flourishing but at this time declining both in her inward affection and outward conversation called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies remisness she abating of her first Love and declining from her first Works Now the words of the Text are a gracous and sweet promise given out to encourage her to repentance and a recovery of her self Having used threatning arguments he concludes with this excellent and full promise if by any means she might be brought to remember whence she was fallen and might get Victory over her present dangerous Distempers To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Here is 1. The matter of the promise to eat of the Tree of Life which is described by the scituation of it in the midst of the Paradise of God 2. The condition of it overcoming The Doctrine is this Doct. That Overcomers shall eat of the Tree of Life in Gods Paradise Here is something implied and also something expressed of these in order 1 That which is implied is that we have Enemies who fight against us and seek our destruction for ever against whom we are to manage a Spiritual Warfare and though none under twenty years old in Israel went forth to War yet here none are exempted not only are Ministers called to act and quit themselves as good Soldiers of Jesus the Christ 1 Tim. 2.4 as Timothy was the Weapons of whose Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual as St. Paul speaks 2 Cor. 10.4 They are to fight by the preaching of the Word weilding well that sword of the Spirit by Church censures by enduring hardship and the like yet is not the War limited to them but every one must come out to the battel even young ones must strive to fight this good fight wherein the glory of God and the cause of their Souls are eminently concerned This world is the field in which the Battels are to be fought and the War managed In Heaven there are no Enemies nor shall they there learn War any more 'T is true we read there was war in Heaven Rev. 12.7 and the Dragon and his angels fought but it is meant of the Church here often called Heaven in Scripture and in this Book of the Revelation This world is the Enemies Country and while the Church is here it must be militant in a conflicting and warring condition and this without intermission the Enemies are restless and implacable and will admit no truce no cessation of arms In Heaven above they are Triumphant having Crowns on their Heads and Palms in their hands in token of full Victory but here we must all hold swords and labour to be expert in war every one having his sword upon his thigh Cant. 3. 8. because of fear in the night this war is both defensive and offensive we must not only be standing upon our guard in our own defence but God hath provided armour by which we may overcome our Enemies and worst them in the Combate as they said of old to your Tents O Israel so let me say to your arms to your arms O all ye children of men especially O all Believers take to you the whole armour of God whereby ye may be able to withstand in every evil day and having done all to stand For this is not an arbitrary business but of that absolute necessity that we must either fight or dye kill or be killed conquer our Enemies or be finally and eternally overcome by them The Trumpet of the Gospel gives no uncertain sound 1 Tim. 6.12 but requires us to prepare our selves to the Battel If any say who or where are our Enemies I answer the Flesh the Devil and the World are the professed and avowed Enemies of our Souls 1. The Flesh our carnal and worldly lusts these are our worst Enemies the greatest fight is within quot vitia tot inimici as many Adversaries as there are corruptions 2 Kings 11. 13 14. when Athaliah heard the noise of the Guard and of the People in the Temple She came into the Temple and seeing them in their Warlike posture she rent her Clothes and cried Treason Treason when we look into our hearts which should be the Temples of God and find so many lusts gathered together there that are Enemies to Christ and would not he should reign in us and seek to betray our Souls to the Enemies without us we may well cry out Treason Treason Proud lusts covetous lusts unclean lusts lying and hypocrisy distrust and infidelity with a great Regiment besides these war continually against our Souls and fight against the Government of Christ and the Dominion of his Spirit and Grace in us against these therefore we should bend our main Forces more especially 1. Against the sin of our Nature This is called the Law in our Members and is said to war against the Law of our mind Rom. 7.23 This enemy is ever present with us as the Apostle St. Paul complained when we should doe good it is present either to divert us from it or distract us in it This is a very importunate evil a wrestless and unwearied Enemy we may cease evil acts when we cannot avoid inward motions this was it which made that excellent Apostle cry out O wretched man that I am Rom. 7.24 who shall deliver me 2. The special predominant and most beloved Delilah the sin that doth more easily beset us we should bend our utmost strength against this every one hath a peccatum in deliciis a darling sin a right eye of pleasure a right hand of profit and though no true Believer can have a beloved sin for he hates every false way yet some sin there is by which he is most easily overcome and against this the heat of the Battel should be directed As it was said of old fight neither with small nor great but with the King of Israel 1 Kin. 33.31 So say I fight above all with the Ruling lust and predominant corruption the sin that we cannot well hear reproved can hardly tell how to part with are most delighted and pleased in the thoughts of it is first in a morning and last at night with us Oh this is that Enemy which when it kisseth is ready to kill us we may easily see the dagger it hath ready to strike us under the firth rib even when it fawns and flatters most as Joab did to Abner we can never be too careful here to stand upon our watch to keep guard against it as David did Psal 18.23 I was also upright before God says he and kept my self from mine inquity No better means of safety no greater sign of integrity then to keep our selves from our iniquity Let our chief war be against these indwelling Enemies especially against the sin of our Nature and the evil we are most apt to indulge and are most addicted to and the Victory over the rest
I have read of a Tyrant who devised that Torment to keep a living man in his Coffin and feed him till by his own filth he bred Worms and those Worms fed upon him till he died by them A sad Judgment it was fell upon Herod to be eaten up of Worms Acts 12.23 But what is it then to have a worm gnaw upon the Soul This is that Christ speaks of This is nothing but the tormenting acts of Conscience termed a Worm 1. Because as a Worm is bred out of the Putrefaction of the subject in which it is so is this there is much filth of sin in the Conscience by which the Mind and Conscience is defiled Titus 1.15 inwardly full of rottenness and all uncleanness as the Pharisees were Mat. 23. and this may easily breed Worms 2. Because as Worms gnaw upon a man so will a man's Conscience gnaw upon him when he shall think what offers of Grade and Salvation he had and neglected them what Motions of the Spirit in the Word and under the Rod he had and quenched and resisted all and would suffer nothing to prevail how near he came to the Kingdom and yet fell short and is shut out Thus will the Worm of Conscience gnaw upon men to their unexpressible Grief and Vexation 6. The Fire will burn and torment them I am tormented in this flame saies one in Hell Luke 16.23 24. The horror of Hell is set out by Fire a Lake of Fire Fire and Brimstone and a burning Tempest Psal 11.6 Whether material Fire or not is not material but such as will torment Soul and Body beyond the hottest fire that men can make for the breath of the Lord as a River of Brimstone will kindle it The fire of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace was terrible being seven times hotter than ordinary Dan. 3. The Fire God rained from Heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah was very grievous Gen. 19. The Fire that burnt down the chief City of this Nation in 1666 was fierce and furious the Fire that will burn down the World at the last Day will be more dreadful yet but the Fire of Hell will be more terrible than all the rest 7. Despair will greatly afflict them they will be there without hope of escaping from under all the former evils To be in a Valley of Achor and see no door of Hope to be in a stormy Sea and have no Anchor of Hope to stay upon must needs make a mans case desperate In Hell all Hope is cut off which makes the heart to break Every man on this side Hell is a man of Hope To him that is joyned to all the living there is Hope Eccles 9.4 But in Hell there is no out-let of Hope the Hypocrites Hope perisheth Job 8.14 This will wound more cruelly than the Devil can do Hope deferred makes the heart sick but Hope utterly destroyed will make the heart break In Hell the Hypocrites Hope shall perish and the Cobweb Hopes of wicked men will be swept down and be as the giving up of the Ghost Here if men be in great Afflictions and under the guilt of great Transgressions there is upon their putting their mouths in the dust Hope in Israel concerning these matters but there is no Hope that Sin will be pardoned or Miseries be removed Spes alit Agricolas The Husbandman plows in Hope and soweth in Hope Here men pray in hope and hear and weep in Hope but in Hell their Cries and Tears are hopeless Seas of Tears will not quench one spark of the fire and this Despair links and torments them beyond expression 8. The place in which they suffer these things will yet aggravate their Misery 'T is called a Pit a Pit without water a bottomless Pit Rev. 9.1 Joseph's Pit Jeremie's Dungeon Paul's Prison and Bonner's Cole-house were pleasant and delightful places compared with this The worst place on Earth is infinitely better than the best place in Hell To live in Bridewel or in Bedlam is very grievous but these are places of Pleasure when this is spoken of 9. The company yet encreaseth the vexation Good-company is a great comfort in trouble and misery It is such a relief as hath made some even to forget their sorrow But here the Devil and his Angels and all the wicked wretches that ever were on earth and lived and died such shall be the company of hell Not one good person among them It will raise the happiness of Heaven that not one wicked person shall be there not an Hypocrite among them and it will no less aggravate the Misery of Hell that none but such are there It was a grief of mind to Rebecca to be among the Daughters of Heth Gen. 27. ult The filthy company and ways of the Sodomites were a vexation to the Soul of just and righteous Lot 2 Pet. 2.7 8. David when forced to dwell in Mesech cries Wo is me How will they lament in Hell where damned Devils will be their Society and these Companions their cruel Tormentors So they are called Mat. 18.24 The Devils are great Tormentors of the Bodies and Souls of men It was the Saying of a good man I had rather endure all the Torments men can devise than see the Devil with my bodily eyes What a miserable case will theirs in Hell be who shall both see and feel them their cruel Tormentors who will have no Pity shew no Mercy will not spare but cruciate and afflict as much as they are able 10. The Eternity of all the former Evils doth and will aggravate the Misery of them in Hell they are punished with everlasting destruction from the Presence of the Lord and shall never see his face with comfort 2 Thes 1. They rise to everlasting shame and contempt Dan. 12.2 Their worm dieth not and their fire is not quenched Mark 9. called Everlasting Fire everlasting Burnings the vengeance of eternal fire Mat. 25. Esay 33. Jude 7. The blackness of darkness for ever Jude 7. All this is without mitigation intermission or cessation O! who can bear it If they in Hell might have ease but one hour in a thousand years it were some comfort but there the smoak of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no rest night nor day If after Ten thousand years a man might be taken up out of Torments the hopes of that would support but there they must lye in the scorching flames of God's Wrath for ever O who can endure unquenchable Fire Did we consider what an Eternity of Torment is to live ever dying and yet never dye to be in a Circle of Sorrow that knows no End in Variety and Extremity of Pains that have no Period but after a man hath been under these Torments as many Ages as many Millions of Ages as there have been Moments or Minutes since the Creation he is as far from coming out as he was in the first moment he went in O how inconceivable dreadful will this be Now
read Satan's seat was there A King ruleth over all his Subjects yet he hath his Throne in some chief City of the Land Satan that King of the bottomless Pit as he is stiled Rev. 9.1 reigns over all wicked men yet in those notoriously wicked he may be said to have his seat This was say some the Seat or Court of Attalus in whose time it was written Discedat ab Aula qui velit esse plus Like that to the Prophet Flee thee away O thou Seer for it is the King's Court Amos 7.13 Afterwards it was the Seat of the Roman persecuting Governours who were Satan's chief Instruments in afflicting and destroying the Saints and so is called Satan's seat Christ takes special notice of the places of his peoples abode I know where thou dwellest even where Satans Seat is He observes how perillous a place this Pergamos was and what dangers as to Liberty and Life his Servants were in here Antipas had already suffered Martyrdom for the Truth the name of some good Minister or of the Pastor of that Church as many judge an Honour not granted to the Angels of Heaven as Latimer saith yet we find a Church planted and preserved here who held fast his Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as with tooth and nail or by main strength Christ will have to do where Satan reigns some good he will have in the worst places a remnant of upright ones in a crooked and perverse Generation As Satan had a Judas among the Apostles a Demas among the Disciples a Simon Magus among the Believers so the Lord had a Noah in the ungodly world a Job in an Idolatrous Vz a Lot in filthy Sodom a Joseph in Pharaoh's Court Saints in Nero's house and some that held fast the Truth even in Pergamos itself those he reserves to be Witnesses for him and to testifie against those to their Condemnation who will not by their good Example be brought to Conversion Let us all labour to be good in evil Times it 's excellent in itself and will be our commendation before Christ at last as appears by his Testimony of them here Thee have I found righteous before me saies the Lord to Noah in this Generation Gen. 7.1 What kind of Generation that was is set down It was a time when Iniquity abounded all flesh had corrupted their way a deluge of wickedness had covered the Earth for Noah now to be righteous was excellent indeed And it will be our glory if we study to be Lights in a dark World holy among the filthy Lilies among Thorns and as the Fish fresh in Salt-waters This may comfort us also in very evil Times Christ will preserve some from the stroak of Persecution Antipas was slain yet some did remain some yea many may suffer hard things yea 't is possible some particular Churches may be extirpated yet a Church Christ will have on Earth against which the Gates of Hell Satan's Seat shall not prevail Many Faithful ones may be removed by a natural or violent Death yet because Christ lives therefore his Truth shall live his Cause and Interest shall live and survive all Enemies and Opposers Let this help our Faith and Joy though we dwell where Satan's seat is Rome Antichristian is now esteemed that Seat of the Beast mentioned Rev. 16.10 yet even there God hath his People Come out of her my People saies the Lord Rev. 18.4 A People Christ had and still hath where Antichrist most prevails though it greatly concerns them to come out thence dangerous to continue there both for Infection of Sin and for Infliction of Punishment as this Scripture expresseth Come out that ye partake not of her Sins and receive not of her Plagues Pliny saith That Mice will hasten out of a house that is ready to fall on their heads And Spiders with their Webs will drop before the house falls Certainly Antichrist's ruine hastens and Babylons Fall approacheth Come out of her therefore O all the People of God Come out from her Idolatries be ye separate from all her Abominations and Corruptions And to encourage all to strive to get Victory over the Evil of Evil Times this further Promise in the Text is given to them of Pergamos and to us in them the sum whereof take in this Proposition Doct. That Overcomers shall have such special and peculiar Favours given them by Christ as none know but they that receive them There are some things in which the men of the world intercommon with the Saints as Natural Endowments Worldly Enjoyments External Church-Priviledges the common Gifts of the Spirit and superficial Tastes of Heavenly things Absalom had Beauty as well as yea greater than David Herod and Jonadab had Wit and Policy as well as Joseph the Fool in the Gospel was rich as well as Abraham the foolish Virgins were in Church-Fellowship as well as the wise Apostates such as are not renewed to Repentance may taste the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come as well as those who had better things in them even things that accompany 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that have Salvation in them Saul had the Gift of Prophecy Judas Gifts of Preaching Prayer and working Miracles as well as the other Apostles yet notwithstanding all this there are peculiar benefits Believers share in which others have no part no lot in The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Psal 25.14 Not here meant of his providence blessing him in outward things of this Job speaks saying The Secret of God was upon his Tabernacle Job 29.4 But the understanding of the mysteries of his Word and Covenant hid from the wise and prudent of the World and their own interest in them Believers are the friends of God as Abraham was called the friend of God James 2. So Christ called his Disciples friends now the secret Cabinet is unlockt and set open to a friend though shut to strangers Amicus alter idem A friend is another self and a man cannot conceal any thing from himself and therefore not from his friend Whatsoever Christ heard of his Father he made known to his friends John 15.15 His secret is with the righteous Prov. 3.32 the very Arcana Imperii the mysteries of the Kingdom are made plain to them Luke 8.10 It is a favour to be of the Kings Court but more to be of his Council Courtiers know more than those that live far remote from the Kings Court but Counsellors know his secrets the Privy-Counsellor is acquainted with the special mysteries of State Carnal professors and hypocrites may know many truths which Heathens who live not under the sound of the Gospel may be ignorant of and in an ordinary way cannot know yet are they but of the Court Believers only are of the Counsel to whom the mysteries of grace and godliness are disclosed It is said the Lord told Samuel in his ear 1 Sam. 9.15 When
a Power to distribute Rewards and Punishments This some call a Judiciary Power a Power of judging all Nations giving Eternal Live to Believers and Eternal Death to all the world besides The Father judgeth no man but hath cammitted all Judgment to the Son Joh. 5.22 Before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divides his Sheep from the Goats Mat. 24. As many Divisions as now there are all will then come under that one Division either Sheep or Goats and will have their Judgment passed by Christ to whom the Father hath given that Power Such a Power over the Nations is here promised to Overcomers Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 6.2 Not Authoritatively and principally not by pronouncing Sentence this is peculiar to Christ but they shall joyn with him in judging them at the Last Day giving their consent unto and applauding his righteous Sentence This seems here chiefly intended for it is such a Power as whereby the Nations are broken as the vessels of a Potter are broken to shivers so the Text expresseth Now earthen Vessels are easily and irrecoverably broken especially by an Iron Rod. Other Scriptures speak the same This honour have all his Saints saies David To execute the Judgment written Psal 149.8 What Judgment and where written Some refer it to Enoch's Prophecy mentioned by St. Jude v. 14 15. Behold the Lord cometh with ten Thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all c. To adjudge the wicked of the Nations to eternal Misery This dominion over the Nations shall the upright have in the Morning of the resurrection Psal 49.14 Quest 3. What is that eminent Glory Christ here promiseth to him that Overcometh Answ I will give him the Morning-star saies Christ A sweet and full promise the sum of it take in the following particulars 1. Some understand it of Christ himself who is stiled The bright and Morning-star Rev. 22.16 Thus he calls himself The sense then is I will communicate my self wholly to him and make him conformable to me in glory Always the proportion of the head and members observed The Morning-star is the most bright and shining of all the stars of Heaven and communicates its light to the world Christ excels all men and Angels as far as the Morning-star all the Stars of Heaven and he communicates all Light of Grace and Glory to the world of Believers He is stiled The Star of Jacob Numb 24.17 this notes his two Natures A Star in its Original is from Heaven which points at his Divine Nature who is the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15. yet a Star of Jacob as a man of the Posterity of Jacob so we must conceive him both God and Man And thus considered He is full of Grace and of his fulness do all Believers receive even Grace for Grace The Morning-star dispels the Nights darkness When this Day-star arises fully in our hearts all mists of Ignorance and Errour are dispelled wherein we were wrapped in our night of sin and imperfect condition here 2. It may intimate that Christ will give him that overcomes a glorious Resurrection at the Last-Day The Prophet Daniel hints at this They that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament even as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 There will not be the same measure and degree of this For as one Star differs from another in Glory so it shall be in the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.41 yet all will be adorned with resplendent Lustre and Brightness far exceeding the beauty of the Stars For then shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Mat. 13.43 Those that have here lien among the pots smutched and sullied shall then outshine the Sun in his strength Shine they shall in their Bodies which shall be conformed to the most glorious body of Christ Phil. 3.21 And in their Souls those Spirits of just men made perfect and in their whole persons as the Spouse of Christ Vxor fulget radiis Mariti she shall shine with the Beams of his Beauty A glimpse of this Glory was seen in Moses's Face in Christ's Transfiguration in Stephen's Countenance But the full manifestation thereof is reserved to the day of the Resurrection 3. It may imply That the Overcomer shall have the next degree of Glory to Christ as the Morning-Star is next the Sun and is called as some think The Son of the Morning Isa .. 14.12 Because it usually appears in the Morning a little before the Sun-rising as if it were by the Morning produced Victorious Souls shall be very near to Christ in Place and Glory When one requested her two Sons might sit the one at Christ's right hand the other at his left in his Kingdom He answers It shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of his Father Among others those that have encountred great Troubles and come off Conquerors shall share in this Honour For upon this request of the woman Christ said Are ye able to drink of the Cup I am to drink of and to be baptized with the Baptism I am to be Baptized with Mat. 20.20 c. Implying they must come under a Baptism of Blood and Suffering that would come to this Honour to be so near to me as you desire This honour hath he reserved to give to him that Overcometh All the Saints shall be with him but these so near to him as the Morning-Star to the Sun 4. This Phrase may also intimate that Christ will give the First-fruits of Glory Foretastes of Heaven even whiles in this world to assure of the full enjoyment in another The Morning-star is Anteambulo Solis the Suns Harbinger and Fore-runner of a perfect Day Christ will give such as overcome Prelibations and Pledges of future Happiness assuring them That their path shall be as the Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 This Morning they will not exchange for the brightest Noon-day of worldly Glory which ends in a Midnight of Trouble and Misery but their Morning-Light is in a full Sunshine of Happiness Hence the Saints are said to have received the first-fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 Though in regard of quantity the First-fruits under the Law were but an handful in comparison of the whole yet in their signification they were an evidence to them that they should receive a good crop of the rest So the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit of God Believers have here are not only sweet to their apprehension for the present but also in their reflection as to what is future they are a pledg of the full Harvest Christ is said to be The first-fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 Because his Resurrection was a forerunner of the Resurrection of all his Members so are the first fruits of the Spirit here an assurance of a
joyful Harvest of Heavenly Felicity hereafter The first beginnings of Spiritual Regeneration are an earnest of the whole crop of Salvation And as it was said of old The Gleanings of Ephraim are better than the Vintage of Abiezer so may I say in this matter The first Fruits of Glory Believers receive here are better than the greatest harvest of earthly contentments because a drop here is a sure sign of a River hereafter the Morning-star a certain forerunner of a glorious constellation in Heaven To all which may be added that 5. This Phrase implies that Christ will clear the wronged innocency of Believers As the Morning-Star brings light after a dark night so after many false accusations and uncharitable censures passed against them by the World and Professors also God will bring forth their righteousness as the light and their judgment as the Noon-day as the Scripture sheweth Psal 37.6 As the hope of the Morning-Star to usher in the day causeth us not to be offended with the darkness of the night so ought Believers to trust and wait upon God knowing that he will clear their cause and restore to them their right When Zophar would encourage Job to listen to his counsel his agument is Thine age shall be clearer than the Noon day thou shalt shine forth as the morning Job 11.17 Thou shalt overcome the darkness at present upon thee thy innocency be revived and comforts renewed Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the Morning Psal 30.5 The morning is as it were the reviving time after the death of sleep and brings the light the emblem of joy after darkness Thus will Christ cause the light of his peoples Innocency and Uprightness to rise in obscurity and their darkness to be as the Noon day Isaiah 58.10 As God can cause the Sun of wicked mens honour and prosperity to go down at noon so he can and will cause the light of the Saints to rise at midnight As Haman is a notable example of the first so Joseph of the latter Hamans glory and honour how quickly was it obscured and eclipsed with clouds of disgrace and ignominy so the false accusations which darkened Josephs reputation vanished as clouds before the Sun when he goeth forth in his night There shall be a resurrrection of names as well as of persons A day when God will make up his jewels Mal. 3.17 Then shall he take them up out of the dirt of reproaches and sufferings and make them clean such a vindication from all unjust imputations and aspersions as will give them light and gladness joy and honour Esth 8.16 By these things it is evident how eminent the glory is Christ promises to the Overcomer when he saith he will give him the morning-star The Use follows Vse 1. Behold here then the misery of those who yielding themselves servants to corruption slaves to Satan and Captives to the world lose their part in these great promises and the contrary evils are their lot and portion such are all those who instead of keeping Christ's works to the end keep their sinful and wicked works to the end hold fast deceit and hypocrisy to the end retain their pride and worldliness to the end keep their unclean drunken and profane works to the end being thus entangled and overcome and some after they seemed to have escaped and got victory over them yet are again brought into bondage their latter end will be worse than their beginning 2 Pet. 2.21 Because they sin against knowledge and love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil These may have power over Nations as civil Governours so had Ahasuerus Belshazzar and others Alexander called the Conquerour having subdued a great part of the world then inhabited yet these were overcome by their lusts It was true of them all what was said of the last vicit mundum a se vero victus He conquered the world but was overcome by himself What could it profit to rule over men a while and lusts ruled over them unto their destruction These were also overcome by Divine Wrath and Justice All the power men have and Victories they get over men will not secure them from being broken to shivers by Christs Iron rod as a Potters Vessel fatally and irrecoverably ruined Better is he that by the power of grace ruleth his Spirit than he that taketh a City or ruleth over Kingdoms Fortior est qui se quam qui fortissima vincit Maenia Such may have worldly grandeur external Pomp and Splendour and shine like Stars of the first magnitude yet going on in a slate and course of sin are but wandering Stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Jude 13. The Angels are stiled Morning-stars the Morning-stars sang together that is the Angels as Expositors have it The Angels rejoyced to see the Foundations of the Earth laid yet some of them became Apostats fallen Stars being willingly overcome by sin Satan is called a fallen Star Rev. 9.1 We read also of a great Star that fell from Heaven called Wormwood Rev. 8.10 11. The Roman Emperour say some who shined brightly for a time but was put down by the Goths of whom the Prophet Isaiah thus speaks How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer son of the Morning How art thou cut down to the ground who didst weaken the Nations Isaiah 14.12 Sic transit gloria mundi Though the wicked spring as the Grass and all the workers of Iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Psal 92.7 O! who would rest or glory in outward enjoyments or endowments when if the work of Faith and Holiness be not wrought in us with power if the Kingdom of God comes not into our souls with power the sinners in Sion will be afraid fearfulness will surprize the Hypocrites and the cry will be who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings Who shall dwell with devouring fire Isaiah 33.14 Thus will all who are here finally overcome by their yielding themselves Servants unto Unrighteousness and Iniquity be everlastingly miserable and God justified in his proceedings and his Justice and Wrath overcome them when they are judged Vse 2. This gives yet further matter of Comfort to Believers to meditate upon the Power and Glory here promised to him that Overcometh Here you are many times oppressed by the Powers of the Nations therefore you shall have at length full Power over all Nations Here you endure long and dark Nights of Temptation Desertion and Affliction yet yielded not to Satan and Sin therefore the Morning-Star shall be given to you And when Christ who is your life shall appear you also shall appear with him in Glory Col. 3.4 Faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it Mens Promises fail through want of Fidelity or Ability to perform them Satan's Promises are made to deceive but the words of Christ are true and faithful He is Jehovah who gives a being
yet came upon the back of an Angel Such honour have all his Saints to stand before him in this Noble Clothing peculiar to them in the House and Family of this great King of Heaven 3. It intimates Beauty and Glory This is also set out by the colour of white so when Christ was transfigured on the Mount his face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light that is it shined with an extraordinary splendour and brightness Mat. 17.2 We find the countenance of the Angel Mat. 28.3 to be like lightning and his raiment white as snow and two other called men appearing in humane shape in white apparel that is very glorious and beautiful Acts 1.10 Thus Overcomers shall be clothed in white Raiment they shall walk with me in white saith Christ Rev. 3.4 in great Beauty and Glory The Kings Daughter is all glorious within her clothing is of wrought gold Psal 45.10 Yea they are said to be clothed with the sun Rev. 12.1 Cloth of Gold is accounted very glorious but if a man were clothed with the natural Sun he would be much more bright and beautiful How renowned for beauty are they then who are clothed with the Sun of Righteousness Some who have no natural beauty yet appear amiable by their fine shining Garments They are for Ornament and are to the Body as rich Hangings or costly Varnish over a wall of Clay which make it look better than else it would as the Poet saith Viro vestis magnum decus addit honesta Such a garment is Christ he adorns the Soul and gives it a rich and perfect beauty He is set out by the wedding-garment Mar. 22.12 The High Priests garments of old were but types of this which were made for beauty and glory Exod. 28.2 All the comliness of the Saints is by reason of this beautiful dress in which they are attired This is that Raiment of Needle-work which is a great Ornament to them though outwardly in rags or mean clothing He is a Crown and Diadem upon the head Signified by that fair Miter which was set upon Joshua's head Zach. 3.5 which hath its name from compassing about because it invironed the High Priests head It had a holy Crown with it Exod. 29.6 signifying the Deity and Dignity of Christ It had also upon the forefront of it a plate of pure gold with this engraving Holiness to the Lord who is said to be glorious in Holiness All shews what excellent beauty and glory is put upon the Overcomer clothed with this white Raiment 4. It signifies festivity and rejoycing Black is the mourning colour white is the colour of delight and joy They used white Garments at Feasts and joyful Solemnities Hence that of Solomon Let thy garments be always white Eccl. 9.8 Not absolutely but in all proper seasons of rejoycing The very beasts on which they rode in triumph to praise the Lord for victory over their Enemies were of this colour They rode on white Asses Judg. 5.10 That great mercy of Absolution is set out to us under the notion of a white stone Rev. 2.17 To signify what ground of spiritual joy they have whose sin is pardoned The sense then is Overcomers shall be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 Glorious because this joy is a taste of future Glory or else because it made them glorious in the eyes of men The Kingdom of God is joy in the Holy-Ghost Rom. 14.17 When they are worsted by their Enemies they are filled with heaviness but if at any time they lead captivity captive and can get their feet upon the neck of those that hate them then their sorrow is turned into joy and their joy shall no man take away from them When Israel or rather God for Israel overcame Pharaoh and his Hosts Then sang Israel a joyful song unto the Lord Exod. 15. Thus shall all victorious Souls have their mouths filled with laughter and their tongues with singing and say The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad Great is the shouting and rejoycing of Soldiers when they get a Victory and with much better joy shall they be clothed and filled who conquer in this holy war This is the first thing here promised 2. Rea. Overcomers names are indelibly recorded by Jesus Christ who here assures them of it saying I will not blot out his Name out of the Book of Life A Metaphorical expression also we read of the book of Scripture the book of Nature the book of Conscience and here and in other places of the book of Life and that the names of men are written there and those once engraven never shall be obliterated Phil. 4.3 Rev. 13.8 There we find the Lambs book of Life wherein are names written from the foundation of the world The phrase is taken from the enrolling of Citizens and Soldiers that they may be known to be such The promise implies That Overcomers are dear and precious in the eyes of Christ It is in matters of some concernment that things are committed to writing which men will carefully keep that nothing be expunged or blotted out This is seen in Jeremiah and others who caused Writings to be drawn and preserved upon weighty occasions Christ hath an high esteem of Valiant and Conquering Christians they are written before him yea they are written within him engraven in his Knowledg and Remembrance and in his Love and Affections as very dear unto him As the Names of the Tribes were written upon Stones which the High-Priest bare on his Breast-plate when he went into the most holy Place Even so the names of all Believers are written upon the heart of Christ to shew how precious they are to him Queen Mary said If she were opened after her Death they should find Calice written in her heart Were Faith duely exercised we might see Believers engraven upon Christ's heart and this Book shall never admit one of the Names in it to be crossed out If a Pilate could say Quod scripsi scripsi What I have written I have written Christ much more There are no Errata and therefore no Deleatur in the Book of Life And who should blot them out Not Men or Angels for it is a Sealed Book to them not their Sins which yet they fear more than the former for they themselves are blotted out by the hand of Free-Grace I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake Isa 43.25 As a Creditor takes his Pen and blots out the Debt or as men cancel Bills of Indictment so doth God to speak of him after the manner of men dip his pen in the Blood of his Son and dashes out the Hand-writings against them and cancels all those large Bills And this not as men blot things out that are written upon Paper where great blurs remain and they may possibly be read again but as a Cloud as a thick Cloud Isa 44.22 The Sun so
scatters and blots out the Clouds that there is nothing of them to be seen their sins are so done away as not to he remembred any more are as if they had never been As a Table-Book wash it and there is no appearance of any thing written there so hath the Lord removed their Iniquities and having blotted out their sins for his Name 's sake will not blot out their Names for their sins sake So then it remains that none but Christ can blot out their Names for he is the Master of the Rolls and keeps this Book in his own possession and he hath prevented all fears of it by his own solemn Promise in the Text. Object Against this some object these two Scriptures Exod. 32.32 33. Moses said Blot me out of thy Book Whosoever hath sinned against me saies God him will I blot out of my Book especially that Rev. 22.19 It any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life Answ As for that place in Exodus some carry it as if Moses desired in the former verse to lose his part in a better Life than is here to be enjoyed even Eternal Life rather than God be thus dishonoured and blasphemed but think it a sinful desire or great zeal at the best with a mixture of corrupt passion in it But others understand it of the Book of Records in which mens names were Registred Princes use to keep such Books in which were set down the Names of those that had done them any special Service Mordecai's name was recorded in such a Book and how he acted to preserve the King's Life Esth 6. And this was much Self-denial in Moses to be willing to have his Name razed out thence for the Peoples good Moses rather desired not to live than that all the people involved in that sin should dye willing to have his Name blotted out of the Church Records than the people come under this great Judgment Like that wish of St. Paul Rom. 9.3 who wished himself accursed from Christ for his Brethren and Kinsmen according to the flesh Some say Such was his Love to his Kindred that if it had been consistent with the Will of God he desired to have redeemed the casting away of the Israelites with the loss of his own Soul for ever But besides that this desire was impossible to be accompliâ—hed it would have been sinful By this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or being Accursed from Christ he means only to be Excommunicated from the Church which is called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 Which argued a high Affection to his Relations And as to the other place God's taking away their part out of the Book of Life is no more than to manifest they have no part therein and hence we find the Scripture speaking of some Whose Names were not written in the Lambs Book of Life from the Foundation of the world Rev. 13.8 God will declare them to be such as were not Predestinated from all Eternity to be saved by the Death of Christ Some there are not written in this Book but none written there shall be blotted out That 's the Second Particular 3. Rea. Christ will confess the names of Overcomers before his Father and before his Angels as if he had said I will own and acknowledg him as he hath owned and acknowledged me They have confessed him before men and he hath promised to confess such before his Father Mat. 10.32 The meaning is that Christ will publickly own them in the great Day of Judgment and will openly profess their well-tried Faith and other victorious Graces and they shall be found to Honour Praise and Glory at his appearing 1 Pet. 1.7 Then he will avouch them to be his Children saying Father Behold I and the Children which thou hast given me Isa 8.18 Esther though advanced to Honour with the King own'd her Relation to Mordecai and told him what he was unto her Esth 8.1 Joseph though advanced to great Dignity and a chief Favourite in Pharaoh's Court yet owned and confessed his poor Relations even before the King and his Courtiers Gen. 47. Even so will Christ at that day own his victorious Servants and Soldiers before the King of Kings and all those glorious Courtiers of Heaven the holy Angels A taste of this he gave when he was here on Earth When some told him his Relations stood without desiring to speak with him he pointed to his Disciples and said Behold my Mother and my Brethren For whosoever doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Mother and Sister and Brother Mat. 12.49 50. Here he freely owns and confesses his Spiritual Kindred and prefers them before his bare natural Relations So we find him making a report of their excellency who were his Disciples unto God his Father saying I have manifested thy Name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world and they have kept thy word Joh. 17.6 Here he makes an honourable mention of their laying up his words in their hearts and keeping to it in their lives And though as yet they were but weak yet he doth notably commend their good beginnings to his Father What will he do then at last when they shall have perfectly overcome We find it recorded of John the Baptist that he confessed and denied not but confessed I am not the Christ and after owned him and pointed at him saying Behold the Lamb of God vers 29. John is plain and bold ingenuous and constant in his testimony of Christ renonuncing the honour due to his Master and confessing and declaring Christ in the dignity and excellency of his Office shewing them how he was to execute the same for their good and benefit which was by Suffering and therefore points him out as the substance of the Passover and daily Sacrifices who by the Merit and Vertue of his Death takes away the sin of his own both Jews and Gentiles And did John lose by this his resolute Confession No not even here for Christ did as freely confess and make an honourable mention of him For saith he among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist Mat. 11.11 Because he was Christ's immediate Forerunner now the nearer to Christ the more excellent He prefers him not only before all the Prophets but all others that were born before him This is but the beginning of what Confession shall be more fully made of the Names of all that overcome in the great day of the Lords coming to Judgment The Vses follow Vse 1. See hence the miserable estate of all who overcome not but are fatally and finally overcome in their warring against these enemies of our Salvation They have neither part nor lot in these precious Promises yea the quite contrary things will be their Portion Instead of being clothed in white raiment in token of Purity Dignity
he cannot say he shall never be sick again for he may have further Distempers and be sick again even of the same Distemper yea and be brought low by it So I may say here A Believer after he hath gotten a particular Victory over his Enemies yet cannot say I shall never be assaulted again by this or that Lust or Temptation For that may be and thou be brought low thereby Be not secure but watchful But here lies the great Comfort though a man may be under the same Affliction that he hath formerly been recovered from yea and dye of it also yet I may assure all true Believers That their Sickness is not unto Death as Christ said of Lazarus It may bring them low but never to hurt them by the Second Death You cannot say as Alexander Veni vidi vici I came I saw I overcame but you may he exercised by these Enemies all your Life and some have had the sharpest Combat in their dying hours yet always true Believers go off Conquerors We read of a great Victory obtained by Israel over the Syrians yet at the return of the year the Syrians made another Invasion though it was to their utter Overthrow 1 King 20. Your Spiritual Enemies are like the Syrians though they be often baffled yet they will renew their Assaults But as Joshua made his Captains set their feet upon the necks of those Kings Josh 10.24 So will Christ your Captain and Champion who hath already won the Field cause you to tread down the wicked wicked Lusts wicked Men and Satan that wicked one As ashes under the soles of your feet Mal. 4.3 Let us all labour to be Overcoming that we may get Christ's Grant to sit with him in his Throne Vincenti dabitur Look to get a principle of true Faith this is the Victory whereby we Overcome even our Faith if we fail of the truth of this Grace our enemies will utterly ruine us Instead of sitting with Christ in his Throne we shall be thrown out by Christ upon the Dunghil and the Devil will everlastingly triumph over us What will not men venture upon for Thrones and Kingdoms Shall not a place in Christ's own Throne animate us to this holy War To Conclude You that are true Believers you have begun to be Victorious Go on Conquering and to Conquer To this end 1. Beware of Divisions Divide Impera Divide and Rule An Army divided is easily routed Our Divisions give our Enemies great advantage as we have seen by sad Experience It was said of old Dum singuli pugnant omnes vincuntur whilst they fought single they were all Overcome Union is our strength O that at length Christians would study to joyn Hearts and Hands against the Enemies It was good Policy in Joab when he saw the Enemy had beset them before and behind he said to his Brother If the Syrians he too strong for me then thou shalt help me but if the Children of Ammon be too strong for thee then I will come and help thee 2 Sam. 10.11 So should Christians say to each other If Corruptions be too strong for us you shall come and help us and if Temptations be too strong for you we will come and help you This would much weaken the hands of our Enemies and make us more and more Victorious 2. Give Christ the glory of every Victory and he will give us to go on yet Conquering and to Conquer I have read of a Victory called Victoria Hallelujetica it was on this occasion The Saxons here in England being to engage the Britains the Leader of the Britains having his Army in Dales and Valleys ordered them to cry Hallelujah which they did and through the Eccho of the Voice in the Valleys the Enemy apprehended the number to be more than they were and through fear fled Let Heaven and Earth ring again with the Eccho of your Praises for the beginnings of Victory and the Enemy will flee before you 3. Above all Go out against them as David did against Goliah in the Name of the Lord. Austin being troubled he long fought against a Corruption could not overcome it thought he heard a Voice saying to him In te stas non stas Thou standest in thy self and therefore thou standest not Say with the Psalmist I will go in the strength of the Lord I will make mention of thy Righteousness only Psal 71.16 David with a Sling and a Stone acting Faith in the Name of God prevailed against the Enemy but Adam though without sin standing in himself was Overcome Believers you have a good Second a strong Champion Jesus Christ God hath laid Help upon this Mighty One Rely on him alone that through him you may have Victory and so inherit these Promises And if these be not enough 't is said Rev. 21.7 He that Overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son FINIS