inferiour measure The same oyl that was poured on Aarons head ran down to the skirts of his garments so the same unction of the Spirit that was poured on Christ is in some measure poured on all his inferiour members and therefore most dear and beloved to him Omne simile gaudet simili Thirdly By reason of Union Christ and his Members beiâ— one by a mystical and spiritual union they must needs be most dear and precious to him Fourthly and lastly the great reason that Christ's Saints and churches are most dear unto him is In that he hath laid down his own most precious life for them for greater love then this was never shown in that he died for us even whiles we were fighters against God and enemies by evil works Observ 2. Another Note is That though the world looks upon the faithful distressed churches of Christ as a broken poor and forsaken people both in outward estates and intellectuals also yet God sets another rate upon them and accounts them rich wise mighty comly beautiful and as the most accomplished people in the world Is not this a strange Paradox to the infatuated worldling But it is not so strange as true Christ here calls his poor afflicted Smyrna rich for she was rich indeed with spiritual graces that their persecuting adversaries were ignorant of she was rich in immortible Treasures laid up for her service in heaven above where moth could not corrupt or thiâ—â—â—reak thorow and steal which her blaspheming enemies never dream'd of what wise worldling does think a poor afflicted christian wise He looks upon him so far beneath himself that from his Machiavilian plots and counsels he tells the wise and prudent christian soul Procul hinc proculate prophani Yet God tells them plainly That the wise of the world are taken in their own snare whilst true wisdom is justified of her children And God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty c. 1 Cor. 1.27 28 29. The wise of the world think themselves a wise politique and highly contriving Statists when they have brought the Saints of God and the whole world under their feet and subjection but the Saints of God know no such wisdom but that wisdom which is of God the eternal Word and Christ who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that no flesh should glory in his presence The great Potentates of the world think with their Alexandrian Armies as a Torrent to carry all before them Alas they are deceived there are others more mighty then they the poor afflicted churches of Christ can do more with their prayers and using their interest with God then all the Armies in the world they can pray for legions of Angels and they are ready at their commands Witness the host of Sennacherib destroyed by an Angel at the prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah the Son of Amos 2 Chron. 32.20 How many heathen Armies do we read of in Histories were defeated by the faithful prayers of the godly or at least their force diverted another way A poor despised chriâ— David with a sling and pebble can do more by the prayers of faith then Goliah with his spear Oh! how happy and fortunate were the Captains and Armies of this our Nation whiles the prayers of the faithful in the land continued fervent for them The Bowe and Sword of the mighty had then no power to destroy for the presence of our God was in the midst of them for a defence unto them in all their warlike undertakings Oh therefore ye soveraign Governours take heed how ye offend these little ones of Christ that they may not avert their prayers from you make good your interest with Christ and his Saints and be one with them in faith and prayers then never fear the boisterous storms or waves that are emitted from the Pillars of Hercules to our Albion shores which will prove but as the daylie surges that washes our rocks and clifts and so dash themselves into froth and vanish Next the gaudy Gallant of the times thinks himself the most fair and comly of all God's creatures and looks upon a sober and prudent christian as a despicable creature in respect of his gay Worship whiles God himself sets another character upon both The one is clothed with the white garments of Christ's righteousness and is all fair with the beauties of holiness whiles the other is only covered and â—â—â—hed with the excremental extravagancies and menstruosities of small earthy brutish and despicable creatures and at best do serve but in the room of Fig leaves to be somwhat more honourable badges of their sin and misery it is a shame to glory in that which are the ever-living Ensignes of their sin and shame and seeing the Lillies of the field do exceed even Solomon in his bravery little reason to glory in those rags of ours Next the Glutton that makes his belly his god and fareth deliciously every day conceives he hath a heaven on earth and that the poor afflicted christian comes far short of his happiness in that he hath not that fulness every day in the varieties of Viands and Festivals that he enjoys But alas this wretched Dives never considered that a poor christian hath other food to eat then he ever knew of he hath spiritual Manna bread from heaven and the wine of Paradice that he is quite ignorant of that he that eateth thereof shall never hunger or thirst more Lastly the wisdom of the world looks upon the distressed disciples of Christ as fools wittols and maâ— men and thinks them to be so indeed But on the contrary the judicious christian knows the wisdom of the world to be foolishness and madness to purpose for who but fools and mad-men would perversly run on in the ways of destruction as the wisdom of the world does prompt unto Whilst Christ's faithful ones though suppressed and broken by afflictions and tribulations yet do walk in the way of life and shine as Stars in the Firmament of their Churches and Graces Observ 3. That the sharpest persecution comes from such as are the highest pretenders to truth and godliness The Jews were such that boasted much of their divâ—â—â—cles and priviledges from Abraham Luke 3.8 yet â—ere the most inveterate and bitter adversaries to the Gospel of Christ and to the primitive Apostolical churches of any persons in the world Witness their reproachful blasphemies which consisted not only against Christ himself but against his members also They reproached him that he had a divel and that by Beelzobub he did his miracles and cast out divels yea their malice was not only to him living but reached him after his crucifiction and resurrection that if possibly they could destroy or weaken the faith of his disciples and withal hinder the promulgation of the truth and to that
go undiscovered that deserve such Titles better themselves or at least wise so to raise a Scar-crow to drive away the fearful and dis-ingenious from a full enquiring into the Truths of God that would discover the vanity and folly of their opposers But no more of this And here by the way I shall not be ashamed to acquaint you with one mistake of mine who once thought as most men do that God in his Providential disposing the Kingdoms oâ— this world and in exalting men of low degreâ— into the Throne of Princes and throwing down great Princes and their Progenies into the state of slaves it was only to manifest his Soveraignty over the Kingdoms of this world to give them to whom he pleaseth but more maturely considering the All-wise ordering hand of God in such great Transactions I have found the issue in all Ages to be very advantagious to the Church of God and the result of all such State-shakings and Revolutions to be in mercy towards his Church and People When God broke the great Caldeo-Assyrian Monarchy and transferred it to the Medio-Persian how vvonderfully and by vvhat strange providence did God raise Cyrus his servant or instrument for that work Who was exposed to be destroyed by the command of his Grandsire Astyages whiles an Infant upon pretence of some fatal Prophesie yet preserved and brought up amongst Shepherds as his Story goes that afterwards he became most providentially the great deliverer of God's people the Jews from their Assyrian bondage Moses the great Captain of Israel we are sure trod almost the same path under a strange providence of Preservation that at last he became the deliverer of Israel from their Aegyptian thraldome When Saul was set by who was of a Kingly Presence and by the Head and Shoulders above his brethren David was called from the Sheep-cot to the Throne the issue whereof was the exaltation of Israel and the downfal of their enemies If we shall but reflect since Christ's coming in the flesh on the example of Constantine the Great Son unto Helena a Brittish Lady who through many glorious and eminent Victories and Services was at last advanced to the Imperial Seat and how he at last became as a Temporal Saviour to the Church of Christ and Destroyer to the Kingdom of the Dragon is most marvellous to consider It is worth further the taking notice of how wonderfully God in late ages raised the Spirits of some obscure persons as Martin Luther and his Associates of the first Reformation with some other Reformed Ministers since that they have made the great Hierarchy of Rome to shake with their Power so that many Christian Princes then and since began to hate the Whore with the Wine of whose Fornications they were made drunken and now begin not only to hate her but to make her desolate and naked and to eat her flesh But yet that age was but the first fruits or Prodromus not the consummation of the work for she having since lifted up her head and endeavoured to cover her nakedness and to cure her self of her great Wound received but all in vain for her period drawing nigh God exasperates her sore more and more and makes those Horns those Princes that were once her strong Supporters to fall off from her and to hate her Indeed the first Reformers took off her outward garments and showed her nakedness in her false Doctrine and partly in her false Worship and then began to eat her Flesh in taking off some of her pompous Revenues but yet the main Work was left undone to its appointed time For as this great City rose not in one day but gradually so will also her ruine be by several Measures or Vials of God's wrath poured out upon her until the consummation of her ruine come with fire both Material and Analogical the one the fire of God's Word first destroying quite her false Worship which daylie goes on in perfecting the other God's fire of War and Judgements destroying quite up her outward State and Policy that her place be no more found And to the bringing about this great end God works very variously somtimes in moving on the hearts of Princes and so makes them willing unto this work somtimes in laying aside Princes of ancient and potent Families and raising up meaner and lower Persons on their Thrones as he most wonderfully hath done of late among our selves to whom he gives Hearts Spirits and Gifts meet for this great work and lastly in over-ruling the designs of others that though they go about to seek themselves and to advance their own Dominion and Power of Ruling yet the All-wise providence of God knows how so to order them as to bring about his predesigned end For I cannot believe that they will be all pious good Princes and right in their ends that shall be employed about this work for they are the ten Horns or ten Kings that receive power one hour with the Beast and were Members of him that shall destroy the Whore and burn her with Fire Rev. 17.12.16 I am of the minde that few conclude that Hen. 8. and some other Princes were so justifiable in their ends in expelling the Authority of Antichrist as they should have been and yet God employed them as his Instruments in this Work and when they have done his business God knows how to lay them by and all such self-ended persons as useless or at least make them but as Gibeonites or Hewers of Wood in the House of the Lord. Lastly Your Worship may be pleased to take notice that some conceive those and the like Interpretations of dark Prophesies to be but the issues of distempered brains and of little certainty To whom I answer Seeing that this is a Book that hath the publique impress of the Spirit in it and left as it were as its last Legacy of this sort in the Church of Christ I profess soberly I know not what tolerable sense to set on this Book of the Revelation if it be not for an historical discovery under Types and Figures of all the Changes and Revolutions with their Periods and Issues that should befal the Church of God and their Oppressors and Enemies until the end of all I confess there may be some difference in Interpreting and in not rightly Applying some of the several Characters Periods and Visions of this Book and in other circumstantial parts thereof and wherein I fail I entreat not only your Worship but all others to remember my weakness and our common attribute Humanum est errare and especially being amongst such Prophetical deeps and difficulties which may well plead for his failings who is conscious of his insufficiencies for so high and difficult an undertaking Yet this I dare be bold to say that the substantial part of this Prophesie is here cleared and discovered And if any receive light hereby to the better understanding the dark Mysteries thereof give me leave to say with Daniel cap.
Prophesies then they that went before us and no discredit to them be they ever so Godly and Learned I have observed that some and no mean Ones that are gone before on this Theme are not without their Maculae and Defects and more especially in that they have appeared of too private and narrow a Spirit in their Interpreting and applying the Prophesies of this Book unto their own times Interests and Designs as if the Actions and Revolutions of every petty City and Commonweal yea the ends Designs and Periods of every Person that Divine Providence exalts in Power and Authority somwhat beyond the common boundaries of the ordinary Lords and Rulers of the Nations were Comprised Predicted Fore-told and Prophesied of in this Book of Revelations and so by this means makes strange and wilde Applications of the Visions and Mysteries of this Book And where this conceit works strongly it will work madly too when once it is elevated to that height and gets a power then there must be no opposing of those Ends and Designs that such Opinionists pretends as just Collections from the Prophesies of this Book which they interpret according to their own Fancies and have only a Being as wilde Chymeras in their own deceived Imaginations This is that Rock whereon some have formerly made Shipwrack and perished thereon and others now adays are Sayling with a full gale towards the same Charybdis and if God in Mercy prevent not will thereon split and perish also But to return Here I shall give an answer Cui bono or to what ends I undertook this Exercitation on this Book of the Revelation This last the Discovery of this dangerous Rock was not the least End that I set before me in this undertaking Which Ends for better satisfaction I shall here more particularly set down in Order 1. My first was next Gods Glory and the advancement of his Truth for the keeping the Saints feet streight in not stumbling by a false Interpreting and Applying of this Book of Prophesies and in vainly endeavouring the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ before the time and in the pulling down all Authority that oppose such Pretenders to their own utter ruine and undoing without Repentance 2. That Christs true Saints may be comforted and supported under all their Afflictions and Persecutions in this World by the consideration of Christs own True and Real Kingdom which is to come Not this of Weakness which is partly Spiritual partly Carnal but that of Power and great Glory when all his â—nemies shall be made his Foot-stool and broken and ruled by his Rod of Iron which will be at the great Day of his Appearance and coming in the Clouds and not before 3. In Profiting my self and others My self in Writing others in Reading As it was once said by Augustine Prodest scribendo scribendo prodest We having all as Aquinas testifies longing desires conjungi cum suo principio to be conjoyned with our principle 4. To redeem the time having spent many precious hours and days in folly and been examples unto others in evil doing So there is all reason we should redeem the time and God calls in this day of light both from my self and all others that we should be patterns unto others in well doing if that possibly we may redeem the lost time of our youth and folly Lastly That God may have his ends and glory in the work of our Creation we being born not alone for our selves but for the work of our generation to serve God therein faithfully in all the relations that he calls us to God hath not sent us into this world to spend away all our precious days in sports pastimes and follies or about the more profitable affairs of this present world as the custom of too too many is but to sacrifice some competent part thereof unto the service of our God and Christ that our friends neighbours relations and posterity may take encouragements and examples by us to live more unto the praise of God and their Creator Having thus laid down my ends in this undertaking I have this more to acquaint thee with This Exercitation being sent forth as my First-born in this kinde in publique unto the world the second being intended also on this whole Book of Divine Prophesies if God doth continue but his wonted mercies and encouragements thereunto This first is more Practical and Doctrinal and therefore I have herein followed a method with Observations and Notes which the second will not so commodiously admit the great work of that being to demonstrate the truth of each Prophesie and how the Mysteries Figures and Characters thereof are to be interpreted understood and applyed to their proper times periods States Interests and revolutions represented by them But this first being more practical and treating of divers Questions that are under dispute now in these days I thought it fit to let this see the light in the first place to try how it will taste upon the pallates of the godly ingenious for if it savours well with them it will suffice and be a farther encouragement unto the second I know I shall not please all in this Writing neither was there ever a Writer with whom all have been satisfyed for according to the Poet Ad captum Lectoris habent sua fata Libelli Books do either hit or miss As the Readers Judgement is Neither indeed was it in my thoughts to endeavour the satisfacton of all well knowing that there are some so prepossessed with prejudice or at least so wedded to their own conceits that it were the greatest unreasonableness and servility in the World to captivate ones reason to the satisfaction of their overweening folly It was also far beneath my Designe to accommodate my Writings to the popular applause and as the Tragedian says Populo ut placerent who commonly weigh not the matter by the truth and Scriptural reason but by their own irregular fancies and affections and therefore am far from their humour who Nil rectum reputant nisi quod placuit sibi ducunt Next I shall acquaint the ingenious Reader That if any of my conclusions recede from the truth of Scriptures I could willingly wish all such an abortion in the very birth But if any thereof seem only to discede from the common received Opinions let the Ingenious consider So long as they are Warranted by the Authority of Scripture and Reason I hope I shall not want a Protector or a sufficient Defence and Apologie I have no more to add in this way of Apologizing unto the Reader but if he be a friend unto the Truths herein discussed I wish him a farther increase of Divine light If he be malevolent thereunto all the harm I wish him is a better Spirit and a more enlightned Judgement If he be supine and negligent I wish him to add diligence and prayers to God for a right enquiry If he be ignorant I wish him a greater measure of true
people to be forewarned of this time fore see it though long before it come to bear up their Spirits in there greatest afflictions and distresses Abraham saw Christs day and blessed God though seeing it afar of by faith This God hath more especially done in this Book of the Revelation it being a discovery unto the Apostle John in Prophetical representations and Hierogliphique figures of all the Empires States and Kingdoms both Ethnick and Antichristian with their severall usurpations and oppressions over the Church of God which should happen from Iohn's time unto the end of the World together with the issue thereof the finall destruction of the one and the exaltation of the other before the ultimate end of all But here by the way it will be objected and said that this Book is full of hidden mysteries and sealed and very difficult to be understood and therefore most of those that have espoused their studies to the opening of this Book have come of with losse in their over bold undertaking 1. I Answer this Book of the Revelation of S. Iohn is indeed full of mysteries which will so remain untill the accomplishment thereof do discover them unto us and make them manifest But when we by the observation of the events do see before our eyes the effect of each Prophesie and what by this and that thing hath been meant it is now no longer a mystery unto us It is now obvious to every eye what is meant by mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots Rev. 17.6 This the Spirit of God doth clear up in the same Chapter to be the City with seven heads raigning over the Kings of the earth And few or none do hesitate but do acknowledge yea even the learnest of the Jesuites themselves as Bellar. Lib. 2. de Pontif. Rom. Chap. 2. Blasius Viegas in Chap. 17.18 Apoc. 5. Sect. 3. Ribera in Apoc. Châ—p 14. Page 144. c. That by this great City here is meant Rome likewise all interpreters of the Reformation do harmoniously accord that by the Beast of seven heads and ten horns Rev. 13 1. must be meant the Romish Empire divided into ten Kingdoms And the Beast with two horns like a Lamb Rev. 13.11 yet speaking like a Dragon to be the Popish Antichristian Hierarchy and if events hath plainly evidenced these without contradiction so to be understood and interpreted as in the progresse of this discourse will more fully appear why then should if seem strange that the residue of the mysteries of this Book should be unlocked and made obvious as well as the former Since the Spirit of God it self in the 17. Chapter hath laid the first ground work from whence as from a sure foundation we may have a view of the whole Revelation by collating Hystories times and passages one with another and lay them to their several characters and periods which the Spirit hath affixed to every remarkable revolution passage and Prophesie in this Book as a sure token and touch-stone to finde them out and make them manifest So that now the Revelation is no longer a mystery but a Book of History of memorable Acts and passages Wherein is fore told the several changes that shall befall to the secular State or Roman Empire and to the Church of Christ under the Dominion of that Empire untill it shall as that stone prophesied of in Dan. 2. Smite the Image on his feet and become it self a great Mountaine and set up upon the top of all Mountains And if we compare the Historyes and changes that hath hapned in the Romane Empire with the Revelation we shall discover clearly how far the accomplishments reacheth and what we may expect ere long So that the things represented in this Book are no more mysteries and hidden things but as clear and accomplished Acts unto us 2. The very Title and first entrance into the first Chapter first verse of this Book denies it to be a hidden mistery no farther then before the events do discover themselves for it is called the Apocalypse or the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew unto his Servants which shortly must be done which hee sent and shewed by his Angel unto his Servant Iohn Besides it is contrary to the clear letter of the Text that it should be a Book shut and sealed for in the 6. Chapter vers 8. The Lambs is found worthy to open the sealed Book and so discoveries are made unto Iohn and by him to all the Church of God 3. That little Book mentioned in Chap. 10. which more especially containes the fate or destiny of the Church to the end of the World was an open book and the Son of God in the end of the Revelation Chap. 22.10 plainly prohibiteth to seale the sayings of the Prophesie of this book for the time is at hand Therefore this hence clearly follows to set a check upon our supine and overly looking on this book We would rather have it sealed and hidden though the Son of God testifies the contrary then to bestow our industry with the help of the Spirit of God to seeks out the minde of the Spirit in it Truths are like treasures got by the forest labours are most sweet and precious but with all such slowbellies that think there is a Lyon in the way I leave with them these considerations Is it the Book or Word of God or not If it is as I hereafter shall clearly evince then study it Some good will come to the soule by it No Word of God is of private interpretation or written in vain it will stand in great stead Yea in the Alpha of this book and the Omega thereof in the first and last Chapters there is a blessing stored up for them that read and they that learn the words of this Prophesie and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand Chap. 1. ver 3. and Chap. 22. ver 7. And shall there a blessing be promised to all these that read hear and keep the words of this Prophesie and he that hath promised being most faithful to perform Yea these things saith the Son of God who hath his eyes like unto a flaming fire Revel 2.18 These things saith hee that is holy and true Chap 3.7 These things saith the Amen the faithfull and true wittnesse Chap. 3.14 And so closes in the last Chapter ver 6. that these sayings are faithfull and true Heaven and earth shall first pass away before one jota or tittle of the Word of God shall fall to the ground unaccomplished I say shall there a blessing be promised upon so faithful grounds and wilt thou not look after it I should judge blessedness worth the looking after seeing that hee that hath promised is most ready willing and able to perform But if it demanded what is the advantage what is this blessing that may accrue in reading hearing and keeping the words of this Prophesy I answer
shall be for a time times and half And the Son of God in the Revelation 13.14 hath shewed that the Beast and false Prophet shall have power over the Saints for 42. moneths and that the time of the woman in the Wilderness and the time of the witnesses Prophesying in sackcloth to be 1260. dayes These things saith the Amen the faithfull and true witness who would not then believe him Seeing that Antichrists raign and the time of the Saints mourning is in the Eternall decree of God limited and prefixed and that which the Angel and the Son of God do testifie with a great oath we have no reason to doubt of but that they will come to pass in their several periods and appointed seasons Again against the definite demonstration of the last times and seasons and the great changes and revolutions held forth in this Book of the Revelation two Scriptures offers themselves that of our Saviours to his Disciples in Mark 13.32 speaking of the last day and of his second comming But of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son but the Father the other is that of the Act. 1.7 Wherein Christ answereth his Disciples question wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom unto Israel And hee said unto them it is not for you to know the time and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power so the objection lyes thus If no man no not Christ the Son of Man nor the Angels of Heaven knows the last day but that times and seasons are left alone in the power of the Father how then commeth it to pass that there is a discovery of times and seasons and of the last day it self and end of all made out unto John in this Revelation by Christ himself I answer first we must know that in Christ there was two natures distinct and unconfounded to make up one Person of a mediatour and the property of each nature did remain entire unto each hee was true God and true Man and as hee was Man or the Son of Man it is no derogation at all unto him to affirm that he knew not all things and that according to the understanding of Man to be ignorant of some things and so of the last day But to affirm it as he is God being one in Counsel nature and essence with the Father from all eternity it would be no less then blasphemy to affirm it for shall the Creatour of all things be ignorant of his handy-work 2. It was not the injunction or command of his Father on him whiles he conversed here on earth to discover unto the World what should happen in the latter dayes Of the same comfort is that Scripture Mark 10.40 being an answer to the Sons of Zebedee to sit on his right hand or his left was not his to give yet in Revel 3.21 he promiseth to him that overcommeth that he shall sit down with him in his Throne This Scripture gives a fair light to an interpretation of the former for whiles he was here beneath perfecting the work of our redemption here on earth the Revelation was not given unto him from the Father to discover times and seasons nor to give Thrones Powers and Kingdoms into the hands of his Saints untill after his resurrection when all power was given unto him by the Father and all things were then given into his hand by right of purchase And this is that that is clearly intimated in the Revel 5.9 c. When none was found worthy to open the Book then the 24. elders before the Throne sang a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seales thereof for thou wast slain and hath redeemed us to God by thy bloud of every kindred tongue people and Nation The opening of this book being as it were referred to the merit of his death and passion so that it should not seem strange that he knew not the day of his second comming neither having not as yet suffered nor entered into his glory The Revelation of all things being reserved by the Father for Christ unto that day 3. That place of the Acts 1.7 is nothing to the purpose It was not for his Disciples to know then the fittest and most meet time which God thought good at that time not to make known to restore the Kingdom unto Israel he doth not answer them that he will not restore the Kingdom unto Israel But it was not now fit for them to know the time and season thereof Christ here speaks of de tempore Tempestivo of the opportune and fit time and seasons which the Father does reserve in his own power and will not reveale unto his people 4. I answer that in this essay I do consider the time of the rise progresse and period of Antichrist and other the great events Syncronizing with the same in an Indefinite and more general way not in an exact definite precise day and hour here I only consider the years in a more general way which now the Father hath not reserved as a secret in his own power but revealed them to us by his Son in this of the Revelation and other books of God Lastly accounting it as labour lost to answer the vain interpretations and glosses of the allegorizing and Chymical Scripturists to wit the Familistical Notionists who can extract quidlibet ex quolibet and so make the Revelation indeed a mistery and book sealed to the wisest Christian therefore I shall not at all meddle with them when as they interpret according to the mistical fanâ—ies of their own confused brains and not according to the least measure of sound knowledge For indeed if this book be not opened according to the Prophetical visions with their peculiar characters rightly applied to their several times and seasons we shall not know what tollerable sence or exposition to set upon it It is well that the Spirit of God it self doth clearly discover and demonstrate in the 17. Chap. the beast with seven heads and ten horns to be a government or Empire that should arise under ten Kings And that mistery of Babylon the great and the woman sitting upon many waters to be that great City scituated upon seven hils and which doth raign over the Kings of the earth Now if the Spirit of God it self hath holpen us with this key to unshut in part the misteries of the Revelation it should not be accounted presumption in us to fall on the same method in opening the rest of the Prophetical representations and figures of this book when as the Spirit of God hath given us some first fruits thereof it self as sure footsteps to tread in From which discovery of the Spirit we may as from a watch-tower take a full veiw of the rest of the Revelation and so a scanding of the whole book otherwise in it self inaccessible And that thy Servant O Christ who
another two horned Beast joyntly raging and reigning with the former at one and the same time which doth as much mischief to her as that secular Beast it self doth being the Ecclesiastique and Pseudo-prophetical Beast or Antichrist it self who is the former Beasts great chaplain Prophet and Vicar general who under pretence of Christ and Christian Religion having two horns like a Lamb yet exercises the cruelty of the Dragon and sets up again other under specious titles the late abolished heathenish Idolatry and tyrannous persecuting Government like that of the Dragons and so healeth the wound given to the first Beast This Beast's tokens qualities and characters are herein described that they that have wisdom may know and shun them 7. In the fourteenth chapter is observable how during the reigne of this antichristian beast the faithful followers of the Lamb by their continual publishing of the sincere Gospel of Christ they bring ruine and desolation upon spiritual or mystical Babylon the antichristian state and seat set forth under the cry of the three Angels but more particularly in the 15 and 16 chapters in the visions of the Vials and the effusions thereof are the particular gradual and final ruines of the anti-christian Beast with all the churches enemies more fully set forth and manifested at the pouring out whereof the church of Christ being freed and delivered from all anti-christs oppressions and idolatrous pollutions she sings her tryumphant song the song of Moses 8. In the seventeenth chapter that those precedent prophetical Visions and Discoveries may not seem improbable the Spirit it self gives the interpretation of the mystery of the great whore of Babylon sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast of seven heads and ten horns The Beast is the Roman Empire divided under ten Kings or Kingdoms The woman harlot is the great City to wit Rome it self which the Jesuites themselves cannot deny as in the preface hereof is more fully manifested which reigneth over the Kings of the earth the mother City of all spiritual fornications By this taste of the Spirit 's interpretation it plainly appears that the whole Book of Visions are to be applyed and explained historically and that every mysterie opens others to the discovery even of the whole 9. In the 18 and 19 chapters is but a more solemn reiterating of the execution of Gods wrath against the antichristian state with the horror anguish and utter desolations that should befal it and all the Churches combined enemies whereupon the Church being now freed from all dangers gives praise power and glory unto God And in chap. 20. enjoys that happy sabbath of rest that glorious reigne on earth for a thousand years that great day of judgement beginning with the first resurrection and determined with the last and universal resurrection of all the dead when all Christs enemies shall be taken and cast into hell to be tormented for evermore and the Saints translated into the glorified estate that heavenly City the new Jerusalem the spouse of Christ which came down from heaven to reigne with him for ever and ever 10. In 21 and 22 chapters you may observe the glorious description of this new glorified Church-state which came down from heaven set forth by most excellent metaphors and figures wherein all spiritual delicacies in a far higher pitch then the church ever yet enjoyed on earth set forth unto us by such resemblances figures as is now most glorious to our capacities and fittest to express such heavenly and spiritual matters whereupon follows a conclusion of the properties of that glory but never of the glory it self and so of the whole prophesie with a confirmation of the verity and truth thereof until the accomplishment of all These things being cleared and premised and having laid down a brief view of the scope and designe of the whole I come by Gods assistance and with a spirit of sobriety and with awe and reverence to open in the next place the mysteries of the book it self Remove not the stone well laid THE REVELATION Revealed Chap. I. Verse 1 2 3. Ver. 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass and he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John Ver. 2. Who bare Record of the word of God and of the Testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw Ver. 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand HAving formerly by way of Introduction premised some things and amongst the rest who is the Author of this Revelation and that is Jesus Christ and therefore here it is called The Revelation of Iesus Christ because he as the Mediator of his Church received it from the bosome of the Father in an unspeakable manner and made it known by his servant Iohn for the good and comfort of his servants the Church and Saints of God from this word or Title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Revelation you may observe Observ 1. That this is a book of Truths and Prophesies not hidden and sealed but made known and revealed for the comfort and edification of the church of Christ It is a Revelation of things and passages which must shortly come to pass verse 3. And how with reason could a blessing be promised to the keeping of the words of this Prophesie if it were not known what was to be read heard and kept We have further the testimony of the Spirit for it cap. 10. v 8. That the little book was an open book wherein is contained the great revolutions of the Church until the end of all and in chap. 22. v. 10. there is a positive command not to seal the prophesies of this book for the time is at hand Observ 2. From the Author of the Revelation Jesus Christ observe That all good things that God hath in his counsel determined to bestow and give unto his Church he doth give and bestow them in by and thorow Jesus Christ He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world the same yesterday to day and for ever He was the Angel of the Covenant and the keeper of Israel of old and is the same to us for ever It was he that bruised the Serpents head in the beginning upon our parents first transgression and it is he that is more then conqueror over all the powers of darkness now and for ever He was the same spiritual rock and way of salvation to the Patriarchs of old as he is now unto us and none ever did or shall come to the father or receive good from him but in by and thorow the Son who is the true light that lightneth every one that cometh into the world so that if Christ be yours then all is yours whether things present or things to come for Christ is God's 1 Cor. 3.22 23. Lastly
because this of Christ coming in the clouds here is set as the general result and the main proposition of the whole of the Revelation wherein the great designe is to set forth Christ to come and the glorious estate of his Church here on earth before the ultimate end as will appear hereafter To demonstrate this a little plainer I set these Queries out of Zach. 12. collated with this place and that of Matth. 24.30 1. Was ever Iudah or Ierusalem since that Prophesie made to her enemies a cup of trembling Was she ever a burdensome stone to the whole earth to cut them in pieces Have ever the Governours of Iudah been like an hearth of fire amongst the wood and and like a torch of fire in a sheaf devouring all the people round about Or Were they ever since that Prophesie of Zachary in that strength that the feeble amongst them were as David and the house of David as Elohim c. Peruse the History of the Iews and consider whether you can find the least accomplishment thereof I next quere when was ever that eminent effusion of the Spirit of grace and supplication poured out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Ierusalem that they should look on him whom they had pierced and mourn for him with great bitterness each family mourning apart Was this done at Christ's passion by the obstinate Iews his crucifiers They derided him Or was this fulfilled by the small number of the Iews his Disciples the eleven who fled at his suffering They did not pierce him Or was this fulfilled upon those mourners in Acts 2 They saw him not when they mourned nor with their families apart nor saw him in the clouds and thereupon mourn for him and therefore as yet the main of this Prophesie is to be fulfilled Lastly Is this to be referred to the last resurrection or ultimate judgement I ask Is that a day of repentance of mourning and of grace That is a day of judgement unto the wicked and then Christ's dispensatory Kingdom of Grace is at an end 1 Cor. 15.24 Therefore to be brief and not to exceed due bounds I assert That here by seeing Christ coming in the clouds by every eye and by them that pierced him and that all kindreds of the earth should wail because of him is meant by John as Zachary meant namely that all the Tribes both Iews and Gentiles should see Christ coming in the clouds with glory as man before the end of all to the Iews and all his Elect with grace and godly repentance to the all other his enemies with horrour and confusion consult Jer 25.5 6. Zach. 2.10 11 12. Isa 2. throughout Object But here it may be objected That you make divers comings of Christ to judgement the one to the conversion of the Iews and the restauration of his Church to a glorious State and Reigne in the destruction of their enemies and another or second coming again before the final end of all things to execute the ultimate judgement But this is contrary to Scripture which mentions only of two comings of Christ the first in the flesh in the time of the Gospel and the last at the day of judgement to execute the wrath of his Father on all his impenitent enemies and the refusers of his Gospel I answer Christ's coming in Scripture is variously taken somtimes for his first coming in the flesh somtimes in Spirit of grace power and miracles but lastly and most eminently to judgement And in this his last coming there are several remarkable periods and events In the beginning and morning of this great day he comes to convert the Jews restore the kingdom unto Israel and to the church of Christ and to destroy antichrist and all the Saints enemies not utterly finally but of all power and dominion over the Church which is quite taken off by Christ and a sure chain or tye laid on their spirits of malice and on their Ring-leader Satan himself that there is none can hurt during this glorious reigne in Gods holy mountain This Restauration is the work of the morning of the day But the wotk of the evening of this day is the universal resurrection of the dead and to give final sentence on all the enemies of Christ that opposed him and his Kingdom and to give them their portions with the divel and his angels in that lake of fire that burneth for evermore see more at large hereof in chap. 20. So that there is not two last comings of Christ but two remarkable acts or events in this his last coming to wit in the morning and evening of this great day of his appearance Verse 8. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come even the Almighty Here the Divinity of Christ is plainly asserted who counts it no robbery to be equal with God and to take his attributes unto himself And that the person here intended by the Spirit is Christ is clear from the precedent verse the same person that came with clouds and was pierced is the same here described who is the Alpha and Omega and this is most evident by collating it to verse 11. and 17. where he that is the first and the last who was dead but now alive commands John to write what he saw and that was Christ verse 1. Christ is here called the Alpha and Omega which are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and which is and which was and which is to come even the Almighty Out of which description of his person Note Observ That Christ is one and the same infinite almighty and eternal God of himself with the Father from everlasting By him all things were made in the beginning and without him nothing was made and by him all things shall end This eternal Word or Christ was with God from everlasting and this Word was God and therefore takes unto himself the essential and absolute incommunicable properties of God unto himself and therefore this is a most express Scripture if there were not any more of this consort in the word of God wherein it abounds to â—ay low the reasons of the greatest pretenders to reason in the world the reasonless Arrianized Socinians of these times who deny the Divinity or Godhead of Christ Collate with this to this purpose verses 4 and 5. of this chapter Verse 9. I John even your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ was in the Isle called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ John in this verse describes his condition and the place wherein he was when he received this Revelation using the loving and common Christian compellations of brother and companion in tribulation the word in the original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a fellow commoner or fellow-sharer in affliction From whence by the way observe from
Disciples should be offended because of him and that they should be cast out imprisoned reviled and suffer many persecutions for his names sake And the ground or reason of all this is from that promise in Gen. 3. That God would set enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent and this enmity hath abided ever since and will ever abide between those two mystical seeds until the seed of the woman Christ and his members shall become absolute conquerors in the binding up the old serpent who is the father of all enmities and mischiefs This informeth God's people that it should not seem strange unto them when the world and their enemies do rage against them Here a question may come in Whether christians when they are called unto it are bound in duty to suffer for the profession of all the Truths of God To clear this question I shall premise briefly That Truths are either about fundamentals or circumstantials Fundamentals are such as without the knowledge thereof we cannot ordinarily be saved and they are conversant either about the very being of a Saint and Christian or secondly about the well-being in preserving and building up this Christian in his holy faith and these are called principles or rudiments of Religion Heb. 6.1 You know no one can proceed to be an Artist in any Art or Science or come to any perfection therein without some certain rules and principles to proceed by so none can become a true Christian or Artist in that heavenly Science of Christianity without some first laid principles And amongst those Fundamentalls which are necessary to the Being of a christian I believe as some have been too large in the description of their Fundamentals so some have been too narrow and therefore seeing they are not precisely determined by any universal assembly of christians but are left to be gathered up here and there in the Word of God by parcels I shall not be so presumptuous to define their certain number only I say thus much That that Creed which is called the Apostolical setting a qualified sense on that article of Christ's descent into hell to be the exactest square and rule of principles that relates unto the very Being of a Christian that is this day extant and he that is not ready to suffer for the profession thereof is not worthy the name of a Christian Now secondly other Fundamentals are about the well-being of a christian and such are all the Ordinances of the Gospel As Baptism Lord's Supper Prayer Thanks-givings all Church Orders and Fellowships Preaching Exhorting Reproving Overseeing and the like And if it be in our power we are rather to forbear the use of one of them then to defile our souls or consciences under corrupt administrations of them but if at any time we were called to suffer for the essential truth of them we are bound to suffer and to bear them a testimony as a part of the Truth and Word of God But for every opinion that arises about the right administrations of the latter or manner of understanding of the former principles which are but the circumstantials of Religion to set bonds upon the conscience therein it savours rather of a spirit of contention heat and passion then of found judgement and christian wisdom This is to make hard knots where there is none and Christ calls his yoke easie this were to make it burdensom and intollerable The substantial part of Christian Religion is plain and easie and the blinde may walk therein and a lamb may wade thorow This is life eternal that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 It is true there are mysteries high questions and deep things of God in the word these are for the exercise of our spirits and gifts not of our faith no further then as part of the revealed mind of God and therefore we believe them to be truth though we understand them not which are reserved until the day of the revelation of all things when we shall know as we are known and when all our ignorances and imperfections shall be done away This sets a check upon some hot spirits of these times that rather then lose or part with their wilde opinions or let them lie unvented would break all the bonds of peace charity and communion amongst Christians and so utterly deprive the churches of Christ of all the benefit which otherwise their gifts and parts might stand in stead for I doubt all sorts of christians of our times are too far baptized into this errour and Satan hath too great a stroke in it to divide the hearts of Christians about circumstantials when as they hold one and the same fundamentals joyntly together The Lord in mercy to his churches remedy this great evil and sin of our times Vers 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice as of a Trumpet In the Greek copie it is no more but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was in the Spirit which in Beza's translation is rendred correptus in Spiritu I was rapt in Spirit It was indeed a rapture of spirit an extasie wherein John received this Vision and so it hath been with all the Prophets of old they were acted by the Spirit in all their visions and prophesies they were lift up above themselves and out of themselves when they were to have cognizance of Divine things and this was by the Eternal Spirit of God working mightily in their spirits Observ That the Spirit of God does as it were set a violence on those persons he employs about the high mysteries and discoveries of his choicest Truths Paul that great light of the Gentiles he had his raptures into the third heaven whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell Exekiel when he was to receive those high Visions he oft reports of the Spirit entring into him and taking him up cap. 3.12 and 2.2 John for his better accomplishment to receive those divine Visions he is here said to be rapt in Spirit And the reasons of this is First That he might be the better enabled to take a clear and full view of those divine discoveries which were about to be shown unto him When we would show one things distinctly we use to place him up on high for the better sight Secondly That he might have satisfaction in his own spirit that those his visions were from God seeing he had so extraordinary taste of the Spirit in the first place he might well conclude he was now as it were to become the mouth of the Spirit unto the churches Lastly That his thoughts and heart might have been sequestred from things below and his contemplation raised higher on things divine as a true Prophet of God ought to have Another Note from hence is as a corrollary to the former That when Christ sets up any eminent Officer or Light in
his church for the service thereof God first fills them with his Spirit When John was but upon entring upon his prophetical office God ravishes him with his Spirit and fills him therewith to fit him for this office When men in the Apostles days were to be chosen but for the lowest services in the Church as for the over-sight of the poor and the like yet they must be men full of the holy Ghost and wisdom Acts 6.3 Much more then for the highest places as Prophets Pastors Teachers and Elders c. It is said Paul and Barnabas were filled with the holy Ghost and therefore to be separated unto the work Acts 11.24 and 13.2 The Offices of the churches of Christ are for those that have the Spirit of Christ in them in some fulness of it those places are not for such as are filled with the spirit of envie covetousness pride the world contention ignorance and antichristian lording such have not the spirit of Christ in them it may be well said of such that they run for profit here and the like but the Lord sent them not Jer. 14.14 and 23.21 They flatter themselves and think they are called and sent of God because God hath given them some common acquired gifts and parts yet want all the especial graces of the Spirit as meekness self-denial contempt of this world humility bowels of compassion ready to forgive sound knowledge in the truth and holiness and righteousness in their lives and conversations they that want those graces in the truth of them are neither fit for those high functions in the church nor can satisfyingly perswade themselves or others that they are called unto it Let this be as a memento to all such that climbe over the walls into those holy Functions and are well satisfied with a call from men when they were never called of God I say let all such fear and tremble lest God spew them all our together with their flocks that would have it so in his wrath for ever John was rapt in Spirit on the Lord's day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek Whether this day be here called the Lord's day for the great discoveries of those visions made unto John upon this day or because it was the Lord's day for the assembling of the Saints to perform their services unto God it being the same day with that which the Apostles call the first day of the week and our christian Sabbath I shall not much contend but rather am enclined unto the latter for these two reasons First Because the great work of Christ's resurrection on that day wherein he was manifested Lord and Conquerour over hell and Satan purchased it that Title of the Lords day Secondly Because the observation of the Sabbath with all christian publique services were transferred to that day and so is called the Lord's day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or according to the Scottish dialect the Kirks day the Churches day because they held their assemblies and performed their publique services upon that day Hence note Observ That the Lord's day or the day of the great and publique assemblings of the Saints is the fittest time for God's highest discoveries of Grace and Truth John received here on this day his high irradiations of spirit and Prophesies This is God's great Market day wherein there is a constant and mutual Exchange or Bartering of heavenly and divine commodities the Saints come with the returns of their improvements of mercies in praises prayers and thanksgivings God gives out in return farther supplies of grace and greater measure of knowledge in his ways and truths Therefore sure most happy most knowing and most gracious are those Saints that are most found in this way O! this should make all of us that are not in this way to wail for it as David in his absence and exile from the church of God that being the special habitation of God's glory Psal 96.6 and to breath after it even as the Hart brayeth after the fountain streams for this is the day of the Saints assemblings wherein the Angel comes down the Angel of the New Covenant Christ in spirit to stir upon the waters of Bethesda upon the hearts and affections of all his people When John was in this rapture of spirit on the Lord's day then he heard behind him a mighty voice as it were of a Trumpet loud and terrible The Trumpet being a warlike Instrument whose sound is to prepare unto Battel and to the terror of the adversary God's publique admonitions are so unto his church it not only prepares his own unto repentance but is also of terrible signification unto all his impenitent enemies But here comes in a question fit to be discussed John had here his raptures of spirit extasies and heard a great voice as of a Trumpet The Quere will be How shall we know Divine raptures extasies or visions from diabolical For Satan is God's Ape and hath his raptures possessions strange apparitions sounds and voices also For answer first know that God's visions are given either in the sleep as unto Jacob when he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven and Angels ascending and descending in Gen. 28. but such are more properly called Divine Dreams Or secondly When the person is awake as here when Iohn was at Patmos on the Lord's day doubtless either in God's services or holy contemplations he received those visions and raptures of spirit and those extasies or raptures of spirit do cause a great alteration upon the person that receives them he is as it were taken out of himself that is in this posture and frame and therefore it is called a rapture or extasie quasi extra se raptus being in that posture not master of the faculties of his own soul which are wholly in the power and motions of the Spirit that acts them and this is common to both sorts of raptures whether from the good or evil spirit Now to discern what spirit moves in such raptures or visions observe first Whether the person passive or that is under such raptures of spirit were always or for the most part of their lives faithful witnesses unto the word of God and of Jesus Christ such have not only the promise of the holy Spirit to teach them all things 1 Iohn 2.27 but to be preserved against the evil one in their bodies souls and spirits Secondly Observe the matter of their visions in such raptures whether it be to denounce God's judgments against sinful practises or not for surely Satan will never be divided against himself if we will believe our Saviour for so his kingdom could not stand though I have read a story in some old Popish Mass-monger that the divel once in the shape of a Priest preached a very catholique sermon but being discovered by some Saint in presence it seems one of an excellent endowment in discerning spirits asked him how durst Satan to appear in that presence with so sound holy
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
utter overthrow chap. 31. v. 3. c. It is also somwhat against reason that Saul should be all the precedent night at Endor and on his way coming and going and that under great dejection trouble and consternation by reason of his hard fate foretold him and yet notwithstanding he should the immediate morrow joyn Battel with the Philistines is in my apprehension a very unlikely conceit I shall only add and conclude with that of the Psalmist O teach us O Lord to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom that both God and the creature may have their dues Vers 11. I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last and what thou seest write in a book and send it unto the seven Churches which are in Asia unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna unto Pergamus and unto Thyatira and unto Sardis and unto Philadelphia and unto Laodicea After John was set by a spiritual rapture in a fit frame and posture to receive those divine and excellent Revelations he in this verse makes an entrance into his first vision which was the effect of that great and mighty voice that he heard as of a Trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega c. This was Christ as is manifested in verse 8. compared to the 9. who is the beginning and last of all things and who is the giver out and author of this Revelation unto John and gives him this vision concerning the seven Churches by way of an admonitory Epistle unto them and what he sees and shall be represented unto him in those visions he is commanded to write them down and send them to the seven famous Churches which then were in Asia minor at Ephesus Smyrna e. Hence Note Observ That the true Ministers of the Gospel must deal very faithfully with their churches in their doctrines and prophesies they must come with real visions of God not feigned ones Paul did profess unto those he wrote that he kept nothing back for their good but discovered the whole mind of God unto them They are to observe God's motions and directions when he moves they must move when he stands still so must they If God commands them to come with the doctrines of peace and consolation they are not to come with the doctrines of judgements and if God proceeds in anger wrath and judgments against a people for their sins the Ministers ought not like the false Prophets in Jeremiah preach peace peace and sew pillows under their elbows to build them up in security and so make them ripe for destruction neither are they only in a perfunctory way to preach the mind of God unto their churches but they must follow John's example here whatsoever vision or burden is made known unto them from the Lord they must for the more certainty and better observation thereof write it down and send it and commit it to their churches keeping this rule the Apostles kept in committing their doctrines unto writing a sure way of preserving it for the churches of Christ to the end of all Vers 12. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me and being turned I saw seven golden Candlesticks Verse 13. And in the midst of the seven Candlesticks one like unto the Son of man clothed with a garment down to the feet and girt about the paps with a golden girdle John having heard this great and terrible voice he turned to see the voice that spake unto him Either this is to be taken metonimocally where seeing is put for understanding that is he turned rightly and distinctly to understand the voice he heard or else to be taken per Synecdochen part for the whole that is he turned to see the voice that is the person that uttered the voice From hence note Observ That God's faithful ones are very intent to know the mind of God in all the discoveries of his Will They are not those that desire to know their master's will darkly and in part they are willing to know it fully that they may fully obey it It is but a fruitless hearing to hear the voice only in the ministery of the Word of God and not be intent upon the intendment and substance of it The word of God though it be the power of life unto all that believe yet without this is but as a meer voice and a dead letter Those with Paul Acts 9. when he was strucken down when he was going to Damasco heard the voice but saw not him that spake unto him so many in our days do hear the same voice of God that strikes thorow other souls unto conversion whiles they neither see nor understand the meaning of God in the voice either to their comfort or conversion No sooner was John turned to comprehend more distinctly this voice that spoke unto him but presently he had a vision presented him of the seven golden Candlesticks and one like unto the Son of man in the mids of them what is meant by the seven golden Candlesticks I refer to the last verse of this chapter where the Spirit it self is Interpreter But by the way this Note ariseth Observ That God reserveth his choisest discoveries for the most diligent and enquiring souls John when he turned to see the voice and being turned he saw seven golden Candlesticks c. When souls turn to God and enquire carefully after his will God will be found of them they are the Treasurers of his mind The secrets of the Lord are with those that fear him They shall know the intendment of God in all the revolutions and providential percussions of the Nations of the world If the Statists of the world would know what would be the event of things their best counsellors would be such as are the wise and diligent observers not of Stars flying of Birds the bowels of Beasts and such Ethnick fopperies but of the voice of God in his holy Word Observ 2. The things contained in this book of Prophesies are most certain John saith not he heard only a voice but he saw seven golden Candlesticks c. The sense of sight is the most certain most evidential of all the senses 1 Iohn 1.3 And indeed this whole book is a book of visions presented unto Iohn and which he saw in Patmos Now in all visions there are some representations made either to the eye of the body externally or to the eye of the minde internally Secondly In every vision there is somthing that is Future and therefore it is somtimes called prophesie or prediction Isa 1.1 Thirdly The party to whom it is made hath a strong irradiation of Spirit and mighty light over-powering him to make him obedient unto that heavenly vision and so is put out of all doubt of the truth of it Fourthly It is in great evidence when the party is awake Dreams are but obscurer visions when men are asleep and therefore visions are the more evident and excellent discoveries of the truth In this
some of the mistakes of our Translators Consult to this purpose Luke 7.24 Mal. 3.1 and therefore it should be better rendered here Messengers write unto the Messengers of the seven churches And the Ministers of the Gospel are so termed because they are persons sent and commissionated by Christ to preach and teach his Gospel amongst his churches Matth. 28.18 Having cleared what is meant by the Angels or seven Stars of the Asian churches I shall draw these notes Observ 1. Christ hath an especial eye of providence and hand of protection over all his faithful Ministers of his Word in the most terrible times of wrath and judgement He takes them in his right hand claps them under his wings for safety Noah who was a preacher of righteousness was preserved in the Ark when all the world was drowned Righteous Lot was preserved when Sodom flamed in fire Ezekiel Daniel Mordecai c. were preserved in Babylon when the Inhabitants of Judah suffered all the miseries that an insolent Conquerour could lay upon them How Luther was preserved when all the antichristian world sought his ruine is most admirable to consider I have heard it related that that most famous Minister of Christ Peter du Molyne was preserved in Paris being a sucking childe by his Nurse under a tub when the bloody massacers did not spare man woman or childe of the Reformed Faith that he might afterward become a star in the firmament of Christ's church And the reason of all this is they that are most engaged for Christ in his work and ministery he does most engage for their safety and protection Satan is their greatest enemy therefore Christ is their greatest friend and bulwark Oh that all the Ministers of our churches were shining stars faithful Angels or rather faithful Messengers of God's word and truth Then Christ would carry them in his right hand of protection and they should be as the apple of his eye unto him The Angels Messengers or chief Ministers of these seven Asian churches are here represented by stars Stars always in prophetical Scriptures signifie eminency splendour light and excellency How art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer thou son of the morning meaning Nebuchadnezzar Isa 14.12 and Rev. 18.10 I saw a star fall from heaven which connotes the fall of a most eminent high and excellent person From hence note 2. Those that are the dispensers of Christs mysteries ought to be more eminent and excellent in knowledge and holiness then other inferiour christians They are figured by stars by the shining heavenly lamps they are the salt of the earth their lips should especially preserve wisdom they should be as stars of the greater magnitude shining in the firmament of their churches they are the Overseers of the flock to go in and out before them in soundness of life and doctrine yet too though their light be great shining and eminent yet let them consider they are but stars their light is borrowed from the Sun they should not advance it to that pitch as to make it an infallible light but they should eye the Son as the fountain of all true light to keep them in their proper Sphere and not to lord it over the Lord's inheritage Let them remember too that they are stars whereof some may be erratique as well as fixed ones Christ alone is the true light the true morning star that whosoever shall receive light from this true Son of righteousness he cannot be deceived but at last shall be brought to the Father of all lights 3. Another Note is That the Ministers of Christ are in an high and honourable calling They are figured under the types of stars celestial lights they have the same Titles of God's ministring spirits The Angels they are his Messengers that goes on his errants his Ambassadours to treat with man about the great mysteries of heaven Hence ariseth another corrolary That all Christ's ministers as they are stars though differing from one another in glory in parts gifts and graces yet not differing in power nor Lords over one another They are Angels that is Messengers Ambassadours not Prince Cardinals not Lord Bishops Every church here had its Angel its Bishop its Pastor its Elder not many Bishops not many Elders in a classical form over divers churches but every church had its Angel its Ministers or Officers Ephesus had its Anâ—gel Smyrna its Angel c. not that Ephesus Angel either singly o. joynt with two three or more were superintendent over all the rest Here is a farther description of the terribleness of the appearance of Christ in this vision when he cometh in power and judgement Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword and his face shone as the Sun in his strength The sword of the mouth is taken in Scripture for the words or doctrine proceeding from the mouth Psalm 56.5 Prov. 5.4 Job 5.15 The word of Christ is here called a sharp two-edged sword it cuts both sides but in a diverse mode it wounds the penitent but for their recovery and to bring them unto Christ and so it is mighty in operation Heb. 4.12 And secondly It is a destroying sword to his adversaries Rev. 19.15 Out of his mouth went a sharp sword that with it he should smite the heathen Hence observe Christ's word is very powerful and piercing it divides between the bone and the marrow between the soul and the spirit it is Telum Achilleum Achilles Spear that can both hurt and cure kill and make alive But it may be here questioned whether this figure of a two edged sword that went out of the mouth of Christ may not signifie and represent a material sword also I answer affirmatively That Christ also is to use that sword which is to smite the heathen with and that is a material one for he is to rule them with a rod of iron Rev. 19.15 Now how it can be understood that Christ is to smite the heathen with the sword of his mouth that is his word or rule them with his word and doctrine I see but small reason for such an interpretation and seeing too when he does this it is in fierceness treading the wine-press of the wrath of almighty God But then some may say Does Christ judge and smite his enemies only by the material sword I answer No first he goes out with the sword or spirit of his mouth to wit his divine truth and word to make manifest destroy and overthrow all antichristian Idolatry and Worship 2 Thes 2. Then secondly he goes out on the red Horse of war with a material sword to destroy the Beast and the false Prophet and their adherents and they are so smitten and destroyed that the Fowls of the Ayr are called to the prey to eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of captains and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of them that sit upon them and the flesh of all men both free and bond
right hand on Iohn First upon his consternation he gives him the spirit of Prophesie elevates and excites John's spirit to see Divine mysteries And secondly gives him his Spirit of strength power and consolation which might subdue all his carnal conceits and fears and so remove all impediments whatsoever that hindered him in that work which God would have him to undertake and therefore comes in with consolation and bids John fear not for I am the first and the last From this Note That those that are strucken low and humbled by God are fittest to be risen by God for the reception of his choicest divine truths and mysteries John was strucken as dead with his glory and then heard a voice Fear not but write the things that thou shalt see to the seven Churches When the Prophets Ezekiel and Daniel were fallen down on their faces then they were lifted by the Spirit and received glorious visions We must let all our own go our false confidences and carnal props as of our own parts our graces our eminency in gifts and the like if we will be fit auditors for Christ we must fall down at the feet of his Throne if we expect an answer from his Throne Moses a meek man yea the meekest of all men he received the choicest favours from God's hand for he spake to him mouth to mouth and face to face Deut. 34.10 He laid his right hand upon me saying unto me fear not Hence secondly Note That the hand of Christ or his Spirit is not only a most powerful but also a comforting and consolating Spirit This is the Comforter that takes off all fears from Iohn It is the Spirit of God that does convince it is the Spirit of God that converts it is the Spirit that doth inspire godly men it is the Spirit that sanctifies it is the Spirit that comforts the Spirit is the great Agent and hand of God by which God doth all his works Christ here in the likeness of the Son of man was but as a terrible apparition unto Iohn it served only to strike him dead before he laid his right hand upon him to comfort and support him so the sight or knowledge of Christ in the Gospel without the co-operation of his holy Spirit is but as a terrible sight and knowledge that makes for the greater condemnation Christ unto some may be a rock of offence and a stumbling stone whiles unto others that have his Spirit he is the rock of salvation and the corner stone which is sure and precious O lay thy right hand O Lord upon thy servant give him thy Spirit that he may know thy Will and minde in thy Word and serve thee without fear Observ 3. That Christ is full of bowels of grace and compassion towards all such as he smites and humbles The sight of Divine glory being the most effectual thing unto poor frail worthless creatures God follows it with the greatest comfort and sweetest consolations No sooner does Christ appear unto Iohn in his glory that makes him fall at his feet as dead but presently Christ lays his right hand upon him and he hears his comforting word saying Fear not Christ would not leave Iohn in that spiritless and liveless condition that the glory of the Vision had affected him with but quickly raises him and comforts him again with the most effectual and sweetest consolations Christ is our merciful high Priest and that good compassionate Samaritane who is so affected and touched with our wounds and infirmities Luk. 10.33 Heb 4.15 and that more especially with such hurts and wounds that proceeds from his own hand that he is most ready at hand with the oyl and wine the Grace of his Gospel and Blood of his Covenant to pour into our wounded souls for peace healing and consolation Job after he was stricken and humbled by the hand of God and came to a true sight of the hand that did it His captivity is turned into joy and comforts are multiplyed Job 42.5 6 c. Daniel after he was afflicted and humbled for his own sins and the sins of his forefathers cap. 4. Then the Lord sent Gabriel to comfort him and to tell him that he was a man greatly beloved ver 22. God does not throw down afflict wound or humble any of his servants to leave them so but forthwith or within a short time reaches out his right hand and lays it upon them to raise them up and to comfort them Observ 4. Another Note from this comforting word of Christ saying Fear not is That the Word of Christ being conjunct with the Hand of Christ his Spirit is the most effectual comfort to a wounded spirit The Word without the Spirit is inefficacious in its operations John had lain still as a sensless and dead person notwithstanding the word and voice of Christ if he had not lain his hand upon him also The word is of little power if the efficacy of the Spirit be not in it without this it is but a dead letter That word of Christ which is powerful and efficacious carries the Spirit with it the same word goes forth unto all and works from common gifts in some so many are called But that that makes it a distinguishing powerful word is the concomitancy of the Spirit of grace and so few are chosen When therefore we find in Scriptures such expressions as that the Word is the incorruptible seed the power of God to salvation the word of life sharper then a two-edged sword and the like These and the like phrases we must understand not as if the Word were such in it self without the Spirit but conjunctively when the Word is made the chariot of the Spirit and the Spirit is made the life and power of the Word The Word without the Spirit is only a voice void of vertue and operation and the Spirit without the medium of the Word works not ordinarily but both conjunct together makes up that true dispensation of the Gospel which is called the ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 and the Grace of God that brings salvation Tit. 2.11 God is light it self and the Father of lights yet the Sun is not useless but by it he enlightens us so the Spirit of God is the Comforter and the Sanctifier but does both comfort sanctifie and perform all other his offices and works in by and through the Word O Lord sanctifie and comfort us by thy Word and Spirit for thy Word is Truth and the power of our God unto salvation Observ 5. The last Note that I shall raise from these words And he laid his right hand upon me c. shall be That Christ doth fully furnish in some good measure with the gifts and graces of his Spirit all such as he calls and employs in the great offices of his church First he lays his right hand upon John intimating his designation enstalment and confirmation in his Prophetical office for as Imposition of hands was
in part to come written without that is plain for discovery open to the view All which imports that Iohn was to write of the then present state of Affairs and of the churches which was plain and open and as of things that are and also of the future state of things which are as a book written within sealed and secret in respect of their futurity 2. Another Note hence is That God's true Prophets and faithful Ministers will commend no more to the observation of their churches as visions from God then what they have really seen and hath been discovered from God unto them They are not to come with the word of the Lord in their mouth and pretend visions from God like the false prophets in Ier. 14 whiles their mouths and hearts are full of lying vanities Iohn writes no more then what he saw to the seven churches nor discovers no more then what he saw was then present or should come to pass in after time What we haue seen and heard saith the Apostle we speak and are bold to preach and to commend unto you Christ's Ministers should press no more then what they are assured are experienced truths I doubt me every opinion concerning outward forms of Government Discipline and the like will not at last appear to be visions of God which some do now a days so hotly contend for it may be one day said unto such hot-spurs Boanerges sons of Thunder who required such things at your hands whiles you let the greatest works as of love righteousness and judgement lie prostrate at your feet as if they did not concern you Vers 20. The mysterie of the seven Stars c. Christ in the last verse to make things plain unto John and to give him a taste of the discovery of those mysteries in his book interprets the mystery of the vision of seven Stars and of the seven Candlesticks presented unto his sight in the precedent 12 and 16 verses and he calls it the mysterie of seven Stars and candlesticks because indeed unto John it was a secret and hidden thing what those figures of stars and candlesticks did mystically mean or represent and unto John it would be still a mysterie if Christ himself had not here interpreted Hence Note That this book of Revelations is made clear obvious and manifest by a diligent observation and a right applicationof the mystical characters and figures of each vision Christ himself in this verse hath made the first enterance and essay on this account He tells us that the seven Stars in his right hand and the seven golden candlesticks do mystically represent the seven Angels or Messengers of his churches and the seven candlesticks the churches themselves In the seventeenth chapter Christ is more large in interpreting the mysterie of Babylon the great the mother of harlots c. All which connotes unto us Observ That the wise observant christian may attain unto the revelation and discovery of the mysteries of this book of Prophesies by the help of the Spirit of God upon a diligent enquiry thereinto The Spirit says often in the second and third chapters Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches and in chap. 13. vers 18. Here is wisdom let him that hath wit count the number Here is the mind that hath wisdom cap. 17. v. 9. so that it is for him that hath an ear an intelligent understanding ear and wisdom a wise heart to consider that is fit and capable to open and apply aright the mysteries of this book It is a mystery therefore difficult to all but unto the spiritualized eye and unto the mind that hath wisdom but it should not therefore be accounted presumption in such to undertake this essay seeing it hath pleased Christ to give us the first fruits himself in opening the mysteries of the vision of the seven stars and the seven golden candlesticks which is as an enterance into the whole and since he hath interpreted unto us that by the seven stars are meant the seven Angels of the churches by the seven golden candlesticks the seven famous Asian churches by the woman arrayed in scarlet the mother of harlots in the seventeenth of the Revelations to be the great City that reigneth over the Kings of the earth and the Beast with seven heads and ten horns to signifie a Government Empire or Kingdom on seven Mountains where the great harlot reigneth under ten Kings why should it be thought strange rash or presumptuous to interpret the rest of the mystical figures and hyeroglyphick characters of this book according to their natural and genuine tendency and as they are opened and applyed in other prophetical writings by one and the same Spirit of Prophesie whose wisdom it was ever from the beginning to represent the risings progress and downials of the great Empires and Kingdoms of the word by such dark and mysterious figures and representations unto God's servants his Prophets And conceive one great reason of this dark and mysterious carriage of the Spirit is That the Intendments of God towards the Powers and Kingdoms of the world may be revealed and made known but unto few such as have spirits sutable and wills to conform to the will of God in all things for if those great events and revolutions of State were made vulgar and known unto all it would raise innumerable combustions in the world and great sufferings and afflictions to the children of God from those Powers that they live under for whose sakes these great concussions and subversions of States and Kingdoms do come to pass that Christ's and their Interest may be exalted at the last 2. Note That it is the Spirit of Christ in his Word that makes known and opens the secrets of all Divine mysteries unto his servants Christ discovers unto John those mysteries of stars c. It is this Spirit that searcheth into the deep things of God He shall take of mine as Christ saith John 16.15 and shall show it unto you and hence he is called the Comforter because he makes the love of the Father and the grace of Christ which was before-hand hid in the bosome and counsel of God manifest unto poor souls and so sheds abroad the love of God in their hearts by faith The discovery of Divine mysteries are too high a work for the ablest and wisest person in his natural capacity without the help of Christ's Spirit for they are spiritually not carnally to be discerned But to proceed The mysterie of the seven stars Christ interprets to be the Angels of the seven churches Stars in all prophetical writings do signifie persons of eminency and honour and in Heraldry it is accounted the most noble sort of blazoning peculiar alone to the Armory of Princes The Angels of the seven churches or rather Messengers for so the Greek word signifies because they come with the best message and news that ever came to man to wit the glad tydings of
thereon and in Rev. 4. the two Gospel Witnesses are said to be the two candlesticks to wit the two churches of Jews and Gentiles with their two Olive branches by their side to wit the two administrations of Law and Gospel which are always pouring out their oyl for light into the ministerial Lamps of these golden candlesticks Here must needs be then much light and truth for these are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth Zach. 4.2.12 and 14 verses CHAP. II. Verse 1. Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write these things saith he that holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks THe general preface to the seven churches and of the whole Book being finished in the first chapter wherein was considered who was the Author of these divine Revelations and that was Christ under divers denominations and similitudes some appropriable only to the divine nature some to the humane clearly notifying That that person that appeared unto John was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Christ God-Man who gave these Divine Revelations unto John some immediately by himself some by his ministring Spirits the Angels for though the greatest part of these Prophesies are given and signified by the instrumentality of Angels yet it may be truly said that Christ doth it for it is a known rule What is done by another at ones Order and command is done by himself Christ he is the Author of those Visions he gives them out to John and John he is the recipient instrument and the subordinate Author and is commanded to write them and make them known unto the churches and in the first place in this second and third chapters John is commanded by Christ to write those premonitions to the seven churches which in their order shall be handled But in the way before I fall upon the particulars it will be worth the enquiry Quest Why John is commanded particularly to write to each church of the seven apart To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus of the Church of Smyrna of the Church of Pergamus c. I answer for divers reasons First They were not guilty of one and the same faults and as their defections were divers and various so ought they to have various and divers reprehensions So likewise their graces and endowments were various so ought they to have divers and various encouragements therein The more obdurate and high-handed sinners ought to have the sharpest and highest reproofs and censures but the more flexible and tender-hearted ought to be dealt with the more tender hand of love and compassion Secondly The several charges are drawn against each particular church and so sent unto them by the hand of their own peculiar Angel Minister or Pastor to shew unto us that they were not to seek for any extrinsecal power or authority over themselves Christ is the common and general admonitor and reprehender of them all each of them are solely and singly under his reprehensive power and jurisdiction The Angel of the church of Ephesus hath only received commands and reproofs that relates to the church of Ephesus so the Angel of Smyrna for the church of Smyrna and the Angel of Pergamus for the church of Pergamus c. The Angel of the church of Ephesus did not receive commands or reproofs to impose them juridically on the church of Smyrna nor Smyrna on the church of Pergamus or on any one of the seven either singly by it self or joyntly with any of the others one two or more They were not to be superintendents or to have a prelatical authority over the rest there was no cathedral then at Ephesus nor in any of the other six the name of Archiepiscopacy and Hierarchycal Supremacy was then unknown in the little well-ordered Christian world or rather Common-weal Bishops then did look no farther with an eye of authority then over their own flocks neither then was it known that a combination of some few churches or rather officers of churches under the name of classical Elders provincial Elders or National Elders should have the sole power and jurisdiction over the rest of the churches of Christ in their vicinity Ephesus then as unto outward authority was Independent Smyrna then was Independent and so were all the rest The churches could then and also now can act consultatively by way of advice by their Elders and Brethren either joynt or singly but not juridically by way of authority over one and another The churches of Christ are all Peers respecting their authority yet in their graces and perfections amongst themselves differing from one and another in glory Christ keeps the sole Legislative power in his own hand and what he communicates thereof unto his churches it is not that they should be lords over their Sister-churches faith but that they may within their due bounds exercise their wholsome admonitions and censures according to the Word of God Christ will not suffer one church juridically to censure another sister-church though corrupt for there is no such authority given them Christ keeps that prerogative in his own hand he reproves and censures the whole seven Asian churches himself but suffers not one or more to do it over the rest And one great reason of this is That if Christ had granted such authority unto one church over others that that church which becomes most potent and most countenanced by the secular powers though most corrupted in doctrine and worship will undertake to censure the soundest and most orthodox churches of all as the Arrians did of old in the times of the sons of Constantine the great and their Successors censure chastise and vex even the soundest and most faithful churches of Christ And the idolatrous apostatized church of Rome under this pretence of having authority over other churches do even fulminate out her direst Anathemas on all other churches though the faithful and undefiled spouses of Christ Be wise therefore ye true spouses of Christ hold fast the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free lest ye subjugate your necks and precious faith unto the idolatries of the spiritual harlot For this very reason Christ gives his particular censures and reproofs to each particular church according to their peculiar failings and errours that one more corrupt church might not undertake to censure that which was less corrupt But if it be demanded how a sound and faithful church of Christ should carry it self towards an erroneous and backslidden corrupted church I answer They are to use all means for their recovery and that in love and charity First They are to advise them and admonish them of the danger of their ways charitably not juridically as a church exercises towards her own members Secondly They are to pray for their healing and recovery out of their spiritual Maladies If all this will not do to their amendment they are to withdraw communion from them and to leave
them to their Master who after he hath proceeded on his white horse with offers of peace and reconciliation and they continue obstinate and not turn by repentance he can go forth on his red Horse of wrath and fury and remove his candlestick his church and the glory thereof from amongst them and leave them desolate The first that I read of that extended the wings of his authority beyond his own just limits and boundaries was Victor Bishop of Rome about the end of the second century who hotly contended with Ireneus and others of the Affrican churches to have a Supremacy over them and to impose his Dictates on them and that very pertinaciously about a frivolous controversie the observation of Easter Herein that mysterie of Iniquity did begin to work which in few after succeeding ages came to its full stature To this I shall only add that all ancient and modern history both civil and ecclesiastique do testifie that this Prelacy and affecting of Supremacy over other churches whether it be in one single church person or many combined ones hath not only been very dangerous and prejudicial to the faithful churches of Christ but is and hath been always the very first born of pride and luxury Thirdly Another reason is that Christ writes particularly to each of the seven churches is to shew That Christ hath an equal care and respect to all his churches whiles they continue his though under foul prevarications and backslidings Christ hath bowels of compassion towards them as long as they keep faithful to his name though otherwise in themselves very faulty and he is found to be walking in the midst of them providentially caring for them holding the seven Stars in his right hand and teaching them by his Word if so be he may bring them to repentance Lastly These messages are directed to each particular church out of Christs especial tenderness towards them that they might endeavour to reform their enormities within and amongst themselves That the churches errours and infirmities may not be told in Gath nor published abroad to their reproach amongst their enemies whilst there is any hope of the recovery of backsliders Christ comes with a rod and strokes of a loving and tender hearted father to cure them not to shame and reproach them and therefore Christ directs John to write his messages to the Angels of each particular church To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Write What is meant by Angel I refer to the sixteenth and last verses of the first chapter But the question is Whether by Angel of the church of Ephesus be intended the chief Pastor or Bishop being as Superintendent or Archbishop over the rest of the Bishops and Pastors of the church of Ephesus Or Whether the Angel of Ephesus were the Metropolitan over the other six Sister churches I answer first to the latter There is no colour at all for that opinion for the reasons but in the former page specified and to add a word Because Christ commands each Angel to reform their abuses within themselves He sends not the Angel of one church to reform another that has no authority over it the Angel of the church of Ephesus is not sent to Smyrna nor Smyrna unto Ephesus nor unto the rest but an extraordinary Officer a Prophet John a man of God is sent unto them all to tell them of their faults and to exercise that authority which Christ hath given and deposited in all his Gospel churches and to each of them in particular for their dealings and recoveries out of their backslidings Indeed any one that hath an extraordinary Spirit and call as John had may exercise that unlimited authority over the churches of Christ but I know not any in these days or since the Apostles times that do pretend unto it but that great and rampant Roman man of sin who is the great and only pretender to that Spirit of Infallibility and yet who more fallible then himself in his judicial sentences doctrines and ways of worship Indeed if he had what he pretends that Spirit of infallibility justly might he assume authority in censuring directing and governing all other churches but before that does appear let himself and others that assumes the like authority with himself hide their faces in shame and confusion for ever Secondly To the first question I answer That those I confess of the Episcopal Interests do hold that the Superscription of the particular church directed to the Angel of the churches of Ephesus Smyrna c. do intend and signifie that they are directed to the chief Pastor or Bishop that is supream Overseer Director and Mediator over all the rest of the Bishops and Pastors of the particular churches within Ephesus Smyrna c. As if this had been written to the Angel of the church of England that is saith the Episcopals to the Archbishop who is the chief Prelate and Bishop over all other the Prelates and Bishops in England Or if it had been directed to the Angel of the church of London Salisbury Exeter c. that is say they to the Bishop of London Salisbury or Exeter c. who is the chief Bishop Pastor and Overseer over all the rest of the Bishops and Pastors within his own Jurisdiction and Diocess I answer first that the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we translate according to the Latine Dialect Bishops and Pastors or according to our own proper Idiome Overseers and Feeders of the Flock are Synonimas and are but as several denominations of one and the same Office which do arise from divers acts therein For the faculty of over-seeing guidance and direction he is called a Bishop for that of teaching instructing and spiritually feeding his flock in all kinds he is called a Pastor and very often too in Scripture for his rootedness and soundness in faith life and doctrine he is called an Elder so that these are but several names of one and the same office and often applyed in Scripture reciprocally to one and the same person somtimes he is called the Elder of the church somtimes the Bishop somtimes the Pastor to denote unto us that such as guide well their flocks and feed them with the green pastures of wholsome doctrines are most worthy of double honour amongst the Saints but lest herewith they should be elevated above their proper station they ought to eye another Title too which is given them in Scripture they are Ministers that is Servants that attend on Christ and his churches they receive Christ's messages and commend them unto his churches and come again with returns of the churches improvements in obedience and thankfulness unto Christ and for this reason they are here entitled by the name of Angels Messengers Ambassadors or Ministers of Christ and how these humble Titles of Servitors and Messengers will suit and agree to the Lording stomacks of Metropolitans and Lord Bishops or chief Pastors over many
sacrificing the Saints which they term heretiques or schismatiques and troublers of their peace and union but when you meet such a fiery persecuting spirit in any that pretend to Christ judge of it whence it is by these Scriptures Gal. 5.20 Col. 3.12 13. So great hath been the malice of false Prophets and false Teachers ever against the true Saints that they have never rested till they have got their blood shed It was the Pope and his false Prelates and Priests that first filled all Europe with blood it was the same cursed progeny that brought so many precious souls to the stake and faggot in Queen Maries days otherwise of her self as History testifies of nature good enough Quere But it may here be queried for what things ought we to suffer with patience and constancy and not to faint under the burden thereof I have partly formerly answered this question in the ninth verse of the first chapter I shall here add one word more for the rectifying the judgment and keeping the conscience undefiled herein First Know that every soul is strictly obliged to observe all the Laws of God whether Moral Natural or Positive and to undergo all sufferings whatsoever rather then to dishonour God by the breach of the former or neglect his worship by the contempt of the latter We are not only bound under persecutors to keep the conscience undefiled in not committing gross sins as Idolatry c. but also we are obliged to perform all our positive christian duties though we suffer for it as we find that Daniel gave a testimony in this case though to the hazard of persecution to extremity and would not forbear his three times a day solemn prayers and that upon his knees in his chamber and his windows open towards Jerusalem though he knew his enemies might by that means surprize and accuse him and cause him to be cast into the Den of Lions yet did he hold himself bound daily to the Law of outward Worship though the looking to Jerusalem was but a ceremony ordained by God upon Solomon's prayer 1 Kings 8.9 Also the Macchabean Worthies did not think that persecution did or could discharge them from the strict observing even of the Ceremonial Law of not eating Swines flesh but for it endured all extremity of torments as the Story relates and for it are justly ranked among the Worthies of the old Testament who lived and died in faith Heb. 11. So jealous is God not only for the preservation of his Moral Laws but even of those Ceremonial and Ritual Laws that after he hath discovered his Will about them and commands them they forthwith become morally positive Laws and obligent until their repeals from the same authority are manifested and cleared Therefore by this Judge what a lax and loose Religion does Hobbs his Leviathan prescribe unto us to submit to any Religion that the chief or soveraign Magistrate shall dictate to us and that it is not christians duty to suffer for any Article but for that that Jesus Christ is the Messias so subjecting almost the whole will of God in morals and positives unto the will of man But as to this let us like true christians pray Libera Domine nos a malo Verse 4. Nevertheless I have somwhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love We have heard the vertues and graces of the Church of Ephesus and how she had a just and honourable approbation for them yet notwithstanding there is a tang in the end which shows some defection in her and after all her commendations there is a Nevertheless follows close in the heels thereof with somwhat to be said against her just as it is often said of the good Kings of Israel in the book of Kings That they walked and did uprightly in the sight of God as David the King but withal there is added a but But they departed not from the sins of Jeroboam that made Israel to sin Hence by the way Note Observ That the purest churches and the best christians are not altogether exempted from stains but have their spots and blemishes as well as resplendent graces It was the Spouse condition in Cant. 1.5 where she describes her self and saith I am black but comly O ye daughters of Jerusalem as the Tents of Kedar as the Curtains of Solomon Let us out survey the first churches and christians to elucidate and confirm this truth and seeing they stood neerest the light even the Sun of Truth and his Twelve illustrious radiating Signs his Apostles in my judgement they are to be reputed the soundest and the purest yet see whether we read not of their Maculae or spots as well as of their shining graces The church of Corinth was a famous church yet she had her failings contaminating the holy feasts and their Agapees with surfetting and drunkenness and besides the foul errors of false Apostles as denying the Resurrection c. The church of Galatia was not much inferiour in her wantonnizing after liveless ceremonial fancies and pressed them as necessary with Christ unto salvation and when Paul opposed them herein for whose sake they once were ready to pull out their eyes to do him good yet now for crossing their capricious whimsies is become their greatest adversary The churches of Ephesus Pergamus c. had their several encomiums for their graces yet there were some things chargeable on them for waxing cold in their first love for admitting the Doctrine of Balaam Nicolaitans Jezabel c. If we descend from bodies collective to individual persons we shall find the same lot befal unto all consider Noah Job David Peter c. but I desire not to rake up the faults of the Saints which are not left upon record to encourage to sin but to be presidents of the grace of God and as examples for encouragement unto repentant sinners Because thou hast left thy first love Some difficulty seems in these words whether by first love be intended Christ whom the church of Ephesus had left Or that first ardent affection and zeal which she bore to Christ at her first conversion The latter Interpretation to me is clear Because the church of Ephesus had not withdrawn her self from the faith of Christ as is evident by the two precedent verses for it was for Christ's sake and his truth that she had suffered much both from wicked persons and wicked teachers therefore as long as her faith was sound she could not be said to have left Christ as her first Love and taken a new love or new object of her faith But that for which she is charged as faulty is that she hath left her first love that is her first zeal and fervent affections which she bore to Christ and his Ordinances at her first conversion and this is plain from the next verse where she is commanded to repent and to do her first works From hence observe Observ That it is frequently seen that many true and faithful
christians and churches do much abate and fail in their first zeal and love to Christ and his ways in a short progress of time after their conversion or from their first entertainment of the Truth Paul did much complain of the church of Galatia in this particular at their first entertainment of the truth they were so full of affections and zeal that they were even ready to pull out their eyes to do Paul service who was their great Apostle yet shortly after he complains of them as if they had entertained another Gospel and exclaims O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you It seems Ephesus was much faulty herein and so were divers others of the primitive churches and therefore the Apostles were very urgent and pressing in their preachings to maintain love alive and of the three eminent Gospel graces Faith Hope and Charity charity has the precedency First in regard it hath a more extensive object then the other two faith and hope respects only God and eternal glory as their object charity hath not only God for its object but the Saints also Secondly it hath the precedency in that love abideth in glory when faith and hope ceaseth Thirdly it is as the soul and life unto other graces faith it self is but as a dead carcass unless it be enlivened by love To know and entertain the Gospel and its truth is an excellent gift and quality yet if we do not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Receive the truth in the love thereof we may know so much as may justly condemn us for our unproficiency but not save us for want of love Indeed I could wish that this were still a paradox That the love of christians is waxed cold for it was once a hard saying to be a christian and to want love I have read that some christians of the first ages after Christ were so famous amongst their heathen adversaries for this grace of love that they were ready even to die one for another whereof their very enemies taking notice with approbation when they would commend the love of any they would say proverbially that it was like the love of christians but now O christians Quantum mut ast is ab illo It was far otherwise with you at your first coming to the truth then it is now then every one loved one the other for the truths sake At the first breaking out of light in England from under Antichristian clouds and darkness every one had his breast on fire for the promotion of truth and godliness Presbyterian Independent and Anabaptist were then all under the notion of Puritans and Non-conformists zealous for the common cause of advancement of Christ and his Gospel what is the cause that ye have now left your first love both towards God and towards one another Is God and Truth grown less lovely then at first Or were you mistaken then in the right objects of your love I rather fear of the both that the God of the world hath blinded you when ye seek to advance every one his particular interest by rearing one the other most uncharitably as bears not as christians who are meek full of bowels of compassion easily to be entreated c. Have ye not one Lord one Faith one Baptism one Spirit one Scripture one common hope of Salvation and yet look upon one the other as the Jews did on the Samaritans and that for some small differences in circumstantials of Religion It would better besuit christians to be like the good Samaritan that will be ready to pour oyl and wine into the wounds of their afflicted brethren not vinegar and gall which was the work of those that piercd Christ not of his followers and disciples Tantane Ira Fratrum Sed praestat motes componere fluctus In the next place all sorts of christians have sadly experienced the truth of this position that they have forsaken their first love Where is the love of the Presbyterian to his Geneva model as if it had been the very Elixar of all church Discipline Was he not even fire and sword against Episcopacy that stood in his way as a bar to the advancement of his Form and now Episcopacy being down and the aspect of authority benigne towards them yet how remiss and cold are they in setting up their Elders I believe they fear the Iure Divine of it and therefore will not move a foot farther without a Soveraign hand for to support it but all this shows they have much abated in their first love Next What is become of the ardent affections and frequent private and publique exercises and assemblings of the Independents Were they not the only men in the world in their first appearance that carried the face and judgement of Saints yet now how remiss and cold they are grown all see How formal or rather carnal are some of them become that were once as fire in the hearth and in the sheaf ready to warm and enflame all that came by by their ardent affections and duties Yea are not many of them that would not be satisfied otherwise but with hewen stones for the building of the Temple evidentially visible Saints for the House of the Lord now content and sit down satisfied in a parochial congregation of a mixed multitude the tenth whereof if so much be good wheat amongst the pile of chaff that answereth that part which they have for their maintenance they may account themselves most happy ◠And lastly How is the great zeal of the Anabaptists so called slaked There was a time when they would compass Sea and Land to make a proselyte at their first appearance how strict they were to Discipline and Order that they might justly be called above all others the Disciplinarians Yet now how remiss they are unto it all know by a too large toleration of errours amongst them And how flat their zeal is for the promotion of the truth all see yea strange how they are changed from their first principles who at first loved one the other as christians and for the Truths sake yet now who more worldly or haughty then they Therefore seeing ye have all come short of your duty and made a defection from your first love take the exhortation of the Spirit in the next verse Verse 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent The Spirit sets a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Memento home on the affection and zeal-fallen church of Ephesus and to re-mind her of her first state and condition when she had a greater measure of zeal and love both towards God and his Saints then now she had that that consideration might so work upon her as to make a renovation in her affections and to be-think her self of a recovery of that measure of zeal and love which once she had and bring forth such fruits
or habitation is his Throne or his castle as the Law term has it therein he exercises his commands freely either by his Paternal or Magisterial authority and he hath better title to this Soveraignty it being natural moral then any Soveraign hath to theirs in the world 2. There are therein its subjects who obey more freely in respect of their more divine Oeconomy then any Prince's Subjects whatsoever Thirdly A man's most private designes and transactions are agitated therein Fourthly A man therein lives goes in and out and no place be it ever so pleasant is so complacent to a man as the place of his own habitation be it never so homely and therefore a man will not spare to spend all his strength wit or wealth to defend his house place of habitation against all pretenders of right thereunto Therefore these metaphors of a Throne Seat House or Habitation are fitly taken up by the Spirit of God to signifie unto us the power of Satan in the wicked and ungodly which in Scriptures are called his strong holds and habitations for in them he commands and acts freely being as a Father Lord and Master to us the children of disobedience for his servants and children ye are to whom ye obey and they obey freely and without any regret as dutiful children and servants to such a Father and Master even the Prince that ruleth in the Ayre even the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 there he makes his habitation there he lives and transacts the highest designes of his Kingdom of darkness there he takes his delight to dwell and takes that pleasure in this place of his habitation that before he will forego it or lose an inch of his possession the stronger man in the Gospel must first come even Christ in his Spirit of Grace and that after much strugling contending between flesh and spirit and that Christ shall be sure to make his Title clear and evident by Faith and the great charter of the Gospel before he will be dispossessed of his ancient free-hold Tenures yea his love or rather pernitious desire to his old habitation is such that after he is dispossessed thereof by Christ that if he can get or make a re-entry into his lost possession by his diabolical Stratagems and Temptations he comes in with seven fold worser spirits then the first to make good his right and re-entry if he may and the condition of that house is far more miserable then at the first O therefore watch and be prepared with the armory of Christ to oppose the assaults of Satan ye believing and enlightened souls and though he sometimes may foyl you yet let him not overturn you though he may endeavour to come into your soul yet let him not have quiet possession for greater is he that is with us then he that is against us Resist the Divel and he will flee from you and through Christ we shall have Victory Note hence Observe That Satan rules as absolute Lord and Soveraign over the unbelieving and disobedient They are his house the place of his dwelling his Throne his Kingdom his Seat and if that were not enough to describe their malignity and Satan's Soveraignty over them they are called Satan himself v. 10. The better to manifest Satan's Seat Throne and Habitation in and over the ungodly consider the contrary The Seat Throne and Habitation of God Though God in his infinite nature is illocal infinite and incomprehensible as unto any place or form yet metaphorically is said to be in a place that is from whence he in any special manner doth manifest his glory power grace and goodness So God is said to come depart and return in Scriptures when he specially manifests himself in grace mercy and answers to his people or unto any particular believing Soul and when God withdraws that appearance of mercy grace and glory nor hears the Prayers of his people but goes out in Judgments against them then he is said to depart to be gone and return into his place Hos 5.15 I will go and return to my place till they acknowledg their Offence God is said to have three special places of habitation Seats or Thrones in Scriptures 1. Heaven is his Throne and his dwelling place Isa 66.1 1 Kings 8.30 2. The hearts of the Saints is his Throne and dwelling place Isa 57.15 1 Jo. 3.24 3. The Church or Christ Zion is the habitation and Tabernacle of his glory Psal 132.13 The Church is the place where God communicates himself and gives his answers unto his people And therefore in 1 Tim. 3.15 it is called the House of God and often in Scriptures the Kingdom of God These are the special habitations of God Satan hath also three special places of habitation and dominion in Scriptures 1. In Hell over the damned spirits And therefore he is called the Prince of darkness and the Angel of the bottomless Pit 2. The hearts of the wicked and unbelievers is the Seat and habitation of Satan Ephes 2.2 3. His Throne is amongst the societies of the wicked they are his Synagogue v. 9. where his Doctrines are transacted and maintained and they are his Seat and Throne from whence all his wicked and pernitious Edicts do proceed against God and Godliness Psal 2.2 3. Therefore in this verse the Spirit sayes to the Church of Pergamus I know that thou dwellest in a place where Satan bears rule in all Idolatries wickednesses and hatred to God and his truths without controulment and yet to thy praise and comfort be it that thou holdest fast my Name and hast not denied my Faith that is that thou dost constantly profess my Truth and hast not been drawn to deny my Gospel or Doctrine of Faith not in those very hot and persecuting days wherein Antipas my faithful Martyr was slain in that City of yours by those Tyranical persons there in whom Satan dwelleth and prevaileth There is no farther difficulty in those words only understand that Antipas as Aretus testifies and some others of Antiquitie was the Pastor or Bishop to this Church of Ephesus yet others say he was only an Assistant to the Church However this blessed St. Antipas Policarpus and some others were the first Martyrs to the Gospel of Christ after the Apostles in the raign of Trajan From the words thus explained Note Obs 2. That the godly by the providence of God are disposed and mingled amongst the most vilest and wicked in the World The Church of Christ is likened to a Lilly amongst Thorns by the Wise-man in the Canticles Where the Synagogue and Throne of Satan was God had planted those Asiatick Churches Righteous Job saith of himself that he was a brother to Dragons and a companion to Owles Chap. 30.29 And holy David's soul was vexed by sojourning in Mesech and dwelling in the Tents of Kedar Psal 120.5 Honest hearted Joseph had his habitation amongst the Idolatrous Egyptians and there
to them and as apt to hear them as they you But I confess you have those christian societies and churches among you that are as Lillies shining in graces among those Thorns and unfruitful Nations and to retard our reformation in church and ordinances till all be squared and hewn fit for this work or before the Magistrate compels all unto this work is a vain expectation seeing that there is so much of that old leven of our ancestors National Churches National Officers Birth priviledges and Ordinances on that account c. still remaining in the hearts of most amongst us that it will not only render the work of a full reformation in this generation most difficult but the attempt thereof rather dangerous and prejudicial not only to the faithful in this Land but generally to the cause of Christ in all the reformed Nations round about us Witness the intemperate zeale of many that lived in the days of the first reformation who became a reproach and a shame in their irregular attempts about this work Though they had good hearts and desired and aimed at good and just things yet they prosecuted it not justly for to denominate a good action or work The thing it self desired and attempted must not only be a good and honest thing in it self as a full reformation to God's word is but it must have other honest circumstances in it also 1 The time when must be considered in such a time when God and a clear providence calls unto it 2 The manner how must be considered in a peaceable maner it is to be endeavoured and promoted as the work of the spirit of peace not with wars tumults and rebellions against Magistrates which is as the sin of witchcraft So that the best action may lose its reward and the atempters thereof suffer justly for the unjust prosecution thereof It is a sure rule to christians that they are to do no evil that good may come thereof We are not to sin against the Laws of God nor his Ordinance of Magistracy unless cases of inevitable necessity where God will rather have mercy then Sacrifice to promote any just end or good whatsoever for we are bound to walk by the rule of God's commands and precepts not of events and providences Therefore all ye faithfull ones of this land be wise and sober in this your way of temptation stop not the current of God's reformation by your precipitate and irregular actings be you still and you shall see the salvation of our God You see the main hinderance of this full work amongst us even the old leven of false worships derived and left unto us from our ancestors God will remove this more and more by steps and degrees and that more generally and will enlarge the Tents of Jacob among us if we provoke not God by our sins towards him But to expect a total reformation never look for it until the day Star shall arise with an incomparable glory In the interim let us walk honestly and soberly like children of the Light serving and fearing God and honoring the King and then God will make them unto us Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers And most happy and blessed are the people that have their portion and lot in such a Land Object But after all this an Objection may be risen The church of Pergamus had those among them that held and maintained the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans and practised spiritual and corporal adulteries so held the church of Corinth Thyatira had the doctrines of Jezabel Galathia the Jewish doctrine of circumcision and many other great corruptions were among those primitive churches as drunkenness denying the resurrection incest eating things offered unto Idols and the obscenity of the Nicolaitans Yet these are still called the churches of Christ his seven candlesticks his faithful ones called and elect And are not then our Parochial churches our National churches as truly churches of Christ as those were And are they not as sound in doctrine and practises as those first primitive christians and churches were and so deserve the Name of churches of Christ faithful elect and called as well as they 1 I Answer We are to look unto the first institution of all churches if they are gathered and planted by the Ministry of the Gospel and Spirit they are truly churches of Christ elect and called though in process of time the envious one sowed plentifully among the good Wheat his Tares and Darnel as among those of Corinth Pergamus and others in the Primitive time yet I believe Christ had but a few things against theirs in respect what he has against ours they were but corrupt in part ours all leprous they lost but some members we the very vitals For I much question whether our National churches were of this Gospel structure as those primitive churches were at the first seeing we read in History of their civill institution and beginning being so divided or ordained by the politique Laws of the Nation Yet withall I say we had the sincere faith of Christ here preach'd amongst us presently after if not in the very Apostles days by Joseph of Arimathea as Historians testifie this good seed was almost lost among us but again revived by the providence of God in after ages but held captive and low under the Tyranny of Antichristian darkness yet doubtless God had here and elswhere his invisible church and elect ones Our succession to the Apostles is by cleaving to their doctrines and so we own a succession from them but not a visible succession of churches for so we have sayled under the Antichrists raign and tyranny over us and to plead that our parochial Societies are churches of Christ is but at best to plead that our Hundreds or Counties are churchdivisions Presbyteries or Ecclesiastique Jurisdictions also being of the same civil institution with the former But some write that Dionysius Pope of Rome was the first divider and institutor of Parishes about Anno 267. and brought into England by Honorius Bishop of Canterbury as learned Master Selden in his Book de Decimis testifies 2 I Answer If our churches were right in their first institution gathered by the word and spirit we have as really lost the very being of our churches under Antichrist's raign as the churches of Corinth Pergamus Ephesus Smyrna c. under the Saracenical tyranny and Mahometanism And therefore there is as great need to call our churches out of Babylon and to restore them from Antichristianisme as Pergamus c. of the miserable captivated Asian churches from Turcism and Mahometanism unless we grant that the whore of Babylon had the keeping and was the preserver of the Ordinances of the true Spouse and had the power of the Keys committed unto her And therefore the authority that many churches pretend unto by succession of churches is but a sorry one and at the best but Antichristian and Popish Lastly I Answer That it is not corruptions in
was a she Prophetess of the Nicolaitans and that she was one of that Sect is evident from this that she comes with the same cursed Nicolaitish doctrines in the 14 and 15. verses mentioned teaching and drawing God's people to Idolatry and Fornication First herein appears her impudence who contrary to the modesty of her sex and Apostolical prohibition yet she takes the name of a Prophetess upon her self and to teach publiquely contrary to the Apostle 1. Cor. 14 34. Next observe her falsity and deceit she is a Prophetess and why it is only to deceive and seduce Christ's Servants Thirdly observe the ways and means of her seductions it is by false doctrines by teaching Idolatry and communicating in the Sacrifices of Idols and Fornications to be things indifferent for I always take these to be two great distinct sins and errors of the Nicolaitans Idolatry and Fornication and not only Idolatry which is a spiritual Fornication or Adultery for Balaam's advice was not only that the children of Israel in the business of Baal Peor Mumb. 25.1 2. should fall to Idolatry but to fornication also with the Midianitish women so also Jezabel Ahab's wife who provoked him to set up Idolatry unto Baal in Israel 1 King 16.31 32. compared to 1 King 21.25 was also a notable Adultress as by that of 2 King 9.22 What peace whilst the woredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her witch-crafts are yet in great number and her carriage being accordingly impudent ver 30. doth convince her whoredom for she painted her face and tyred her head and looked out at window the posture rather of a Strumpet then of Majesty as some would have it And therefore Balaam and Jezabel are here fitly brought in by the Spirit to personate this lewd Nicolaitish Sect and their great Prophetess in the church of Thyatira Observ 1. Hence Note That it is no new defigne of Satan's to trouble the Church with false she Prophetesses As there were false Prophets Balaamites and Nicolaitans in the church of Pergamus so there was a false Prophetess and a very impudent one of the same Sect in Thyatira If God will have he or she Prophets the Devil will be God's Ape and will have the same If God to honor that weaker Sex sometimes raised up she Prophets to help his people be sure the Divel will be upon the same work he will have his Jezabels his Maximillae for her service also We find in Ezekiel's days there were false Propheteses who sowed Pillows to ahe Arm-holes 13. 1k 18. Prophesied pleasing things unto the people and Neh. 6.14 there is mention made of one Noadia a Prophetess she with other false Prophets Prophesied against the building of the Temple encouraged Sanballet and endeavoured to discourage Nehemiah and the builders of it And some such there were and will be in all ages who with their false doctrines will deceive unwary people Simon Magus had his Helena Carpocrates his Marcellina Montanus had his Prisca and Maximillina and so all erronious Sects hath their she Prophetesses as well as he Prophets for the Divel's defign thrives on both ways Observ 2. False she Prophetesses are not only very bold but very subtile to deceive and seduce God's servants from the truth And therefore they are likned to Jezabel a bold setter up of Idolatry and a subtile deceiver as in the business of Naboth and seeking the death of the true Prophets appeareth And it appeareth also henbe that this false Nicolaitish Prophetess was not only a very impudent one for she calls herself a Prophetess to teach but was also a very sly and subtile one or else she could not be said to deceive Christ's Servants I conjecture that her practise was somwhat like the ranting Familists and Anti-scripturists of our days who pretending some high notions and transcendent matters above the common pitch of plain and wholsom doctrine and so flying beyond sobriety God suffers them to fall into the snare of Satan and to deny the Law of God as a rule to them and to stand in awe to sin is but of a legal spirit and of bondage and sin cannot at all reach God or offend his Majesty and then they can freely among the Heathens as the Nicolaitish christians did of old partake of the Sacrifices of Baal of Bacchus Priapus Venus or any of their Heathenish Idols and can freely without regret eat of their idolothites and joyn and commix with their corporal fornications also High and untroden speculations and novelties carries the vizor of deceit with them wholsome doctrine is old and plain but novel and erroneous is held forth in most high and unintelligible motions which false ProProphets and Prophetesses on purpose make use of to amuse confound ensnare and deceive the easy credulous and simple people many of these false she Prophetesses goes up and down with their new Light new Christ and new Gospel and all within them in these very days of ours a true branch of the old Gnosticks and Nicolaitans Observ 3. Some of God's own faithful Servants may be deceived and carried away by the Doctrines of false Teachers This Jezeâ—el or false Lady Prophetess had seduced Christ's Servants and had entised them to their filthy Idolatries and Adulteries we know Peter and Barnabas were drawn away by such into errour Gal 2.13 14 The old lying Prophet deceived the young Prophet of God and drew him into a snare which cost him his life for a Lion devoured him 1 Kin. 13. Christ hath foretold us Mat. 24. That many false Prophets shall arise and deceive many But whence do they arise From the bottomless Pit and do raise such a smoake with their false doctrines Rev. 9. that they darken the Heavens that is the Gospel truths that the Saints cannot clearly see their ways and therefore not strange if they stumble Did not many precious Souls stumble in the late days of Prelacy and were turned away with their errors and have not many stumbled in these days of liberty and carried away and deceived by Familistical Anti-scriptural errors and the like But seeing these things are so let us hearken to the advice of Peter 2 Epist 3.17 18. Beware lest ye also being led away with the errors of the wicked fall from their own stedfastness But grow in grace and in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ. But to return to the charge which was against Thyatira and it was because she suffered the woman Jezebel A church is not so blame worthy for having a Jezebel a false Prophet or Prophetess among them but for suffering for countenancing owning and freely tolerating of them this was the crime of this church of Thyatira Whence Note Observ That the toleration and indulgence of false Teachers in a Church is a great evil Surely it is not the way of God nor his will to suffer opinions in a church that are dissonant from his truth that will corrupt the soul with sin Though I should plead for a just
is impossible Dan. 7.13 14. The Kingdom is said to be given to Christ which in vers 22. and 27. is said to be given unto the Saints they are so reciprocal and so united that what is done by the one is said to be done by the other they are so far from being tearmed contraria that they are hardly diversa though I shall grant the Saints subordinate unto Christ yet what is predicated of the one is often predicated of the other in Scriptures and therefore it is no hard saying to assert that believers under Christ their head and as his members and by his donation and assistance shall do his own peculiar work as subordinate instruments unto himself for Qui facit per alium facit per se and so may the Saints have power over the Nations and rule them with a rod of Iron till they be broken as a Potter's vessel and this interpretation stands with best reason for though our late Bibles have included all the 27. v. in a Parenthesis saving the last clause thereof as if it were on purpose to cut it off from having any applicatory reference to the conquering Saints in the 25. and 26. v. and to be reserved solely applicable unto Christ but surely such Interpreters could not have a righteous intention in such a service for in the best Greek copies as Stephanus and others there is not a tittle or stroak of a Parenthesis but the continued speech in the 25 and 26. verses it is to the overcoming christian and so continued as a farther addition in the 27. verse until the latter clause thereof come in even as I have received of my Father which makes it plain For what had Christ received of his Father Power over the Nations to rule over them with a rod of Iron and to breake them in pieces as a Potter's vessel Psal 2.9 Rev. 19.15 as if he had said even as I have received this power and dominion of my Father over the Nations so will I give it to him that shall overcome and get the victory over all false ways and practises and he shall be co-partner with me in this my Throne and Kingdom cap. 3. 21. The intention of the Spirit being cleared in these words to be the conquering Saints to whom power is given over the Nations to rule them with a rod of Iron and to break them in pieces as a Potter's vessel Next I shall enquire what the power is that is given them First It is such a power whereby they shall judge the Nations so our new Annotations have it Secondly It is such a power that they thereby shall get victory and subdue all theirs and the truth's Enemies so Bishop Hall on the place Thirdly It is such a power whereby they shall break all the obstinate Enemies of Christ to peices as a Potter's vessel The first is confirmed from 1 Cor. 6.2 Mat. 19.28 Jude 14.15 The second and third are confirmed from this vers and Psal 2. compared to Rev. 19.18 19. c. where Christ and his Armies powers out the full Vials of divine wrath upon all their obstinate enemies to the utmost Again This power over the Nations and ruling by a rod of Iron and breaking them in pieces as a Potter's vessel must needs be understood of a corporal breaking ruling and overpowering and not a spiritual So that spiritual is a strange worke to a rod or Scepter of Iron Christs golden Scepter of his word is the only instrument to make the Nations bow to his spiritual Kingdom but for the refusers thereof he hath another Scepter in another day to be exercised on them a rod of Iron and force whereby he will destroy the mighty ones of the earth that are his enemies and will dash them in pieces like a Potters vessel to the making the Kings and Judges of the earth wise and to kiss the Son lest he be angry Psal 2.10 11. Hence Note Observ That Christ's faithful Saints have a day to come to judg rule and reigne over the Nations as well as now to suffer under them Though this be the day of their sufferance and patience yet there is a kingdom joyned to it cap. 1. 9. Though John was a brother and companion to the seven churches in tribulation and patience yet he was too in the hopes of the kingdom to be revealed This Kingdom was never yet fulfilled to the Saints of God but still rather the contrary hitherto the Nations of the world break the Saints and churches of Christ by their iron Scepters of force and power Both Mahometanes and Popish Antichristian Rulers and Princes not sparing Christ's little flock but breaking them in pieces as a Potters Vessels and therefore it is most equitable that they shall have a day too as a reward of their faithfulness and sufferance wherein they shall lead captivity captive and give their enemies the same measure that they formerly meted forth unto the Saints for they are worthy 2. This kingdom as yet hitherto was not given to the Saints nor yet will be for this power over the Nations and this rod of iron is put into their hands as the result of their perseverance in the truth at the second coming of Christ as in the last precedent verse is declared Hold fast till I come and in that day when Christ comes to him that overcometh he will give power over the Nations c. Now this was promised long after Christ's first coming in the flesh and also after his special coming in the spirit and therefore yet there will be a day when he will come again to fulfil this promise before the ultimate end of all and for any to expect this rule over the Nations by the rod of iron before Christ comes and appears in the clouds to the performance of this great work they may reigne but without Christ they may get power over the Nations but not in Christ's way or his giving Hence another Note arises Observ 2. That it is Christ alone that gives power into the hands of his Saints over the Nations They are not to catch at it themselves This time is Christ's spiritual and his intercessory kingdom and if we fight with or use any other weapons therein then are spiritual we may lose the benefit of his second kingdom which is reserved as a reward of our obedience under the first kingdom He that walks spiritually and soberly under the first of grace and spirit doubtless the second also will be his portion otherwise he is in danger to lose both his comforts here and his portion hereafter in the other kingdom also Verse 28. And I will give him the morning Star This is an additional degree of happiness to the overcoming Saints in that day when they shall judge and rule the Nations with a rod of iron In ver 17. it is called Hidden Manna and a white stone wherein a new Name is written and formerly a Crown of life and the Tree of
receive the truth revealed by the Spirit of Truth The church of Philadelphia may be said to have this double door opened a free power given her by Christ to preach the Gospel and ready and willing hearts to receive it which no man should be able to take away from her for it is the great Key-bearer of David himself that hath opened it and maugre all the malice of devils and wicked men in their hellish designs it can never be obscured and shut up more Hence Note Observ That it is Christ alone that vouchsafes and gives fair opportunities and accesses to preach the Gospel and opens the hearts of the hearers for a kindly entertainment of it also 'T is not the force of man's wit conceit or eloquence of words will open this door either to one self or others Christ must first open and give a door of utterance or else the tongue will be as dumb as Zachariah's before John was born unto all Gospel mysteries Next the hearers will be as deaf unto the sound thereof as dumb unto the utterance of it before the Spirit comes and works kindly on their hearts to a fruitful reception thereof How possibly else could twelve plain Tradesmen Mechanicks Fishermen c. go on with that boldness in preaching the Gospel and have that door of utterance and entertainment almost in the whole world amongst inveterate and malicious enemies of God and Christ if the great Key-bearer of David had not touched their tongues and unshut their mouths and tâ—â— hearts of their hearers both at once the one with a power of speaking the other with a power and willingness of hearing receiving and treasuring up what they had heard and learned What a large door hath Christ laid open since the first days of reformation to this present day This could never be attained unto by the power of man but by Christ who by weak and despicable things and persons hath confounded the wise and mighty of the antichristian world as Luther was wont to say consider with what weapons I have overcome their errors I have never touched them with a finger but Christ hath destroyed them all with the Spirit of his mouth i. e. the word of his Gospel What doings what imprisonings what finings what punishments what tortures what punishments what deaths did the old Popish Doctors and clergy and of late the prelatical Bishops raise and invent to shut up this door that Christ had opened to his faithful witnesses in this land and yet what did they prevail and get thereby but by dashing themselves against the corner stone and by endeavouring to suffocate and shut up the true light became themselves the children of darkness and broke themselves to pieces against the corner stone and became the scorn of the whole world And if such endeavours are again set on foot against Christ's faithful witnesses to shut that door which Christ hath laid open to them let the experience of the time past towards the Prelatical persons and others of the same stamp be a curb unto such undertakers and an encouragement to all his faithful ones that they need not fear the reproaches or actings of men against them for it is Christ that hath opened a door unto them and no man shall shut it For thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word and hast not denyed my name These words are no diminution to the praise of the church of Philadelphia for having a little strength for the sense runs thus Because though thy strength be but small and thy gifts be but low in respect of others yet thou hast well improved those which thou hast and hast maintained my truth and hast not denyed my name This manner of speaking is usual among the Hebrews who put the coupling particle and for the disjunctive thouâ—h or yet This is called little strength not in opposition of much corruption that reigned in Philadelphia as Sardis that had but a few names alive because the greatest part were dead but this is called little strength being apparently no great strength comparatively to what others had and that God had given her for her talent which she improving and putting to profitable uses according to the parable Matth. 25. and therefore of all the seven churches this is most commended of God and in nothing reproved by him Hence Note Observ That a small Talent well improved is followed both by a benediction and a commendation from God himself The Parable in Matâ—h 25. confirms this where he that encreases his Talent is made owner of more and Governour of many Cities This church of Philadelphia bears the name from all her Sisters for her proficiency in the Truths of Christ Though her strength was not so great nor her profession and abilities seemed so high as the rest yet she was more fruitful then the rest and therefore she surpasses them all and hath the greatest portion and blessing given her then to any other and so becoms the only daughter of her mother the peerless Sister of the seven Have not of late many low despicable churches and persons for well improving their small Talents became fragrant gardens and eminent workmen in God's Vineyard whiles others of higher profession parts and abilities for want of husbanding their Talents both lost their Talents and became barren Desarts and like unsavoury Salt fit only to be cast into the Dunghil Though my years be but few and my experience small yet for want of this improvement I have known great Doctors to become Wittalls in the things of Christ and on the other hand children and babes by bettering of their Talents though but of small and of a little strength and as but a Mustard-seed in the beginning yet to become sound Doctors in the church of Christ and at last to grow up as great Trees in the Vineyard of God whereunto the Birds of the Ayr may fly for shelter Vers 9. Behold I will make them of the Sinagogue of Satan which call themselves Jews and are not but do lye Behold I say I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feet and they shall know that I have loved thee By this double remarkable Asterisme or twice repeated Note of attention Behold In one verse Christ is about to bring to pass some notable worke in his church and what is it but to make the perverse Iews that troubled the peace of the churches in blaspheming the truths of Christ and endeavouring to bring afflictions and tribulations on the true Professors thereof but to make them stoop to the Scepter of Christ and to make them worship him before their feet to make them one flock and one church and to make them know that this Christ and this church whom they have vilified blasphemed and persecuted to be the only special object of God's Law and the only way and means to salvation and eternal life But to explicate the words more fully Behold I will make them of
affections or accidents of her disease in respect of her self or of others she was in a pitiful lamentable and miserable state and condition The three latter declare the very nature of her disease she was poor blinde and naked you know to be poor is to be beggarly so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek signifies a beggar She was not poor in spirit and in her own eyes which is a blessed poverty Mat. 5.3 but she was a poor beggarly miserable one one that is proud and beggarly which is hateful odious She is a true beggar beg she will and never leave begging of the Kings Princes Nobles and Potentates of the world till she have gotten the choisest fat things of the earth to become her patrimony She is a stout sturdy beggar if you will not give she will take Beggars lye in the cross lanes and high-ways to beg of all they meet so beggars of this rampant church lye close to all great Assemblies to Dyets Parliaments Counsel-Tables Great Mens houses to beg the Advowsons and to catch the scraps of preferments that fall in their way I could wish there were none of this beggarly poverty among us at this day Christ's true Ministers should be of a nobler temper and Spirit then to serve at Tables for lucre sake their master will provide for them in a more honourable way if they can but trust on him for their sustentation and livelyhood It was a wise observation of M. Brightman's concerning our English clergie in his days under Episcopacy That the Angel of England in plain terms grew wealthy by begging and as he further says neither is he in very truth nor is to be called ought save my Lord Beggar In the next place blindness is added to her beggarliness to make it the more grievous a blinde beggar is the most deplored and miserable of all beggars for being necessitated to seek and beg for his living abroad yet want of sight will not let him seek so blindness of minde want of true spiritual understanding where true riches lies is a great addition of misery to a poor beggarly church that makes her to seek amiss and to call that riches which is not truly riches from this ignorance and blindness it proceeds that the church of Rome and others that follow her steps do beg and seek greedily after riches honours and preferments that are meerly transitory and vain and leaves alone the true riches the treasure which is from above that never perisheth yea they are so blinde and obstinately blinde that they are ready to strike at him that endeavoureth to convince them of blindness and to shew them the way unto everlasting treasure In the last place there is added Nakedness as an aggravation of the misery of this church When one is stript of his garments and rendered naked his shame is laid open to the view according to that of Nahum 3.5 It is not sufficient that she is a poor blinde beggar but she is a naked blinde beggar the most contemptible of all sorts We have seen the poverty the blindness and ignorance of the church of Rome and Christ hath also discovered her nakedness unto us we know her shames and wherein her secret abominations does consist it is in vain for her now to boast of her spiritual pomps and trumperies whiles Christ hath discovered her skirts and shown us that she is a beggarly one void of all true spiritual riches that she is a blinde one ignorant of the ways of true happiness that she is naked that is for want of spiritual garments about her she is left open and bare to all shame and reproaches that are cast against her for her deformities which are obvious to every spiritual discerning eye O that God would make the Reformed churches amongst us to discern between true riches and those which are not so but only in pretence that he would put a nobler spirit into them then that of Laodicea a beggarly poor one waiting for the crums of preferments at the Tables of the Great ones of the world Is not their Lord and Master the Lord and Soveraign of the whole creation and shall he provide for the Ravens and the Lions whelps their meat in due season and will he forget the members of his own body God forbid Oh Christ which art the true light of the Father anoint our eyes with eye-salve that our blindness may be done away and discover our nakedness unto us that we may seek unto thee for a covering for gold that is tryed and for a rayment that we may be clothed that our nakedness may not appear before thee to our utter shame and confusion Amen Verse 18. I counsel thee to buy of me Gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich and white rayment that thou mayest be elothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see You have hitherto heard of Laodiceas sin want and misery here follows her remedy proportionable to her disease here is gold not outward glittering or pretended gold but tryed gold offered to help her of her poverty Here is white rayment a glorious rayment of Christ's righteousness offered to cover her shame and nakedness and here is Eye-salve offered even true knowledge and wisdom from above that she may see the way unto everlasting happiness But to open the words a little more fully I counsel thee It is Christ that counsels and advises and who will not follow it The matter of his counsel is offered to the church of Laodicea and unto us also if we be found in the same vain-glorious yet beggerly condition as she was in for the word was not written only to them but to us for observe what the Spirit often says He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches So the matter of Christ's counsel is as well unto us as unto Laodicea and that threefold as the disease was threefold 1. To buy gold tryed gold which is set against poverty 2. White Garments which is for a covering of her nakedness 3. Eye-salve which is a remedy for her blindness First by the way from the party counselling to buy he being the same from whom it is bought I counsel thee to buy gold of me Note Observ That all true spiritual riches and graces are to be fetch'd from Christ alone Christ sends us not to our own works or to his blessed mother or to any other Saint departed with so many Ave Marias so many Pater Nosters or so many Vows and Pilgrimages to buy them at their hands but he tells us Come buy them of me Christ alone is the great dispenser of his Fathers Treasure all power is given into his hands and in vain to seek the Kingdom of God or the treasures thereof but in by and through the Son and it is most just it should be so it being the purchase of his
God if we were not of his family he would leave us alone to run on in our own perverse ways until destruction and hell overwhelmed us Be zealous therefore and repent What zeal is see formerly on the fifteenth and sixteenth verses Christ in the former verse prescribed the remedy to the church of Laodicea for her disease and here he adviseth to the application of it Be zealous be fervent be hot cast away thy half mongrel Religion which is neither hot nor cold Purge out O England thy Romish leven that makes thee hang even half way between heaven and hell between Christ and Antichrist Be zealous and repent O Laodicea cast out O England thy pretended riches honours and preferments which works a conceit in thee that thou art rich whiles thou art but beggarly and naked and buy gold tryed of the fire of Christ and true honours from him and that white rayment of his righteousness and of his holy Spouse in her external offices and ordinances which will make thee truly honourable beautiful rich and comly Be zealous I say and fervent hot after those precious jewels and spiritual riches and repent of thy former follies and vain conceits and then thou wilt be wise to purpose and become as a Lilly among the Thorns and the fairest of all thy Sisters Vers 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me Christ adds here another motive to the poor blinde Laodiceans to come unto him for gold for white rayment for eye-salve to supply all their wants which is drawn from his willingness and readiness to come in and converse with all such that are but willing to receive him and to close with him and therefore he tells them Behold I stand at the door and knock Christ comes as one desiring to have entrance he knocks first that they may know to whom it is that they must open Christ coming in his first grace is irresistable and as the strong man dispossesses Satan and takes possession of the house the soul by a spiritual force and over-powering hand But if the soul after faith received by its own sloth remisness or backsliding shall shut the door or entrance thereof against the kindly operations of Christ and his Spirit Christ is not obliged to break up the door of that heart again by violence as at his first coming in unto it but will come and call and knock for entrance that is will wait with mercies with providences with precepts commands with exhortations and reproofs that if possible to melt the straying and erring soul into compunction and to open again unto him that the King of glory may enter in From which posture of Christ Observe Observ That Christ uses all possible means for the reclaiming and regaining erring souls into the ways of life He comes as it were a supplicant at their doors and desires them to give entrance to him He stands and knocks he waits and waits long and calls and calls again by divers and various ways of mercies and grace he puts them in minde of his former loving kindnesses and how ready he is to help them if they will but open to him and follow his direction and hearken to his voice Somtimes he shakes his rod over them to bring them to repentance and tells them as many as he loves he rebukes and chastens somtimes he invites them by mercies and gracious considerations to return unto him then again he takes the terrors of the Law to make them see their danger if they continue obstinate unto his calls and lastly he sends his Ambassadours with precept upon precept and line upon line beseeching in Christ's name the straying souls to return unto him Christ will never be wanting to them unless they be wanting unto themselves Quest But why does not Christ himself use his force and open the door himself by his Spirits power to these poor Laodiceans Is not he the great Key-bearer of David who openeth and no man shutteth and if he would but speak the word he need not stand knocking at their doors they would fly open to him that he might enter in I answer 1. 'T is true At Christ's first entring into the soul our base natures are so resistable and abhorrent to the work of grace that he must come by force by a spiritual force with his Key of David to unlock the doors of our hearts if he will have an entrance thereinto But secondly Having first shed abroad his first grace into our hearts then he commands us to work in the power of that grace to work out our salvation with fear and trembling Having received the promises saith the Apostle clense your selves from all filthiness 2 Cor. 7.1 and Christ puts us then upon doing that we may stir up our graces improve our talents and become active growing and fruitful christians and on this account Christ here knocks at the door of the hearts of the church of Laodicea and bids her to hearken to his voice and ro open to him She had received the first grace of faith from Christ or else she could not be numbred among the seven golden candlesticks though she was a sad disorderly and rusty one yet she was a church of Christ still and therefore might very well be commanded to set her power and grace a working to open unto Christ the operations of whose Spirit she had shut out and quenched by her uneven carriage and luke-warm temper Thirdly and in the last place Know that Laodicea had not quite shut the door to Christ as unto the operation of his graces she was a church of Christ though a luke-warm one but she had shut the door and denied him passage in some of his Ordinances by which Christ usually and ordinarily enters she had shut the door unto a true spiritual Ministery Discipline orderly calls and regular dispensing of his Ordinances and instead thereof entertains a formal lazy indifferent luke-warm Ministery State-discipline Officers and calls and so all Ordinances are brought to the scantling of the will of man not of God or of Christ and so makes up a mongrel Hermaphroditical worship part of God's and part of man's which indeed is purely neither God's nor man's and therefore an abomination both to God and man She had shut this door and way of entrance against Christ as some of our churches has done this day and therefore Christ comes and knocks and how By the Ministery of his Word and faithful Witnesses And as John was sent with an Epistle in his hand to Laodicea and the rest of the delinquent Asian churches so Christ sends his faithful Teachers and Prophets with a burden in their mouths against all such false worship and doctrine to unshut the doors if it may be that the King of glory may enter in Use From the discoursed premisses it plainly appears That this Scripture
speak very favourably of it and very ingeniously call it a harmless opinion not directly or indirectly striking or undermining any the fundamentals of the Faith But to proceed In this last Scripture take notice 1. What therein is promised as a peculiar reward to them that abide temptations with or for Christ and it is a Kingdom Christ's Kingdom my Kingdom vers 30. compare this with Rev. 11.18 and Rev. 20.4 2. Christ appoints unto them a Kingdom as his Father had appointed to him a kingdom but the Father as is on all sides agreed appointed not a particular kingdom for Christ after the ultimate judgement in the supernal heavens for it is affirmed on all hands that Christ then and there shall deliver up the Kingdom the power and ruling into the hands of the Father that God may be all in all according to that of 1 Cor. 15.24 28. Now in a Kingdom there are relations persons to rule and persons ruled to wit Christ and his Saints to rule and unbelievers to be ruled but in the highest heavens there is nothing to be made subject to Christ and his Saints no unbeliever or unclean thing must enter thereinto the blessed Angels the ministring Spirits being only subject to Christ Heb. 1.13 14. Neither can this be meant of Christ's spiritual Kingdom wherein Believers then were and in all ages formerly and therefore cannot be meant of this Kingdom promised and prophesied of in this Scripture Besides the spiritual Kingdom of Christ is called often by John the Kingdom oâ— patience wherein the Saints endure temptations afflictions and tryals which Christ here mentions and so cannot with the least reason signifie the Kingdom of Reward which Christ promiseth as the effects crown result and reward of that enduring and patience 3. Eating drinking and such actions are unsutable actions and expressions to signifie the glory of the highest heavens but very sutable to express Christ's glorious Kingdom here on earth for it is promised as a Paradice and a Tree of life therein Rev. 2.7 22.2 And it is such a high spiritual eating and drinking it being as yet a hidden Manna unto us that we cannot possibly comprehend the excellency thereof but under Types and Figures meet for our capacities 4. The conquering Saints are to sit on Thrones to judge the twelve Tribes of Israel In Christ's spiritual Kingdom this was never yet done but such were rather judged and trampled under foot by the powers of the world and Antichrist and in the supremest ultimate glory there is nothing to be judged neither persons nor things for that is the Father's Throne wherein Christ shall lay down all Authority and himself be also subject unto the Father as that 1 Cor. 15.24 25 28. Therefore this Kingdom here meant which Christ calls My Kingdom and My Throne is yet to come here on earth before the ultimate day of judgement and the Saints highest state of glory in the supreamest heavens which is the Father's Throne Object But some will object That this which is called Christ's Kingdom is also the same with the Father's Kingdom and not distinct from it but one and the same and to this purpose urge that Scripture Matth. 26.29 I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the Vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom Now that which you interpret to be the Son's Kingdom is here called the Father's Kingdom and therefore one and the same Answ I answer 'T is true The Son's Kingdom is called in Scripture the Father's Kingdom for divers reasons 1. Because the Father gives it to Christ and therefore he is called Psal 2.8 His King 2. Because the Father and the Son are one by an unspeakable Union and so the Kingdom of the Son may be called the Kingdom of the Father that is the Kingdom of God for Father is often ascribed in Scripture to the Godhead as that of John 17.3 This is life eternal that they know thee to wit the Father to be the only true God c. And by reason of the union of both natures in one person Christ it is called Eph. 5.5 The Kingdom of Christ and of God and The Throne of God and the Lamb Rev. 22.3 in the holy City the New Jerusalem So that Christ as man as one with the Father or God reigns in this happy millenary Kingdom and so may be also called the Father's Kingdom wherein he will drink his new wine with his faithful ones before the ultimate day of judgement so this makes not at all against the distinct Kingdoms of the Father and Christ which is before asserted and plainly evidenced from divers Scriptures Let the industrious enquiring Reader read more at large in D. Homes M. Maton and M. Mede hereon and vers 12. of this chapter But for a more full explicating and opening the Truth of this point understand That Christ's Kingdom in Scripture hath a diverse acceptation First Christ is King by right of creation Heb. 1.2 and this is his natural Kingdom which he hath as one God with the Father from everlasting Secondly Christ is King by right of Purchase as the first he rules and governs all the Kings and Nations of the world and so is King of Kings But by the second he governs more especially his church and people and this he does as God-man and is properly called Christ's Mediatory Kingdom And this his Mediatory Kingdom hath in it divers periods some more lowly some more exaltant and triumphant Christ was a born King witness the Magi's enquiry after him that was born King of the Jews and their majestique presents of Gold Myrrh and Frankincense but his power was then but obscure and low which appeared afterwards somwhat more radiant in imposing his commands doctrines and ordinances upon his followers and disciples but this was but dark and somwhat lowly also as an Heir in his minority After his Resurrection and Ascension he commands his Agents and Ambassadors to negotiate the great affairs of his Kingdom in his absence by the help and concomitancy of his Spirit with them and this is therefore called Christ's Spiritual or Ministerial Kingdom which is to continue unto his second coming the great work wherein is to preach the Messias and his Doctrine of Faith and his second coming but this is mixed too with a great deal of affliction trouble and obscurity But there is another period of this Mediatory Kingdom of Christ which is most glorious and triumphant and that is at his last appearance when all these low dispensations shall be done away when he shall reigne and none shall let All other periods were mixed with much tears and sorrow but in this they shall be quite wiped off In this last period there is given him not only as God but as man or rather as God-man Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all people Nations and Languages should serve him Dan. 7.14 and Psal 2.8 Ask â—f me and I
properly The first Paradice may serve to typifie or represent the second Paradice or new Church-state or heaven which Christ will restore unto his faithful ones before the ultimate day and end of all See more on the 21 and 22 chapters Verse 8. And unto the Angel of the Church in Smyrna Write these things saith the first and the last which was dead and is alive Verse 9. I know thy works and tribulation and poverty but thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan Christ having finished his charge to the church of Ephesus goes on on the same account with the church of Smyrna and commands the Angel or chief Pastor or Minister of the said church who as Ireneus testifies was Policarpus scholar unto S. John to write those things for them to take notice of which he was about to discover to them The person that gave out these discoveries and charges to the churches is here plainly manifested to be Christ who was dead and is alive as in v. 18. of the precedent chapter more fully The matter of the discovery is wholly of encouragement and approbation I know thy works and tribulation and poverty but thou art rich that is I know thy works thou church of Smyrna and the trouble affliction and tribulation that thou endurest by reason of the opprobrious scandalous and reviling speeches which those cast out against thee which call themselves Jews and are not And I know thy poverty and scantiness in worldly riches but I add withal thou art rich in spiritual graces and though thou art accounted poor in this world yet thou hast treasures abiding for thee in heaven And withal I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan As if he had said I also know and take notice of the reviling speeches that those which call themselves Jews and so perhaps were so by blood and yet are not true Jews true spiritual Israelites but rather by reason of their unbelief and malicious practises and persecution of the truth and the professors thereof are the very divel 's disciples and of the Synagogue of Satan Here is a two-fold knowledge or several acts of one and the same knowledge and far different the one from the other The one is a knowledge of approbation love and complacency the other of hatred and abhorrency Christ knows the works of the church of Smyrna of her tribulation persecution and poverty and loves her and honours her for it Christ also knows the works of her adversaries of blasphemies reproaches and enticements to evil against the true Professors of godliness and not only hates them for it but sets a character of ignominy upon their head for ever for what may be more reproachful or stigmatizing then for those that think themselves somwhat in the church of God that call themselves Jews the keepers of the Oracles and mysteries of God yet indeed to be justly numbred among the disciples of the Synagogue of Satan that is of the divel 's church for the word Synagogue in the Greek signifies so much as Convention Meeting or Church which is commonly used now in the worser sense which was appropriated first chiefly to the Jewish Pharisaical and Priestly meetings and called the Jewish Synagogue but Christians having renounced the name and thing have appropriated to their meetings or conventions a more significant name to wit the Church Ecclesia and leaves the Synagogue to unbelieving Jews Antichrist and the Divel to nourish their Disciples in From Christ taking knowledge with approbation of the works and tribulations of the church of Smyrna see the Notes on v. 2. of this chapter to which I refer But from this verse explained one Note shall be Observ That a poor afflicted and persecuted church of Christ is more dear precious and rich in his eye then all other the potent rich and mighty Societies in the world Christ looks upon the latter but with an eye of common providence as the Sun shineth and shower falleth on the field of the righteous and unrighteous alike herein there is no distinction of love or mercy God equally dispenseth those common gifts equally alike unto all neither is any one to be accounted godly or ungodly elect or reprobate from the abounding or want thereof for some godly have abounded and others have wanted herein But the church of Christ they have distinguishing mercies their afflictions and tears are treasured up in a bottle of remembrance for a reward and crown unto them they are as the apple of his eye his jewels members of his mystical body and therefore must needs be dear unto him for no man ever hated his own flesh for them the world was made and is preserved and continued to this day for their sakes and I dare be bold to affirm if there were none of his elect members on earth the world would soon see its night and period and forthwith relapse to its primitive and everlasting chaos or at least pass away and perish that its place be no more found Christ is still walking amongst those golden Candlesticks viewing their order and takes his delight in those Gardens and Beds of Spices and so gets up early into these Vinyards to see if the Vine flourish whether the tender Grape appear and the Pomgranates bud forth Cant. 7.12 his delight was ever to be with the children of men and takes much pleasure not only in seeing and smelling the savoury exercises and spiritual sacrifices of the more grown christians but also takes much complacency in viewing the growth production and fruitfulness of younger christians and leads them gently by the hand by his doctrine and discipline until at last they are brought unto the Wine-cellars of his love where he bids them to take their fill of love but by the way comforts them with apples and stays them with flaggons till at last he bring them home unto himself purified and cleansed by the purgatory of afflictions and tribulations as gold seven times tryed by the fire of the Chymister The genuine use of this is to demonstrate the danger of persecution of Christ's members or churches to all persons in the world They are his members and in as much as it is done to one of them it is done unto himself and better a milstone were hanged about the neck of such offenders and cast into the Sea then to offend one of his little ones The reasons that Christ's churches though afflicted scorned or persecuted are so dear and precious to him are First Because they are his Members and it is most natural to love ones self for he that loves not himself cannot love another and we are bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh Secondly Because of their graces and unction we having received all of his fulness grace for grace and of the same anointing with himself though in an