and catholique instructions in his mouth The divel or the divelish preacher answered him that whilst he preached good and sound doctrine unto his auditors and they were not followers of it he had his end even the aggravation of their condemnation for their neglect inproficiency and contempt of such good doctrine surely how this odd designe should come into the divel 's head I know not being a liar from the beginning and the truth abideth not in him nor will confess it no further then he is compelled to do it by an over-mastering divine power this were indeed to destroy his own Kingdom and God never sends the evil spirits to be the messengers to provoke to break off from sins to live to God holiness and works of reformation his very nature is contrary to such works and therefore is the great hinderer not the promoter of them This is another mark to discern of what spirits visions are of Thirdly Another distinguishing mark is That in respect those visions and raptures of spirit carries with them a terribleness in the strange apparitions therein they leave a high and strange impression of spirit upon the parties under them and those that are from God leaves always behind them when they are passed away a holy awe and reverence of the divine Majesty and glory and a contempt of themselves and their own worthlesness Isaiah the Prophet when he saw the Lord and had discoveries of his glory he could call out Wo is me for I am undone I am a man of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Isa 6.5 Iob also confesseth cap. 42. 5 6. Now mine eyes seeth thee I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes The sight of divine glory and majesty doth always humble in that it brings to sight our own worthlesness even in our best attainments in respect of it which causeth a godly sorrow Now the contrary spirit brings contrary fruits and effects as pride vain-glory c. and therefore not difficult to be differenced in their operations Fourthly Visions extasies or raptures of the Divine Spirit though often they may much grieve and trouble their spirits that are under them as in Dan. 7.15 and 8.27 and take away their senses for the present and their strength and comliness and make them as it were faint dead dumb and breathless as in Daniel cap. 10. 8. 15. 17. verses and as Iohn in verse 17. at the vision of Christ he fell at his feet as dead and in the examples of Zachariah Paul c. yet after they are passed they have no impairing in the parts either of their bodies or souls but rather a greater glory put upon them as Moses whose face did shine coming from the presence and visions of God Paul grew a most eminent light and the highest of all the Apostles after he was strucken as dead with his converting vision Acts 9. Iohn here receives great and high revelations from Christ after he was stricken as dead at his feet by the glory of the vision God is no hard master none were ever losers to be his instruments in this sort for unto such he commonly adds greater additions of parts grace and glory But on the other side by the evil spirit's raptures or possessions many have not only lost the due temperature of their reason and understanding and so become altogether besotted and wittols but have also their bodies impaired by the hard service of their master Hence it is that as it is reported and commonly by experience seen of witches and such wretched creatures that are truly bewitched by the spirit of delusion and have given up themselves as servants to his will have the faculties of their souls so impaired and hurt by his possessions and daylie disturbing of them he being an Apollyon or destroyer from the beginning that being broken in their reasons they conceive in their raptures that they are transformed into strange shapes of cats dogs hares c. and in an instant to be transported and carried into far places distant and in and out to houses though the doors were shut things in themselves above the efficiency of any creature and contradictory to nature and all its works and unless persons of such belief makes two Omnipotents it can never stand Indeed the true ground hereof and of all their confessions in this kind proceeds from hence that the divel from whom they have their frequent extasies and raptures hath so befooled them in their understandings that they do verily believe those things to be really done and acted which the divel does represent unto them in their extasies and trances and so when they are out of them having lost their reasons believes and often confesses them to be of truth though many of them be impossibilities in nature without a miracle and had never a being further then in the fancies of their confused and disturbed brains This is the reward of the divel 's instruments in this kind Fifthly and lastly If all these former distinguishing marks fail for a hypocrite may go very far in complying with the signs of God's word yet herein he cannot deceive to wit in the truth of his vision or revelation in the event thereof this will be sure to try him whether his vision be from God or not Events discovers visions and distinguishes prophets Jer. 28.9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace when the word of the prophet shall come to pass then shall the prophet be known that the Lord hath truly sent him and this is according to that of Deut. 18.21 22. The question is How we shall know whether a vision be from God or not Look to the event if it comes to pass it is of God if not it is a lie Jeremiah prophesied against Jerusalem Hananiah and other false prophets the contrary Jer. 28.2 3 4. Ahab feared not to go against Ramoth Gilead whiles Zedekiah the false prophet told him Go and prosper 1 Kings 22. but when the words of Micaiah proved true to Ahab in his destruction then the false prophets were confounded and Zedekiah ran into an inner chamber to hide himself 2 Kings 22.25 Object But hath not the divel often foretold the truth of events Yes but not with that clearness as the divine Spirit does he leaves no hesitation or doubting on which side the overthrow will be The Beast together with the false Prophet and their adherents must be taken and destroyed the Saints must remain the conquerors Satan in his predictions is but as a good guesser or conjecturer at best to keep his credit good with his complices he gives out his predictions in riddles or aenigma's as of old in the Oracles at Delphos Aio te Aeacides Romanos vincere posse Or that of Croesus Croesus Halyn penetrans magnam pervertet opum vim Both which may be taken in a diverse sense which the constructors took in advantage as to themselves and so proved to both fatal in not
a church do nullifie a church though very high if right and sound in the root and hold fast the faith This gives the very being to a church and so I say that many of our National churches having now renonunced their institutions and calls from Antichrist and being called to the fellowship of the faith by the ministry of the word and spirit are become Spouses of Christ called and faithful though mixed with many corruptions and unsound Doctrines and practises as Pergamus Corinth and others were yet for their Doctrine of Faith and Sacraments amongst them are to be accounted as golden candlesticks of the Lord churches of Christ holy and sanctified But still observe this that the church of Smyrna the more pure and undefiled one hath the greater praise greater manifestation of love grace comfort and glory on her then any of the others the more unsound ones though they be Sisters yet this is the only one of her Mother though all the rest be Daughters yet this is the Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the Valleys though the rest are Christ's Vineyards too yet this is the Garden inclosed where he takes his delight at Noon And thus much hereon shall suffice Vers 16. Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth Repent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grow wiser change thy judgment and practise from evil to good cast off thy Idolatries and adulteries and do thy first works and return unto me in sincerity and holiness or else it shall not be long before I come against thee and make war against thee for so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carries it and that with a most cutting confounding weapon the Sword of my mouth which is his word and doctrine Christ makes War with his Enemies by the Sword of his mouth or Word two ways First He manages it as light to discover darkness by his Angels and Ministers both for the evincing confounding and overthrowing all false worships doctrines and practises And thus he manifests his displeasure from Heaven by his Word against all workers of iniquity as he does here against the Balaamitish and Nicolaish doctrines of Pergamus and as he hath done of late amongst us against all Popish and Superstitious Innovations and false worships But Secondly If the ministerial convincing word will not serve to re-call and bring to repentance his rebellious people or enemies he will proceed farther by his terrible doctrine or words of judgment against them If Pergamus will not repent upon the conviction of her sins Christ will go out and fight against her and remove her candlestick from amongst her yea God will call for a Nebuchadnezzar a Mahomet an Ottoman and they shall be called his servants to execute the Lord's commands and burthens of Judgment against his rebellious sinful churches And thus Christ's sword of his mouth is to be understood with which he fights against his enemies Chap. 19.21 Thus the remnant of the followers of the Beast and false Prophet were slain with the sword of him that sate upon the Horse which sword proceedeth out of his mouth that is as honest Bishop Hall on the place says they were slain by the powerful command of Christ not only Spiritually or Analogically but corporally and upon their bodily death all the fowles were filled with their flesh thus far Bishop Hall God commands to take the children of Babel and to dash them against the wall Take those mine enemies and slay them before me saith the Lord. Thus we see what is the sword of Christ's mouth that he draws against his unrepentant and obstinate wicked churches first confusion of their false doctrines by his powerful ministerial word and spirit Next of their persons by commanding Wars or Famine or Pestilence on them for they are also his destroying weapons Jer. 47.7 Now this is done and commanded by Christ somtimes expresly in Scripture as Rev. 18.6 7 8. Reward her as she hath rewarded you and cap. 12. 10. He that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword Sometimes it is done providentially by moving on the hearts of Princes to war the Persian against the Turk or the Turk against the Emperour or Venetian the English against the Spaniard and Spaniard against the French and so in the turmoiles thereof many corrupt churches of Christ perish utterly as to their outward state and policy and this is the way that the great whore her self will fall and perish Rev. 17.16 17. Or thirdly God sends immediately his destroying Angels to execute his wrath as Ez. 9.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. against his Idolatrous people the Jews and as many other places testifie to smite them for their abominations and their wickednesses Observ 1. Note from these words That repentance is the only Gospel remedy to divert the wrath and judgments of God gone forth against a wicked Church or People Repent or else saith the Spirit unto the church of Pergamus you know what will follow Turning from sinful ways and turning to God is the only way to keep God's presence still amongst us If we would have had turned unto God from our former false ways of worships and wicked practises against God's Laws and his Saints we should not have seen those late desolating days amongst us Ahab's repentance though it was formal and outward yet it stopped the hand of Gods judgments much in his days but where there is a real repentance or turning unto God by a back-slidden and corrupted church God really diverts his threatned judgments and this is meerly a doctrine of grace and not Legal as some would have it for the Law saith The Soul that sinneth shall dy the Law admtis of no sorrow and repentance for sin but satisfaction and justice but the Law of grace or gospel in the hand of Christ he having fully satisfied both Law and Justice for sin and the breach of the Law cryes out in the Streets and to every creature Repent and believe beleive and repent for the remission of sins See more at large on the precedent 5. vers of this cap. what repentance is But by the way take a character of true penitents First They abhor themselves in their own eyes the sight of their sins makes them to abhor and loath themselves Ezek. 20.43 and Job 42.6 Secondly This they doe not so much for the evil that sin brings upon them as for the evil it self which is in sin being an offence against God and his Divine Will and holy Laws Psal 51.2 Thirdly Their repentance is universal and perfect as to its parts it is not one sin or corruption they leave but all Ezek. 20.43 Ye shall loath your selves in your own sight for all the evils that you have committed Fourthly They are afterwards the more jealous of God's glory and fearful to sin against him saying How shall we doe this thing and sin against our God Who hath washed us and
Christ's own white rayment to cover their shame and nakedness think it sufficient that they have their silken coats or their formal Rochets a call from a rich personage and some Lording Prelates and then all is well but alas they see not that they are miserable and naked for all this Though I should not contemn moderate and modest garments yet Elijah in his hayrie mantle or John Baptist in his leather girdle and garment of Camels hair in the way of Christ will attain the honour of true Prophets unto themselves whilst the silken Priests in their own way lye naked unto the shame and contempt of all I speak not this to the reproach of any but to discharge my conscience like a good Phisitian must ly ope the wound and search it fully before he 'll cure it or like a faithful Pilot that will discover the dangerous shelves and Rocks to all passengers that they may avoid the danger and if I be judged by any to have said too much herein or beside the purpose I answer in the words of Paul in 2 Cor. 5.13 For whether we be beside our selves it is to God or whether we be sober it is for your sakes Christians 3. In the last place Christ adviseth Laodicea To anoint her eyes with Eye-salve Indeed she was dark and blinde to purpose and therefore had need of Eye-salve to make her see the way to everlasting happiness And where is she to get it But from Christ who applyeth the whole remedy for her disease Gold to relieve her poverty white Rayment to cover her nakedness and Eye-salve to cure her blindness Hence Note Observ That they that will truly see the way to eternal life must come to Christ to receive Eye-salve from him He is given as a covenant to open the eyes of the blinde and to lead them in the paths of life it s in vain to go to our own prudence or carnal wisdom that would more entangle us and lead us out of the way according to that saying of Christ in John 9.39 I am come into this world for judgement that they that see not should see and that they that see that is in their own wisdom should be made blinde Christ made an Eye-salve for the cure of a blinde person in John 9.6 of his spittle and clay of a compound matter proceeding from his mouth and the earth whereby he made the blinde man see Christ somwhat follows the same method in his compositions of Eye-salves which he uses towards his spiritual blinde souls that he takes to cure first he gives us the knowledge of our selves and of our own earthy matter and that we savour in our unregeneracy nothing but of earth and earthliness Next he brings us to the knowledge of himself and his Word which proceedeth out of his mouth and so makes us an happy composition and Eye-salve whereby we see our poverty our shame and nakedness and all our spiritual wants and also where remedy is to be had to heal and to save us from all our maladies and indeed this is as great a blessing as Christ can bestow upon us to be truly sensible and to have a clear sight of our condition it is the next step to amendment it is ignorance and blindness that makes us err and go astray but true saving knowledge will keep us close to God's commandments If we take any other Eye-salve to anoint our eyes with save what Christ hath prepared for us in the Panacea or Treasury of his Word we may take Bird-lime instead of Eye-salve which will close our eyes the faster They are not the traditions of men nor the wisdom and understanding of the wise that will make this precious oyntment but it is a spiritual quintessential extraction and oyntment drawn out by the Spirit of Christ out of the holy Limbeck of his Word and applyed by him unto the blinde Patient that will make him see the glory of God and his grace and to praise him for it unto eternity Vers 19. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be Zealous therefore and Repent If it be demanded how this verse coheres or hath relation to the precedent discourse I answer Very much it being added as a motive reason or argument to the church of Laodicea to use the remedy which Christ counsels her unto If Christ will not spare his own children when they refuse his counsel it is time for them to look about to be more zealous and repent And secondly To assure her That though Christ comes with a most bitter chastisement against her for her sin yet it is as a father in love with the rod of wholsome discipline as admonition reproof correction c. That the man of God may be perfected and prepared to every good work 2 Tim. 3.16 and if all will not do Christ hath another rod a bitter rod even for those his professed children too a quite casting off and spewing them out of his mouth for ever Quest But how can Christ be said to love such that he so bitterly chastiseth I answer Christ chastiseth his children not to destroy them but to bring them to amendment and to save them if possibly he may Christ's rod of Discipline is not a destructive rod but according to that of David With thy rod and staff thou hast supported me and therefore he tells Laodicea here that she should not despair of his gracious acceptance for the great punishment that was coming on her for he tells her that they are such as he loves whom he rebukes and chastens and therefore adds Be Zealous and repent if she expects his fatherly goodness to be continued towards her Here are two degrees of this chastisement Reproof and a Smiting Whence Note Observ When the word of reproof will not serve turn to reclaim obstinate sinners a smiting chastisement must be added thereunto If the word of reproof will not fasten on a Delinquent the stroke of Discipline must but always in Christ's order and method not presently passionately and rashly but advisedly soberly and in love according to the advice of the Apostle after the second or third admonition that is after several ways taken for his recovery and all in vain then such an obstinate sinner is to be rejected and chastised with the sharp rod of Discipline What else is to be expected after Christ's long admonitions and reproofs towards us but that he should come with his sharp rods and chastisements towards us when all his convincements will do us no good nor his rebukes draw any profit or fruits of amendment from us Surely if he do love us he will chasten us which is another Note Observ 2. That as many as Christ loves them he chastens If we be children and not bastards his rod shall walk among us Heb. 12.7 8. Think it not strange when the Saints of God are afflicted chastised and corrected it is because they are children because they are sons and beloved of
is under it and having plucked up the rotten prop the building thereon must needs fall to ground and come to nought Cum tollitur causa tollitur effectus and instead of this broken reed let the faithful soul comfort and support it self in patience with the hopes of Christ's true and real Kingdom wherewith John was affected and supported Rev. 1.9 which shall come in glory and great power and none shall say as now Lo here is Christ or there is Christ but he shall be most evident and perspicuously glorious Lo He cometh in the clouds and every eye shall see him and they that pierced him and every one shall mourn because of him v. 7. This Kingdom of Christ is not advanced by any capricious whimsies of ours but is brought to light in power and great Majesty where Christ comes with his Armies and myriads of Angels and raised Saints Rev. 19.14 20.4 to take the Kingdom unto himself when Antichrist and all his adherents are destroyed by the appearance of the Lord Christ then shall they fly unto the Rocks and the Mountains and call to them to fall upon them to hide them from the presence of the Lamb that sitteth on the Throne and then all the Kingdoms of the world shall become the Kingdoms of our God and his Christs and he shall reign for ever and ever Hallelujah Amen And for a conclusion of all let the faithful ones of Christ hearken to the often repeated admonition of the Spirit in the last verse Vers 22. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches He that is an understanding christian among you let him consider what graces the Spirit hath set forth to their imitation and approved of by various encouragements and promises of rewards and what sins and faults he hath reproved and menaced with dreadful judgements in each and every one of those seven Asian churches that he may avoid the one and embrace the other that so his portion may fall in the land of the living What was written to them was written for our example and if we be found in their conditions we shall receive our rewards accordingly for every one shall receive according to his works O Lord Christ that has moved the heart of thy servant to make these things known unto the children of men let him be a learner himself at the foot-stool of thy grace and blessed be thy holy Name that hath gone thus far with thy poor servant O let his own words be imprinted in his own heart Keep him humble Lord that he be not lifted up in his own eyes lest whiles he comes a Teacher unto others he himself becomes a cast-away O Lord Christ Give thy servant power from thy self to overcome his temptations that he may sit with thee in thy Throne even as thou hast overcome and art set down in thy Fathers Throne Pardon O Christ not only the faults of this undertaking but the many sins and errours of all his life O cover him and them with thy white rayment and then he shall walk in white before thee and at thy appearance his nakedness shall not appear Remember O Lord thy Church and People among us for good O let them hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches That thy Name may be gloriously exalted within our days That thy Truth may run to and fro and be increased and that all be kept and preserved within the compass of their duty both towards God and Man That so we may have sweet smelling Gardens holy Assemblies within our Land where the Lord may take delight to dwell in Hear O Lord thy poor servant for thy wonted mercies sake in and thorow the Son of thy own love to whom with thy Self and holy Spirit one Eternal Ever-living Lord God be all glory dominion praise and power for ever and for ever Amen Δοξὰ μονῷ τῷ Θεῷ FINIS
become their enemy and deliver them up either to Balack's or the Moabites hands or smite them himself in wrath and judgment And indeed Balaam's desire and doctrine took effect and was right unto its end and accordingly they sinned and accordingly God was angry with them and smote of them with a Plague twenty four thousand Num 25.9 compare Numb 31.16 to cap. 25.1 2 c. Now it seems the church at Pergamus had such that held such doctrines of Balaam such as pretended fair as Balaam and carried it may be a high profession to Christianity yet laid such a scandal or stumbling block before the church as Balaam did to the children of Israel that is they held that it was lawful to eat of things sacrificed to Idols to participate of the Idolatrizing Sacrifices and heathenish Festivals of the Panim Pergamites as there was of the same consort in the church of Corinth 1 Cor. 10. who would needs participate in the Lord's Supper and in the Idols sacrifices which was the service of devils v. 20 so pleasant and sweet was the old heathenish Idolatries to the new converted Christians that they would needs keep their old jovial Feasts and Sacrifices to Jupiter Bacchus Venus Adonis Priapus c. together with the Eucharistical Feast of the Supper of our Lord. And not only thus turn spiritual fornicators and adulterers but also commit corporal whoredoms and fornications for it was impossible that those loose Idol Feasts could be celebrated without it for the Feasts and Sacrifices of Priapus Venus Bacchus Adonis c. the more shame and bestiality and lasciviousness was discovered therein the more they thought they pleased their God in their Sacrifices And therefore doubtless it was in the excess as all Historians that treat thereof do witness And this is clear from the next verse for it comes in with a conjunction copulative Even so hast thou them that maintain the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans a loose lascivious and idolizing doctrine agreeing with that of Balaams only differing in some mysterious notions being a branch of the high flown Gnosticks who had peculiar expressions and un-intelligible notions proper to their sect I refer you to the precedent v. 6. concerning the Nicolaitans more at large This was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the stumbling block the scandal and offence which some corrupt and unsound Christians laid in the way of others in the church of Pergamus This word stumbling block is here taken up for the manner of men in laying stones blocks or snares in the way that make persons fall or stumble thereat and this word is used in Scriptures sometimes actively sometimes passively The Pharises and Scribes were offended and scandalized at the Doctrine and Miracles of Christ Mat. 15.12 here was an offence taken but none given But an active scandal is when a real offence is given and a manifest stumbling-block is laid in the way as Balack did to Israel and when any open evil is committed either contrary to Gods Law or when our liberty is used in things indifferent in an unseasonable time to the offence of the weaker whereby they are made the worse less godly and honest this also is an active scandal and a stumbling-block Rom. 14. and to be avoyded of all knowing Christians The Notes that arise from this verse thus explained are Obser 1 That God hath a controversie with all such Churches as hold and maintain pernitious unsound doctrines and wicked practises This is that God hates in the Churches and are so abominable to him that God hath a charge against those back-slidden churches for their erroneous doctrines and practises and threatens them that he will come with the sword of his mouth against them and will remove their Candlestick from among them if they do not repent which in few-ages after he exempted against them to the utmost It is not church priviledges will exempt a people sinning against God from his desolating judgments The people of Israel was God's peculiar own people chosen out amongst all the Nations of the world to know his Name the holy people Isa 62.12 Dan. 8.24 a people near unto God and blessed above all Deut. 7.6 14. They were the people that had the holy Land Temple Ordinances Divine worship Oracles of God the Prophets his Tabernacle and the most special presence of God These were the glory of God and as dear unto him as the apple of his eye Zach. 2.8 Yet when this people fell to wicked practises and rebelled against God and cast off his yoke his wholesome Laws and Doctrines none of their church-priviledges could secure or protect them from the desolation and judgments which came upon them It is to small purpose to say when we sin against God we have Abraham to our Father or cry the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord it is neither birth priviledge nor church will secure us from the judgments of God For the Ax is laid unto the root and the people that bringeth not forth fruit worthy of repentance shall beâ—â—â— down and cast into the fire O then seeing God will not spare his own children if they sin and rebel against him and seeing that Judgment must begin at the house of God and if it begin first at us what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God And if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and sinner appear 1 Pet. 4.17 18. Observ 2. That erroneous and corrupt Churches and Persons are very obstinate and tenacious of their corrupt principles and practises The church of Pergamus had those that held and maintained the Doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans they did it not underhand in secret but openly and professedly as the Israelites did in the business of Baal Peor at the advice of Balaam when they committed Idolatry and whoredom with the daughters of Moab they did it not in a corner but avowedly professedly and shamelesly as it is evident in Num. 25. from v. 1. to 6. And beholdone of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses in the sight of all the Congregation of the children of Israel who were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation When Moses and the faithful amongst the Israelites were mourning and weeping for the abominations of their brethren then some of them were so bold and impudent as to come before them even in their faces with their sins in their hands not ashamed of them Sober Christians will think it strange that any professed churches of Christ or Christians should openly and professedly hold and maintain Doctrines practises as bad as Balaam's and the Nicholaitans and if not far worse And yet this carries as much truth with it as any Historical relation in the World and that too maintained with as much pertinaciousness impudency strength of wit and policy as if it were the most virtuous or
when they call themselves so and that they are not of the true christian church but of the Synagogue of Satan See more hereon cap. 2. vers 9. Behold I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feet and they shall know that I have loved thee These words contain a promise to the church of Philadelphia that Christ would make those enemies of hers the blaspheming Iews to come and worship before her feet that is would make them to submit to the Scepter of Iesus Christ and to worship him in the presence of Philadelphia which for her purity and soundness may pass for a type and figure of the true church of Christ before whom these carnal formal Iews shall fall low and worship Object But if it be demanded Whom shall they be made to worship I answer First God in Christ whom they have blasphemed and dishonoured the sole object of Divine worship which Philadelphia and the true church do honour and obey Secondly They shall civilly worship and reverence Philadelphia and the true church for the honour that Christ hath put upon her and so will think it an honour indeed to come under the same profession worship and discipline with the christian church And when I have done this saith Christ they shall know that I always loved thee and that thou wert most dear unto me Now this Prophesy and promise was never fulfilled unto Philadelphia in the full extent thereof only we read of some few of the malignant Iews given by Christ to the church of Philadelphia and others of that age but how this promise was fulfilled in the Latitude thereof it cannot enter into my understanding to comprehend For when ever did those perverse Iews that for their notorious malignity against Christ and the truth were justly called the Synagogue of Satan come and worship or bow down before the feet of Philadelphia Or when did they submit to the worship of the the churches of Christ only but in some first fruits and that before this was written to Philadelphia And when did the Iewish Sinagogue of Satan even to this day ever since become the true church of Christ more then some few scattering persons that were converted to the faith inconsiderable to the fulfilling of this promise Or when did ever God make it it eminently appear to them that the christian churches were the only beloved people and societys in the eye of God above all others in the world Seeing those things were never yet acomplished according to the fulness of this promise surely there is yet a time to come when there shall be a more universal call of the Iewish Synagogue into holy Philadelphia or the christian church then ever yet have been to this present day A Note hence will rise Observ That God will not only make the natural obstinate Iews but also their true counterpanes the nominal seeming Christians to come and bow before the true Spouse of Christ before the latter day This is confirmed from this verse wherein it is promised by Christ that the obstinate Iews should come in and worship before the feet of the church of Philadelphia but towards Philadelphia in the latter this was never as yet performed in the extensiveness of this Scripture as is above manifested therefore as yet to come to pass before the feet of the true Philadelphia the holy church of Christ And not only the natural Iews shal come in submit and joyn to the holy church of Christ but al formal birth christians shall also either come in and worship before this true church or else shall at least wise reverence this true holy church as the only beloved of Christ for the glory of the Lamb will be upon her and the Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it and for her greater honour the Kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it Rev 21.23 And it is but just that God's true church and people should have a day too as well as their adversaries had theirs We know how that the great and lofty ones of the world have put all possible reproaches and afflictions on the Saints of God and churches of the purest judgment but yet the time is at hand that they shall be convinced and shall know the Saints to be the only beloved of God and the great interest and stay of Kingdomes and then the greatest Monarch will be glad to take hold on the skirt of a Jew to come under the protection of this holy church for their God is the Lord of Hosts Quest. And if any one ask when this shall be Answ When the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and all Israel shall be saved Rom. 11. When Christ shall appear again for the restoring of his Kingdome then the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given unto the people of the Saints of the Most High Dan. 7.27 then shall all come and worship before Philadelphia the glorious new united christian church of Jews and Gentiles And this shall be the true Sion the dwelling place of God's glory whereunto all Nations shall flock and worship before it and become one with it or otherwise shall be made bow unto the Iron Scepter of Christ whereby he will make all the Nations of the earth to submit to his Soveraigne Authority and fall and worship before his feet Rev. 19.15 Vers 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the houre of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth That for which Philadelphia is commended for by Christ is for keeping the word of his patience This hath either respect to Christ or unto the church as if Christ had said because thou hast kept the word of my patience that is the word and doctrine which with a great deal of patience I have taught the world and with a like patience Preached it from time to time or else the effect being put for the cause Because thou hast kept the word of my patience that is the word of my Gospel which enjoineth and worketh patience Either or both of these senses may aptly be raised and entertained from these words without any prejudice unto the truth and intention of the Spirit in these words or 2. as respecting the Church of Philadelphia This word as it was the word of Christ's patience which he taught patiently the word is for many generations so it was received and kept by her with patience and constancy for which she had the reward of being kept from the hour of temptation Quest But whither was Philadelphia so saved and kept from the hour of temptation that fell upon all other her Sister churches that she was so freed that she was not touched by it Answ It is not probable that Philadelphia went free when the ten days of persecution under the Emperours
in which their souls would delight Neither can they be ignorant thereof being to be sharers and compartners in that Kingdom though differing from one another in judgements and opinions the weak christian shall be a partner therein as well as the strong and therefore all of this sort must needs know it if it were come down from heaven on earth already 2. In the next place the wicked and ungodly of the world must needs then take notice of it also for there is written thereon the name of God of new Jerusalem and the new name of the same all signifying power strength and glory which they must needs be sensible of and feel the effects thereof unto their pain if the time were at hand that they should rule and break them as a Potters vessel as in cap. 2. v. 27. with a rod of iron That Kingdom that comes down from heaven from God shall surely be seen and acknowledged of all and especially coming with thaâ— power and glory as the day of the Saints triumphant reign does being ushered in with the most glorious appearing of the morning 〈◊〉 Christ in the clouds with myriads of his Angels and raâ—â—â—d Saâ—â—â—s that none can possibly be ignorant of it Therefore that I may deal plainly with those that would have the Saints to reigne before their Leader Head and King appears 't is much to be doubted that their spirits are not right with their master's spirit who was meek peaceable ready to suffer under the powers of the world not drawing the sword to free or revenge himself or his followers but checked Peter for it when he attempted it on Malchas and the rest that laid hands upon him Christ well knew that his Kingdom was not of this world of this age of sin and corruption and therefore his way was not to enter upon it by swords and blood but by suffering and patience and so entered into his glory and they that go another way may build a city but not such a one as comes down from God out of heaven whose builder is God they may erect a city whose builder is man and on whose gates and walls are written their own names not of God or of Christ's nor of the new Jerusalem they may build a Babel not a Bethel a Kingdom wherein the Beast may reign in not Christ and his Saints a Kingdom of weakness and imperfection whereby they themselves and all that trust thereunto may be justly involved into utter ruine and misery for trusting to the weak arm of flesh and leaving off their hopes in the living God and of that everlasting new city promised to the conquering suffering patient Saints and not to the heady rebellious or precipitant ones of the earth and whereon the name of God of the new Jerusalem and the new name of Christ is written and inscribed so plain and so evident that he that runneth may read it and say at the time when it descends that this is the Spouse the Lamb's wife the great city the holy Ierusalem that came down from God which shall be so universal and conspicuous for light and glory that all Nations of the earth that are saved shall walk in the light thereof and bring their glory to it and this city had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof Rev. 21.23 Vers 13. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches If it be demanded why these words are so often inculcated at the end of each particular Epistle to the several churches I answer What was written to them was not only peculiarly relating unto themselves but unto all others to take notice of also unto the ends of the world coming under the same conditions with themselves according to that of Paul Rom. 15.4 It was not only written for them but for our instruction also And therefore let the wise christian consider what the Spirit saith unto the churches Ver. 14. And unto the Angel of the church of the Laodiceans write these things saith the Amen the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God The seventh and last of Christ's monitory Epistles is written to the chief Minister or Pastor of the church of the Laodiceans which was Archippus as some say mentioned Coloss 4.17 not far from Philadelphia in the lesser Asia It was called Laodicea from Laodice wife of Antiochus who built it in honour of his wife and called it according to her name Laodicea which name in the Greek signifies as much as Commandress Princess or Dictatrix of the people The nature and disposition of this church was somwhat agreeable to the nature of her name She conceived her self to be a glorious church a Princess amongst the rest of her Sister churches for so in vers 17. she vaunts her self to be rich to be increased with goods and to want nothing But when the Spirit of Christ brought her to the tryal she was found wretched miserable poor blinde and naked Hence by the way Note Observ That God does often in his providence ordain names to persons and places sutable and well comporting with their natural dispositions and qualities Christ was called Jesus because he was the Saviour of the world Ioshua had a name also from the same root he being also a temporal Saviour unto Israel leading them into the land of Canaan saving and delivering them from the hands and fury of the Canaanites the ancient inhabitants of the holy Land Many examples are found of the like kinde as Iohn whose name and nature both were gracious Chrysostome he was an eloquent golden mouthed Father and he had a name sutable to his nature Many more of the like kinde will offer themselves to the observant eye but these shall suffice 2. For places and churches Rome was called Roma from Romulus from some old word of the like sound which signifies strength Babylon from Babel confusion Philadelphia had a beloved name and she was a beloved church Laodicea had a vain-glorious name and she was a vain-glorious church much boasting of her spiritual riches whiles miserable poor and naked These things saith the Amen c. Christ is here described under a threefold property 1. As the Amen 2. As the faithful and true witness 3. As the beginning of the Creation of God These three properties are taken out of the general description of Christ in the preliminary Epistle to the seven churches in the first chapter First he is called the Amen out of the eighteenth verse of the first chapter to denote unto us Observ That what Christ promiseth and predicteth in this book of Prophesies must surely come to pass And that the truth hereof may not fail he adds another property taken out of chap. 1. v. 5. He being the faithful and true witness Now what this Amen hath promised predicted and said in these prophesies must
Christians is not only disaproved of by Christ but also dangerous and pernitious to their Souls welfare Christ could not give one good word of Laodicea for this very reason but in the next verse was ready to spew her out for this her remissness and mediocrity Some will neither be fast friends to Religion nor yet utterly opposite unto it a true hermaphroditical Laodicean temper But what makes them thus to hancker and halt betwen two extreames that they are neither hot nor cold In their very foreheads you may read the reason worldly intrest worldly profit worldly honours do so over-bias them that they will be partly religious and so far forth friends unto it as may get them repute and so be accounted prudent civil and honest men but for the better part of it to have the heart upright for God and the affections kindled and intense upon and for the glory of God in the day of tryals and persecutions they will not touch upon that they did not take Christ upon such account to follow him to his cross there they will leave him as long as he provides loaves for them they will follow him but when he is dragged to the Judgment Hall as our true summer-bird at the approach of winter they fly into their holes for security and will not appear more for Christ until he returns with a sun shine and spring of prosperity upon them These are our moderate politique state christians who are neither hot nor cold true Hermophrodites in Religion that will not move a foot farther in matters thereof then what the State dictates to them If the Prince as in the days of Q. Mary command Popery Popery shall up for them if a Q. Elizabeth succeed all presently reform and become Protestants if she will have Prelacy in the church maintained there will be found assertors enough of its jure divino if Presbitery shall take the Throne all of our State christians will presently fall in to the Geneva and Scottish garb if Independency shall get at top presently our Laodiceans run to New England for a model if that again come out of fashion they are ready to run to Amsterdam for a new pattern So indifferent are such Laodicean christians in matters of Religion that whatsoever form or intrest of all sorts shall be uppermost they will be sure to be of that side and this proceeds from their luke-warm temper and defect or want of heat or true zeal in the Religion they profess if they were zealous in any form though unsound yet they would more closely stick unto it Paul whiles he was a persecuting Saul was zealous though in a bad case So the Jews had a zeal unto God though not according to knowledg Rom 10.1 The Papists to this day continue zealous to their Superstitions and will Worship Only those that pretend highest and to be raised out of the graves of Antichrist and to come to a higher pitch of Reformation then any other christian Professors in the world are like true Laodiceans neither hot nor cold I believe that Master Brightman though not Prophetically yet prudentially enough likned and applied the state of our English church as a true counterpane of its pattern to Laodicea in the times when he wrote for we may observe still the same natural temper in her children at present as he observed in their fore-fathers in his time they are of that mediocrity that they care not what Religion they follow so their intrests honors and estates are secured and maintained I confess they are willing to admit of part of the truths of Christ in Doctrines but for the ministration of Discipline Governments and Ministerial Functions they are very well still contented to retain them that come from Egypt and Babylon and not from Christ and his holy church therefore they are to look to it least they are spewed out as their fore-fathers the Prelates for their Laodicean temper and half Reformation which hitherto they have but as yet attained to Object But here it may be said May not christians be too hot too zealous in their intentions towards things of their Religion were not a moderater carriage and temperature more commendable in them and more advantageous to the work of the Gospel then an over fiery zealous one To answer this Question first understand whereof zeal is compounded and that is first of an intention of the affections or an enlarged love on the thing beloved Secondly Of jealousie which is with great indignation and grief when an injury true or supposed is offered to the thing so fervently loved So this affection of zeal is not simply good or evil but is an indifferent passion found in men both good and evil for the Apostles were zealous and so were the Pharisees Christians were zealous so were the Jews so some of the reformed are zealous in their ways so many also of the Papists but that that denominates zeal either good or evil is first in respect of its object godly zeal must have the knowledg of a right object it must be truly God's glory God's worship God's truth God's will and doctrine either in part or in the whole and that indubitably that denominates a godly zeal A zeal to God out of Christ as the Iews had will not suffice to call it a truly godly zeal because it was not according to knowledg nor having an adequate and compleat object 't is true their zeal towards God was good and commendable in them but because it was not guided by sound knowledg it was blind and erroneous and therefore vitious for want of a compleat object Secondly It grieveth for the wrong truly done and not supposed as the Iews thought was done by the preaching of the Gospel unto the glory of God and his true worship True godly zeal must have right ends it ever affecteth and seeketh the honour of God and not self praise and vain glory Examples of this true godly zeal we have in Christ when he whipped the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Joh. 2.15 and in Phineas Numb 25.8 11. in Paul and Barnabas when they rent their cloathes Act. 14.19 and Moses when he broke the Tables Exod. 23. and in Paul for the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.11 and for the Galatians Gal. 4.19 But many for want of right objects right ends and other due ingredients have missed of true zeal as Demetrius his zeal for Diana Act. 19. whom he ought not to have loved so Paul a Pharisee was zealous but he loved that that he should not have loved that is his own righteousness by the Law as the rest of the Pharisaical Iews did Jehu was zealous but failed in the manner 2 King 10.6 The Apostles out of zeal wishing fire upon the Inhabitants of Samaria Luk. 9.54 failed in the end of their zeal it being not out of pure affection to God's glory or out of charity unto their neighbours but out of revenge and impatience as from Bonarges Sons of