heart and try the Reins even to give unto every Man according to his ways c. For all the Prophets gave witness to me Jer. 17. 9 10. with Acts 10. 43. A convincing and concluding argument that Christ is the true GOD GOD by Nature yea by reason of the Personal and Hypostatical Union between the two natures in that one person He who is our mediator the Man Christ Jesus knoweth all things God hath given the Spirit unto him without measure and the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God Joh. 3. 34. and Rev. 5. 6. with 1 Cor. 2. 10. 2. The consideration hereof may instruct and provoke us to wash our Hearts from wickedness and not to suffer vain thoughts to lodge within us Jer. 4. 14. Not only to cleanse our Hands from Sin but our Hearts also from double-mindedness Jam. 4. 8. and not to content our selves with making a fair face in the flesh or with a blameless conversation before men though it is good to have an honest conversation amongst all Men according to the Instructions and Operations of the grace of God Tit. 2. 10 11 13. The Hypocrites in Heart may appear specious among Men while yet their Reins and Hearts may be very wicked as our Saviour saith to the Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites Ye appear righteous unto Men but within ye are full of Hypocrisie and iniquity Mat. 23. 25 28. And ye are they which justifie your selves before Men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongst Men is abomination in the sight of God Luke 16. 14 15. We may sit before him as his people and hear his words and delight therein and yet our hearts may go after our uncleanness or covetousness or idolatry Ezek. 33. 30 33. Jer. 22. 17. Men may speak fair and yet there may be seven abominations in their hearts Prov. 26. 24 25. But if it be so with us he perfectly knoweth it He seeth not as man seeth for Man looketh upon the outward appearance but the Lord looketh â—n the Heart 1 Sam. 16. 7. Oh then let the word of Christ dwell richly in us hide we that in our hearts that we sin not against him Encline we our hearts to do his Statutes always that his Testimonies may be the rejoycing of our hearts Col. 3. 16. Ps 119. 11 80 111 112. Jer. 16. 15. Remember and consider he searcheth the Reins and Hearts If you have therefore any inward and secret lustings after divers and strange Doctrines doth not he know it If you are kept from outwardly hearing them and yet your Hearts itch after other Teachers or you inwardly turn aside to other Doctrines besides the Doctrine of Christ If you lust and covet after such Teachers and Instructions which cause to err though upon some by-respects you go not to their Assemblies nor hear them yet his Eyes are in every place and he is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. Prov. 15. 3. and ch 6. 21 25. and ch 7. 3 25. If we forget the Name the Doctrine and Gospel of our God or stretch out our hands to another God shall not God search this out for he knoweth the secrets of the hearts Ps 44. 20 21. with Acts 9. 15 16. Oh so demean we our selves and keep we our hearts with all diligence as those that wisely consider he trieth our hearts and none can hide himself in secret places that he should not see him 1 Thes 2. 3 4. Job 31. 1 9. Jer. 23. 24. walk we before him and be we perfect Gen. 17. 1. 3. This might also instruct us to pray unto him that knoweth the hearts of all Men Acts 1. 24. to search us and know our hearts to try us and know our thoughts and to see if there be any wicked way in us and to lead us out of it into the way everlasting Ps 139. 1 23 24. And let us not be discouraged from thus doing because of his Omniscience and All-seeing eye But so let us call to mind and consider his wonderful and unspeakable loving-kindness manifested unto us in his abasement and sufferings that that may encourage us at all times and in all cases and conditions to commit our selves to him as it did the Prophet David Examine me O Lord saith he and prove me try my reins and mine heart but what emboldned him thus to pray unto God It followeth presently for thy loving kindness is before mine eyeâ— Ps 26. 2 3. He knows us better than we know our selves and hath more love for us than we have for our selves fear we not therefore to be searched into by him for he doth it for our good and profit that we might be made partakers of his holiness 1 Joh. 3. 20. 21. Ps 17. 1 2 3. Deut. 8. 2 16. 4. It may encourage the Believers if their heart condemn them not to appeal unto him who searcheth the hearts when they are â—landered and falâ—ly accused by Men as the holy Men of God have done in formâ—r times upon this account So David O Lord my God if I have done this thing if there be Iniquity in mine Hands If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me Let the Enemy persecute my Soul Judge me O Lord according to my Righteousness for the righteous God trieth the Hearts and Reins Ps 7. 1 11. and 17. 1 3. So Jeremiah but thou O Lord knowest me thou hast seen me and tried mine heart pull them out like Sheep for the slaughter Jer. 12. 1 3. and ch 15. 15 17. and ch 18. 20. Though yet it is not good for any to be hasty in desiring the woful day upon any Jer. 17. 16. and Ch. 18. 20. 5. The consideration of this that he searcheth the Reins and Hearts may encourage us also to hold fast the Faith and the Profession thereof without wavering as the Apostle saith All things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do seeing then that we have a great High-prist who is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our Profession Heb. 4. 13 14 16. In this we may be comforted and quieted that though we know not what the Devil and his Instruments are intending or devising yet the Son of God is perfect in knowledge Jer. 11. 18 20. In this the righteous comfort themselves when their Enemies did bend their Bows and make ready their Arrows upon the
10. In receiving Christ though the body was still dead because of sin yet the Spirit was life for righteousness sake And out of the belly of him that believeth in Christ do flow rivers of living water Rom. 8. 10. Joh. 4. 13 14. and ch 6. 50 51 57. and ch 7. 37 39. 2. How thou hast received and heard that is to say by what means so the word How doth oft signifie as How shall this be seeing I know not a Man Luke 1. 34. So when the Pharisees ask the Parents of the blind Man How doth your Son now see they answer By what means he now seeth we know not Joh. 9. 19 21. So here also it may be taken Remember how or by what means thou hast received and heard and that was by the Gospel of Christ thereby you received Christ Spirit Forgiveness Righteousness Life c. He that receiveth you saith our Saviour to his Disciples when he sent them forth to preach the Gospel receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Mat. 10. 40. Luke 10. 16. Joh. 13. 20. I declare unto you the Gospel saith the Apostle which I preached unto you which also you have received and wherein ye stand c. 1 Cor. 15. 1 4. And thorow this Knowledge and Doctrine of Christ God gives and the Believer receives all that pertain to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 1. 3. Rom. 1. 16 17. Hence the Apostle thus demands of the Galatians received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the Flesh It was not by the Doctrine or Works of the Law but by the report of Faith by the Faith of the Gospel that they received the Spirit and thereby Christ and all good things by Faith Gal. 3. 1 4 5. Luke 11 13. with Mat. 7. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 18 23 24. 3. How thou hast received and heard Namely in or after what manner so the word How doth also signify As let every Man take heed How he builds thereon namely after what manner 1 Cor. 3. 10. and the seed springs and grows up he knows not how Mark 4. 27. Thou knowest not How the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child namely in what way or after what manner as in the former part of that verse Eccles 11. 5. so here in this place we may also understand it Remember â—ow thou hast received and heard That is to say With what joy and rejoycing how gladding it was to thee at first when thou heardest those glad tidings of great joy to all people reported in the Gospel what great joy it caused to thee as Acts 8. 5 8. how thou receivedst it with joy in the Holy Ghost 1 Thes 1. 6. Oh! it was a joyful sound then to receive with the ear and hear in hearing that Christ took thy nature upon him Luke 2. 10 11. that he had thy sins and the trespasses of the World imputed to him and that by the grace of God he tasted death for every Man and was raised again for their justification how gladsom were these tidings to thee when they were reported to and received by thee Acts 13. 32 33. Rom. 10. 14 15. And that he had broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder Ps 107. 15 17. that he had purged away the guilt of our first sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God and so made peace by the blood of his cross overcome and abolished the first death and destroyed him that had the power of it and so delivered us from that so great a death as in which otherwise we must have perished for ever and obtained power to give repentance from and the forgiveness of our own personal sins received Spirit wrought and brought in everlasting righteousness obtained eternal life and is in all the Saviour of the World of Man-kind And herein and herewith to hear and understand what a lover of the World of Man-kind God is what kindness and love he hath thereto and that he is not willing that any Man should perish Joh. 3. 16 17. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. Oh! was not this goodnews from a far countrey like cold waters to thy thirsty Soul Prov. 25. 25. Did not this received fill thee with joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. yea in believing didst thou not rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory 1 Pet. 1. 3 8. did he not make thee glad thorow the work of his hand and help thee to triumph in the works of his hands Ps 92. 1 4. was not this good news to thee as life from the dead when thou wast in woful misery when the sorrows of death compassed thee and the pains of Hell gat hold on thee and thou found'st trouble sorrow when thy Soul â—ainted within thee and horrour and trembling came on thee did not this revive thy Spirit to hear that our Jesus liveth who was dead who died for all that were dead and that he is alive for evermore and hath the keys of hell and death Gen. 27. 28. Rev. 1. 17 18. Remember these days of old call to remembrance these former days and how after what a joyful manner thou hast received and heard Again Remember How in or after what manner thou hast received â—nd heard with what high esteem and prizings these things were received by thee in the days of thine illumination Christ was then precious to thee in believing that testified of him 1 Pet. 2. 7. more glorious and excellent then the mountains of prey Ps 76. 4. the chiefest of ten thousands Cant. 5. 10. he was more to thee then all other beloveds altogether lovely more precious than fine gold more dear than nearest and dearest relations riches righteousness of thine own or any other thing accounted gainful and valuable Then what things were formerly gain to thee those thou countedst loss for Christ yea thou countedst all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus thy Lord that thou mightest win him and be found in him Phil. 3. 4 9 10. then thou couldest take joyfully the spoiling of thy goods for his sake Heb. 10. 32 34. yea if possibly thou couldest have pluckt out thine own eyes and have given them to them who have brought these glad tidings to thee such blessedness thou didst meet with and speak of Gal. 4. 13 15. when thou didst first find this treasure hid in a field thou didst hide it and for joy thereof thou wentest and soldst all that thou hadst and bought'st that field like the wise Merchant Man when thou hadst found this pearl of great price thou wentest and soldest all that thou hadst and boughtest it Mat. 13. 44 46. then thou didst prefer Christ before thy chiefest joy who then but Christ with thee he was all thy wisdome righteousness sanctification redemption foundation glory goodness whom hast
temptation that the door should still be kept open v. 8. Verse 11. Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no Man take thy crown In this verse we have to consider 1. Some what they are called upon to attend and mind Behold I come quickly 2. A gracious and needful counsel given to them hold that fast which thou hast 3. The reason thereof that no Man or no one take thy crown 〈◊〉 Somewhat they are called upon to attend and mind Behold I come quickly viz. 1. Behold I come quickly to order that hour of temptation spoken of v. 10. therefore hold fast what thou hast Rev. 2. 10. and herein we may see both his graciousness and faithfulness to his Churches that he warns before-hand that we might be fore-armed And as the Apostle saith concerning the times and seasons Brethren ye have no need that I write to you for your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night and hereby advantage is given to them that that day should not overtake them as a thief To which end they ought not to sleep as do others but watch and be sober 1 Thes 5. 4 6. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him Ps 25. 14. Amos 3. 7. That they might not be surprized at unawares but might give more earnest heed to the things they have heard and might hear for now and for hereafter Isay 42. 25. and that they might provoke one another to love and to good works not forsaking the assembling of themselves together but exhorting one another and so much the more as they see the day approaching Heb. 10. 23 24 25. 2. Behold I come quickly namely to keep thee from the hour of temptation in thy keeping the word of my patience as if Christ should say The Lord is at hand be careful for nothing Phil. 4. 5 6. When he gives his professed people for a Spoil and to the Robbers and pours out the fury of his Anger upon them c. then he will keep and preserve from all evil such as hold fast his word and cleave to him with full purpose of heart Isay 42 24 25. and 43. 1 5. and ch 43. 27 28. and 44. 1 3 8. Rev. 3. 3 4. He will not leave them nor forsake them but will be a present help to them in the time of trouble Ps 46. 1 2. Hab. 2. 1 4. He will hâ—sten his good word to perform it Jer. 1. 12. And he is holy and true who â—ath promised and therefore this may help us confidently to expect his faithful performance according to his word He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me Heb. 13. 5 6. Ps 37. 39 40. As the Rain cometh down and the Snow from Heaven and returns not thither but waters the Earth c. So shall his word be that goeth forth out of his mouth it shall not return unto him void but it shall accomplish that which he pleaseth and it shall prosper in the thing whereto he sends it Isay 55. 10 12. He will come in unto them and will sup with them comfort cheer and preserve them he will not delay nor withhold his comforts and consolations from them nor deliverances of them Rev. 3. 20. Isay 16. 5. 3. Behold I come quickly namely to rid and deliver you out of all troubles for ever as it may have respect unto his coming again personally in the Glory of his Father with all his holy Angels and this second and glorious coming of his is propounded to the believers now to comfort them and to incourage them to hold fast the profession of their Faith without wavering Heb. 10. 23 34 36. Rev. 22. 7 12 14. 20. So he saith in former times strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees say to them that are of a fearful hasty heart Be strong fear not Behold your God will come with vengeance God with a recompence he will come and save you Isay 35. 3 4. Jude 15. So our Saviour propounds this unto his disciples when he was going to him that sent him to comfort and strengthen their hearts I go saith he to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14 1 3. 1 Thes 4. 16 18. and he will come by death quickly and remove them from all troubles trials and temptations for ever Luke 12. 34 40 then they shall enter into peace and rest in their beds each one walking before him Isay 57. 2. Rev. 14. 13. and when he thus cometh he will as it were say unto them Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast For behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth c. Isay 26. 20 21. with Joh. 14. 13. 2. We have a needful and gracious counsel given by him that is holy and true to this Angel and Church hold that fast which thou hast what they had and which they should still hold fast we have before seen to wit the word of Christ's patience see the notes before on v. 10. and what the holding fast here counselled unto is we have also spoken unto before see the notes on ch 2. v. 13. and v. 25. c. And I shall adde no more to it here But here we shall note and consider for our usefulness 1. In that he saith hold that fast which thou hast he signifies to us that the believers should never embrace or entertain another doctrine but keep and hold that fast which they have already They should not have itching ears to heap up other teachers to themselves or receive other instructions which cause to erre from the word of knowledge 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. But should let that abide in them which they have heard from the beginning And hold fast that form of doctrine that form of sound words which they have heard in Faith and love which is in Christ Jesus That good thing which was committed to them they should keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in them 1 Joh. 2. 24. 2 Tim. 1. 13 14. Christ lays no greater nor other burden upon them but that they should hold fast what they have to wit his Gospel See notes on ch 2. v. 24 25. By this they are saved if they hold fast what Christ's Apostles have preached c. 1 Cor. 15. 1 3. And if an Angel from Heaven preach to them any other Gospel than what Christ's Apostles have preached and they have received they should be accursed to them Gal 1. 8 9. hence the Apostle exhorts the believing Colossians thus As ye