to the church visible as members thereof and are so justly reputed by others because they have submitted to the ordinances of the church which is sufficient nothing appearing to the contrary to denominate them Saints called elect and written in the book of life Now when God is said to blot out names names being put for persons out of the book of life it only signifies that God will manifestly declare and make it known both to the parties themselves and others that they never were true members of the church nor in the state of election and salvation nor never written in the book of life I will not blot his name out of the book of life Under this negative promise unto the conquering Saint is contained a strong Affirmation of the continuance of the contrary blessing Christ will not only not blot out his name out of the book of life that is confirm and continue his undoubted right and title unto eternal life but he will also manifestly declare and make known unto others his lawful Title and interest according as he hath ordained him thereunto in his book of life from all eternity and so the subsequent words do intimate I will confess his name before my Father and before his Angels often in Scripture things are then said to be done when they are only manifested to be done according to that saying Res tum demum dicuntur fieri cum incipiantur manifestari Reg. Petrum As to instance by Heb. 1.5 Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee The Spirit in that Scripture not intending that the Son was not begotten of the Father before that day when that word was uttered but that on that day he was more eminently declared and manifested to be the only begotten Son of God then formerly So that when it is said in Scripture that God will blot their names out of the book of life it only imports That God will discover to themselves and others that their names were never written in the book of life nor had any right or interest at all in election or salvation farther then in the outward appearance From the words Note Observ That the eternal state of God's chosen ones is sealed and secured by God from everlasting Their names are written in the eternal book of God's decrees of life and he will not blot them out for being once enrolled in the book of God's election and among the catalogue of his Saints in the church invisible they can never be razed out for the foundation of God continueth sure Rom. 9.11 and hath a twofold seal 2 Tim. 2.19 First God's knowledge whereby he knoweth them that are his Secondly His Spirit of Regeneration which sealeth them unto eternal life Now if any thing would blot out those that are thus enrolled or written in the book of life it must be their sins and pollutions that would do it but the sins of God's chosen ones cannot move the Lord to raze us out of his book of life for then the fore-sight and knowledge of our sins in God's eternal counsel would much more have hindred him from chusing and enrolling us in the book of his Election seeing every one knoweth that a less cause will hinder the choice of any then move them to reject the person once chosen nay rather because the Lord hath chosen us therefore he will give us his holy Spirit whereby he will preserve us though not altogether from falling into sin yet from finally lying dormant and impenitent therein and as he hath freely chosen us to eternal life without any respect to our own worthiness so also he will freely execute this decree by giving us all the good means conducing to that end Object But some may say Though the conquering Saints are secure and their names shall not be blotted out of this book yet this doth intimate that others whose names are written therein for their sinful pollutions and iniquities unrepented of may be blotted out according to that of Exod. 32.33 Whosoever hath sinned against me saith God him will I blot out of my Book And as David prayeth Psal 69.28 Let them be put out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous Answ First This threatning is not against the true members of Christ or his church who are enrolled in the book of life but those that are the members of the visible church only and are only seemingly written in the book of life members in shew and not in truth branches in the Vine by profession but not in practise and life of the Lord's family and in the number of his servants in their own and others opinion but not really and in truth according to God's estimation Secondly Whereas God saith he will blot such out of his book we are not to understand thereby that he would blot them out of the book of his election unto life wherein they were never written or that he would reject them whom he had chosen but that he would raze them out of the other book of life the book of the execution of his decrees to wit the book and roll â—f his visible church and that it might be manifestly declared that they who in their own opinion and in respect of their outward profession in the opinion of others might seem to be written in both books or both parts of the book of life of that of God's decrees which only relates to the invisible members and church of Christ and also of that other book or roll of the visible church yet were not in truth ever enrolled in either farther then in outward profession and appearance only And lastly Whereas David prays that the obstinate enemies of God and himself might be put out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous is no more but as if David had said Do not O Lord write them down or reckon them in the number of thy faithful ones or if they come to be numbred among thy church and people and to be accounted written in the book of the living in respect of their outward profession and external walking with the people of God yet discover such and display them that it may manifestly appear that they were never truly written in the book of the living nor are to be accounted among the righteous that so they may be put out of the company of thy church and children that all may know that they were but hypocrites For in regard that God's decree of election is unsearchable to man those are said to be elected and written in the book of life who are outwardly called and added to the visible church professing themselves members thereof which are the outward but not the infallible signs of God's election because they are common both to hypocrites and sound believers and so likewise God is said to blot persons out of this book whose sins and hypocrisies are discovered and so thrust out of the company of
but especially for the houshold of faith Quest What is meant here by wishing Grace and Peace Answ Not only the gifts and graces of the Spirit but Grace it self the fountain and original of all good even the good will and free favour of God which he bears to his Elect even whilst sinners in and through Jesus Christ and Peace which is not only happy success from God in all things which concerns the felicity of our souls and bodies but more especially reconciliation unto and with God from whence floweth all true peace and tranquility unto the mind and conscience Quest How comes Iohn to wish Grace and Peace to the seven Churches whilst being churches of Christ they had this Grace and Peace aforehand Answ He wisheth unto them a fuller sense and more plenteous fruits of this Grace and Peace and perseverance in it it seems by their backslidings they had lost some of the comforts and fruits of their grace and therefore need a supply from God Secondly I answer All Grace is not given at once to God's best children but by degrees and as they are capable of and therefore rightly might Iohn wish these Churches an encrease and so may all Christ's Ministers unto all that will ever want encrease of grace whiles here beneath for none here in this world will ever see perfection in an absolute and abstract sense and therefore will still have need of an additament of grace and peace You have here the Author or Fountain to wit the Trinity from which all happiness all true grace and peace do proceed even from him which is and which was and which is to come that is from that almighty glorious God who only hath an absolute and infinite Being in and of himself who was from all eternity and is the same for ever And from the seven Spirits which are before his Throne Here is some difficulty in Interpretation What is meant by the seven Spirits Some interpret that here is meant seven principal ministring Spirits or Angels that always stand before the Throne of God to receive his commands But this I cannot approve of First because grace and peace is here desired from them joyntly as from God and Jesus Christ to be bestowed upon the Churches and this is not the Angels or creatures work but only the Creator's Secondly For that in all the Epistles where there is mention made of this or the like salutation you shall never find it in any created Spirits or Angels name but only in this sort The love of the Father the grace of Jesus Christ the consolation or peace of the Spirit be with you Thirdly for that in chap. 5. v. 6. these seven Spirits are there called the seven eyes of the Lamb that was slain which the Spirit sent forth into the whole earth Which reasons do clearly convince me that we must here in this place and there also understand this spoken of the Spirit of God which here goes under the denomination of seven Spirits to signifie its seven-fold power vertue efficacy and gifts Rom. 12. For this mystical number of seven do always in this book and all other prophesies signifie compleatness and perfection seven Churches seven Candlesticks seven Seals seven Trumpets seven Vials seven Angels all signifying a perfection in their kinds Hence take this Note Observ That the Father Son and Spirit the whole Trinity are engaged for the support and encrease of our grace and peace and of all our joy comfort and happiness here hereafter and for ever From the Father more peculiarly flows the grace of Election from the Son the grace of Redemption and Satisfaction from the Spirit the grace of Sanctification Peace and Consolation And from the Three in one our God blessed for ever Salvation and Eternal Glory Vers 5. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful Witness and the first-begotten of the dead and the Prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Vers 6. And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be glory c. Christ here is said to be the faithful Witness in sundry respects First In that he hath faithfully declared the Will of the Father Secondly In that he hath been faithful in all his works about our Redemption committed to him by the Father Thirdly In that he hath here faithfully declared the mind of God towards his church in these prophesies From whence observe as before on vers 1. Observ That this Prophesie having so faithful an Author and Relater as Christ it must surely be true and come to pass If the word spoken by Angels was stedfast much more what was spoken by the Son Heb. 2.1 2. see more hereon cap. 3. 14. Christ is here called the first-gotten of the dead first because he was the first that rose by his own proper power from the dead Secondly because all that have risen or shall so rise does it by a derivative vertue and power from him Thirdly he may be called the first-born or first fruits of the dead because he is the true and substantial first-fruits that was offered up unto God for the living and the dead which was typified in the Levitical primicies or first fruits or first-born that was offered unto God 1 Cor. 15.20 Observ This proves the Resurrection If Christ be the first-born of the dead then others of his members must necessarily be partakers of the resurrection also 2 Cor. 4.14 Christ is here called the Prince of the Kings of the earth first as Head of his Church or of Saints who are called Kings of the Earth Rev. 5.10 Secondly as King of Kings so by him kings reigne This manifests his power and ability to bless us here with his grace and at last to raise us and to save us and unto this mighty and powerful Saviour who loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood and made us Kings and Priests unto God that is Kings and Conquerors not only over our own lusts but over the world and over the powers of darkness and Priests to offer up spiritual sacrifices unto the Father To this gracious Saviour who hath done all these great things for us be given all glory and dominion for evermore Amen Hence Note Observ That the whole work of our salvation is ascribed unto Jesus Christ under these particulars First He loves us that is accepts our persons in himself from all eternity and in time justifies us from our sins in his blood Secondly He sanctifies us by making us conquerors over our lusts and to become actively zealous towards God in spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise And lastly he makes us Kings and Priests after the Resurrection Rulers with Christ and sharers with him in his Kingdom of glory See more cap. 5. 1. Vers 7. Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the
applying them the right way Again if Satan foretells any thing it is only gathered from the observation of the affairs of the world and his long experienced conversing in them and this at best can be but conjectural and therefore keeps himself to those dark ways of delivery Lastly To ascribe to Satan truth in foretelling of events it would rob God of his glory and one of his great prerogatives which he alone by his Spirit hath often manifested to his servants the Prophets for the good and comfort of his church and people Object But did not Satan tell Saul in that apparition of Samuel in 1 Sam. 28.19 That he should be delivered with all his host into the hands of the Philistines and that he and his sons on the morrow should be all with Samuel that is dead And was not that prediction truly fulfilled I answer first Amongst Expositors there is a great difference of opinions about the meaning of this place They that hold it was Samuel himself who was at rest have but small store of reason for it for these reasons First Because God will not send one from the dead to exhort the living They have Moses and the Prophets Secondly It is improbable that God would send Samuel who would not let him to answer Saul in his life time because God had forsaken him would now send him from the dead to advise him and then too when he was advising with Wizards and Witches which was utterly forbidden by God in his Law But the current of most Expositors hold That it was the divel in the appearance or likeness of Samuel But herein submitting to the judicious and more discerning judgements I here lay down some considerations to the contrary If this were Satan in the shape of Samuel it is strange he would leave such an excellent lesson to all posterity to the destruction and prejudice of his own kingdom as this is Saul had departed from God and disobeyed his voice therefore God was departed from him and given his kingdom unto another even unto David ver 16 17 18 19. and at last for this his disobedience would destroy him and his family by the hands of their enemies Now this is against that former saying of our Saviour's A Kingdom divided cannot stand is Satan divided against himself Collate unto this the reasons a little before mentioned and judge whether ever that spirit of lies and enmity to mankind would leave such a good and fruitful lesson for the children of men upon record to his prejudice for ever For this reason I am hardly induced to believe that this was Satan in Samuel's apparition but rather a cozening confederate of the Pythonist of Endor set up by her in a secret corner described by her or set up in the shape and garments of the old and famous Prophet Samuel who was but lately dead and therefore his postures garments and also his prophesies of rending the Kingdom from Saul and giving it unto David was very well known unto all Israel and therefore this witch of Endor could not be ignorant of it being but a little way distant from the Court of Saul where Samuel was often conversant in his life time as appears from vers 7 and 8. campared with 25 And also it appears unto me that Saul here in the whole transaction did not see the counterfeit Samuel by that his question in vers 14. What form is he of And she said an old man cometh up and he is covered with a mantle And Saul perceiving by this description of hers that it was Samuel he bows himself and so proceeds to his business with this Samuel or counterfeit which might lie hid behind some shrine hanging or grate where the whole cozenage is transacted and how easily Saul was to be caught and deceived in this kind appears from his distraction consternation and fear he was in being serrounded of his enemies forsaken of God and seeking unto witches in this time of trouble This wise woman or witch of Endor with her confederate knew well enough that this was Saul being higher by the head then all Israel though disguised and by his attendants and servants with him from the beginning of this whole art of cozenage though she counterfeited the contrary verse 12. This appears from her neighbourhood with the Court he coming to her and after all these cozening transactions returning the same night again verse 25. whereas this counterfeit is here often called Samuel and Saul took him indeed to be Samuel yet this makes it no more to be true and real Samuel then if it had been granted that it was the divel in Samuel's shape so that under correction of better judgements I am of opinion this was not Satan in Samuel's likeness that left this useful lesson and prediction for the reasons abovesaid but rather proceeded from the cozening Pythonist of Endor and her well-informed confederate who well knew of the prediction of the Prophet Samuel that God would take off the kingdom from Saul and give it unto his servant David because Saul had disobeyed God's voice in the business of Agag and this she could foresee was the time in that the Philistines the enemies of Israel were come up against him and he knew not which way to turn for God had forsaken him and had denied to answer him either by Prophet Urim or Thummim I have been somwhat the longer herein to stave the divel off that he may not have any hand in God's prerogative in foretelling the truth of events If it were granted that this were the Divel in Samuel's likeness yet I answer the Divel might well gather the truth of this prediction concerning the destruction of Saul and his sons from that of Samuel's prophesie against him when in his life time at Gilgal he came and told him that God would rend his kingdom from him for not obeying his word and give it unto his servant David 1 Sam. 13.14 And therefore the Divel here might well predict the same unto Saul coming to him to know the event and success of his undertaking against the Philistines But in the time and some other circumstances of this prediction whether it proceeded from Satan or the cozening Pythonist yet there is a palpable failure therein to show that God's Spirit alone is the spirit of prophesie and the sure foretelling of all events in the full truths thereof for this pretended Samuel tells Saul that to morrow he and his sons should be with him that is in the state of death But observe if this were the Divel how this father of lies keeps on his old trade of lying for indeed Saul and his sons were not overthrown nor slain by the Philistines on the morrow but some days after as appeareth by considering the several transactions done by David in the 29 and 30 chapters against the Amalekites after he was dismissed from the Army of the Philistines before they fell upon Saul and his Army to their
Christ hates it and his church hates it and therefore surely it hath some poysonous and pestilential quality in it somtimes it amounts so far as to defile both judgement and practise joyntly as it did in the Sect of the Nicholaitans And this it most frequently does unless in such a time when the appearance of an Angel of light will seem better with Satans designs for if the Theoretique part of the understanding be not sound the practique can hardly be streight where the light of the eye is darkned our feet will soon stumble and the will and judgement are so linked together that some make the will to be the last act of the understanding or the practique part of the judgement so nearly they are related into oneness that the contagion of the one will be the defilement of the other Yet secondly Satan is so serpentine and crafty that often he can restrain the will and put on the forms of an Angel of light and set on a stricter garb of holiness and mortification then ordinary even unto an Erenetique monastical conversation denying the lawful comforts of humane life and society that he may make the greater impression to deceive thereby as he does in some of the crafty deceiving heretiques of these days Therefore it is not only the duty of all Christ's faithful ones but their honour and glory and their crown to abominate and hate all such deeds and mysteries of Satan even as they are abominated and hated by Christ himself Verse 7. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches To him that overcometh will I give to taste of the Tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradice of God The ear is the chief instrument or organ by which we hear and the Spirit sets it here metonimically for hearing it self such a hearing or right understanding as is mentioned in Rom. 10.17 as comes by the Word of God by a sagacious and diligent prepending of the mind of God in the word stirred up and warmed by the influence of the same Spirit and such a hearing or such an ear is here called as competently fit for the comprehension of the mind of the Spirit in these prophesies Hence Note Observ That there is chiefly required a spiritualized and enlightned reason and a well ordered judgement for the discovery of the mysteries of this book of Prophesies Holy and good affections without sound knowledge will not reach it It is for him that hath understanding that must count the number of the Beast Rev. 13.18 God hath given diversity of gifts to his Church for the profit of the whole some one is excellent for an interpretation of Tongues another for Prophesie another for exhortation another for a Psalm another for gubernation and discipline another is excellent about justification another about the doctrines of holiness and sanctification others again are for unlocking prophetical deeps and mysteries c. So every one hath their variety of gifts and excellencies that the body may be compleated and made perfect by the co-assistance and harmony of the whole Let it not seem strange that this book is dark and difficult to the supine and lazie christian it is only for him that hath an ear to hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches What is meant by the Spirit that speaks unto the churches is to be enquired into It cannot be understood neither Angel nor the holy Spirit personally considered for in the next immediate verse the same Spirit is called the first and the last which was dead and is alive Now this must be Christ who appeared unto John not in his humanity but spiritually in his Deity under the figure and likeness of the Son of man Review v. 13. of the first chapter more fully to this purpose And here he is called the Spirit to denote Observ That Christ is one and the same not only in properties and qualities with the holy Spirit but in essence also He hath the incommunicable properties of the Father in the words in the next verse and precedent chapter v. 4 8 17. who is the first and the last In vers 18. of this chapter he is called The Son of God and in this verse he is called The Spirit all making up this harmonious conclusion and truth that Christ is one and the same everlasting Father Son and Spirit our God blessed for ever Observ Another Note from these words are That every wise and judicious christian ought to be very intent and enquiring into the mind of God in and about all his providential dealings and discoveries towards his churches abroad in the world What God speaks unto his churches is not of a private interpretation but of a publique concernment unto all others If God have dealt in judgement and righteousness with those Asiatique churches and for their abounding iniquities unrepented of hath anathematized and utterly unchurched them all think not that we shall go free if we be found in the same transgressions with them There were other churches too as well as these once famous for their faith and piety now become the Dens of Dragons and habitation of all unclean spirits Therefore to avoid the stroke of divine judgement by a timely repentance how behoveful and necessary it is for him that hath an ear to hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches For be sure if we run the same course of sin with them we shall drink the same cup of indignation with them also if we continue obstinate and repent not for God is the same immutable Being just and righteous and a hater of all iniquity today and for ever But to him that overcometh that is holds out against the spiritual assaults of Satan and so overcome his temptations will I give saith Christ to eat of the Tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradice of God Here we have the tryumphant Christian Conqueror described together with his Crown and Reward To him that overcometh that is the Conqueror The reward is To eat of the Tree of life in the Paradice of God But if it should be asked wherein should a christian combatant overcome to denominate him a true conqueror and to overcome indeed I answer As God hath furnished us with variety of spiritual weapons and armory from himself which are mighty through God to pull down the strong Holds of Satan so we have divers and various stratagems and wyles of his to meet with in our christian warfare here beneath we have not only to fight with our corruptions within but we must meet with divers assaults of Satan also from without enticements and allurements to false Doctrines and Worships and if we comply not we may be sure to meet his buffettings from without in revilings reproaches afflictions c. and often as Paul did fight with unreasonable and bestial men as he did after the manner of Beasts at Ephesus So that he that overcometh to
he is the high Steward and great Dispenser in God's Kingdom All power is given unto him in heaven and in earth Observ 3. That that Prophesie which comes from so sure an Author as Jesus Christ must infallibly be true and come to pass for he is and always was the great Prophet of his Church it was he that gave visions and Prophesies to the Prophets Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel Daniel somtimes by his ministring spirits the Angels somtime by himself in the appearance of the likeness of the son of man Ezek. 1. v. 26. And all know that their prophesies stood sure and were accomplished in their respective seasons But as unto the stedfastness and faithfulness of this book of Prophesies see what Christ himself testifies in Rev. 3.7 14. and in ch ult v. 6. These things saith the Son of God who is the faithful and true witness therefore of most sure performance in God's appointed seasons From the words which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass Observe 1. That Christ's servants are very privie to Gods counsels and knows much of his designes This Christ hath verified First From that ground of union which is between Christ and his members for being once become his members or servants then they in Christ and Christ in them and according to that 1 John 2.20 They have an unction from him that is holy and they know all things so that they that have the Son have the Father also for they both are one in will counsel power and essence John 17.21 22. And the secrets of the Lord are with those that fear him 2. They know much of the mind of God in all the combustions changes and revolutions of this world Many think that they come by chance ill fortune or for want of foresight in management of State affairs but the servants of God know that the hand of God is in all those revolutions and State-shakings and that there can no evil befal unto the City but that there is the providence of God in it directing and over-ruling it unto its end so that they do foresee that this change and that alteration in the world will come too and can rightly conclude that all tend as in a chain of providences to bring about God's great end in the exaltation of Christ's Throne and the pulling down his enemies Observ 2. God reserved the more full revelation of all things concerning the changes and revolutions of the Church and State and the end of all unto the day of Christs exaltation in glory Christ on earth was not so glorious as Christ in heaven he had not so full commission to send out so much of his Spirit while he was on earth as when he was in heaven John 7.39 So in like manner it is no sin to say that God had not communicated unto Christ's manhood whiles here on earth the compleat knowledge of times and seasons and the end of all for he is said to grow in knowledge and therefore according to his manhood whiles here on earth might be ignorant in some things But yet it is clear the Father revealed it to him when he ascended into heaven that he might reveal it to his Church as the due reward of all his sufferings chap. 5. 9. Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain c. Which must shortly come to pass See vers 3. on these words The time is at hand And he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John From these words you may observe That God reveals these Prophesies not immediately from himself but mediately and by instruments First God gives this Revelation to Christ Christ gives discovery partly himself and partly gives commission to his Angels for the same Thirdly The Angels instruct John Fourthly John directeth the same to the seven Churches And fifthly From the seven Churches they are left to all the Churches of Christ for information unto the end of the world The infinity of God and the finiteness of creatures are not compatible therefore God uses instruments sutable to our capacities for discovery of his mind Observ 2. From the Messenger or Angel by whom partly this prophesie was sent Observe That Christ employs Angels in great services for his Church Angels were the first publishers and preachers of Christs birth an Angel tells the Apostles that Christ should return in that manner they had seen him go up to heaven Acts 1.11 Angels tells Abraham and Lot what God would do to Sodom Christ tells John Rev. 22.16 That he sent his Angels to testifie those things in the Churches The Angels are made ministring spirits for the service of the church and their service is more manifest in these particulars 1. They inform us of God's will and God of our ways they ascend and descend Zac. 1.11 Gen. 18.19 2. They oppose the enemies of Christ and his Church Rev. 12.7 Dan. 10.20 Numb 21.22 3. They execute the judgements of God upon his enemies Exo. 12.23 Gen. 19.11.13 c. Isa 37 36. Rev. 16. throughout 4. They defend the godly both against wicked men wicked spirits and wicked practises Rev 7.1 2 3 c. Psal 34.7 and 91.11 Gen. 32.1 2. 2 King 6.14 15 c. 5. Next after the spirit of Christ they comfort the afflicted in their distresses Luke 1.30 Acts 10.4 and 27.24 Dan. 6.10 11 12. Luke 22.43 6. They are God's reapers and gatherers of God's elect at the end of the world Mat. 24.31 From the person to whom this prophesie was sent and revealed by the Angel under this relation of his servant John what this Iohn was is made fully to appear in the preliminary discourse unto the Title it was Iohn the brother of Iames our Lord's kinsman the beloved disciple a great Pillar and Apostle in the Church of Christ and yet he is here described under the title and relation of servant not only so by right of creation but of redemption special right covenant and service From which observe That to be related to Christ by way of service is a higher priviledge then any outward relation to him Better be Christ's bondman then his kinsman inward priviledges are more honourable then carnal Mary was happier in carrying Christ in her heart then in her womb Iohn glories more to be Christ's servant then his cosin Mat. 12.47 48 c. Christ professeth that they are his kindred who shall do the will of his father and he that is related to Christ in grace and faith is as sure of his love and acceptation as any of his nearest friends or kinsmen Observ 2. It is man's greatest honour to be Christ's servant It was a curse upon Cain Gen. 9. to be a servant of servants but to be Christ's servant is not only free but noble Iohn though he was a great pillar a prophetical Apostle the darling Disciple yet Christ calls him but his servant Paul
first vision Iohn saw seven golden Candlesticks and in the mids of them one like the Son of man c. Some may conceive that this person here represented in the likeness of the Son of man to be some Angel and not Christ because he is said to be like the Son of man and not the Son of man but an Angel which Christ deputized as v. 1. to give these visions unto Iohn But to refel this opinion I offer these reasons First He is called the Α and Ω in verse 8. and in chap. 2. vers 18. where the same person is described he is called the Son of God Now sure God would never give these Titles and his peculiar Attributes unto creature-Angels but unto his Son who is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only consimiliar but consubstantial with the Father and who counts it no robbery to be equal with God For unto which of the Angels hath he said ye are the Α and Ω the first and the last Or ye are the Sons of God Or unto which of the Angels hath he said as in verse 18. ye are alive but ye were dead or ye have the keys of hell and of death Surely no creature in heaven or in earth will take these high Titles and Prerogatives unto themselves but Christ himself and therefore this likeness of the Son of man in this vision must needs be Christ And by the way I would have the observant reason take notice that it is not very difficult to discern what visions in this book are given forth by Christ and what by Angels by observing the descriptions of the parties that gives them for the principal and most remarkable visions Christ gives out himself but the less principal he discovers by his ministers the Angels But to leave nothing in the dark Some may say Why may not this be the Father who appeared unto Daniel chap. 7. 9. who is there called the Ancient of days whose garment was white as snow and the hair of his head as pure wool his throne was like the fiery flame and his wheels were as burning fire The description of this person here in Daniel is almost the same with this in the Revelation comparing the 11. 14 and 15 verses together I answer first The Learned do observe That neither the Father nor the holy Spirit have ever appeared in the likeness or the shape of man Secondly The Anthropomorphites have abused this place to maintain their gross opinion of the corporiety and circumscription of the infinite Deity and therefore the all-wise Spirit of God to prevent the mistakes of man about the invisible and incomprehensible nature of God describes this vision of Daniel in the likeness and appearance of things not that they were materially so It is the likeness of a Throne and like a fiery flame c. And in the 13 verse like the Son of man no true substantial body nor material visions Thirdly I answer This must be the person of the Son in the likeness of man for the reasons immediately foregoing who was dead but is alive and he that should attribute this to the Father or the Spirit should want some Hellebore Lastly This must be Christ because we find in Scripture that Christ hath often appeared in visions like unto man Dan. 7.13 I saw in the night Visions and behold one like the Son of man Ezek. 1.26 and Rev. 14.14 I looked and behold a white cloud and upon the cloud one sate like unto the Son of man and that this was the person of the Son and not the Father or the holy Spirit is most evident from verse 18. of chap. 2. where one and the same person that is in the 13 14 and 15 verses here described in the mids of the seven Churches or the seven golden Candlesticks who had his eyes like a flame of fire and his feet like unto fine brass in the 18. verse of chap. 2. he commands John to write to Thyatira one of the seven Churches These things saith the Son of God which hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire and his feet like unto fine brass Therefore to be brief that person that is here called the Son of God is neither the Father nor the Spirit but Christ the eternal Son of God Quere But was not this appearance then in the likeness of the Son of man truly man or Christ the Son of man Seeing you hold it was the person of Christ was it Christ according to his manhood I answer It was Christ but not Christ as the Son of man for it is a maxime that nullum simile est idem and here he is called like the Son of man therefore not the true and proper Son of man The heavens was to contain his manhood until the restauration of all things though his Divinity is ubiquitary omnipresent and omnipotent yet his manhood is circumscribed and terminated unto one place at once if it be in heaven it cannot be on earth it ascended there Acts 1.10 11. and Stephen saw him there even the Son of man at the right hand of his Father in glory Act 7.56 not by a visional representation but truly and really As God gave Stephen this glorified sight of the Son of man in heaven so God doubtless fitted and qualified his organical instruments of sight above their common pitch to reach an object at so high a distance when God will work wonderfully he can turn Nature out of its proper frame either in elevating it beyond its own power of production or to hinder it in its own peculiar operations He can make the Sun to stand still as in the days of Joshua He can make the eye to see a thousand miles distance as unto Stephen he can bind up the fiery flames that they shall not hurt or burn as unto the three children in the fiery Furnace walking therein without scortching a hair But to return If Christ as the Son of man be in heaven then he is not on the earth he is not transubstantiated or consubstantiated into or with the Bread in the Sacrament as the Papists and some Lutherans dream of But secondly I answer Christ here appears to John as he did to the Prophets of old before his Incarnation that is to say by his Deity and Godhead being transfigured into the likeness of man and taking up the form of man as being most sutable to the capacity and nature of man and so manifests himself in the shape or form of man otherwise the Divine Nature in it self is invisible as in Dan. 7.13 and 10.5 Ezek. 1.26 Rev. 14.14 Before Christ's Incarnation he appears in the likeness of man to show that in time he would become the true and real Son of man by assuming flesh into union with his Godhead and since his Ascension he appears in the likeness of man to teach us that one day he will in the true humane nature come again to judge
the sons of men He was from his first undertaking for fallen man even from the beginning the great Administrator and Agent for his Father and so will be until the end of all under several appearances to wit either in Spirit and Power as now in the days of the Gospel or secondly in visional representations as here in the likeness of man and to the Prophets of old Or thirdly and lastly in his real humane nature as the Son of man as in his first and second coming Object But some may here unadvisedly say If this be the Deity of Christ that appeared here to Iohn in the likeness of man and his manhood in heaven why then there may be a separation between the Deity and the Manhood of Christ But this objection savours of much ignorance of the nature of the Deity Though the Deity I grant is most eminently conjunct with the manhood in heaven for that is the most special and magnificent habitation of his glory yet this doth not at all hinder but that that infinite Deity which is one with the humanity in heaven doth from thence flow and extend it self most infinitely over the whole Universe and therefore is not only most glorious in heaven but all other sublunary places also are filled with his glorious presence according to that of the Psalmist 119.8 If I ascend up unto heaven why thou art there that is the habitation of thy glory If I go down unto the deeps thou art there also thy power and wonderful providential workings are seen there also This is made good by that old verse Enter praesenter Deus hic ubique potenter God's Being Power and Presence is most clear On high and here beneath and every where Therefore it is not strange that Christ should here appear unto Iohn in his Deity as the Son of God and not as the Son of man but in the form or likeness of the Son of man For if Christ had appeared to Iohn in his humanity as he did unto Stephen he had then called him the Son of man but taking only the likeness of the Son of man he is called cap. 2. 18. the Son of God and not the Son of man being under a figure like to his humanity his humane body being in heaven since his Ascension and is there to abide until the latter day Acts 2.34 35. From this figure of Christ's appearance in the likeness of man observe That the Divine nature of Christ is too glorious for the eyes of man to behold therefore is here represented to Iohn under the form of man the more excellent glory is here shaddowed under that is less glorious If Christ had opened his divine nature and glory unto Iohn in the fulness of it as it is in it self other then in some darker representations of it it would have overwhelmed Iohn and slain him No man can see me and live saith God to Moses Exod. 33.18 when he desired God to shew him his glory This representation unto Iohn was so glorious though in the likeness of man that Iohn professeth in verse 17. when he saw it he fell at his feet as dead If we cannot behold without prejudice the Sun in its glory how can we behold the exceeding glory of the Creator whose glory exceeds infinitely the glory of all the creatures as far as infinity exceeds all finite Beings the sight of the glory of that Majesty would turn us into nothing If the Lord should not condescend to our weakness and shrine up his Majesty under the form of man there could be no communion between him and us Oh the goodness of God that condescends to our capacities From Christ's appearing in the mids of the seven golden Candlesticks Note That Christ sits as King and supream Moderator and Governour in his Churches And this is couched in these words In the mids of them for a King supream Captain or Governour sits in his throne in the mids of his Nobles and servants being environed about with attendants for his greater Majesty This person here in the likeness of the Son of man in the mids of the seven Candlesticks which denotes Christ's Kingly Office being farther described by his garments being clothed with a garment down to the feet betokening gravity and wisdom this sort of garment was worn of the Priests of old and also of the Roman Senators the Scribes and Pharisees and Doctors of the Law in Christ's time Matth. 12.38 used also this kind of garment and Christ here appears in this garb which doth typically represent both his Priestly office and his Prophetical office also for the Priests and Prophets under the Law were to be arrayed in such long garments Exod. 28.42 43. Lev. 6.10 and Samuel the Prophet ministred in such a garment 1 Sam. 2.18 Hence observe That when Christ makes discovery of himself to his Churches he desires to manifest himself in all his Offices When he appears here among these Asian Churches in a Kingly way and Power to chastise them for their backslidings yet he appears too in a Sacerdotal garment under his Priestly office interceding for his poor backsliding people and withal exercises his Prophetical Office in admonishing them to return to their first love whom they had forsaken Christ will not be wanting in any of his offices for the good and benefit of his Churches and therefore he is said here to be girt about the Paps with a golden Girdle which denotes Christ's readiness in all his offices for their good consult Luke 12.35 and 17.8 When the Romans of old did undertake any matter of action they did use to truss up their long garments for the better expedition in their actions so Christ here is said to be girt with a precious and golden girdle to manifest his readiness for his Churches service either as King to rule and chastise them as a Priest to intercede for them and as a Prophet to inform them Verse 14. His head and hairs were white as white wool and as snow and his eyes were as a flame of fire Verse 15. And his feet like unto fine brass burning as in a Furnace and his voice as the sound of many waters This appearance or likeness of the Son of man is farther described to have his head and hairs white as wool and as snow and the Ancient of days in Dan. 7.9 is ever under the same figures described white hairs and white head shows gravity age and antiquity worthy of all due reverence according to that of the Poet Magna fuit quadam capitis reverentia Cani From this description Note That Christ as the Son of God is of the same antiquity with the Father even one and the same co-eternal God blessed for ever For God who is called the Ancient of days in that vision of Daniel 7.9 manifested himself in the like appearance as he doth here unto Iohn in the likeness of the Son of man therefore is one and the same God having the
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
the solemn and the ultimate compleat act in Ordination unto all Offices in the Church so Christ here follows his own method used in his churches he lays his right hand upon him but here lies the difference men may lay their hands on that is bestow offices on men but cannot add power to execute those offices but Christ not only lays his hand on makes John a Prophet but fils him with his Spirit also Whom Christ calls unto offices in his church he lays his right hand upon them he fills them with his Spirit John before he received his confirmation in his Prophetical office and the command to write his visions and what he saw unto the churches had in the first place divine visions of Christ in the likeness of the Son of man and was struck as dead with the glory thereof whereupon Christ laid his hand of comfort upon him and he heard that rousing voice saying Fear not The case and condition of such persons that are called to the Ministerial offices in the church should in some measure run paralel with Iohn's First They ought to have clear visions of Christ sound knowledge in the mysteries of the Gospel Secondly under the apprehension of divine glory and their own corruption they ought to be humble and lie low at the feet of Christ to be patterns unto others in humility self-denial and other graces Thirdly They ought to be sensible of Christs hand upon them that is his spirit which will manifest it self in their sanctified desires willingness and readiness unto the work of the Lord. Fourthly and lastly They ought to hear that rousing word of comfort within Fear not that is the comfortable experience of the Spirit in their own souls Fear not which will raise them to a holy confidence to declare the mind of God in all things and not to fear the faces of men for the righteous are as bold as a Lion This endowment with the Spirit was that that was principally looked at in the chusing of Officers in the Acts of the Apostles yea even Officers of the lowest form Consult Acts 6.3 and 9.17.11.24 and 13.2 unless men have the Spirit of Christ in them in some fulness of it they are neither fit for those holy functions nor can satisfyingly perswade themselves or others that they are called of God unto them Vers 18. I am the first and the last and I am alive but I was dead and behold I am alive for evermore That this person that is here spoken of was Christ is clear to avoid repetitions peruse the precedent 8 and 13 verses but here lies the difficulty Object It was formerly asserted on vers 13. that this was the divine person of Christ that appeared unto Iohn in the form of a man now according to his divine nature he is impassible he did not suffer death nor was again made alive for he is life it self therefore this is only proper to his humanity and that was it to wit his humane nature that appeared unto Iohn that which was now alive and was dead To clear this I answer you must understand that is frequent in Scripture to attribute that unto one nature which is the proper attribute of the other and so as the Learned calls it communicatione Idiomatum by the communication of properties what is due unto the divine nature is communicated or attributed unto the humane and so on the contrary as to instance When we are said to be bought justified or saved by the blood of God wherein we must not be so gross to conceive that God hath blood but it is meant of that person who cleansed us by his blood was both Man and God in one person and that which is proper to the humane nature is here attributed unto the divine And so when it is said that God suffered and the Son of man created all things and 't was he that was with the Father from everlasting This is predicated of one nature which is proper to the other Consult Acts 20.28 And so in this verse though it is said that Christ in his divine person appeared unto John under the similitude of the Son of man who is alive but was dead imports only thus much That that similitude or form that appeared unto John was the very same Christ and Divine Person that was conjunct with his humanity in heaven and by a mutual and interchangeable communication and attribution of properties this divine Idea or Representation that John saw is called by the proper attribution of Christ's humanity which was pierced dead and lived again though indeed it was only the diuine person of Christ clothed with the figure and likeness of the Son of man which was dead but was now alive This is very usual in Scripture and amongst Divines wherein the properties of one nature are really attributed to the person denominated of the other nature interchangeably by reason of the unity of person consisting in both natures Secondly I answer That oft in Scripture that hath the real denomination of a thing which is only so in appearance and resemblance That apparition or counterfeit of Samuel that appeared unto Saul at the Witch of Endors is called Samuel several times in 1 Sam. 28. without any note of distinction from the true and real Prophet Samuel further then is collected from scriptural reason and the coherence of the discourse in that place Angels that appeared in the form and likeness of men to Jacob Lot c. are called men because they appeared in humane form so this divine appearance of Christ here is called the same person that was dead but is now alive because he appeared in that shape and figure of the Son of man which was dead but is now alive And behold I am alive for evermore Amen As he is the first and the last the first before all beginnings and the last to all eternity so Christ assures all his in this place he is the same for ever to them a King to rule and protect them a Mediator to intercede for them a Prophet to teach and direct them unto everlasting Amen so be it so it shall be and so it must be And he adds And I have the Keys of hell and death Christ to take off all fear from John and to assure John and all his Saints that he is most powerful and able to effect and bring to pass those visions and ptedictions that he was about to reveal unto John and by him unto his churches he now publisheth unto John that all power now is put into his hand from the Father even over hell it self for he hath despoiled it of its power Here is a transporting of the word hell before death Hell is the sting of death and therefore according to order of things the last Rev. 20.14 so death and hell were cast into the Lake of fire Take hell here for the grave or the state of the dead so Christ hath the key to open it
Name written that no man knoweth but he that receiveth it The Note hence is Observ That God hath reserved and treasured up unspeakable glory for his conquering Saints It is a new Name that no man knoweth a hidden Manna a spiritual participating of Christ that is above our understanding a new and joynt power given to us by and with Christ that we at present are uterly ignorant of yea it is such a prize of glory that eye hath not seen ear hath not heard or the heart of man cannot comprehend And therefore in 2 Cor. 4.17 it is called a most excellent and eternal weight of glory and therefore here in this 2. and 3. cap. this prize this crown of glory is set forth under various and divers figures and resemblances which are sensible and apt for our capacities as ver 7. under the Tree of life in the Paradice of God ver 10. under the expression of the Crown of life ver 17. of the hidden Manna and white Stone and new Name ver 26. of power over the Nations and of the morning Star in cap. 3. ver 5. under the name of white Rayment and Book of life ver 12. of a Pillar in the Temple of God the Name of God and the City of God and in ver 21. of sitting on the Throne with Christ in his Throne as Christ hath already sate down on the Father's Throne All these expressions are taken up by the Spirit to represent unto us the inestimable weight of glory that is set forth as a prize and treasured up by God for all faithful persevering and overcoming christians And therefore let us all so run as we may obtain Use But by the way here is an Use of Reproof upon such that would now at present catch at the Crown before the coronation day You must first overcome before you raign unless you will raign without Christ it is a hidden Manna a new Name it is not meat for this corrupt world nor a work for this generation It is a white Stone wherein a new Name is written that yet no man knoweth it is not a dispensation for this corrupt age it is an excellent and eternal weight of glory reserved for the new World the Golden age the new Jerusalem the new Heaven and Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness and this will be produced in God's appointed time by the almighty power and arm of Christ who is the great captain conductor and leader unto this glorious day and therefore al such as pretend to lead and advance to this day otherwise then by a placid submission to the providential dispensations of God in the world they only set up stumbling blocks for themselves and their followers to fall by They that will rule with Christ must overcome with Christ they that will sit with him in his Throne must first pass to it as he did by a conquest over sufferings and temptations 2 Tim. 2.12 Rom. 8.17 If we suffer with Christ we shal raign with Crist for this crown is gotten by the way of the cross but to seek it by Swords Pistols Rapines and Blood-sheds you may obtain a crown and Kingdom in the World from the Prince that ruleth in the Ayr and the children of the World but never from the Lambe that sitteth on the Throne O therefore returne to this true Lamb of God and his Lamb-like condition or else he will become a Lyon against you and for your highmindedness and sins of rebellion and blood will come against you quickly and fight against you by the Sword of his mouth O kiss the Son least he be angry Vers 18. And unto the Angel of the Church of Thyatira write These things saith the Son of God who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire and his feet like fine brass Here it is evident who â—t is all along that gives these premonitions to each church it is Christ the Son of God who in the former verses is called the Spirit for his spiritual appearance in the likness of the Son of man In the first cap. from vers 13. to 16. this Son of God that appeared unto John in the likness of the Son of Man in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks gives a general discovery of himself unto John in all his attributes as God and Man as King Priest and Prophet as the Saviour and Preserver of his church also as a just Judge and avenger of his enemies But now when Christ appears with the particular charges against each church he takes as it were his attributes asunder and cloaths himself with that attribute which is most suitable for the present condition of the church that he is to deal with To the churches of Ephesus and Smyrna which were the most sound and sincere he appears under the attributes of a merciful Father who was dead and is alive ver 8. and of a gracious preserver of his church ver 1 who holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand But now unto the churches of Thyatira and Pergamus which were more debauched and unsound Christ manifests himself in a far different resemblance and posture having a Sword with two edges proceeding out of his mouth in his appearance towards the church of Pergamus and here unto Thyatira like one that hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire and his feet like fine or burning brass This is a posture of indignation and wrath for eyes sparkling like fire betokneth wrath and feet like fine brass readiness of execution Here Christ from head to feet is presented in a fiery colour This is Christ's posture when he goes out in judgments against a church or Nation when he goes out to war against his enemies he puts on this fiery posture Rev. 19.11 12 13. See more hereon cap. 1. ver 14 15. Observ That when Christ goes out in judgment against a people his appearance is very dreadful The Prophet Malachi speaking of the coming of Christ when he comes who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth For he is like the Refiner's fire and shall sit as a Refiner and purifier of silver cap. 3. 2 3. A Refiners fire is the hottest it melts purges consumes and is terrible such a fire is Christ in his judgments When he comes to destroy Antichrist and his Kingdom Paul says 2 Thess 1.8 He shall come in flames of fire Have not most of our western Nations as Germany France England Scotland c. seen this terrible appearance of Christ of late in his judgments among us who hath laid many Kingdoms and Nations almost in the dust destroy'd many ancient Families Houses Cities Townes and Countries by the Sword and yet who layes it to heart And yet Christ will be more terrible for the great day of his wrath is at hand and who will be able to stand Rev. 6.17 The great ones of the earth that are found fighting against him shall that day call for the Rocks and
them is charity its precedency lies in this 1. In that it perfumes and enlivens all the other graces faith it self is dead without it And to suppose a faith without love is to suppose a man without a soul The gifts of prophesies tongues and miracles are but barren and usless things without this 2. This hath for its object both God and Man we exercise our faith and hope only towards God and his promises but our charity is extended both towards God and Man And therefore love is called Rom. 13.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fulfilling of the Law it is the whole sum and hinge on which the commandements turn In this one word charity both the Tables of the decalogue are abridged 3. It excells in that it is the greatest note of our interest in God and Christ Faith is that giveth right unto the promises but love is that giveth life to faith It is the very soul of all our graces If we gave our bodies to be burnt for Christ and had not charity it will profit nothing 1 Cor. 13.3 By this we know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren 1 John 3.14 and Ia. 1.12 The Crown of life is promised to them that love God and Rom. 8.28 Love is made the very discovery of effectual calling and election 4. Love excells in that it is the perfection of the Law it is the very end of the Commandments 1 Tim. 1.5 and were Love but perfect in us it would make us perfect Keepers and Observers of the Law both towards God and Man Love knits the Members of Christs Body together and so perfects his Body It unites us to God and so maketh the perfecting of divine love in us 1 John 4.12 17. and here it is we are commanded twice to put on love above all things 1 Pet. 4.8 and Col. 3.14 but once above all things to take the shield of faith 5. And lastly when faith hope patience and all other graces ceases charity abideth Love is not only a portion for the Saints in this life but in the other also then we shall love God and Christ when faith and hope ceaseth therefore justly did Christ in this place and the Apostle in 1 Cor. 13.13 give it the precedency above al other Graces of the Spirit 2. Love brings forth another grace service external worship and obedience him whom we love we obey we serve we honour and worship The service of love is most intense and effectual When Christ communed with Simon Peter John 21. and asked him thrice Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me Yea Lord thou knowest it saith Peter Christ answered feed my sheep The more love that Peter manifested the more service and duty was put upon him Services that we perform to God not out of love but formality or custome are but as scabbed or lame Sacrifices under the Law which the Lord hated Right ends in our services are First Love and zeal to God's glory Secondly Love to the obedience of God's commandments Thirdly Love to the edification of others These ends makes us a true and sincere worship love goeth through all and is the fulfilling of the Law 3. Thyatira is approved for her faith made lively and effectual by love True faith is never seperated from love they go hand in hand together but love hath the precedency for the reasons aforesaid though faith is first in order of nature for faith is that grace that gives the first being unto a christian but love is the perfection of that being There must be first a knowledge of God and assent unto his truths which is the first act of faith before we can love that God or his Truths but withal I say there is so inseperable union between these two graces no sooner hath faith a being and a body but love comes to animate it to make it sound lively and perfect Observ hence Note That it is not a bare opinion or entertainment of the truth that is a true lively faith but that that worketh by love Many will one day say we have prophesied in thy Name taught in thy Name cast out devils in thy Name professed and beleived thy truths and yet the Lord will say unto them I know you not and all for want of this grace of love towards God and his Saints A sound and true faith contains in it these three principal ingredients that gives the very form and being to it First A sound distinct knowledge of the thing believed I know and am perswaded saith Paul Rom. 14.14 Persons that are ignorant of Gods promises and of the word of eternal life can never believe aright Secondly A firm perswasion strongly assuming the heart As a sound believer must not be an ignorant soul so must he not be a wavering-minded man but must have an undeceivable certainty and truth in that he does believe Thirdly A confident resting and rejoycing with satisfaction unto the Soul surely looking to enjoy that it does beleive True faith hath these four acts and degrees in it 1. Knowledge 2. Assent 3. Adherence and 4. Assurance A believer may have the three first acts and want the latter and a sound beleiver and a justified person Though God for causes to himself known may never give the grace of Assurance yet that faith that only knows God distinctly to be a God of salvation in his promises to repentant sinners through Christ and so takes him and adheres unto him in the love and truth thereof doubtless that soul shall never be a cast-away though God's presence of assurance and joyful satisfaction be never manifested unto him If we be saved it is enough though God reserves his comfortable presence and inward love for us unto another world 4. Thyatira hath another excellent grace and that is Patience or sufferance with patience as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carries it in the Greek A wicked man may suffer affliction but not suffer with patience without murmuring swearing or blaspheming as the godly doth The wicked may haue patience perforce and unwillingly when he cannot help it the afliction being above his reach to remedy but the godly is patient as it is an effect of love because he loveth much he is ready to suffer much with constancy and patience as Jacob served two seven years hardship for his beloved Rachel so a faithful soul is ready to suffer all afflictions chearfully and with much patience all the years of his life because he loves God and Christ and so accounts the afflictions of this life not to be valued with the glory that shall hereafter be revealed to all those that love God 5. Thyatira was a growing fruitful church her latter works were more then her first done upon better grounds and better principles From whence Note Observ That the gracious works of the more grown Christians doe exceed those of the younger sort in soundness The Neophites or young Christians may be more zealous
cap. 18. The Beast and false Prophet joynt companions in evil the one upholding and confirming the other the one by an unrighteous and tyrannical Sword the other by false doctrines and miracles till at last both are caught by Christ and his Armies and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone Rev. 19.20 And if common tribulations were not enough for false teachers and their folowers Christ will cast them into a bed wherein they shall roul themselves in grief cover themselvs in grief and with great tribulation and if all this will not do to bring them to repentance for their wicked deeds and practises Christ hath another bed to cast them into a bed of death and destruction in the next verse And I will kill her children with death except they repent of their deeds Repentance is the only remedy against divine judgments turning from sin and turning to God will turn God's wrath from us and his love towards us See more hereon about repentance ver 5. and 16 of this cap. Vers 23. And I will kill her children with death and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reines and hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your works As the true church of Christ hath her children begotten and fostered up by the immortal seed of the word so false Teachers and Heretiques have their children also begotten by the spirit of deceit and falshood and nourished by errors and wickedness So this false Nicolaitish Prophetess had her children followers of her Fornication and Idolatry In the former verse we read of her Adulteries that doth commit fornication with her and promote her doctrines of Idolatries equally with her self and that Christ would cast them together into great tribulation except they repent and here we find their Issue children of the same cursed stock which Christ will aso shew no mercy to but kill her children with death that is will sweep them away in judgment not only with a violent and precipitant deatnh â—ut will also slay them with a death eternal Hence Note Observ 1. That children that tread in the steps of their wicked parents are envolved under the same judgments with themselves If we be partakers of our Father's sins it is just that we should be partakers of their punishments If we follow the steps of our faithful parents we shall have the same reward with them of our faithfulness in the latter day God giveth to every one according to his works the child shall not dye for the sin of his parent nor shall the child be saved for the faith or obedience of his parent For the Soul that sinneth shall dye And he that believeth shall be saved But as for the little ones that are uncapable of actual sin or faith their salvation or damnation is according to his will that sheweth mercy on whom he will and whom he will he hardens Rom. 9. Quest. But if it be demanded How will it stand with the justice of God to cut off little children which are innocent nor ever yet done good or evil together in judgment with their parents Answ Little children that had never committed actual sin even babes new born or in the womb doubtless perished in the floud and many in Sodome and yet without impeachment of or derogation to divine Justice First God can do it out of Soveraignty and absolute dominion which he hath over his creatures He is the Potter he that made the Vessel can break it he that gave life to babes can take it away and who can say why dost thou this Secondly all Infants are defiled with original sin and as the wages of sin is death so God can justly inflict death on them both temporal and eternal as the due wages thereof together with their parents Thirdly Little children are part of their parents substance and family and God may justly punish the living parent in his child by death as well as any others of his stock and substance as by a temporal punishment Fourthly Though God may often sweep away in his temporal judgments many little innocent children as by the Sword Famine c. and yet they not perish eternally for violent or sudden death is no Argument of God's hatred to them for many precious souls expire by a more terrible and violent death then that of the Sword Pestilence or Famine Fifthly and lastly For the comfort and the better support of the hopes of faithful parents for the well being of their little innocent dying infants whether they are taken off by God either by an ordinary death or in a common judgment let them understand for their comfort that God hath made an everlasting covenant of grace and salvation with Christ for all his Elect ones Gal. 3.16 Isa 53.11 12. and though the Infants of believers die before they can receive the promise of the Spirit by faith yet the chosen ones in Christ are secure by virtue of God's eternal love towards them in Christ being chosen in him from all eternity Ephes 1.14 and let me with reverence speak it Christ may as soon perish as one of them he being the head they the members making up one mystical church Had God ever cloathed himself with flesh in the person of the Son had it not been to lay down a sufficient price and ransom to divine Justice for all his ever beloved chosen ones And where there is such a predeterminating love as God's is towards his Elect and such an inestimable and compleat price paid for them as Christ's death is how can any such possibly perish without violation and impeachment both of divine Love and divine Justice This is a surer ground of the salvation of some dying Infants of believing parents then that that some Arminianising persons of these days do make to wit the parents faith the condition of the Infant 's salvation Dying Infants with those of that perswasion I leave these few following considerations First They should do well in the first place to produce that grant which they pretend to be in the Gospel covenant that the parents faith is the condition of their Infants salvation dying so but this will be done ad Graecas Calendas it savors too much of works of Supererrogation and Popery to be true Secondly If some dying Infants of believing parents are saved on the condition of their parents faith then all are so saved that dyes so before they have forfeited their condition by their own actual transgressions and if all of them are saved dying so then happier would faithful parents be to see all their children dy whilst Infants and innocent for then they should be sure of their salvation then to see them live for some of them must become reprobate and wicked for few godly parents have ever had all godly children Abraham had Ishmael as well as Isaac Isaac had an Esau as well as a Jacob Jacob had a Reuben Simeon and Levi. brethren
stands little in stead unto the Papists and their champion Bellarmine in his book of Grace and Free will cap. 1. to maintain from hence their Pelagian doctrine The power of mans Free-will before conversion unto Faith and amendment For Bellarmine therein triumphantly interrogates were not he foolish that would knock at his neighbours door if he knew for certain that there were no man within that could open It is true it were so but Bellarmine for all his great learning herein is much mistaken Christ here knocks at a door where there was one within that was able to open the party was only asleep he was not dead or quite departed from his house and therefore he knocks and calls unto him to awake and open unto him like the Spouse in the Canticles 5.2 She was asleep when her beloved came and knocked saying Open to me my Sister my Love my Dove my Undefiled So Christ comes to the church of Sardis vers 2. and bids her to awake and strengthen the things that remain and commands Laodicea to open unto him who had a power and ability to open though it was grown weak and remiss and therefore had need of a knocking a vigorous call to rouse her up unto her duty And therefore Bellarmine is quite mistaken when from hence he asserts That Christ bids the reprobate and unregenerate to open to him it is only a believing church a backslidden luke-warm believing church that he bids to rise up and open to him it is not one altogether dead but a sleepy careless luke-warm church that he stirs up to this duty of opening to him Secondly I answer Though it were granted Bellarmine that Christ somtimes knocks at the doors of Reprobates and unregenerate persons and calls to open to him though they neither will or can open to him yet Christ may do this as often he does without any impeachment to his wisdom he hereby shows what their duty is and requires it from them and justly he may though they are not in a possibility to perform it they having forfeited and lost their ability by their own fault not only in their common parent the first Adam but also by walking in the same steps of disobedience with him and Christ is not bound by any Law to restore it again unto them And therefore Christ in the last place does often call to open to him upon the very reprobate themselves as in a judiciary way for the aggravation of their condemnation upon their refusal according to that of John 15.22 If I had not come and spoken to them they had no sin but now they have no cloak for their sin Thus much in answer to Bellarmine and his doctrine of Free-will and the power of the meerly natural man in the works of grace and faith which are in the first place to be wrought by the Spirit to be nourished by the Spirit to be consummated and perfected by the same Spirit But to proceed 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 As if Christ had said If any man will be obedient to the word of my mouth opening the door of their hearts yeilding obedience to my many and earnest solicitations I will then come and dwell in that soul and impart my self unto him and sup with him that is communicate and have mutual fellowship with him and he with me Note hence Observ 1. That it is the Saints highest priviledge to have fellowship with Christ and he with them Where there are those heavenly intercourses there is a heaven upon earth or earth ascending into heaven and heaven coming down upon earth persons hereby do become the Temples of the holy Spirit I will come in to him saith Christ that is Christ will dwell in him spiritually really operatively by his grace and he shall dwell in me that is by faith and so such become and are made the sons of God Luke 19.5 and are made partakers of his holy nature Is it not a great shame to our christian churches to deny themselves this great priviledge in not hearkning to the voice of Christ or opening the door unto him It is true we are ready to hearken to the voice of Christ so far as stands with our interest that we may not be accounted heathens abroad in the world and indeed that is all if it will amount so far for the ordinance of preaching is no distinguishing Ordinance Go Teach all Nations and the Ordinances of Prayer and Praise are but natural duties which all persons in the world are bound unto as well as christians but where is the opening the door to Christ in his especial distinguishing Ordinances Where is the mutual feasting supping and communicating between Christ and his churches in his holy Ordinances of the Supper tasting and feeding on the several and various gifts of the Spirit of Christ in his members Where is the improving of his Discipline Where are his Gardens enclosed Are not all like a Forrest or Wilderness without any culture or hedge about them 'T is true there are some few gardens whose savoury spices and precious ointment does cast a sweet smelling savour abroad but their tender Grapes are but weak and it is to be feared if God's mercy prevent not that either the little Foxes will undermine them or the wild Boar root them out I speak it according to my judgement and conscience that our contentation and sitting satisfied under a formal and luke-warm preaching and some other natural duties only will be a means to provoke God to spew us out of his mouth for our half way Religion the one ought to be done and the other not left undone we ought to have a respect to the whole will of God not so far only as our carnal wisdom thinks sufficient and no farther It was once and not long since a just complaint That common Prayer and other church Discipline and Episcopal Ruling had thrust out of doors a true preaching and divers other holy Ordinances of Christ But observe the change now it is to be feared that preaching will silence and invalidate many other of the Ordinances of Christ and render them useless to us Therefore we are to hearken to the voice of God the whole voice of God and open to it if we expect Christ to come in and to sup with us and we with him We are first to hearken to his Word open the door to him of our hearts in the preaching thereof then we are to proceed and not sit still as those silly ones that are ever learning and never coming to the knowledge or practise of the truth we are to go on to the work of perfection that is to walk in all the Ways and Ordinances of Christ which will build up our souls unto the measure of a perfect man in Christ and make us wise indeed unto salvation Lastly I conceive there is more in these words I