1 31. for he made all things for himself Prov. 16. 4. He heard in vision every creature so extraordinarily was he strengthned thereto But some may say how could this possibly be how could the Apostle John possibly hear every creature which is in Heaven c. Ans 1. That he did so it behoves us to believe because the truth thereof is assured to us by the Apostle yea by the holy spirit who is truth it self for he speaks and saith this also to the Churches 2. And why should it be thought a thing incredible that God should enable him in Spirit in Heaven ch 4. 1 2. 2 Cor. 12. 1 4. to hear every creature when the Devil a creature a fallen creature in a moment of time shewed unto our Lord Jesus all the Kingdoms of the World and all the glory thereof Mat. 4. 8. Luke 4. 5. or why more incredible or impossible then to hear that innumerable company of Angels or many other things which he heard not with his bodily ears but in Spirit in or after a visional manner Rev. 5. 11 12. and 7. 4 9 10 c. And herein we may have some glimpse of the excellent state and condition the Saints are now in who are absent from the body and present with the Lord even the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. and what glory and excellency they shall arrive at when their bodies shall be raised and they shall compleatly and gloriously be Spiritual men then they shall be perfect as to attainment which none are while in mortal bodies Phil. 3. 11 12. Now the best see in part and know in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away 1 Cor. 13. 8 9 12. they shall then be equal to the Angels Luke 20 35 36. yea they shall be like to Christ so far as meer creatures are capable Now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3. 1 2 3. 1 Cor. 15. 48 49. 2. We have a more particular account by way of enumeration what he means by or what is contained in and under every creature And that is 1. Which is in Heaven Here he begins first in this more particular account because it is the most excellent place and part of Gods Creation Heaven is Gods Throne and the Earth his Footstool Isay 66. 1. Acts 7. 48 49. And in Heaven are the glorious Spirits and Angels c. Now by every Creature which is in Heaven we may understand the Sun Moon Planets twelve Signs or Constellations and Stars 2 King 23. 5. these are often called the Host of Heaven Deut. 4. 19. and 17. 3. and here God placed them Gen. 1. 8. 14 15. 17. and herewith he hath garnished the Heavens Job 26. 13. and hereby he gives light to us that are upon the Earth Psal 19. 1 5 6. and the clouds of Heaven Matth. 24. 30. and 26. 64. in which the waters above the Heavens these inferiour ones are inclosed and contained Psal 148. 4. as it is said He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds and the cloud is not rent under them Job 26. 8. from whence comes the rain when God commandeth which is frequently said to be rain from Heaven Job 36. 27 29. Judg. 5. 4. Psal 77. 17. Eccles 11. 3. Acts 14. 17. and from whence also descendeth the dew as Solomon saith The clouds drop down the dew Prov. 3. 20. which dew comes from Heaven hence 't is oft-times called the dew of Heaven Gen. 27. 28 39. Deut. 33. 28. Dan. 4. 15 23 25 33. Zech. 8. 12. the winds of Heaven Dan. 7. 2. and 8. 8. and 11. 4. Zech. 2. 6. Frost also comes from Heaven as the Lord saith Out of whose womb came the Ice and the hoary Frost of Heaven who hath gendred it Job 38. 29. as also Hail Rev. 16. 21. Snow Job 37. 6. Isay 55. 10. Thunder and Lightning 1 Sam. 2. 10. and ch 7. 10. out of the Throne which is in Heaven proceeded thundrings and lightnings Rev. 4. 5. And so we read often of the Fowls of Heaven as He maketh us wiser than the Fowls of Heaven Job 35. 11. and the Fowls of Heaven hath he given into thine hand Dan. 2. 38. and 4. 12 21. Rev. 19 17. Gen. 1. 20. so of some of them particularly it is said as the Stork in the Heaven Jer. 8. 7. and the Eagles of Heaven Lam. 4. 19. Fire also is oftentimes said to coâ—e down from Heaven 2 Kings 1. 10 12 14. with Luk. 9. 54. Job 1. 6. though yet it is also on the earth as also are many other things we have mentioned which are said to be of and from Heaven As he saith to the Snow Be thou on the Earth likewise to the small rain and to the great rain of his strength Job 37. 6. And the like we might say of other things fore-named 2. And on the Earth which is full of the goodness mercy and riches of the Lord Psal 33. 5. and 104. 24. and 119. 64. In which are Kings of the Earth and all people Princes and all Judges of the Earth both young Men and Maidens old Men and Children Psal 148. 11 12. and other Creatures as trees fruitful or fruit-bearing trees and others for mans use and service Gen. 1. 11 12. Deut. 20. 19 20. Psal 148. 7 9. grass herbs Gen. 1. 11 12 29. Psal 104. 14. Cattel and Beasts of the Earth and four footed Creatures Gen. 1. 24 25. Psal 148. 7 10. Job 35. 11. Isay 18. 6. Act. 10. 12. Rom. 1. 23. creeping things and flying fowls which have wings and yet remain tame on the Earth Psal 148. 7 10. Gen. 1. 24 25. Lev. 11. 21 29 41 42 44 46. Mountains and all Hills Psal 148. 7 9. Corn and Wine and Oyl Gen. 27. 28. Deut. 7. 13. Job 28. 5. Psal 104. 15. Pretious things of the Earth Deut. 33. 14 16. Dragons and all deeps c. Psal 148. 7 8. Gen. 3. 1. 3. And under the Earth We may read these two sentences to wit this and the following thus And under the Earth even such as are in the Sea As And is often explicative and many times rendred even in Scripture And so indeed the Sea is under or beneath the Earth and so by consequence the things that are therein as it is said In the Earth beneath or in the waters under the Earth Exod. 20. 4. Deut. 4. 18. and 5. 8. Hence also men are said to go down to the Sea because it is beneath or under the Earth Psal 107. 23. Isay 42. 10. Joh. 6. 16. and God hath stretched out the Earth above the Waters for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 136. 6. And what is also said before in verse 3. of this Chapter might confirm this sense for
of their evils though none be so blind as this Servant of the Lord or deaf as this messenger whom he hath sent Isay 42. 19 21. yet he is one who will by no means clear the guilty Exod. 34. 6 7. If I sin against thee then thou markest me and will not accquit me from mine Iniquity Job 10. 14. though he had largely declared those praise-worthy things found with them yet also he mentions and minds them of that for which he could not praise them but reprove and fault them and imitater of whom herein was the the Apostle Paul I am saith he A follower of Christ now I praise you Brethren that ye remember me in all things and keep the oâ—dinances as I delivered them to you but in the same ch he again saith unto them now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not shall I praise you in this I praise you not 1 Cor. 11. 1 2 17 22. Thus our Saviour demeaned himself towards Peter when he had made a good confession and right acknowledgment concerning him our Saviour said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Son of Jona c. But presently after when he was to be faulted he turned and said unto Peter Get thee behind me Satan thou art an offence unto me Mat. 16. 15 18. with v. 22 23. see also Rev. 2. 13 14 and v. 19 20. so here I have against thee as if he should say Though I am in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the Paps with a Golden girdle as Rev. 1. 13. and am the Apostle and High-priest of your profession ever living to intercede for you Though I love you and am the propitiation for your sins yet I who am the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe I who am the Son of the Father in truth and love I who am alive and was dead in which I testified my love And I who am Almighty the first and the last and can do whatsoever I please yea and though there are so many commendable things in thee I have somewhat against thee Now here learn we 1. In that he saith I have against thee he who is love and Charity it self so he signifieth to us that his Charity doth not lead him to take no notice of our evils but rather to reprove and fault us when need is as he saith As many as I love I rebuke and chasten c. Prov. 3. 11 12. Heb. 12. 5 7. see the notes on Rev. 3. 19. and therefore let us not abuse his love and goodness or turn his grace into Lasciviousness nor say we shall have peace though we walk after the Imagination of our hearts c. Rom. 6. 1 2. Jude 4. Deut. 29. 19 20 21. 2. Nor let us think and conclude in our hearts that because we have done and suffered many things for his name sake that therefore this will plead our excuse though we sin against him or depart from him But know we he will have a quarrel against us and controversy with us notwithstanding the good things done by us or found with us if we do what is displeasing â—â—to him Gal. 3. 1 5. Luke 9. 62. Ezek. 33. 18. and ch 18. 28. Heb. 10. 38. 3. In that he saith I have against thee namely such an one as he is one who is so infinite in wisdom and so almighty and omnipotent it may engage us â—â— fear before him and to depart from iniquity Do we provoke the Loâ—d to anger Are we stronger then he 1 Cor. 10. 22. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath hardened his heart against him and prospered Job 9. 4. If a poor Instrument only had against us he might mistake or not be able to harm us and therefore we should have no such cause to consider it But he is quick of sight and cannot be mistaken and strong to execute his word Joel 2. 11. Oh therefore be we not High-minded but fear 3. In that he saith I have against thee to wit against this Angel and Church so he gives us to understand That no â—ighness unto Christ whatever no priviledge he conferrs upon us will exempt us from his rebukes threatnings or judgments if we sin against him This is that the LORD spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the people I will be glorified Lev. 10. 1 3. though they be his Sons and his Daughters he will abhor them because of their provokings of him Deut. 32. 19 22 27. he will visit their iniquity with the rod and their transgressions with stripes Ps 89. 30 31 32. he hath a quarrel against these though they were his Church and people We may speak hereto a little particularly 1. I have against thee thee O Angel and so against any Bishops overseers or guides if their love to him be waxen cold or revoved from him If they sin against him he will not spare them though he holds the Angels in his right hand and doth therein prefer them before their Brethren and takes especial care of them to defend and protect them and none shall pluck them out of his hand yet he will have against them if they sin and wander from him A Moses Aaron Samuel so doing shall not escape But he will take vengeance of their Inventions Though the first was the mediatour of the first Testament A Prophet yea preferred before other ordinary prophets a king also The second an High-prist The third a Prophet and Judg Ps 99. 6 8. a David shall not go unpunished though an eminent Prophet and King a man after God's own heart 2 Sam. 12. Ps 51. yea though they were as the signet upon his right hand if they provoke him he will pluck them thence Jer. 22. 24. Let such then as are Angels of his Churches learn that though they are and seem to others to be somewhat even to be eminent ones in the Church yet God accepteth no Man's Person Gal. 2. 6 9. Let them therefore take heed of being puffed up lest being lifted up with Pride they fall into the condemnation of the Devil 1 Tim. 3. 6 7. let them even imitate him who kept under his body and brought it into subjection leâ—t when he had preached to others he himself should become a Reprobate 1 Cor. 9. 27. 2 Cor. 5. 8 11. Mat. 24. 48 51. 2. I have against thee O Church though thou hast been espoused to me and art one of the golden Candlesticks amongst whom I walk and in whom hath been my delight Ps 16. 2 3. my house my dearly beloved though after thou didst believe thou was Sealed with the holy spirit of Promise which is the earnest of the Inheritance Eph. 1. 13 14. and ch 4. 30. yet I have a quarrel against thee so the Lord saith in former times I have for saken mine house I have left mine heritage I have given
the Apostles of the lamb have written by the commandment of of the Lord was spoken by the Holy Ghost and as he gave them utterance not only received they the substance of what they wrote from the spirit but the words also in which it is declared as the Apostle Paul saith We have received not the spirit of the World but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God which things also we speak not in the Words which mans Wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual Acts. 2. 4. 1 Cor. 2. 12 13. Hence the Apostle Peter also saith The spirit of Christ which was in the holy prophets did testify before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven c. 1 Pet. 1. 11 12. 1 Thes 4. 7 8. So unto all the Churches what John was commanded to write the holy spirit saith Rev. 2. 8 11. and v. 12 17. and v. 18 29 c. And when John saith I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me write blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth It is then added yea saith the spirit Rev. 14. 13. 1 Cor. 14. 37. Therefore what the Apostles have written unto us is to be received by us as the word of God and scriptures of truth 1 Thes 2. 13. 3. In that it is thus expressed to us what the spirit saith not said simply so we learn from hence That what things soever were written aforetime in the holy scriptures they were written for our learning Rom. 15. 4. And in those scriptures the holy spirit still speaketh unto us and God by his spirit as it said he found him in Bethel and there he spake with us Hos 12. 4. so our Saviour saith to the Sadducees as touching the resurrection of the dead have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God Mat. 22. 31. These words were firstly and immediately spoken to Moses many hundred of years before and yet also as our Saviour saith spoken to them in his days and to us now so the Apostle citing a portion of scripture recorded by David thus speaketh wherefore as the holy ghost saith c. Heb. 3. 7 8. with Ps 95. 7 8. and speaking of God's having spoken to us in these last days by his son he expresseth it in one place in the present time and as his continued speaking to us by him See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we refuse him that speaketh from Heaven Heb. 12. 25. with ch 1. 1 2. This might therefore engage us to glorify the word of the Lord which was written long since as much as if it were now and not before spoken to us from God Thus to all the Churches it is thus expressed what the spirit saith to wit continually 1 Tim. 4. 1. Luke 16. 29 31. 4. What the spirit saith unto the Churches And so 1. Not to the Angels of the Churches only Though the Epistles are first sent and expressly directed to them yet they are also written for and spoken unto the Churches and by the Angels to be communicated to them as we have said before and indeed all these Angels all gifts ministers c. are the Churches as the Apostle saith All things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Eph. 4. 8 12. Acts 20. 28. 1 Cor. 14. 12. 2. To the Churches Not to this only though sent expressly unto this and in this the temper of this Church is particularly declared yet also the spirit saith this to the Churches in general He saith not to the seven Churches as before but indefinitely to the Churches To signify that where any one is commended every Church should hear this that they might follow their steps Heb. 6. 10 12. And where any thing is reproved in any one it is for Instruction and admonition to others Heb. 3. and ch 4. 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 12. The same evils here reproved may be with any others also and where counsel is given unto any or encouragement set before any it should be minded and considered by the residue also Therefore what the spirit saith unto one he saith unto all the Churches 3. To the Churches all that is written in this Book is to the Churches to his servants compare ch 22. 6. with v. 16. Therefore they should not be afraid to read it see notes before on ch 1. v. 1. and 3. and 4. 2. We have a gracious promise and powerful encouragement proposed to and set before us in which let us consider 1. The subject of the blessedness therein assured 2. The promise it self and blessedness therein assured 1. The subject of the blessedness promised To him that overcometh Thus it is said to all the Churches and every such an one as overcometh is the subject of the blessedness and happiness assured and promised Now herein is signified to us 1. That Christs Churches are souldiers and have a warfare a good warfare to war 1 Tim. 1. 18. not only are the Angels amongst them so though they are to go before others but also the Churches and every particular hearty believer therein They are all souldiers of Jesus Christ And so 1. They have a captain over them a captain of this host of the Lord and that is Jesus Christ as when Joshua was by Jericho He beheld and there stood a Man over against him and Joshua said unto him art thou for us or for our adversaries and he said nay But as captain of the Lords host am I now come c. Josh 5. 13 15. God himself even the great God and our saviour Jesus Christ and the Father in him is their captain 2 Chron. 13. 12. he is the captain of their salvation who was made perfect thorow sufferings Heb. 2. 10. one who hath himself suffered one who bare our sins in his own body on the tree and was delivered to death for our offences and is raised again for our justification and hath overcome all our enemies Rev. 3. 21. and hath all power given unto him both in heaven and on earth Mat. 28. 18. Eph. 1 20 21 22 and is their head as he hath thus vanquished all our enemies and as he is thus impowered their captain Col. 1. 18. with Judg. 11. 6 11. and in his book are they inrolled Luke 10. 20. and by him are they led and preserved for he favours their righteous cause yet it is his Ps 74. 19 22. and 140. 12. and 23. 1 4. 2. They have a Banner displayed because of the truth to which the have run
1. Verse 2. Who bare Witness of the Word of God and of the Testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw Herein the Apostle declares unto us how he was the Servant of Jesus Christ and wherein he serv'd him before this Book was sent and signified to him to wit that he served him with his Spirit in his Gospel as Rom. 1. 9. an excellent service This was his Exercise before this Revelation was made known to him To him that hath the first and fundamental things of God's Law that hath them by way of usefulness and improvement shall be given the knowledge of the Mystery of the Kingdom and he shall have more abundantly Mat. 13. 11. 13. 16. and Ch. 25. 28. The liberal Soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself Prov. 11. 25. Here consider we 1. What was the sum of his Testimony 2. How did he bear witness thereof 1. What was the sum of his Testimony Or what was that of which he bare Witness And that is here said to be of the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ c. not of light circumstantial indifferent things But Of the Word of God whereby may be meant either 1. Jesus Christ himself who in the Writings of this Apostle is called the Word Joh. 1. 1 2 14. and 1 Joh. 5. 7. And his name is called the word of God Rev. 19. 13. And so as John the Baptist was a Man sent from God to bear witness of Jesus Christ Joh. 1. 6. 8. and Chap. 3. 26. 28. and 5. 32. 33. So also the Apostles in general and this in particular were Christs witnesses and did more fully and plainly bear witness of him than any of the Prophets in former times or than the Baptist Joh. 15. 26 27. Act. 5. 30 32. Or else also 2. By the Word of God is meant the same thing with the Testimony of Jesus Christ So Ver. 9. Ch. 9. and Ch. 20. 4. even the Gospel of Christ as it is which is now preached to us according to the Revelation of the Mystery Act. 8. 12. 14. So that which Peter preached to Cornelius and his Friends concerning the Death and Resurrection of Christ c. is called the Word of God Compare Act. 10. 38 43. with Chap. 11. 1. and 15. 7. and Chap. 13. 29 44 46. Rom. 10. 15. 17. And the same thing is also meant by the Testimony of Jesus Christ as the Apostle Paul signifieth when he saith to Timothy Be not thou ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord But be thou a partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel c. 2 Tim. 1. 8. where he gives us to understand that the Testimony of Jesus and the Gospel as now preached are one and the same thing compare also 1 Cor. 1. 6. with Ver. 17 18 23. Now the Gospel of Christ is called the Word of God 1. Because Christ received it immediately from his Father and so it was not Christ's Word or Doctrine simply but his firstly and originally who sent him Joh. 7. 16 17. and Chap. 3. 34. As our Saviour saith I have not spoken of my self but the Father which sent me he gave me a Commandment what I should say and what I should speak And I know that his Commandment is Life everlasting Whatsoever I speak therefore even as the Father said unto me so I speak Joh. 12. 49 50. And the Apostles received immediately from Jesus Christ the great God and our Saviour 1 Thes 2. 13. with Gal. 1. 12. 2. And the Gospel is called the Word of God because the contents of it are as it were the sum of all he hath spoken to us in the Scriptures of truth All the Scriptures even those also which were written aforetime doe testify of Christ the Word of God Luk. 1. 70. Ioh. 5. 39. To him all the Prophets gave witness The Spirit of Christ which was in them did testifie before-hand of the sufferings of Christ and glory that should follow Act. 10. 43. 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. The Gospel of God was promised afore by his Prophets in the Holy Scriptures Rom. 1. 1 2. And Christ expounded to his Disciples in all the Scripture the things concerning himself Luk. 24. 25 27 44 46. And in these last Days the things of Christ which are the contents of the Gospel have been more plainly and revealedly spoken to us by God in the administration of his Son and Servants the Holy Apostles of the Lamb 1 Cor. 1. 17 18 23. and 2. 2. and 2 Cor. 4. 5. 3. And the Gospel may be called the Word of God because in it in testifying of his Son he hath spoken of all things This is that unction from the Holy One whereby we may know all things and we need not that any Man teach us but as this anoynting teacheth of all things and is truth and is no lye 1 Ioh. 2. 20 21 24 27. And the Apostle did determine to know nothing else among the Corinthians in and unto all things save Jesus Christ and him crucified which is the Gospel or the sum of it 1 Cor. 2. 2. with Chap. 1. 17. with Verse 18 23 24. And in this Gospel God speaketh of all things needful to be known by us As Christ is the light so is the Gospel especially as now preached 2 Cor. 4. 3 4 6. whereby God doth manifest all things It is the wisdom of God and the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 18 23 24. And this Gospel is also called The Testimony of Jesus Christ Revel 19. 10. 1. Because he is testified of therein Act. 23. 11. This is the Witness of God which he hath testified of his Son and this is the Record that God hath given to us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son 1 Joh. 5. 7 9 12. The Gospel of God is concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord who was made of the Seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead Rom. 1. 1 3 4. 1 Cor. 15. 1 3 4. Of him God testified by his Prophets in former times more darkly and now he hath born witness of him more clearly by the first trusters in Christ 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. Act. 2. 22. 24. 2 Cor 3. 12. 18. And the Gospel is now especially called The Testimony of Jesus Christ 2. Because it hath been testified and preached by Jesus Christ in his Personal and Spiritual Ministration It began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed by them that heard him Heb. 1. 1 2. and Ch. 2. 1 4. and 12. 1 2. Luk. 4. 18. Joh. 5. 24 25. Now of this John to whom this Revelation was sent and signified by Christ's Angel bare witness before this Book was shewed to him to wit of the Gospel of Christ of his Abasement and Sufferings and of his Resurrection from the Dead and of his
3. 8 9. and ch 4. 10. Now the Angels are never said so to be upon Christ but the Holy Spirit is often said to be The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him Isay 11. 1 2. I have put my trust upon him Isay 42. 1. And Christ saith The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me Isay 61. 1. Luke 4. 18. 3. Because they are named with the Father and the Son as also Mat. 28. 19. 1 Joh. 5. 7. And here named before Jesus Christ 4. It also appears that hereby the Holy Spirit is intended because of that Description Christ gives of himself in ch 3. 1. when he sends a message to the Angel of the Church in Sardis of whom he saith Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God Surely the understanding the seven Spirits to mean that one Spirit best suited their condition For hereby he was fitted to see and know what they were to wit dead whatever name they had And hereby â—e is become a quickening Spirit to quicken such dead Souls Luke 4. 18. See Notes on ch 4. v. 5. Nor is that said of the seven Angels the same with this said of the seven Spirits for they are said to stand before God as ministring serving Spirits Rev. 8. 2. with Dan. 7. 10. But these seven Spirits are only said to be before the Throne where Christ also is and they are upon him ch 4. 5. and ch 5. 6. Hereby then the Holy Spirit the Spirit of the Father and Son is meant and intended And he may be called The seven Spirits not with respect to his Essence But 1. In some such sense as Christ's Sacrifice is called Sacrifices as where it is said The Heavenly things must be purified with better Sacrifices than these Heb. 9. 23. Whereas indeed that which Christ offered for Purgation was but one Oblation once offered as is said After he had offered one Sacrifice for Sins for ever sate down c. Heb. 10. 10. 12. for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified v. 14. 18. and ch 7. 27. and ch 9. 25 26. Now that one Sacrifice might be called Sacrifices to signifie that it is the truth and hath the worth of all other Sacrifices which are many yea it is infinitely more acceptable and valuable So this one Spirit may be called seven to signifie it is the most perfect Spirit seven being a number of perfection and infinitely more excellent and glorious than all other which are ministring Spirits Heb. 1. 14. 2. Seven Spirits With respect to his manifold Gifts Graces Operations Influences c. 1 Cor. 12. 4 11. and so possibly with allusion to Isay 11. 2 3. where he is seven times named The Spirit of the LORD the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of Counsel and might the Spirit of Knowledge and of the fear of the LORD 3. Called seven because of the seven Churches here saluted and seven Stars v. 16. ch 3. 1. To signifie this Spirit was able to supply all their wants and to furnish them with all Gifts and Graces and perfect whatever did concern them yea and he is sent forth into all the Earth for the good of men more generally Rev. 5. 6. Zech. 4. 10. Isay 42. 1 5. And these are said to be before his Throne to be sent forth by him and to be sent forth in Righteousness for he sits in the Throne judging right Ps 9. 4. Now from this Spirit also Grace and Peace is voted and desired for he is the Spirit of Grace Zech. 12. 10. Heb. 10. 29. the good Spirit Ps 143. 10. The Spirit of Love 2 Tim. 1. 7. And it is his work and office to bear witness of the Blood of Christ and Grace therein commended and Peace thereby made And to preach Peace to us and fill us with it and effect it as a vertue in us Eph. 2. 13 17. with 1 Pet. 3. 18 19. Rom. 14. 17. Gal. 5. 22. Verse 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 In the former part of this Verse we have a further account given to us from whom the Apostle votes Grace and Peace to be unto the Churches and he is mentioned after the Spirit which is not usual because he is largely described and spoken of in what followeth as may be seen by any And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness Of the love and faithfulness of the Father to us as the Lord saith Behold I have given him for a witness to the People Isay 55. 1 4. 1 Joh. 4. 8 10 14. 1 Joh. 3. 16. He is the faithful witness as a Peace-maker having made Peace by the Blood of his Cross Col. 1. 20. So he is the great and undoubted evidence and manifestation of God's Grace to us poor sinful creatures of Mankind The gift of his grace Rom. 5. 15 18. He by the Grace of God tasted death for every man and gave himself a ransome for all Heb. 2. 9. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. and also in his abasement and sufferings he is the faithful witness and evidence of the faithfulness of God in keeping Covenant and Mercy God raised him up that Horn of Salvation in the House of his Servant David as he spake by the Mouth of his Holy Prophets To perform the Mercy promised to our Fore-fathers and to remember his Holy Covenant The Oath which he sware c. Luk. 1. 54 55 68 73. Act. 13. 23 32 33. Psal 89. 1 19 20. And in his Cross he is the faithful witness of his own pity and compassion to us and that he is the Son of the Father in love 2 Joh. 3 Such was the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for our sakes he became poor 2 Cor. 8. 9. 1 Joh. 3. 16. And as Job's wrinckles were a witness Job 16. 8. so his great condescension and death were a witness of his wonderful love to the World which appeared herein to be such as passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 16. 19. from him is Grace and Peacestill voted who gave himself for our Sins that he might deliver us from this present evil World Gal. 1. 3 4. And who hath made Peace for us by his Blood and is our Peace the Prince of Peace Eph. 2. 13 15. Col. 1. 20. Isay 9. 6. Hebr. 7. 1 2. And the faithful witness As a Peace-preacher and that both 1. In his Word and Testimony 1 Tim. 2. 6. Rev. 20. 4. In which he gives a true witness of all things of God Man Sin Righteousness Life Death c. 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. Joh. 16. 7 14. A faithful witness who doth not lye Prov. 14. 5. A true witness that delivereth Souls v. 25. who is the saviour of all men
all the honourable of the Earth Isay 2. 10. c. and ch 23. 8 9. and ch 13. 10 12. and ch 24. yet some of these may and will submit themselves to and worship Christ truly and so escape the Wrath to come Psal 22. 27. but such as abide in their opposition to him and minding earthly things shall wail for ever Isay 60. 12. Luke 21. 34 36. Isay 24. 17 18. 4. We have the breathing vote and desire of the Apostle and of all that are taught and led of God even so amen Rev. 22. 20. So the Holy Men of God formerly have desired O that the Salvation of Israel were come out of Zion Psal 14. 7. and 53. 6. Make haste my beloved c. Cant. 8. 14. Oh that thou wouldest rent the Heavens that thou wouldst come down c. Isay 64. 1. And in latter times they who had received the first-fruits of the Spirit did groan within themselves waiting for the adoption the redemption of their bodies and to that end they did look for the Saviour from Heaven the Lord Jesus Rom. 8. 23. with Phil. 3. 20 21. The Spirit and the Bride say come And let him that heareth say come even so come Lord Jesus Rev. 22. 17 20. The Gospel of Christ doth teach them who believe it to wait for God's Son from Heaven whom he raised from the dead 1 Thes 1. 10. to look for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2. 11 13. To be looking for and hasting unto the coming of the Day of God 2 Pet. 3. 11 14. and for this the Apostle here longs and breaths even so Amen These Words are true and faithful Rev. 21. 1 5. and ch 22. 6 7. 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 the Almighty Here we have an account given us of the infinite excellency of the person speaking and his ability for accomplishing what is spoken of him v. 7. Why should it be thought a thing incredible that he should effect it We may first here enquire and consider who the person here speaking is Some understand it of the Father because this person is so described as he is v. 4. where doubtless he is intended because he is distinguished from the Spirit and from Jesus Christ as before is said But I conceive and judge that the person here speaking in this 8 th Verse is Jesus Christ 1. Because he is the person generally speaking in this Book by his Angel or Angels to whom it was given to that end to shew c. v. 1. Rev. 22. 16. 2. Because the first part of the description here to wit that he is Alpha and Omega is elsewhere given of him without Controversie in this Book So expressly v. 11 13. and ch 22. 12 13. Nor doth that hinder us to understand it of Christ because he is described as the Father is for he and the Father are one Joh. 10. 13. 1 Joh. 5. 7. 3. It appears also that this is spoken of and by Christ because it seems these 8 and 9 Verses refer to Verse 1. The eighth Verse declares to us to whom this Revelation was given to shew to his Servants to wit to Jesus Christ who here saith of himself I am Alpha and Omega c. And v. 9. shews unto us to whom he sent and signified it to wit unto his Servant John And so we shall look upon this Verse as containing the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in which he gives a description of himself unto us I am Alpha and Omega These two are the first and last Letters of the Greek Alphabet and signifie as here it followeth the beginning and the ending Or as in v. 11. the first and the last and both are used in ch 22. 13. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last Now from hence we may note in general 1. That God hath sanctified all Tongues for declaring to us the things of Christ and of God in him to the end that all Nations and Tongues might come unto the knowledge of the truth So after the Lord had given Authority and Commission to his Apostles to go into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature of all the Nations he did fit them thereto by pouring forth his Spirit upon them and thereby enabling them to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance Mark 16. 15 17. Acts 1. 8. and ch 2. 1 8 12. And the Angel had the everlasting Gospel to preach unto every Nation and Kindred and Tongue c. Rev. 14. 6. 2. In that he doth explicate and interpret these words saying I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last So he shews that it is good for the Preachers of the Gospel to use great plainness of Speech that they may be understood 2 Cor. 3. 12. 1 Cor. 14. 1 13. so often-times Hebrew Words c. are interpreted So Emmanuel God with us Mat. 1. 23. Eli Eli Lamasabacthani that is to say My God My God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27. 46. Jesus for he shall save c. Mat. 1. 23. Messias which being interpreted is the Christ Joh. 1. 41. c. It is good to speak plainly to edification and exhortation and comfort and not to affect hard words or sayings or when there is need for the use of them to interpret them 1 Cor. 14. 27 28. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending End sometimes signifies dissolution or ceasing to be Luke 22. 37. and sometimes perfection or fulfilling 1 Tim. 1. 5. and in both senses it may be in various respects as to divers things applied unto our Lord Jesus He is the beginning and end of the first Creation He is the beginning of it He was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Joh. 1. 1 3. By him God made the Worlds Heb 1. 2. and ch 11. 3. By this Word of the LORD were the Heavens made yea God created all things by Jesus Christ Ps 33. 6. Eph. 3. 11. and by him all these things shall be dissolved 2 Pet. 3. 4 5 10 13. We have both put together as his work in Heb. 1. 10 12. And thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the Foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the works of thine Hands They shall perish but thou remainest and they all shall wax old as doth a Garment and as a Vesture shalt thou fold them up and they shall be changed c. He is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending or perfecter of the New Creation He is the beginning the first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the Preeminency for in him it hath pleased all the fulness of
is God Ps 90. 1 2. His counsels are of old Isay 25. 1. so such a like description is given of the Father as the Ancient of days The Ancient of days did sit whose garment was white as snow and the hair of his head like the pure Wooll Dan. 7. 9. he is the everlasting Father Isay 9. 6. he is not like us who are of yesterday and know nothing Job 8. 9. but the Lord possessed him in the beginning of his way before his works of old he this Wisdom of God was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the the earth was c. Prov. 8. 23. 31. He was glorious with the Father before the World was and is now glorified in our nature with the same glory Joh. 17. 4 5. his Kingdom Rule and Government is everlasting Ps 145. 13. his goings forth have been from of old from the days of eternity Mich. 5. 2. 1 Tim. 1. 17. he is the Ancient of days and with him is Wisdom and strength Job 12. 12 13. Heb. 1. 10 11. Ps 93. 1 2. And this is for usefulness to us 1. To engage us to listen unto him and submit to his government seeing he is the Ancient of days Thus himself instructs us from this reason and upon this account I was saith he set up from everlasting when there were no depths I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water before the mountains were settled c. now therefore hearken unto me O ye children for blessed are they that keep my ways Prov 8. 22 30 32. Isay 48. 12. 2. Seeing he is in the midst of the churches who is the everlasting Father and whose Wisdom and government is everlasting It may encourage them to trust in him at all times and not fear as Rev. 1. 17. To trust in him for ever for in the LORD Jehovah is everlasting strength Isay 26. 3 4. His throne is established of old he is from everlasting And though the flouds lift up their voice and Waves yet he is high and mightier than they He sits and rules upon the flouds he sits King for ever Ps 93. 2. 4 with Ps 29. 10. and 147. 5 6. 3. It shews unto us the Blessedness of tohse that have the LORD for their God there is none like unto their God and therefore none like to them Deut. 33. 26 29. Ps 33. 6 12. 4. It may preserve us from worshipping any other than this most excellent one and God in him who is the first and the last who is the eternal Wisdom and whose counsels of old are faithfulness and truth Isay 25. 1. and ch 43. 9 13. and ch 46. 1 10. 2. His head and his hairs were white like Wool as white as Snow namely purely white holy without mixture of pollution or defilement so white oft signifieth in Scripture Dan. 11. 35. and ch 12. 10. so white garments are said to be holy garments Lev. 16. 4. and particularly upon the Mitre which was upon the head of the High-priest there was a plate on which was engraven Holiness to the LORD or of the LORD called the holy Crown Exod. 28. 36 39. and ch 39. 28 31. Zech. 3. 3 5 8. so our Lord Jesus who is without beginning of days he is holiness in all Though he be the Ancient of dayes yet he is without sin or mixture of pollution he is the holy one in all his Wisdom and government and his counsels of old are faithfulness and truth Isay 25. 1. Heb. 1. 8 9. he is anointed with holy Oyl Ps 89. 19 20. with the holy Spirit Acts 2. 33. and ch 10. 38. and crowned with the holy pure crown Lev. 8. 9. with Ps 21. 3. and the Seraphims sing unto him Holy Holy Holy is the LORD of hosts Isay 6. 1 3 10. with Joh 12. 40 41. and in his Churches in the midst of his Candlesticks he is holy as in himself 1 Joh. 2. 20. so also in his work to sanctify them preserve them and perfect whatsoever doth concern them Rev. 3. 7. Heb. 7. 24 26. Joh. 17. 18 19. As he then who hath called you and who is in the midst of you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation Lev. 19. 2. and ch 21. 8. 1 Pet. 1. 14 16. and ch 2. 4 5. 3. White like wooll or like a fleece To give us to understand that he is in all his Wisdom government thoughts and counsels and in all one 2 Cor. 5. 14. he is one Lord Ps 89. 19. with Deut. 6. 4. he is not divided but in all like a fleece bushy Cant. 5. 11. there is a perfect accord in all his government thoughts and purposes and in all he is the saviour of all Men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. he hath not a will and a will a secret will contrary to his revealed there is no clashing or separation in him but in all his Wisdom thoughts law and Doctrine c. he is like a fleece and so like Snow for he giveth snow like Wooll Ps 147. 16. and the hearing and heartily receiving this Doctrine that he is one LORD would move and prevail with us to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength and our neighbour as our selves Mark 12. 29 30. 1 Tim. 2. 1 5. 2. And his eyes were as a flame of fire The eyes we know are the Organs or Instruments of seeing wherewith we may behold any visible thing as the scripture doth abundantly testify and as our experience confirms his eyes were as a flame of fire or as lamps of fire Dan. 10. 6. And hereby these things are signified to us 1. That all things are manifest before him and seen by him as a flame of fire discovereth and manifesteth all things even such things as are in the dark also Isay 4. 5. Thus also he describeth himself in ch 2. 18. These things saith the Son of God who hath his Eyes like unto a Flame of Fire and to shew â—hat he means thereby he saith v. 23. All the Churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the Reins and Hearts He is of a most piercing sight and inspection all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 13. Jer. 17. 9 10. Rom. 8. 27. He hath the Spirit immeasurably upon him and the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. And hereby he knoweth what is in Man Joh. 2. 24 25. He knoweth the thoughts of Men they are manifest unto him Mat. 9. 4. and ch 12. 25. Luke 5. 22. and ch 6. 8. and ch 9. 47. and ch 11. 17. He knoweth the hearts of all Men Acts 1. 24. Yea he knoweth all things Joh. 21. 17. And this may be of usefulness being duly considered 1. To admonish the rebellious that they should not exalt themselves Ps 66. 7. Let them not say no eye seeth
evermore Amen 2. The note of attention to mind this Behold 1. He is alive for evermore Amen even that person that died for us and was buried he is alive for evermore in that his personal body in which he bare our sins on the tree he is raised again now no more to return to corruption Act. 13. 24. He asked life of his father and he gave it him even length of days for ever and ever Ps 21. 3. and so he is become the sure mercies of David Isay 55. 3. with Act. 13. 34. he is the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. He who died for us and now liveth is alive for evermore 1. As the last Adam in whom dwelleth all the fulness of grace and truth and he is and abides the fountain of forgiveness Righteousness wisdom spirit eternal life he is a quickening spirit Col. 1. 18 19 and ch 2. 9 10. Joh. 1. 14. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 45. 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. 2. He is the Bread of life who prevents the dead World with life in due season and ever lives as the receiver and maker free of all that as thus prevented come unto and follow him The Servant namely of sin abideth not in the house for ever But the Son abideth ever Joh. 8. 35 36. And him that cometh he will in no-wise cast out Joh. 6. 33 35 37. Rom. 15. 7. 3. He is alive for evermore as the High-priest This man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood a Priest hood that passeth not from him unto any other Heb. 7. 24. and as the High-priest he maketh intercession for Men he being the one and only mediatour between God and Men Isay 53. 12. 1 Tim. 2. 5. For every High-priest is taken from among Men and is ordained for Men for the good of them Heb. 5. 1. And ever liveth to make Intercession for them that come unto God by him and so is able to the uttermost Heb 7. 8 16 24 25. and ch 6. 20. and ch 7. 28. and ch 10. 12. And so he is the Saviour of all Men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. 4. He ever liveth as the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9 who is now saving them especially 1 Tim. 4. 10. Eph. 5. 23. and will save them hereafter gloriously and eternally Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting Salvation they shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end Isay 45. 17. he is Jesus Christ the anointed Saviour the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 7 8. 2 Tim. 2. 10. Joh. 3. 15 16. 5. He ever liveth as the Resurrection and the life Joh. 11. 25. whose voice all that are in the graves shall hear and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. For as by Man came death by Man also came the Resurrection from the dead For as in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. He shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thes 4. 16. and all shall appear before his judgment-Seat for he is the Lord and Judg of all and to this end he both died rose and revived that he might lord it over quick and dead Rom. 14. 9 12. 2 Cor. 5. 8 10. Act 10. 42. 6. He is alive for evermore as the King who is now set upon God's holy hill of Zion Ps 2. 6. who now exercises his government graciouâ—ly and spiritually and shall hereafter rule and raign gloriously Ps 145. 11 13. and 9. 7 8. and 47. 6 8 Heb. 1. 8 11. The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end Luk. 1. 32 33. and the Kingdom and dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given the Prophet of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all nations shall serve and obey him Isay 9. 6 7. Dan. 7. 27. Amen So be it this is a faithful saying and therefore fear not 2. We have the note of attention to stir us up to mind this Behold This is of great concernment to us to take notice of attend unto and diligently to mind and consider that he who was dead is alive for evermore 1. To admonish and warn us not to reject him or slight his blood once shed and sacrifice once offered For he being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him and therefore if we sin willingly persist so doing there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery Indignation c. Rom. 6. 9 10. Act. 13. 34. Heb. 10. 26 29. Rev. 15. 7. 2. To comfort and encourage us against our discouragements and dyings which is the end why it is spoken at this time as to say a little particularly 1. To encourage any poor sinner or any that after they have tasted the graciousness of the Lord have brought deadness upon themselves whose spirits are dead and their moisture dried up yet to come unto or return to him for he liveth and that for evermore as the fountain of life of forgiveness grace and spirit Ps 36. 6 9. hence the Prophet exhorts O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity and propounds this motive from the Lord to encourage and engage them so to do I am the green fir-tree from me is thy â—ruit found Though thou hast brought deadness and witheredness upon thy self yet in returning to him he will take away all thy iniquities revive and quicken thee for he still abides a quickening spirit Hos 14. 1 9. 1 Cor. 15. 45. Yea our Saviour calls upon and invites every thirster to come unto him and drink and saith He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water Joh. 7. 37 39. and 11. 25 26. Rev. 3. 1. and 21. 6. and ch 22. 17. 2. To encourage his disciples unto all Services though they are as dead ones and have no sufficiency of themselves as of themselves yet he who liveth for ever hath promised to be with them Mat. 28. 18 20. and against all sufferings for his name sake in which the believer is as dying and appointed as a sheep to the slaughter yet he liveth and abideth for ever and is able to save them from their Sins and enemies Heb. 7. 24 26. and to raise them up again and make them partakers of a more excellent life in which the Apostles did comfort and encourage themselves 2 Cor. 4.
Angel c. This and every of the Messages are expresly sent unto the Angel to him or them who were over the Churches in the Lord and have the â—ule of them Heb. 13. 17. though still that they might be communicated unto the Churches and considered by them to whom also they were spoken and for whom to be written See notes on ch 1. 11. But expresly to the Angel 1. Because by their Office and Furniture they are Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God to dispence what they receive for the good of others to them for it is required of Stewards that a Man be found faithful 1 Cor. 4. 1 2. Heb. 13. 17. Mat. 24. 45 46. Tit. 1. 7. and so this Angel of the Church of Ephesus was to impart this Epistle to this Church for their Benefit Instruction Admonition and Consolation Ouâ— Lord Jesus herein prefers the Angel to the Churches that they might know them which labour among them and are over them in the Lord and admonish them and so esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 12 13. That they might obey them that have the rule over them and submit themselves for they watch for their Souls Heb. 13. 17. and that they might count the Elders that rule well worthy of double Honour especially them who labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. with Gal. 6. 6. and 1 Cor. 9. 7 14. Unto the Angel and Angels to signifie that they are first to receive from Christ what they speak and communicate to the Churches and not to run before they are sent or prophecy a Vision out of their own hearts when they have seen nothing Jer. 14. 14 15. and ch 23. 16. 21 32. Ezek. 2. 7 10. Rev. 10. 9. as the Lord saith to the Prophet Son of Man all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart and hear with thine eaâ—s and go get thee and speak unto them Ezek. 3. 10 11. So the Apostles delivered to the Churches that which they also first received from the Lord 1 Cor. 11. 23. and ch 15. 1 3. 1 Joh. 1. 3 5. and ch 4. 13 14. 3. And unto the Angels firstly because usually they have much influence upon the Churches and according to their faithfulness or unfaithfulness the Churches are and fare the better or the worse When they are faithful in the Lord and walk with a right Foot in the Gospel and are blameless as the Stewards of God they are successful Instruments of Good and profit unto others and shall both save themselves and them that hear them Jer. 23. 22. 1 Tim. 4. 16. So the Apostle writing unto the Church at Colosse who were a sweetly ordered people thus saith unto them The Gospel is come unto you and brings forth fruit in you since the Day ye heard of it and knew the Grace of God in truth as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear Fellow-servant who is for you a faithful Minister of Christ Col. 1. 6 7. with ch 2. 5 7. And when they are evil or remiss it haâ—h many times an â—vil influence upon the Churches such evil leaders of the people cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroyed Isay 3. 12. and ch 9. 16. The Land is full of Adulterers for because of swearing the Land mourneth and their course is evil and their force is not right For both Prophet and Priest are profane And again The Prophets of Samaria caused Israel to erre c. Jer. 23. 9 11 13 17 32. Ezek. 13. 2 8 10. Therefore whensoever the Church is commended or discommended approved or reproved it is done in the person of the Angel Oh therefore how greatly doth it concern them especially to be clean who bear the Vessels of the LORD Isay 52. 11. to preach the Word to be instant in season and out of season to reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 2 5. Tit. 1. 9. and to be examples of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity 1 Tim. 4. 12. In all things shewing themselves patterns of good works in Doctrine shewing Uncorruptibleness Gravity Sincerity sound speech that cannot be condemned Tit. 2. 7 8. For if it be otherwise with them the Blood of others will be required at their hands Ezek. 3. 17. and ch 33. 7 9. Acts 20. 26. It behoves them to keep under their bodies and bring them into subjection lest when they have preached to others they themselves should become Reprobates 1 Cor. 9. 27. Luke 12. 42 46. Of the Church This Church was distinct from the rest and all of them are called seven Churches though indeed all unfeigned Believers are the Church of the living God the Body of Christ one body Col. 1. 18 24. Eph. 1. 22. and ch 4. 4. and ch 4. 24 32. Yet the partiticular Societies are called after the name of the whole 1 Cor. 11. 16. and ch 14. 33 34. and ch 16. 1. e. And where two or three are gathered together in his name they are a Church of Christ and so many times mention is made of the Church in such or such an House Mat. 18. 17 20. Rom. 16. 5. Col. 4. 16. Phil. 2. Of the Church so called as distinct from the Angel the Angel is not here called the Church but is spoken unto as distinct therefrom though as believers also the Angels here spoken of are members of the Church But many times also the believers as distinct from the officers are called the Church Acts 20. 17 28. and were so beâ—ore they had officers among them Act. 23. and shall be so when they shall cease and there will be no further need of them Epâ— 5. 27. with ch 4. 11 12 13. Of the Church This Church of Ephesus had this title still given to it by Christ though it was so faulty as that he threatens that if they did not remember repent and do their first works he would remove their candlestick from them v. 5. see also v. 12. 14 16. and v. 18. 20 24. and ch 3. 1 2. and v. 14 17. So the apostle writes unto and calls it the Church of Corinth though there were many and great evils found with them and he saith unto them I fear lâ—st when I come I shall not find you such as I would lest there be debates envyings wraths strifes backbitings whisperings swellings tumults and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed 2 Cor. 1. 1. with ch 11. and ch 12. 20 21. so he calls them the Churches of Galatiâ— of whom he saith they were removed from him that called them into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel and O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth and again I am afraid of you lest
I have bestowed upon you labour in vain Gal. 1. 2 6. and ch 3. 1. and ch 4. 11. yea that is called the temple of God in which the man of sin sits as God shewing himself that he is God 2 Thes 2. 4. see the notes before on ch 1. 12. Let this be considered and minded by us 2. We have the person described from whom this Epistle comes and who giveth charge These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks Here he to wit Christ describes himself as he had done before with a little change See the notes before on ch 1. v. 13. and v. 16. and that for the encouragement and consolation of them in coming unto and walking before him and for admonition and warning unto them that they might not so evilly behave themselves as to grieve and offend him In general we may note thus he was to write These things saith he not say I â—ven Jesus Christ the Lord. Though John was the Instrument who first received and was to write and send this Epistle yet the message comes from Christ and as the holy Prophets did in former times usually thus speak unto the people Thus saith the Lord as Ezek. 33. 1 11 25 27. with many other places so here To every one of the Churches John was commanded thus to write these things saith Christ in those manifold Descriptions he gives of himself and so the residue of the Apostles of the lamb spake unto the Churches by the word and in the name of the Lord This we say unto you by the Word of the Lord 1 Thes 4. 15. If any man think himself to be a Prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord 1 Cor. 14. 37. And I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you 1 Cor. 11. 23. and ch 7. 10 12 25. and it is good for his servants to go with his words and in his name and authority Ezek. 3. 10 11 12. 1 Cor. 15. 1 3. and not in their own name or name of the Church or Man of sin and with his words as the Lord saith he that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully what is the chaff to the wheat saith the Lord Jer. 37. 27 29. 1 Cor. 2. 12 13. and seeing what the holy Prophets and Apostles wrote were the commandments of the Lord it might engage us to be mindful thereof and to give â—arnest heed thereto and to receive their word not as the word of Men but as it is in truth the word of God that it may work effectually in us 2 Pet. 3. 1 2. and ch 1. 19 21. 1 Thes 2. 13. with v. 2. and 9. He who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand see notes on ch 1. v. 16. he holdeth them fast so this same word is translated in v. 13. and v. 25. and ch 3. 11. he holdeth them fast in his right hand which is powerful as is said Thy right hand O LORD is become glorious in power thy right hand O LORD hath dashed in pieces the enemy Exod. 15. 6. his right hand and his holy arme hath gotten the victory Ps 98. 1. and with his right hand which is full of righteousness yea which is called the right hand of his righteousness Ps 48. 10. Isay 41. 10. with which right hand he saveth them which put their trust in him from those that rise up against them Ps 17. 7. with Ps 31. 19 his power and faithfulness is engaged for them and for the Preservation of them from evil and enemies in their walking before him and holding forth the light of the glorious Gospel in word and conversation yea he upholds them with the right hand of his power and Righteousness when he is reproing and faulting them Now in that it is said He holdeth them in his right hand we may learn 1. That they especially have many enemies who thrust sore at them that they might fall As our Saviour saith to his disciples when he sent them forth to preach the Gospel ye shall be â—ated of all Men for my names sake Mat. 10. 7 22. see the notes before on ch 1. v. 9. They have no sufficiency of themselves as of themselves to defend or secure themselves from their many and powerful enemies on the side of their oppressours there is power but they have no comforter nor any power against their enemies who are stronger then they Eccles 4. 1. Ps 142. 4 6. They are as lambs in the midst of wolves poor helpless shiâ—tless creatures Mat. 10. 16 17. Their defence is of him unto whom all power is given both in Heaven and on Earth Ps 7. 10. Mat. 28. 18 20. he will give unto them and preserve them with the â—â—ield of his Salvation in their shining as lights and his right hand will hold them up as Ps 18. 35 Though their own Arme cannot save them yet his right hand and his Arme is imployed and exercised for their safety and security Ps 44. 3 4. And the consideration of this that he holdeth them in his right hand may be of great consolation to them to comfort and strengthen their hearts against the discouragement of their own weakness and many and manifold potent and politick enemies Isay 41. 10. and help them to say as he did The Lord GOD will help us therefore shall we not be confounded Isay 50. 7 10. and to walk in the strength of the LORD God and make mention of his Righteousness of his only Ps 71. 16. And for caution to them to admonish and warn them not to provoke him to angerâ— for he who holds them in his right hand can also throw them out if they rebel against him yea though they were as the signet upon his right hand yet he will pluck them thence as Jer. 22. 24. he can with-draw his right hand and not exert it for their help and Salvation as they complain Ps 74. 11. and as the profit also signifieth in saying not only He hath drawn back his right hand But also he stood with his right hand as an Adversary and slew all that were pleasant to the eye Lam. 2. 3 4. Oh sin not then against him by whom only you are held and held fast Who walketh in the midst of Seven golden Candlesticks not only is in the midst of them see notes on ch 1. v. 13. But he also walketh converseth hath his way and path there As God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them 2 Cor 6. 16. Lev. 26. 12. and here he walketh with delight while they are upright before him Thus when the Daughters of Jerusalem enquire of the spouse whither is thy beloved gone O thou fairest among women she answers My beloved is gone down into his Garden to the Beds of Spices to feed in the Garden c.
13. 26. The heart of Asa was perfect all his days notwithstanding he was guilty of several evils Chron. 15. 7. with ch 16. 8 9. c. There were good things found in Jehoshaphat and yet for some evils of his wrath was upon him from before the LORD 2 Chron. 19. 2. 3. Hezekiah was a good Man yet after he was recovered of his Sickness he rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him for his heart was lifted up therefore there was wrath upon him c. 2 Chron. 29. 2. c. and ch 30. and ch 31. with ch 32. 24 26. and we might shew the truth of this in manifold other particular Instances And the same we may also say of Churches Judah ruled with God and was faithful with the most holy and yet The LORD hath also a Controversy with Judah Hos 11. 12. with ch 12. 2. In the Church of Corinth were many commendable things 1 Cor. 1. 2 9. and ch 11. 2. and yet there were many evils found therein 1 Cor. 1. 10 15. and ch 3. 3 5. and ch 6 c. see also Heb. 6. 2 10. with ch 3. 12 13. and ch 5. 11 14 and ch 10. 25 27. Rev. 2. 13 14. and v. 19 20. so here I know thy works and labour and patience and how thou canst not bâ—ar them that are evil c. nevertheless he had a controversy with them and such an one as if they did not repent he threatens he will take away their candlestick from them Vse 1. This may then give us occasion to suspect our selves and to search and try our hearts and ways continually especially when his Judgments are amongst us Though the grace of God hath much efficacy upon us or any of us yet he may have a controversy with us that notwithstanding Lam. 3. 13 40. 42. we may not be polluted with gross evils and yet we may be so with those which are more commendable among Men and nothing less offensive and provoking to God as Jehu destroyed Baal and yet served the golden calves 2 King 10. 15 16 25 29. we may hate rioting and drunkenness chambring and wantoness swearing cursing Pastime c. and it is well if we do so and yet be guilty of Pride Wrath Covetousness c. Luke 18. 11 12. with ch 16. 14 15. we may speak against Prodigality and make a boast of improving our talents and yet hoard up for our selves and be unfaithful with the unrighteous mammon Luke 16. 8 12. nay we may have works labour patience c. and yet have left our first love as it was with this Angel and Church and so expose our selves to the displeasure of Christ Oh be we not high-minded but fear pass we the time of our sojourning in fear looking diligently that we fail not of the grace of God 2. This consideration may keep them who have good things in them from being many masters for in many things they offend all Jam. 3. 1 2. Oh be not censorious or forward to Judg others though there be many commendable and praise-worthy things in you and more then in others and such as are approved by him who holdeth the starrs the seven starrs in his right hand and walketh in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks v. 1. for notwithstanding all this he may have a quarrel against us There may be with us even with us also sins against the LORD our God 2 Chron. 28. 9 10. and as dead flies cause the Oyntment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking Saviour so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour Eccles 10. 1. 2 Chro. 19. 2 3. 3. Seeing such may be faulty that have so many commendable things in them take heed of relying too much upon Signs markes and qualifications Oh had our sign-mongers so many good Marks of their sincerity and such good evidences and Assurances for Heaven as these had and they so approved and commended not by some Godly Minister or ministers as they speak nor by the Apostle John or an Angel but by Christ himself who is the true and faithful witness yea the truth it self how confident would they be of their good and happy condition yea how would their Ministers and leaders confirm and strengthen them in the assured perswasion of the blessedness of themselvs and of their spiritual estate and even say we will pawn our souls for yours that your condition is very safe and good and that you are accepted of God had they such works labour patience such zeal as that they could bear them that are evil such wisdom and circumspection as to try them who say they are Apostles and are not and to find them liers Oh how over-confident would they be that all is and will be well with them and yet there may be something sound amiss with them for all this which if not repented of and removed may provoke Christ to cast them out of his house and love them no more see also what is said of and to the Angel and Church in Pergamos in this Rev. 2. 13 14. I know thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satans Seat or throne is and thou holdest fastâ— my name and hast not denyed my faith even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth A very high commendation of them considering in what times and places they lived But saith he notwithstanding all this I have a few things against thee c. see the notes no v. 13 14. and v. 19 20. of this chapter 4. If he hath an exception against these what may he have against many of us that want these things how greatly come many short of those that are here reproved Luke 10. 39 40. And of those Rev. 2. 13 14. and v. 19 20. may it not be said we are without works and labour even barren and unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ It cannot be said of many amongst us that they cannot bear them that are evil but rather they cannot bear them that are good especially if they be such as are faithful reprovers of them Prov. 15. 10 12. are not too many amongst us companions of fools and riotous persons Prov. 13. 20. and ch 28. 7. And not like him who though he was a great Person in this world saith thus of himself I am a companion of all them that fear thee and that keep thy precepts Ps 1â—9 63. 2. We may further note in that he saith Nevertheless I have against thee That though Christ takes notice of whatsoever is good and commendable in his Churches yet also he minds and takes notice of the evils they are guilty of and polluted with Indeed he is slow to anger and backward to deal with Men according to their ways and exercises charity and mercy to all especially towards those that are in his Church But yet notwithstanding he takes notice
are fallen unto and preserve them in their former and fervent love is to put them in remembrance of what he hath done for them and how he hath testified love to them in their low estate Hence he here saith Remember So Rev. 3. 2 3. Jer. 2. 1 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Remember the days of old c. Deut. 32. 5 7. By this ye are saved recovered again out of any distemper as Isay 38. 20. if ye hold fast and keep in memory As it is brought to and put into your remembrance How that Christ died was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 1 3. Heb. 3. 6 14. These things are not only proper and powerful at first to reconcile the heart to God but also to recover it from all its wandrings The Apostle therefore puts the Galatians in remembrance thereof when they were removed from him that called them into the Grace of Christ Gal. 3. 1 5. And that any man suffers a decay of those things wrought in him is because he is a forgetful hearer Jam. 1. 22 25. The remembring and considering what he hath done will be powerful to restore us from all our wandrings and out-turnings from him Hence Samuel saith to the people turn not aside from following the LORD but serve him in truth with all your heart for consider how great things he hath done for you 1 Sam. 12. 20 21 24. Ps 63. 5 8. And that we may remember these things Christ hath promised that his Spirit shall be our Remembrancer Joh. 14. 26. And this is that which the Spirit here puts to the remembrance of this Angel and Church verse 7. and his Servants in preaching the Gospel for it is the preaching of the Cross or of Jesus Christ and him crucified 2 Pet. 1. 12 15. and ch 3. 1 2. with 1 Cor. 1. 18 23. Of these things the Apostle Paul was the Remembrancer of Timothy Remember saith he that Jesus Christ of the Seed of David was raised from the Dead according to my Gospel and thus chargeth him Of these things put them in remembrance 2 Tim. 2. 8 14. And his Ordinances especially that of the Supper of the Lord are to mind us of Christ and are appointed and to be observed that we may remember the Lord's Death and his wonderful Grace to us that we might remember that Christ our passe-over hath been slain and sacrificed for us and God's love his first-love manifested therein Luke 22. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 23 25. Cant. 1. 3 4. 2. Branch of the Counsel he gives to them is and repent not simply remember for that a Man may do after a sort and yet go on still in his evil and back-sliding ways but remember and repent that is change thy mind and way Isay 55. 7. Be zealous and amend Rev. 3. 17 19. Mat. 21. 29 30 32. mourn and be grieved that you should thus unkindly requiâ—e him and lessen your love to him who hath so greatly testified his love to us Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into heaviness Jam. 4. 5 8 9. Be filled with Godly sorrow for your leaving your first love and this works and is included in repentance unto salvation not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 9 10. acknowledge and confess your evil as it is reproved and discovered As the Lord saith Only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God and hast scattered thy ways unto strangers c. Jer. 3. 12 13. If they shall bethink themselves and repent saying we have sinned and have done perversly c. 1 King 8. 47. And Repent namely turn from what is reproved unto him from whom you have in any measure revolted both from deadly and dead works so what is read in one place Repent is in another place turn 1 King 8. 47. with 2 Chron. 6. 37. see Jer. 18. 8. and ch 36. 3 7. And these two are put together Repent and turn from all your transgressions c. Ezek. 18. 30 32. and when Christ sent Paul to open the eyes of Jews and Gentiles and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God In pursuance of this commission he shewed unto them that they should repent and turn to God c. Acts 26. 17 18 20. And whereas it is said in the Prophet of the Men of Nineveh God saw their works that they turned from their evil way It is thus expressed by our Saviour They repented at the preaching of Jonas To shew unto us that repentance includes a turning to God from the evils reproved Jona 2. 8 10. with Mat. 12. 41. Rev. 2. 22. and ch 9. 20 21. hence it is called Repentance from dead works Heb. 6. 1 2. Now in that he further counselleth and repent so he signifieth unto us 1. That when persons are fallen from him by their Iniquities yet he is again calling them to repentance Mat. 9. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 15. yea such also as have left their first love and back-slidden from him unto such he saith repent and turn from your idols and turn your faces from all your abominations Ezek. 14. 6. O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Hos 12. 6. and ch 14. 1. so he calls upon them that had left the kindness of their youth the love of their espousals and saith unto them Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return to me saith the Lord turn O backsliding Children saith the Lord for I am married unto you c. Jer. 2. 2. with ch 3. 1 14 22. and 4. 1. The like counsel and call he also gives to the residue of the seven Churches which had sinned against him or backsliden from him Rev. 2. 16. and ch 3. 3. and v. 19. and therefore he calls them to repentance because he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. and so much he hath both said and sworn Ezek. 33. 11. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live And thence calls and exhorts turne ye turn ye for why will ye dye O house of Israel Ezek. 18. 23 30 32. Mal. 3. 6 7. Mat. 18. 11 14. with Luke 15. 1 10. 2. In that he first saith to this Angel and Church Remember from whence thou art fallen to wit from God's grace in Christ to sinners and then adds repent so he signifieth to us That the believing mindfulness remembrance and consideration of the death of Christ for sinners and of the love of God his first love therein commended to us is proper and powerful to work repentance in us not to be repented of It is the goodness of God that leadeth to repentance Rom. 2. 4. It is the Gospel
flow from unfeigned faith in him even from the hearty mindfulness and high-prizing of the precious Blood of Christ and the love therein commended to Sinners It is Faith even the Word of Faith believed that worketh by Love Gal. 5. 6. and so also produceth as the consequent thereof good works Heb. 10. 24. 1 Thes 1. 3 5. and ch 2. 13. The principle of those works which are acceptable to God is not our own wisdom or any thing in our selves or because it is our duty simply but the Grace of God his free-love manifested in the gift of his Son to be the Saviour of the World 2 Cor. 1. 12. The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all Men hath appeared teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Tit. 2. 11 12. This Gospel and good news being heartily embraced doth powerfully operate to the denying and abhorring what is evil and to the doing what is well-pleasing in his sight Joh. 15. 2 6. 1 Joh. 3. 6. Now their works could not be the first because they were as we have before seen fallen in some measure from Christ and from the high prizing of his Cross and his love and kindness therein manifested and commended 2. The first works also appear to be such as are done in â—ervent and inflamed love to Jesus Christ and in love and charity to Men hence called the work and labour of love begotten by and exercised in the love of and unto Christ and also exercised towards Men and Brethren Heb. 6. 9. 1 Thes 1. 3. And this love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13. 10. and all without it is nothing as the Apostle saith though I have the gift of Prophesie and understand all Mysteries and all Knowledge and though I have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have not Love or Charity I am nothing And though I bestow all my Goods to feed the Poor and though I give my Body to be burned and have not Love or Charity it profiteth me nothing 1 Cor. 13. 1 3. Gal. 5. 13 14. And this exhortation is given Let all your things be done with Love or Charity 1 Cor. 16. 13. Now their works could not be the first works because they had left their first-love 3. The first works are such as of which Christ is the Omega and end also and God in him A Man may do many things good in themselves and yet to a wrong end it may be to establish a Righteousness to himself Rom. 10. 2 3. and all such works will not profit or avail to the rendring us acceptable in the sight of God Isay 57. 12. Thus the Jews sought after Righteousness as it were by the works of the Law in which they sinned against the end of the Law Jesus Christ and stumbled and took offence at that stumbling-Stone and Rock of Offence not submitting themselves to the Righteousness of God Rom. 9. 30 31 33. and ch 10. 1 4. After such a manner also the Galatians were snared by those Evil-workers that came amongst them after they had begun to run well and were called into the Grace of Christ by listening to those Spiritual Witches that came amongst them they sought to perfect by the Flesh what was begun by the Spirit Gal. 1. 6. and ch 3. 1. and ch 5. 1 4. Or the end of what a Man doth may be that he may have praise of Men as it is with the Hyppocrites when they give alms it is that they may have Glory of Men when they pray that they may be seen of Men when they fast they so do it that they may appear unto Men to fast Mat. 6. 2 6 16. And thus our Saviour saith of the Scribes and Pharisees All their works they do for to be seen of Men Mat. 23. 2 5. And of this evil end the Apostle warns in saying Be not desirous of Vain-glory Gal. 5. 26. But now the first or best Luke 15. 22. works are such as in which a Man knowing that Christ hath brought in Everlasting Righteousness and that all is prepared in him he doth therefore in all aim at his Glory and therein at the good of Men and especial good of Believers as the Apostle exhorts Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God Give none Offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God Even as I please all Men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved 1 Cor. 10. 31 33. and ch 11. 1. Phil. 1. 20 21. 1 Cor. 9. 22. Now from this Branch of the Counsel we may also briefly note some Instructions As 1. In that he had before intimated that they had at first when the Gospel was preached to and received by them a first and servent love and now also intimates that they had first works so he gives us to understand that when God's love in Christ to Sinners is so known and believed that it turns the Heart to him and begets love unto him it will also produce works good and acceptable works such as are well-pleasing in his sight So much the Apostle signifies as with respect to the Thessalonians when he saith Ye received the word of God which ye heard of us not as the word of Men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe It wrought so effectually in them that it wrought Love in them and the work of Faith and Labour of Love c. 1 Thes 2. 13. with ch 1. 3 10. 1 Joh. 3. 16 18. Gal. 5. 6. 2. In that he saith And do the first works so he signifieth to us that though there may be works with us yet not such as are approved of him nay though they may be right and good in themselves yet they may not proceed from the Faith nor be done in Fervent Love and Charity nor may we aim at Christ at his Glory and the promoting the things of his Kingdom as the end and to be sure if we have leâ—t our first-love and that be waxed cold and if we have abated in our former high prizings of the precious sufferings and Blood of our Gracious Redeemer and the love therein discovered our works will also be defective as it was with these Come we to the light Joh. 3. 21. 3. In that he saith Remember and repent c. so he signifieth to us that the way to do the first works is to remember Christ's works and to repent and turn to him again from whom we have revolted and back-sliden for as he hath wrought all our works for us so it is he also that must work them in us Isay 26. 12. Phil. 2. 12 15. They must needs be dead works imperfect unacceptable works unless such as have left their first love remember how they have received and heard
evil way and the froward mouth do I hate saith Wisdom Prov. 8. 13. Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his Neighbour and love no false Oath for all these are things that I hate saith the LORD Zech. 8. 17. Deut. 12. 31. and ch 16. 22. He hateth Wickedness even all and all manner of Iniquity And we should be like-minded after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and hate it also Ps 5. 5 7. Heb. 1. 9. Rom. 15. 7. 4. Thou hatest the Deeds of the Nicolaitans Though he speaks not here of their Doctrines yet afterwards he doth in verse 15. It was an hateful Doctrine and their Deeds were hateful also divers and strange Doctrines produce and bring forth evil and abominable works The Gospel of Christ only in which is contained wholesome words is a Doctrine according to Godliness 1 Tim. 6. 3. And those who from the heart obey it are made free from Sin Rom. 6. 17 18. 1 Thes 2. 13. with ch 1. 9 10. Now are 〈◊〉 clean saith our Saviour thorow the word that I have spoken to you Joh. 15. 3. Anâ— therefore we may be sure that they do not heartily believe the Gospel who walk in crooked paths his words doe good to them that wâ—lk upâ—â—ghtly Mica 2. 7. Ps 17. 4. Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord They also do no Iniquity they walk in his way Ps 119. 1 3 9 11. But now an evil 〈◊〉 brings forth â—vil fruiâ— wormewood and gall Deut. â—9 18 19. Heb. â—2 15. 16. 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. Jude 3 8. 2 Pet. 2. 1 3. Needful therefore it is â—or uâ— to reject their divers and strange doctrines Heb. 13. 8 9. to go from the presence of those foolish ones in whom we perceive not the lip of knowledg Prov. 14. 7. and ch 19. 27. not to hearken to the wâ—rds of such Prophets for if we doe they will make us vain for they speak a vision of their own hearts not out of the mouth of the Lord Jer. 23. 9 10 14 16. and ch 50. 6. Eph. 4. 13 15. Our Saviour signifies to us that the Doctrine of the Pharisees was Hypocrisy and thâ—nce and therefore also their workes were hypocritical Mat. 16. 6 12. with Luke 12. 1. and Mat. 23. Those Doctrines which say it is no mortal but a venial sin to commit fornication lead others to pollute themselves therewith Those Doctrines in which Men say it is lawful to worship or serve Images To adore the bread and wine when consecrated That say Christ died not for all Men and all he died for shall be saved with an everlasting Salvation that mens states were fixed in a personal consideration before they were born And that the one and least part of Men cannot possibly perish and the other and greatest part cannot possibly be saved That once in Christ and ever in Christ necessarily That there is no resurrection from the dead c. are hateful Doctrines and bring forth hateful works and deeds and many times men hold fast or return to evil Doctrines that they may go on securely in their evil ways As the Apostle Paul saith The time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their own lusts heap up to themselves teachers having itching ears And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to fables 2 Tim. 4. 2 3 4. 2 Pet. 3. 2 3 4. Isay 30. 10 11. Jer. 5. 21. Mic. 2. 11. Hos 4. 9. We come now to speak more particularly unto this verse Thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans c. What these Nicolaitans were or what were their hateful deeds is not so shewn unto us in scripture that I can their find it out There is not particular account given us therein either of their Doctrines or works But as is generally supposed and said Their Doctrine was such as in which they held that Women and wives were common and accordingly they did shamelesly give themselves over to walk in the lust of the flesh and to commit all uncleanness with greediness like to those amongst us who are called Ranters Now then here note In that they are called Nicolaitans it appears that even in the Apostles time there were hereticks and evil workers amongst the Churches not only did they prophesy that there should be such in succeeding ages as the Apostle Paul saith Of your selves shall Men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them Acts 20. 29 30. â—o Peter saith As there were false Prophets among the people so there will be false teachers among you c. 2 Pet. 2. 1. and ch 3. 3 4. 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. But also there were such in their times in those most pure times and yet the Apostles were more infallible judges than ever were since many false Prophets did then go forth into the world 1 Joh. 4. 1. 2 Joh. 7. there were then many Antichrists 1 Joh. 2. 18 22. There were some that said there was no resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 12. some said the resurrection was made or past already 1 Tim. 1. 20. and 2 Tim. 2. 14 19. some taught others to deny the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1. some told the believers that unless they were circumcised and kept the law of Moses they could not be saved Acts 15. 1. some taught and seduced Christs servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to Idols Rev. 2. 14 20. And so here is mention made of a pernicious sect even the Nicolaitans and this name is twice in this chapter given them by our Saviour which may be the common name by which they were called in those times And if there were so many sects and and heresies in their times I mean in the Apostles days yea and in our Saviours also how can we expect to be free therefrom in these last and worst times in which we live 2 Tim. 3. 1 5 12 13. and how ridiculous unreasonable is it to think that the Man of sin should now rid the Church of all such were he acknowledged the head of the Church and infallible Judge seeing also there are so many sects heresies and divisions amongst them that give such honour to him which appertains not to him at all It is far more reasonable to believe and it is certainly true that if men should give to him that blasphemous honour which he challengeth the Church would be so far from being without sectaries and hereticks that there would be none else therein 2 Thes 2. 1 4 10 12. 2. We may also note in that these are called Nicolaitans That evil teachers and workers do love to be called by and would own themselves as the followers of good men for it seems these were called Nicolaitans after Nicolas the proselyte who was a good Man for ought we read of him Acts 6. 5 7. so the Jews did stiffely plead
Ps 60. 4. and by which they have been prevailed with to give their names unto him and this banner is his love manifested in his precious sufferings and cross which he hath endured and overcome So the spouse saith His banner over me was love Cant. 2. 5. This covers their heads in the day of battle and this being known and believed by them makes them perfect in love to him to cleave unto him with full purpose and follow the lamb whithersoever he goeth Cant. 1. 2 4. and gives them boldness in every day of judgment and casteth out continually all fear out of them all fear that hath torment 1 Joh. 4. 16 19. and makes them valiant and victorious so as they are more then conquerours thorow him that loved them and gave himself for them Cant. 1. 2. and ch 8. 6 7 8. Rom. 8. 32 37 39. 3. They have somewhat to fight for not the World and the things thereof my Kingdom saith our Saviour is not of this World If my Kingdome were of this World then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered unto the Jews Joh. 18. 36. nor for indifferent things or lighter and circumstantial matters about the worship of God If any Man seem to be contentious about these things we have no such custom saith the apostle neither the Churches of God 1 Cor. 11. 2 16. and much less have they to fight and contend for mens traditions and ceremonies But that they have to contend earnestly for is the works of Christ as declared in his word and so his Gospel He that overcometh saith Christ and keepeth my works unto the end c. see Rev. 2. 26. The works he hath wrought and accomplished in his own personal body for us and the works which he is now doing from Heaven in the name of the Father and in the name of the fulness of the anointing of the holy spirit to us and in Heaven with the Father for us and the works hereafter as these are made known to us in the word of which he will work Faith These are to be kept and contended for by us and so the word of God and testimony of Jesus They are to contend earnestly for the faith of the common salvation which was once delivered to the saints Jude 3. And they should not give place by subjection no not for an hour that the truth of the Gospel may continue with them Gal. 2. 5. This is contained in that conversation which becometh the faith of the Gospel of Christ to stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the Gospel and in nothing terrified by their adversaries Phil. 1. 27 28. To this the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy saying fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life c. 1 Tim. 6. 12 13 14. 2 Tim. 2. 2 3. and to encourage him thereto he propounds to and sets before him his own example that he might imitate him I have saith he fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith c. 2 Tim. 4. 5 6 7. 4. They have many enemies and adversaries to war with and fight against powerful enemies And they are 1. Sin in them with the affections and lusts thereof which do war against them and this enemy is next unto them as neer to them as their flesh and therefore it is called the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof which are said to be their members that are upon the earth Gal. 5. 24 26. Col. 3. 5. and this sin and these members of theirs these lusts are both hindering and letting them continually from what is good and prompting enticing and leading them to what is evil whenever they would do good evil is present with them and they find a law in their members warring against the law of their mind and bringing them into captivity to the law of sin which is in their members Rom. 7. 21 23. And the fleshly lusts thereof do war against the soul the good peace and prosperity thereof 1 Pet. 2. 11. these lusts war in their members and lead them to the acting and perpetrating that which is evil and provoking to God and hurtful unto others Jam. 4. 1. the Flesh lusteth continually against the spirit and these are contrary one to the other Gal. 5. 17. This sin and its deceitful lusts are striving against them to cause them to let go Christ's works and his first love and so to leave their first love to him and leading them to rejoyce in their own works or it is moving them to turn from the Gospel and not to abide in the belief thereof or in the confession of it and contending for it or not to have their conversation as becometh it but to do and fulfil the lusts of the Flesh Gal. 5. 16 17. And this sin hath so overspread and defiled the whole man that it is become filthy stinking and abominable Out of the heart of Men proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries blasphemies an evil eye covetousness pride foolishness c. Mark 7. 21 23. Gen. 6. 5. Jer. 17. 9. This is a most dangerous enemy and this Christs Churches and servants have to resist and strive against even unto blood Heb. 12. 4. To deny Tit. 2. 12. abstain from 1 Pet. 2. 11. to crucify Gal. 5. 24 26. To mortify and put to death continually Rom. 8. 13. Col. 3. 5 8. and because they are so polluted themselves herewith naturally therefore that they may come after Christ they must deny and wholly renounce themselves Mat. 16. 23. not lean to their own understanding Prov. 3. 5. but cease from their own wisdom Prov. 23. 4 5. not trust to their own hearts Prov. 28. 26. nor follow their own spirit for the spirit that dwelleth in them naturally lusteth to envy and unto all that is evil Ezek. 13. 3. with Jam. 4. 1 2 4 5. 2. They have the World also to war with and fight against even the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life which are not of the Father but are of the World 1 Joh. 2. 15 17. and so the men of the World Both as they are enticing them by their flatteries and perswasions and by promising to them or propounding before them the riches honour glory pomps and pleasures of this World to cause them to walk in the way with them and to run with them to the same excess of Riot whereto they run Prov. 1. 10 15. Ps 1. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 3 4. They have ungodliness and Worldly lusts to deny in others aswell as in themselves while they are in this present World Tit. 2. 11 12. and they have also the World to resist as they are endeavouring by their threats persecutions and cruelties to move them from the Faith and hope of the Gospel or from the confession thereof in word and conversation that they may not thereby be corrupted from the Gospel or turned aside to
crooked pathes Ps 56. 1. and 57. 1 4. They have a fight of afflictions to undergo from the World from them who are set on fire even the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword Heb. 10. 32 34. with Ps 57. 4. If their fair means and flatteries will not prevail with Christs disciples to leave his way and have fellowship with them in their unfruitful works of darkness they will then bend their bow and make ready their arrow upon the string that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart Ps 11. 1 2 4. Indeed the men of the World are to be loved and pittyed and the good of their souls to be sought and endeavoured But in their evil ways and designs they are to be opposed hated and resisted by us and that is the way to be instruments of good to their souls whereas should they comply with them and consent to them they would more strengthen them in their evil wayes that none would return there from 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. and ch 3. 1. Jer. 2. 33. and ch 23. 13 14. They that forsake the law praise the wicked but such as keep the law contend with them and so dispraise discommend and shew their dislike of them Prov. 28. 4. And they have also in contending for the faith of the Gospel to contend with such as have a form of Godlinâ— upon them but deny the power thereof 2 Tim. 3. 5. Even false prophets and deceitful workers such as say they are Apostles and are not but do lye and those that are deceived and beguiled by them for such consent not to wholesome words but make it their work to oppose them and to cause others to turn away their ears from the truth and to turn them to their fables so the Apostle John speaking of false prophets and acquainting the believers that many such were gone forth into the World he signifieth that the believers did and did do well to oppose and fight against them and that they had overcome them also ye are of God little Children saith he and have overcome the false prophets They are of the World therefore speak they of the World c. 1 Joh. 4. 4 5. Jude 3. 4. 3. They have Satan also the God of this World to contend with and fight against and therefore they need to watch to stand fast in the faith to quit themselves like Men and be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13. Be sober be vigilant saith the Apostle Peter Because your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in faith 1 Pet. 5. 8 9 Jam. 4. 7. we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the rulers of the Darkness of this World against spiritual wickedness or wicked spirits in high places Eph. 6. 12. The work of Satan and his Angels is to tempt and turn aside from the right ways of the Lord those that are walking therein or to stir up his instruments to raise persecution against the Disciples of Christ and by all means this tempter is tempting the believers that he might move them from the faith of Christ 1 Thes 3. 1 5 6. and whether he speaks fair or foul whether he be transformed into an Angel of light or appear like himself yet still he is a murderer Joh. 8. 44. his end in all is destruction and his name signifies what he is and what he aims at and intends For his name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon but in the greek tongue he hath his name Apollyon that is to say A destroyer Rev. 9. 11. he cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy Joh. 10. 10. To pervert the right ways of the Lord and to turn men from the Faith Acts 13. 8 10. and especially he is filled with rage against and seeks the ruine and destruction of such as are delivered out of his Kingdom of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son 1 Pet. 5. 8. this is a powerful and politick enemy they have therefore to resist sted fastly in the faith lest they be circumvented and destroyed by him 5. They have weapons to fight withal for the Faith against their spiritual enemies both defensive and offensive armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left is prepared for them and to be put on by them that being therewith armed they might not turn back in the day of battle Ps 78. 9. and the weapons of their warfare are not carnal not material and outward swords and bows or such-like weapons for alas these are weak and their enemies will deride at them but their weapons are spiritual and so mighty thorow God 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. not by might nor by power but by the spirit of the Lord of hostes they may do valiantly thorow him they may push down their enemies thorow his name they may tread them under that rise up against them Zech. 4. 6 7. the good fight is the fight of faith that is that which is to be fought for as is before said and that is that which is to be fought with whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the World even our faith 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1. 16. 6. They have a crown proposed to and set before them to engage and encourage them to play the men to oppose and fight against their enemies even unto blood Men that here fight they do it for a fading reward they do it to obtain a corruptible crown but we an incorruptible I therefore so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beats the ayre But I have fought the good fight saith the Apostle Paul I have kept the Faith But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection c. 1 Cor. 9. 26 27. henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous judge will give me at that day And not to me only but to all them also that love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. In being faithful to the death he will give us a crown of life Rev. 2. 10. and this leads us to the next thing viz. 2. The subject of the Blessedness hereafter spoken of is He that overcometh he saith not To the Angels or Churches will I give to eat of the tree of life and yet it is before said what the spirit saith unto the Churches But when he comes to describe the subject of the blessedness he saith not to them or to the Churches but changeth the Phrase and saith To him that overcometh and so he saith unto all the seven Churches Rev. 2. v. 11 17 26 29. and ch 3. 5 6 12. and v. 21 22. Men may be members of any of the Churches and yet
when the High-priest asked him whether he were the Christ the Son of God he readily answered I am and then spake more than he was asked Mat. 26. 55 62. see also Mat. 27. 13 14. with Joh. 18. 36 37. and encouraged his disciples to confess him before men and warned them of the contrary Luke 12. 9 10 11 12. 2. A Man may also actually and interpretatively deny Christ and his faith they may in words profess to know and own him and yet in works deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate Tit. 1. 20. so they who have a form of Godliness may deny the power of it either the Gospel as it is leâ—t on record in the Apostle's words deny the truth of it and pervert it by their glosses and evil interpretations or the powerful efficacy of it upon them 2 Tim. 3. 5. so a Man doth actually deny Christ and God in him when he hath some other object of worship or some other Lord or some other faith besides the faith of Christ or some other foundation of faith and hope or bread of life besides Christ as declared in the Gospel so Joshua signifies that Israel in serving strange Gods would deny their God Josh 24. 19 20 27. and Job saith If I have made gold my hope or have said to the fine gold my confidence If I rejoyâ—ed because my wealth was great and because mine hand had gotten much If I beheld the sun when it shined or the moon walking in brightness and mine heart hath been secretly enticed or my hand hath kissed my mouth I should have denied the God that is above Job 31. 24 28. or a man may be said to deny Christ and his faith when though he denies not that there is a Christ yet he denieth that Jesus is the Christ as those that say the light in every Man is Christ such an one denieth both the Father and the Son 1 Joh. 2. 22. or when Men adore the consecrated bread and wine as the very body and blood of Christ and so men have not Christ who abide not in his Doctrine 2 Joh. 9. such as bring in heresies of destruction do deny the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1. yea and he that provideth not for his own and especially for those of his own household â—ath in that particular denied the faith and is worse then an infidel 1 Tim. 5. 8. But of this Angel and Church it is said thou hast not denied my faith though they dwelt in such a place 4. We have an account given us of the evil times they held fast Christ's name in and did not deny his faith In those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth that is they held fast Christ's name and the acknowledgment of him when one amongst them was slain for so doing This was a time of trial to them because they might expect also to be so dealt withal and yet in such a time they did confess publickly and did not deny the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory When Antipas was slain though not set down in scripture yet it 's generally conceived concluded to be after the destruction of Jerusalem and it is of great consequence concernment to consider the time of his being slain which was as is reported by some authors in the reign of the Emperour Domitian who was created Emperour in the year of our Lord 83. whereas Jerusalem was destroyed in the second year of the reign of Vespasian in the year of our Lord 73. about fourty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ so that he was slain at least ten years after the destruction of Jerusalem and so it is concluded generally that in the time of the reign of Domitian he was slain and after he was slain These visions were given unto and received by the Apostle John as here it is said Antipas was slain c. But against this a learned Man objects and saith That though it be true that Antipas was slain in the reign of Domitian and so after the destruction of Jerusalem yet these visions were received before and that though Antipas is said to have been killed yet it is but a prophecy of his death before hand as it is usual to speak of things to come in the time past in prophecies as of Cyrus c. To which I say 1. By way of grant That it is indeed an usual thing in Scripture to speak prophetically of things to come as if they were already past But yet 2. By way of exception I shall say these things which I desire may be minded and considered 1. More generally Though in prophecies many times future things are spoken of as past yet also usually at the same instant they are signified in other expressions to be future and not actually accomplished So whereas of Christ it is said in one part of verse To us a Son is born to us a Son is given to signify God's fore-ordination of him yet to shew this was not then actually accomplished it is added The government shall be upon his shoulders Isay 9. 6. with ch 7. 14. So the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth a Woman shall compass a Man Jer. 31. 22. see also Isay 53. 2 10. so particularly of Cyrus though it be said in one place whose right hand I have holden c. yet to signiâ—y this was a prophecy and not actually done It is added I will loose the loins of Kings to open before him the two-leaved gates c. I will go before thee c. see Isay 45. 1 2 3 5. But now in this place we are speaking of all is spoken of as present or past and not one word as future thou holdest fast my name and hast not denied my faith even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr who was slain among you c. In which our Lord commends this Angel and Church both for their present constancy thou holdest fast and for their past faithfulness and hast not denied c. 2. In all the other Epistles generally the same author understands what is spoken of in the time past to be not prophetical of future things but a signification that they were truly and actually accomplished and why unless upon design must this one text only be purely prophetical seeing also it is no unusual thing to speak in the future time in these Epistles of things to come as ch 2. 10. and ch 3. 10. 3. The contents of these seven Epistles are called things that are as distinguished from the things which shall be hereafter which begin ch 4. 1. see the notes on ch 1. v. 19. and so these Epistles are not in such a Prophettick style as the following part of this Book is 4. Nay Eusebius froâ— Irenaeus saith that the Apostle John was banished into the Isle of Patmos in the reign of
countenance to such as bring them they are hateful to Christ and infectious and hurtful to us their word will eat as doth a gangrene 2 Tim 16. 18. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. Let us then discountenance them and with-draw our selves from all erroneous teachers Eph. 4. 8 16. Heb. 13. 9. The Colossians were as sweetly ordered people And the Apostle was joying in their order and the stedfastness of their faith in Christ and yet there were a few things amiss with them and the Apostle thus reproves them Why as though living in the World are ye subject to ordinances after the commandments and Doctrines of Men Col. 2. 5 6. with v. 20 23. 2. Balaam spoke highly of Christ in his prophecy concerning him both true and excellent things also in that time and which he spake by the knowledg of the most high vouchsafed to him As that he as a star should come out of Jacob a title given unto him in this book Numb 24. 15 17. with Rev. 2. 28. and ch 22. 16. And that a scepter should rise out of Israel that out of Jacob he should come that should have dominion and should destroy his enemies Numb 24. 16 19. with Heb. 1. 8 9. And he did also bless and speak well of the people of God of Israel and of their happiness and good estate Numb 23. 7 10 19 24. and ch 24. 2 9. c. And yet he taught false doctrine in other things and was in a great errour and so were these also certainly of whom our Saviour here speaks and it seems in both respects they were like unto and likened unto him and said to hold his doctrine and this Angel and Church is reproved for having or suffering such amongst them It appears on this account their doctrine was called Balaam's Because as he so they also in some things spake highly of Christ and his people though in other things they erred otherwise it might have been simply said evil doctrine or the doctrine of Jezabell c. and so we may learn That it is a reproveable thing in Christ's Angels and Churches to suffer or have such false teachers amongst them who yet at some times speak highly and honourably of Jesus Christ and such as heartily believe in and cleave to him with purpose of heart surely such in some respects were those that came amongst the Galatians and other Churches formerly they were not open rejecters of Christ but they were such as did believe and yet also they taught the Brethren that except they were circumcised after the manner of Moses and kept the law they could not be saved Acts 15. 1 5. with Gal. 1. 6 9. and ch 4. 9 11. and ch 5. 1 4 12. Col. 2. 9 22. 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. The Apostle saith to the elders of your own selves shall men Men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them Acts 20 28 30. Take we heed of the errors of such as these say not they speak highly and honourably of Christ and of the priviledges of Saints and therefore we may safely have them amongst us and did not Balaam do thus and yet he also erred greatly and so did these that held his doctrine and yet this Angel and Church are reproved for having such evil and erronious teachers amongst them 3. Yea this was one thing that Christ had against this Angel and Church that they had there in that place where Satan's throne was such evil teachers as if he should say though thou in that dangerous place holdest fast my name yet thou hast there such as hold the doctrine of Balaam thou sufferest or too much approvest or countenancest such as are evil and hold errours and so we may learn that if we should be amongst open and professed Idolaters and live in the worst of times yet it will be an evil in us if we should have and suffer seducing spirits amongst us They might think and say we live amongst gross Idolaters and though these who hold the doctrine of Balaam be erronious yet they speak many things well of Christ and his people and therefore we may shew them some respects and give them some countenance we should be uncharitable else and what will those heathenish idolaters say if we wholly reject them will they not say we cannot agree amongst our selves But Christ's thoughts and ours are not the same be times places persons wherein and amongst whom we live never so bad perillous and idolatrous yet he will be angry with us if we countenance or strengthen any in their evils of practice or principle he would have his people zealous and fervent for him and his Gospel and valiant for his truth Jer. 9. 3. when God's people were in captivity amongst heathen and open idolaters yet then he chargeth his Prophet to prophecy against the Prophets of Israel that prophesyed out of their own hearts and to say unto them wo unto the foolish Prophet that follow their own spirit and have seen nothing O Israel thy Prophets are like the foxes in the deserts c. see Ezek. 13. tot with ch 1. 1 2. and in the same captivity also when certain came unto Zerubbabel and Joshua and the chief of the Fathers of Israel and said unto them Let us build with you for we seek your God as ye do and we do sacrifice unto him c. Then Zerubbabel and Joshua and the rest of the chief of the Fathers of Israel said unto them ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God but we our selves together or alone will build unto the Lord God of Israel c. Ezra 4. 1 2 3. Oh! let us then turn away from and reject erronious teachers whatever their professions or pretences otherwise may be for else they may do much hurt to us Rev. 2. 20. cause us to comply a little with them at the first and afterwards more and more and we shall by such compliance do hurt unto them even harden and strengthen them in their evil ways that none of them will return there from Jer. 23. 15. 2. We have the doctrine of Balaam explicated and opened to us who taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the Children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication Where before we come to take notice particularly of the doctrine he taught and evil and wicked counsel he gave we may consider 1. That which was the root of his errour and evil counsel and that was an evil covetousness his heart went after it's covetousness and that was that which did mis-lead him his love of glory honour riches and promotion led him out of the right way in which it seems sometimes he was as the Apostle Peter may signify when he saith of some they have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam of Boser who loved the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2. 15 16. Jude 11. So also these evil
Charity is not easily provoked to wit to anger or exasperated though it may be angry yet it is slow thereto It is not easily or readily provoked either upon a small or frivolous account or to exceed the bounds of sobriety Jam. 1. 18 20. he that is soon angry dealeth foolishly Prov. 14. 17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easy to be intreated Jam. 3. 17. Thinketh no evil surmizeth no evil when it is provoked Isay 42. 17 20. Rejoyceth not in iniquity not in speaking or doing any Prov. 8. 7 8 or not in the iniquity of others But it leadeth Men to be grieved for the evils of others because they keep not the word of God Ps 119. 136 158. Jer. 9. 2. and ch 4. 18 19. But rejoyceth in or with the truth It leadeth Men to rejoyce in Christ Jesus who is the truth Phil. 3. 1 3. with Joh. 14. 6. and in the word of truth the Gospel of our Salvation Eph. 1. 13. and that others walk therein As the Apostle John saith I rejoyced greatly when the Brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee even as thou walkest in the truth I have no greater joy than to hear that my Children walk in truth 2 Joh. 3. 4. Charity beareth all things all burdens put upon it in seeking anothers good beareth the burdens of others and therein fulfill's the law of Christ Gal. 6. 2. It leads the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please themselves Rom. 15. 1 3. and it leads to cover all the sins of Men so as may tend to the seeking their good Charity will cover the multitude of sins Prov. 10. 12. with 1 Pet. 4. 8. It bears all things so as it still rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in or with the truth Rev. 2. 2. Believeth all things which God hath spoken or testified Acts 24. 14. and all things concerning the good of another so as not rejoycing in iniquity It leads Men to take all in the best sence they can and to put the best construction on every thing Hopeth all things And so in meekness instructing them that oppose themselves if God at any â—iâ—e will give them repentance unto the acknowledging of the truth 2 Tim. 2. 25 26. Heb. 6. 4 9. Indureth all things all afflictions and sufferings it meets with in seeking the good of others many waters cannot quench love neither can the flouds drown it Cant. 8. 6 7 8. Charity never faâ—leth Towards the proper objects thereof so doth not God's charity when he cannot delight in us or be wel-pleased with us yet he is very pittiful and of tender mercies towards us And it is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed even because his compassions fail not when his delight in us doth For the Lord will not cast off for ever while Men are joyned to all the living But though he cause grief he will have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Lam. 3. 22 31 32 33 39. And it leads us also when Brotherly-kindness fails to put on and have in usefulness charity which is the bond of perfectness Col. 3. 10 12 13. and by what hath been said of charity we may be led to see our great shortness in it and and want of it and to take shame unto our selves and be provoked to follow after charity 1 Cor. 14. 1. And to that end consider we the charity of God and that he is charity and hath manifested himself so to be in sending his Son the Saviour of the World every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God for God is charity 1 Joh. 4. 7 8 10 14 16 17. And walking in charity is the most excellent way whereby we may be instruments of profit and good to others for though we speak with the tongues of Men and Angels and have not charity we are sounding brass and a tinkling cymball and though we bestow all our goods to feed the poor and though we give our Bodys to be burned both which we may do and have no charity it profiteth us nothing 1 Cor. 12. 31 with ch 13. 1 2 3. And service or administration which is the fruit and effect of charity and the labour of love 1 Cor. 13. 4. Luke 6. 35 36. and this may betaken more largely for any service of love expressed or exercised towards others Joh. 13. 1 3. c. Mat. 20. 26 28. Gal. 5. 13. or more strictly for administring to the necessities of others Rom. 15. 31. In which sense it is to be taken in those words of the Apostle For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the Saints but is abundant also by many thankes-givings unto God 2 Cor. 9. 1 12. This service contains in it any service of love or charity towards men or Brethren for unto all men we should do good as we have opportunity but especially unto them that are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. 1 Thes 3. 12 13. 1 Cor. 9. 23 24. And faith either the word of Faith which they had received and did hold fast though there were corrupt teachers amongst them as it is said by way of commendation concerning Pergamos v. 13. of which faith Christ is the Lord the author and finisher Jam. 2. 1. Heb. 12. 2. yet it is their Faith also not in the former considerations but as they have embraced and owned it and did still retain it 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. their most holy Faith which they received in believing and did hold fast and hold forth before others also Hab. 2. 4. Jude 20. 21. what the faith in this consideration is may be seen before in the notes on v. 13. of this chapter Or Thy Faith even their hearty closing with and believing the word of Faith the Gospel and so believing on Christ who is therein preached and evidently set forth before our eyes Their believing with the heart the things reported therein and walking thereby Rom. 1. 16 17. 2 Cor. 5. 7. Heb. 10. 38. Or Thy Faith thy fidelity and faithfulness their being and continuing constant to Christ notwithstanding the many trials and temptations they met withal to turn them aside therefrom 2 Thes 3. 3 4. Rom. 3. 3. And thy patience see notes on ch 1. v. 9. and ch 2. v. 2 3. And thy works and or even the last more then the first or And thy last works more then the first even their works of Faith and labour of love these works of theirs did not decrease or decay but there was an increase in their works They did still abound in the work of the Lord and in those good works to which they were created in Christ Jesus which God had ordained that they should walk in them 1 Cor. 15. 58. Eph. 2. 10. 1 Tim. 5. 10. They did grow and become fruitful in good works so as their last were more then the first
and for ever if they continue therein namely such as trecherously depart from the Lord as a wife from her husband after they have been espoused to him yea in some respect their evil may be greater then Jezabel's and thus will he deal with all who continue guilty of this evil he will render indignation and wrath tribulation anguish unto every Soul of Man that doeth evil whatever he hath done formerly unto the Jew first and also to the Gentile for there is no respect of persons with God Rom 2. 8 11. Oh then Let us have no fellowship with such unfruitful works or workers of darkness for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness And what communion hath light with darkness and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols Eph. 5. 11. 2 Cor. 6. 14 16. Prov. 13. 20. If any Man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. 3. But we may also take notice of this that Christ threatneth them not absolutely but conditionally except they repent of their deeds where also 1. He signifieth to us that while it is called to day the greatest and most notorious sinners may repent and turn to the Lord and find mercy with him There is forgiveness with him that he may be feared plenteousness of redemption that he may be hoped in by such Ps 130. he gives space and grace of repentance unto rebellious ones such was Jezabel and her companions see the notes on v. 20. and v. 21. 2 Pet. 3. 9 25. Ezek. 14. 6. This may therefore preserve us from concluding what will be the future state of such as are at present guilty of and polluted with spiritual fornication or adultery Mat. 21. 29. 2. The end of Christ and God in him in threatning judgments is that such polluted ones might repent and turn unto him from all their fins and abominations Jer. 18. 8 11. Rev. 9. 20 21. and ch 16. 9 10 11. 3. If such will not repent and turn iniquity will at last be their ruine Luke 13. 3 5. see the notes before on the word Repent on v. 5. and v. 16. of this chapter Verse 23. And I will kill her Children with death and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts and I will give unto every one of you accoring to your works In this verse we have to consider and take notice of these things 1. A further threat expressed and I will kill her Children with death 2. The effect hereof even of his threats and judgments on that woman Jezabel her Paramours and Children And all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts 3. A signification and declaration of Christ's impartiality in his retributions and rewards and I will give unto every one of you according to your works 1. We have a further threat expressed and therein still a further intimation of Christ's displeasure against Jezabel And I will kill her Children with death The Subjects of our Lord's threat are Her Children Not the Children brought forth by natural generation or not them in that consideration or on that account for though they are not therefore the Children of God in a peculiar consideration they which are the Children of the flesh these are not the Children of God Joh. 1. 13. Rom. 9. 8. yet Children are the beritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward the reward of his abasement and sufferings Ps 127. 3. they are graciously given by him Gen. 33. 5. and they are born unto him Ezek. 16. 20. with v. 36. and being baptized into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and so brought into the congregation of Christ of such little ones is the Kingdom of God Mat. 19. 13 14. Mark 10. 13 14. and unto the Children in this sence he is vouchsafing means and discovering his goodness when they come to the use of understanding Ps 14. 2. and 36 7. and 107. 8 15 21 31. and he doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the Children of Men Lam. 3. 32 33. Nor are the Children here spoken of the Children of the Church namely such as they have been instruments of begetting thorow the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation for the seed of his Church is blessed he will pour his spirit upon her seed and his blessing upon her off-spring Isay 45. 3. for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their off-spring with them Isay 65. 23. and in due season all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed Isay 61. 9. and ch 54. 13. Prov. 11. 21. But here by Children we are to understand the Children of whoredomes of their spiritual whoredoms and fornications such as are begotten by evil doctrines see v. 23. worshippers and practises Children that are corrupters who have forsaken the Lord and provoked the holy one of Israel to anger who are gone away backwards a Isay 1. 1 4. the seed of evil doers the Children of the sorceress the seed of the adulterer and the whore the Children of transgression and seed of falshood Isay 14. 20. and ch 57. 3 5. with 2 Joh. 9. such Children whose Mothers have played the harlots and they that conceived them have done shamefully strange Children such as are begotten of divers and strange doctrines Hos 2. 2 5. with ch 5. 7. with Heb. 13. 7 9. such as are either born of the doctrines of Devils in a more gross consideration of most hellish doctrines and so are Children of the Devil Children of hell 1 Tim. 4. 1. with Acts 13. 10. Mâ—t. 23. 15. or of the doctrines of Men Col. 1. 11. which in some sort may also be said to be the doctrines of Satan and they who are born of them to be of the evil one as our Saviour said unto Peter get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest the things that be of men implying that the savouring Men's things in opposition to the doctrine of Christ about his sufferings and resurrection makes Men to be of Satan Mat. 16. 21 23. and in such a sense they who are born of Men's doctrines in which they oppose the weighty matters of God's law they are of Satan and are originally of their Father the Devil Joh. 8. 41 44. so those who are born of the doctrine of the Pharisees in and by which they shut up the kingdom of Heaven against Men are the Children of the devil as they also are who are born of this doctrine that Christ died not for all nor tasted death by the grace of God for every Man but only for the elect c. such are therein of Satan these new Pharisees are like to the old ones Mat. 23. 13 15. and they are the Children of the evil one who are born of the doctrine of the Saducees who say there is no resurrection of the dead and so by
this word of Christ was and is to be held fast And that is here expressed to us till I come to wit until Christ comes either till he comes to them particularly to remove them out of the Land of the living Luke 12. 40. And so they should be faithful herein unto death as was the Apostle Paul 2 Tim. 4. 6 7 8. Heb. 11. 13. Rev. 3. 11. See the notes before on Verse 10. of this Chapter Or Vntil he come to wit to take to him his great power and reign according to that I give thee charge that thou keep the Commandment without spot unrebukeable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6. 13 15. But how should they do so By constantly keeping it themselves until death and committing the same to others also that it may be preserved amongst them Ps 78. 3 4 6 7. 2 Tim. 2. 2 3. 2 Pet. 1. 12 15. Now in that he thus speaketh and saith unto them I will put upon you none other burden but that which ye have already hold fast till I come We may learn from hence 1. That in saying I will put none other burden upon you so he signifieth to us That he doth put a burden upon them that are his Faithful Disciples and Followers he doth put some weight or burden upon them that is to be born by them that which is grievous to the flesh and in and by which that is kept down that it cannot run whither it would or do what it pleaseth and best likes Mat. 11. 28 29. 2. In that he saith none other burden so he gives us to understand that he did not put that as a burden upon them that they should enquire into the seducers depths of Satan as they speak for that might be hurtful to them In former times God charged his people to take heed unto themselves that they were not snared by following after Idolaters And that they should not enquire after their Gods saying How did these Nations serve their God c. Deut. 12. 30 32. And we are commanded to go from the presence of a foolish man when once we perceive not in him the lip of knowledge Prov. 14. 7. and ch 19. 27 Many do much mistake and abuse that saying of the Apostle Try all things as if hereby liberty were given to them to hear all false teachers whatever whereby many become a prey unto Foxes and embrace and follow pernicious ways whereas the Apostle gives that exhortation not unto all but only to such as had received the Apostles word not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which also wrought effectually in them 1 Thes 1. 3 6. and ch 2. 13. And again that exhortation of the Apostles gives none such undue liberty as too many take but it is to be considered by us as relating unto what goes before viz. despise not prophesying to wit such speakings of the word of Christ as are to edification and exhortation and comfort 1 Corinth 14. 1 3. And then adds try or prove all things c. Namely in those prophesyings we should not despise we are not to take all on trust which they say but to search the Scriptures whether the things delivered therein be so or no and hold fast what is good 1 Thes 5. 19 21. with Acts 17. 11 12. But this gives us no liberty to search into the depths of Satan or to be heaping to our selves teachers after our own lusts 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. It is a commendation of those upright ones in Thyatira both Teachers and those that were taught in this Verse 24. They have not known the depths of Satan as they speak And our Lord lays no such burden upon them as to seek after the knowledge thereof this is the Character Christ gives of his Sheep A Stranger will they not follow but will flee from him for they know not the Voice of Strangers all that ever came before me are Thieves and Robbers but the Sheep did not hear them Joh. 10. 4 5 8 27. Christ lays upon his sincere followers no other burden but to hold fast what they have He would not have them receive or listen unto any new Doctrine for the word of his grace is able to build them up and to give them an Inheritance among them that are sanctified Acts 20. 32. And the Apostle saith the anointing you have received of him to wit the things they had heard from the beginning abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things c. 1 Joh. 2. 20 24 27. And the Apostle Paul saith though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again If any Man preach any other Gospel to you then that ye have received let him be accursed Gal. 1. 6 8 9 10. 3. In that he saith I will put upon you none other burden but that which ye have already hold fast c. to wit the word and doctrine of Christ as hath been said So he gives us to understand that his Yoke is easie and his Burden is light Mat. 11. 29 30. It is not like that of which the Apostle saith neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear Acts 15. 10. Nor like to the Lawyers burdens or the Scribes and Pharisees who loaded men with burdens grievous to be born and themselves did not touch the burdens with one of their fingers Luke 11. 46. with Mat. 23. 4. Nor like the burden of Sin and Satan which however they seem sweet and easie to the Flesh yet they wound and break the heart and Spirit and expose men to the wrath of God both present and eternal Rom. 6. 21 23. and ch 5. 21. 2 Tim. 2. 26. Heb. 2. 15. But his burden is a sweet and easie one indeed to the heart and soul Mat. 11. 29. His Commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. His ways are ways of pleasantness and all his paths are peace Prov. 3. 16 17. his doctrine is a good doctrine his words are gratious Prov. 4. 2. Luke 4. 18 22. with Psal 45. 2. And his mouth hath spoken truth and wickedness is an abomination to his lips Prov. 8. 6 8. And his word is a powerful word Psal 29. 4. Luke 4. 32. The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1. 16. Thereby God is working in them both to will and to do of his good pleasure what he requires of them that they may do all things without murmurings and disputings Phil. 2. 12 15. And his words are the words of eternal life he that keepeth them shall never taste death but have eternal life Joh. 5. 24 25. and ch 6. 68. and ch 8. 51. 4. In that he saith hold that fast which ye have
shall be preferred before and be more eminent than others even in that Temple also for as one star differs from another in Glory so also will it be in the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 41 42. He shall be preferred before little ones of whom yet is the Kingdom of Heaven and before such as have not had any considerable trials or opposition and so no such occasion to fight for our light affliction which is but for a moment works for us a farmore exceeding and eternal weight of Glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen c. 2 Cor. 4. 17 18. he that overcometh shall be exalted above others as the pillar is above the earth generally and as now their sufferings for Christ do abound so then also their consolations by Christ shall answerably abound 2 Cor. 1. 4 5 7. Rev. 22. 12. 2. A pillar By which the King will stand and with whom he will be present for ever as it is said in our types Behold the King stood by the the pillar in the Temple as the manner was 2 King 11. 4 14. 2 Chron. 23. 13. and Josiah stood by a pillar in the house of the Lord 2 King 23. 2 3. So the Tabernacle of God shall be with them that overcome and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them their God Rev. 21. 2 3 7. Joh. 17. 24. 3. More directly a pillar is a strong one though now he be never so weak and have never so little strength v. 8. he shall be a pillar a stable one established so as nothing shall prevail against him As the Lord saith to Jeremy Behold I have made thee this day a defenced city and an iron pillar c. and they shall not prevail against thee for I am with thee Jer. 1. 18 19. indeed now in this day he that abides in Christ sins not he keeps himself and the wicked one touches him not 1 Joh. 3. 6. with ch 5. 18. The gates of hell neither the power nor policy thereof shall not prevail against such an one Mat. 16. 18. Joh. 10. 27 29. But it is possible Men may not abide in Christ and then Satan and his instruments may get their advantage against them as hath been shewn before But hereafter they that overcome shall be like pillars gloriously they shall be so established that they shall not possibly depart or be removed from Christ or his Temple they shall be like the pillars in our types which were set in the porch of the Temple whereof the name of the one was called Jachin that is he shall establish and the name of the other Boaz that is in it is strength 1 King 7. 21. Then they that overcome and keep Christ's works to the end shall be stable for ever God will establish and in them shall be his strength Ps 87. 5. So as they shall go no more out no not for ever as here it presently followeth 4. A pillar on which Christ will write as also followeth presently after so in former times they did write some choice and excellent things of God's law upon their postes or pillars as it is said Thou shalt write these words upon the Posts of thine house and on thy gates Deut. 6. 4 9. and the Church is now called the Pillar of truth upon which the truth is so written that it may be seen and read of all Men they being manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by the Apostles written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in the fleshly Tables of the heart 1 Tim. 3. 15. with 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. so they shall be pillars hereafter gloriously as it is promised and covenanted by the Lord saying I will put my laws into their minds and write them in or upon their hearts Heb. 8. 10 11. with Jer. 31. 33 34. And saith Christ I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my God my God he calls him by way of Eminency and Excellency to distinguish him from and infinitely prefer him before all others who are called Gods The God of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Father of Glory 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. Eph. 1. 17. And his God because he is immediately originally and eternally and most compleatly and gloriously his and ours thorow and upon the account of him as Christ saith I ascend to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God Joh. 20. 17. Now Christ will make such an one as overcomes A Pillar in the Teâ—ple of his God even in the Church of Christ in its glorious estate The Church is now called the Temple being built upon and abiding in Christ as it is said ye are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an Holy Temple in the Lord Eph. 2. 20 21. 1 Cor. 3. 16. for ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them c. 2 Cor. 6. 16 17. And this Church will be the Temple of Christs God hereafter when he shall present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. 25 27. Which glorious Church or Temple is called by the Prophet Gods Holy Hill or The Hill of the Lord Ps 15. 1. and 24. 1 3. with Allusion to the Temple of God which was built on Mount Moriah 2 Chron. 3. 1. In this glorious Temple he shall hereafter be a Pillar not of or in this World for Christs Kingdom is not of this World Joh. 18. 36. But when the Mountain of the Lords House shall be established or prepared in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills and all Nations shall flow to it Isay 3. 2 3. Mica 4. 1 3. This is therefore a powerful motive and argument to engage us to fight the good fight of Faith and to resist unto Blood striving against Sin for in so doing we shall hereafter inherit Glory when shame shall be the promotion of Fools and Cowards Prov. 3. 35. with Rev. 21. 7 8. 2. And he shall go no more out namely out of this glorious Temple before spoken of no not for ever upon any Account whatever And so 1. They now go forth into the field of the World to call and bring Men into wisdoms house out of it as it is said she hath sent forth her maidens Prov. 9. 1 5. and the Master of the house said to his Servant go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and again he said Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled Luke 14. 21 23. Joh.
32 33. Heb. 11. 17 19. The Apostle Paul to recover the Galatians from their wandrings sets before them that Christ is the Amen to him the promises are made and in him confirmed and with him assured to those that receive him So as in being Christ's they are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise Gal. 3. 16 17 29. and 4. 28. and 5. 1. And so here Christ declareth himself to be the Amen to cure these of that Lukewarmness they were polluted with and assures them that in opening and giving entertainment to him he would come in to them and sup with them and they with him and that he that overcometh should sit with him on his throne Rev. 3. 14 20 21. Oh were this considered by us that God hath not spared his own Son but delivered him up for us all how would this make us confident that with him he will freely give us all things also how would this cause us to mount up with wings as Eagles to run and not to be a weary to walk and not saint and to encourage and engage us to listen to his counsel whom God hath given for a covenant to the people For the Lord God is a sun and shield he will give grace and glory no good thing will â—e with-hold from them that walk uprightly Rom. 8. 32. Ps 84. 10 12. The faithful and true witness This may be an explication of the Amen and shew us what is further meant by and contained in that expression These two words faithful and true may mean one and the same thing or we may say he is the faithful witness in that work whereto the Father appointed him hence the Apostle instructs the holy Brethren to consider the Apostle and High-priest of their profession who was faithful to him that appointed him namely in that hard and difficult work of humbling himself and becoming obedient to death the death of the cross Heb. 2. 9 18 and 3. 1 2. he is in his cross a faithful witness of the greatness and sincerity of the Fathers affection to us Isay 55. 3 4. who is meant by the faithful witness here spoken of may be plainly seen and wherein he is so firstly and fundamentally Rev. 1. 5. Jesus Christ the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead And so 1. As he died for our sins by way of propitiation and as the peace-maker So he is a faithful witness of the Fathers love and that he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance he is the great sign and undoubted evidence of the heat and ardency of God's love towards us poor sinners even toward every poor sinful creature of Mankind in that by the grace of God he tasted death for every Man In this was manifested the love of God towards us because God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live thorow him The Father sent the Son the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4. 8 10 14. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son c. Joh. 3. 16. This is the great sign of God's love to us and it is an evil and adulterous thing to seek after any other Mat. 12. 39. 1. Cor. 1. 22 24. and he is the faithful witness therein of the truth and faithfulness of the Father in performing his promises according to the tenour of them for he that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things also Isay 55. 3 4. Rom. 8. 32. Yea in what he hath sufâ—ered he is the faithful witness also of the freeness and ardency of his own love towards us his love was so fervent as that many waters could not quench it nor could the Floods drown it such was his grace that he laid down his life for us he died for all 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. and such the preciousness of his blood that in the vertue thereof he is raised again hath purged away our sins made peace slain the enmity broken down the middle-wall of partition between God and mankind taken out of the way all that was in it contrary to us abolished death and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil and obtained into himself all Spiritual blessings in Heavenly things and confirmed a new Testament and Everlasting Covenant Oh what a faithful witness is he of the greatness and fervency of his own and his Fathers love And how powerful therefore is the view of him in his Cross to cure us of our Lukewarmness Do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is he not thy Father that hath bought thee Oh how doth this love constrain us to love him and to cleave to him with full purpose Yea and to return to him when we have fallen by our iniquities for therein he shews us that he hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth and so not in the death and destruction of poor wretched miserable blind naked lukewarm ones Oh! fear not to come unto and walk before him and be perfect Let not your hands be slack By this ye are saved if ye keep in memory what was at first declared to you unless ye believe in vain viz. that Christ died for our Sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 1 4. O foolish Galatians saith the Apostle who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth that ye should not continue in running well but grow remiâ—s before whose Eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified c. Gal. 3. 1. with ch 5. 7. 2. The faithful Witness and Martyr as a Peace-preacher who laid down his Life in testimony to the truth of that Gospel which he received from his Father and declared to us for to this end was he born and for this cause came he into the World that he should bear Witness to the truth Joh. 18. 37. And to this he did bear witness unto the death and sealed to the truth of that Gospel with his Blood This the Apostle Paul sets before Timothy to encourage him to fight the good fight of Faith that Jesus Christ witnessed a good Confession before Pontius Pilate when he knew what things he should suffer on that account 1 Tim. 6. 12 14. Away with this lukewarmness then and let us come unto and follow him whithersoever he goeth enduring bardness as good Souldiers of Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 2. 1 3 8. See Heb. 12. 1 3. 1 Pet. 2. 20 24. and ch 3. 17 18. And the true Witness In his Testimony in which he hath declared what he hath done and the Fathers love in him and that he is the Amen He is the truth it self and his word is the word of truth Prov. 8. 6 8. Ps 119. 160. 1 Joh. 5. 20. The true light now shineth 1
very displeasing to him in his Church this Samaritanisme in which men serve the Lord and their own Gods also and indeed it is reputed by him as not fearing him at all 2 King 17. 32 34. his grace instructeth moveth and strengâ—heneth us to love and â—leave to him with all our heart Soul mind and strength Mark 12. 29 30. But when the heart is divided then shall Men be found faulty Hose 10. 2. But here we might for our usefulness propose these two Questions Quest 1. Whether Seeing this faithful counsellour wisheth that they were either Cold or Hot it be alike to him which of them they were Or whether it were all one to him whether they were Cold or Hot Ans No surely he is not indifferent herein he would rather they were hot in buying the truth and giving hearty entertainment to him and therefore he counsels them To buy of him Gold tried in the fire that they might be rich v. 18. and therefore he rebuketh and chasteneth them that they might be zealous and repent v. 19. and therefore he standeth at the door and knocketh that they might open unto him receive and entertain him heartily v. 20. nor was it alike to the Prophet when he reproves the Israelites for halting between two opinions whether they followed God or Baal for he earnestly desired they might heartily and sincerely follow the Lord God of Israel and to that end prayeth Hear me O Lord hear me that this people may know that thou art the Lord God and that thou hast turned their heart back again 1 King 18. 37. and the like we may say of Joshua ch 24. 15. Christ is in the bosome of the Father and knows his heart and thoughts and hath revealed that God is not willing that any Man should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. and he and Christ Jesus are one And therefore the Amen the faithful and true witness is not indifferent whether his Churches and those in them be cold or hot but he is one that hath pleasure in uprightness and loveth that those in his Church should cleave to him with full purpose and be wholly and altogether his To whose mind also the Apostle Paul was framed when Agrippa said Almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian I would to God saith he that not only thou but all that hear me were both almost and altogether such as I am and not so indifferent as Agrippa was Acts 26. 29. And this the Apostle also desired with understanding as knowing God's good-will towards all Men was that they should heartily receive the love of the truth had he been of the mind of some Men that God hath a secret will concurring with the destruction of the greatest part of Mankind in a personal consideration he could never in faith have poured out such a wish to God for all them that heard him but knowing God is love and that he hath manifested himself so to be in giving his Son by his grace to taste death for every Man from hence his hearts desire and prayer to God for them was that they might be saved from their iniquities as Rom. 10. 1 3. and therefore thus Christ speaks to shew how abominable their present temper was to him Quest 2. Whether it were better for the Churches or those therein to be cold then lukewarme It is better without controversy to be hot and â—ervent in Spirit in seeking and serving the Lord and diligently pursuing the things of his Kingdom but whether it be better for Luke-warme ones to be cold Ans Truly properly and fully it is not better to be cold than Lukewarm for neither is good But it is worse to be lukewarm in Gods Vineyard and more abominable to him and in his account who judgeth righteously than to be cold And so to be cold is not so bad in some respects as to be Lukewarme For 1. The iniquity of Lukewarmness in his Churches is more provoking in his sight because the clouds do more abundantly raine rain upon them that come into and frequent the assemblies of God's people than upon those who are cold and come not amongst them and they oft drink in the rain that cometh upon them they have more advantages given to them than others and more opportunities to hear and be acquainted with the excellency of Christ and the enriching nature of that Gold tried in the fire and therein and therewith to see the vileness of their sins and vanity of their idols that they might turn to God from them and have their hearts drawn off from all other objects and united to Christ hence those that are among his people do oft in their evils overpass the deeds of the wicked Jer. 5. 21 28. 2 Chron. 33. 9 10 and oftimes this is declared as an aggravation of the iniquity of God's people that they sin under such advantages and in the enjoyment of such nighness means and opportunities Therefore the Lord saith concerning the Priests and Prophets yea in mine house I have found their wickedness Jer. 23. 11. and 11. 14 15. Isay 66. 4. and answerable to the greatness of their iniquity as being thus aggravated answerable will be their judgments so persisting yea and more swiftly will God proceed against them especially now when more clear light than formerly is vouchsaâ—ed he that was grieved fourty yeers with his people in former times was provoked after three yeers in latter because of the unfruitfulness of those in his vineyard to say cut it down why cumbreth it the ground so here he threatneth he will spue them out of his mouth and accordingly he may so have done with this Church long since Thou Capernaum saith our Saviour that art exalted to Heaven shall be brought down to hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained untill this day But I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in that day of judgment than for you Mat. 11. 20 34. That earth which drinks in the rain that oâ—t comes upon it and yet beareth briars and thorns is rejected and nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned Heb. 6. 8. 2. It is worse to be lukewarm in Gods Vineyard than cold because those that are cold may sooner be made sensible of their condition and fall down under reproofs and be made to perceive the sadness of the state they abide in or have brought themselves into by their departure than lukewarm-ones when persons are lukewarm they are ready to say Aha we are warm we have seen the Fire Blessed be the Lord for we are rich they are highly conceited of their good condition and say they are hot enough already They are in a good temperate condition and need not to come neerer the Fire seest thou a Man wise in his own Eyes there is more hope of a Fool than of him Prov. 26. 12. The
to cut it down that it might no longer cumber the ground this gracious vine-dresser stepped in and pleaded for it Lord let it alone this yeer also till I shall dig about it and dung it that it may bring forth fruit and so still be continued in that ground Luke 13. 6 8. So when he complains of and to his people Thou hast been weary of me O Israel thou hast not honoured me with thy Sacrifices but thou hast made me to serve with thy Sins thou hast wearied me with thine Iniquities Yet he addeth I even I am he which blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own names sake and will not remember thy Sins Isay 43. 22 25. Though they were not so fervent as to give him no rest though they did not weary him in crying after wisdom and lifting up their voice for understanding as those that would take no denial but instead thereof were weary of him yea and found him so much unpleasant work as to weary him with their Transgressions in hiding and covering them and washing and cleansing them from them yet he continued to be gracious and merciful to them he knows not how presently to reject them but when he speaks against them he doth earnestly remember them still and his bowels are moved and stirred towards them yea when he threatens to give up to destruction because they are bent to back-slidings from him and though called to the most high do not at all exalt him yet he crieth out as one full of good bowels towards them Jam. 5. 11. How shall I give thee up howshall I deliver thee as one that well knows not how to do it Mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger For I am God and not Man the Holy One in the midst of thee c. And thus gracious is he towards such unworthy backsliding ones for his own goodness and because he remembers the kindness of their youth Hos 11. 1 9. Jer. 31. 18 20. Nay when he puts them away from their former â—ighness to him yet he doth not presently give them a Bill of Divorce but is calling unto them to return to him and proclaiming his graciousness and readiness to receive them again and stretching forth his hand toward them though they have treacherously departed from him as a Wife from her Husband and played the Harlot with many Lovers taking in Strangers into the Bed of Love instead of their Husband Isay 50. 1 2. Jer. 3. 1 20 22. he is not quick to vomit them out of his mouth who are so unpleasant and loathsome to him that he well knows not how to keep them in he cannot easily put them from among the Children or cast them out from being of his congregation but is still stretching out his hand to such rebellious ones while it is called to day to draw and strengthen them to come to him and to embrace them in returning Isay 65. 2 4. Oh the infinite graciousness and kindness of this faithful and true witness and of the Father in him Oh that we may never abuse such goodness or turn such grace into wantonness That we may never despise the riches of his patience forbearance and longsuffering towards us but may so know consider and take notice of his goodness and of its tendency and operation that we may be zealous and repent for if still our hearts be set in us to do evil and we continue in our provocations because sentence is not speedily executed this will provoke him at last to execute what he threatneth he will wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalp of such as go on still in their trespasses neglecting and lightly esteeming him who is the God of Salvation who hath prepared for us and is discovering and exercising to us such salvation in and thorow Jesus Christ Ps 68. 18 19 21. and this leadeth us to the next 2. But though he be slow to anger and of great kindness and ready to repent him of the evil threatned yet in their still continuing in this distemper after such a gracious counsel given v. 18. such rebukes and chastisments used v. 19. and such wonderful condesension and patience exercised v. 20. he will at last spue them out and vomit them up as his Church unson them unchurch them cease to plead for them as his Church cast them out of his vineyard into the field of the World So when he looked for grapes and behold wild-grapes he then saith and threatneth that he will take away the hedge of his vineyard and it shall be eaten up and break down the wall thereof and it shall be trodden down and he will lay it wast it shall not be pruned nor digged but there shall come up briars and thornes and he threatens that he will command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it Isay 5. 1 6. So the vine-dresser saith If after his digging about and dunging the fruitless figtree it shall bring forth fruit well but if not after that the Lord should cut it down he would not always intercede for it if it still after further means used remained barren and unfruitful Luke 13. 9. he can take away his Kingdom and remove the candlestick out of its place Mat. 21. 43 44. Rev. 2. 5. Behold Israel after the flesh If God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he also spare not thee Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which fell severity but toward thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou also shalt be cut off Rom. 11. 20 23. he can cast them out of his house that are in it and will do so if they persist in rebelling against him and love them no more but forsake them and cast them off for ever Hose 9. 15. 1 Chron. 28. 9. of a truth God is no respecter of persons he is not tied to any Man's person but Christ is the Amen To him are the promises made and in him they are confirmed sure to all the seed who are born of the Spirit and led by the Spirit for as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God In him all the promises of God are yea and Amen and if we be Christ's then are we Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise But if a Man that hath been ingraffed into him abide not in him he is cast forth as a branch and withereth and Men gather them and they are cast into the fire and burned Joh. 15. 16 6. in abiding in him is safety and security none can pluck them out of his hand or mouth that hear his voice and follow him as he is drawing them and working in them both to will and to do of good pleasure but beware of him saith God and obey his voice provoke him not for he will not pardon your transgressions for my name is in him
he will not forgive if we sin against him and serve other Gods and continue so to do but will spue such at last out of his mouth though he be longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and goodness He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches for he can do the same to any particular person that hath an ear if he grow Luke warm and remiss which he can do and threateneth to do to such a Church Oh that every one of us may consider that our standing is by faith that so we may not be high minded but fear The Apostles had a good use of considering the terrour of the Lord to quicken them to diligence in seeking and serving the Lord and the Apostle Paul including himself with the holy brethren saith If we sin will fully after the knowledge of the truth received their remains no more sacrifice for sin But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and siery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Oh consider this ye that forget God! Exod. 23. 20 24. Rev. 3. 16 22. Rom. 11. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 8 11. 1 Cor. 9. 27. Heb. 10. 26 29. Verse 17. Because thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable or pitâ—ous and poor and blind and naked This verse containeth in it either 1. An evidence and demonstration that they were Lukewarme and is a declaration of the cause and reason of their Lukewarmeness their high thoughts and conceits of themselves made them so and so there was more hope of a fool of such as were cold than of them Prov. 26. 12. when Men are highly conceited of themselves and think they are already rich this will make them grow indifferent remiss and slothful and though they come daily and sit before God as his people and seem to take delight in aproaching to him and remain in the assemblies of his people yet it will make them do what they do out of custome and for fashions sake or in service to some idol and will cause them to be like a door that turns upon his hinges it will keep them at a stand and though they go backward and forward like such a door yet they will at last be but where they were at first they will not grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ It will hinder them from being hot from such a prizing of Christ as to hate all for his sake that they may win him and be found in him Prov. 26. 12 16. The full Soul loatheth the honey-comb and that causeth a Man also to wander from his place as a bird from her nest Prov. 27. 7 8. Thus it was with Israel of old when they were low and mean and little in their own eyes and in the day of their espousals Oh then what fervency and heat of Spirit and demeanour was found with them they followed the Lord out of the land of Aegypt and thorow the wilderness thorow a land of desarts and pits thorow a land of drought and of the shadow of death thorow a land that no Man passed thorow and where no Man dwelt But when they conceited themselves to be rich and said they were Lords free persons now no longer in bondage as when they were in Aegypt they were now brought out of the house of Servants a type of the state of this World and were become owners grown rich and increased with goods now they were become possessours and had need of nothing Then their former fervency was gone they would come no more to him but forsook him when he led them by the way and forgat him days without number and trimmed their way to seek love elsewhere and yet wiped their mouthes and said they were innocent and therefore surely his anger should turn away from them and still flatter'd him with their lips and called him my Father and the guide of my youth Jer. 2. 2 7 31 35. Oh! Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled Mat. 5. 6. but the full and rich he sends empty away Luke 1. 53. The Apostle Paul confesseth and acknowledgeth that he had not yet attained neither was already perfect and therefore forgetting the things behind and reaching forth to the things before he pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ he ran as for his life and did strive as for an incorruptible Crown and he instructs the believers who were perfect upright-hearted to be like-minded with him to reckon themselves to be imperfect as to attainment That so they also might run with Patience the race set before them Phil. 3. 12 16. 1 Cor. 9. 24 25 26. Whereas on the other hand when Men begin to take notice of themselves and to think too highly of themselves and of their knowledge and attainments this cuts off the feet and makes persons to be Lukewarme and when a price is put into their hand for getting wisdom they have no heart thereto This high thought of themselves makes them sit loose from Christ and though it blow up Men like a bladder yet it doth not build them up according to that we all know we have knowledge knowledge even the knowing and taking notice of our knowledge puffeth up as with wind but it edifieth not as charity doth which is not puffed up and when Men are puffed up by their fleshly mind it takes them off from an high estimate of Christ and causes them to wander from him and not to hold the head compare 1 Cor. 8. 1. with ch 13. 4. and Col. 2. 18 19. It is much to be feared that we also have too high conceits of our selves and therefore though we are not quite cold yet such thoughts make us Luke-warme Oh that we might come to the light of the Lord and therein see and examine our selves and if this iniquity be with us put it far away for this thinking too highly of our selves is that which is the cause of our loath some temper 2. This verse is a reason of Christ's threatning and of that woe and judgment threatned v. 16. I will spue thee out of my mouth Because thou sayest I am rich c. Oh! what a provocation to Christ is it that such babes as we are should boast as if we were come to a perfect Man that we should imagine and say we have need of nothing when so little a portion is known of him by us that we should think and say we are whole what need have we then of a Physician what need of a mediatour to intercede for us we do by such-like thoughts and sayings make the cross of Christ and preaching of it foolishness to our selves and render it a needless and undeâ—â—rable thing and they do lead us to set light by and undervalue Christ and to give our hearts unto and take
them he counsels them who were at present lukewarm to be zealous and servent and that doubtless in a good thing It is good saith the Apostle to be always zealously affected in a good thing Gal. 4. 18. In which is signified that there is an evil and reprovable zeal but unto such an one he doth not exhort or counsel them Some there are that are zealous in the service of the gross lusts of the Flesh such as riotting and drunkenness and the evil consequents and concomitants thereof they run to all excess of riot 1 Pet. 4. 3 4. They rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink and continue until night till Wine enflame them Isay 5. 11 12. and chap. 56. 10 12. But this is far from the zeal here intimately exhorted unto Some there are and too many who have a bitter zeal and are walking in strife and envying even biting back-biting defameing and devouring one another And too too oft they pretend their strife and envying to be zeal for God Of this the Apostle James speaks saying If ye have bitter zeal or envying and strife in your hearts glory not and lye not against the truth say not this is for the glory of God or proceeds from Heavenly Wisdom for this wisdom descends not from above but is earthly sensual devillish c. Jam. 3. 13 17. Rom. 13. 13. Some are eagerly and earnestly pursuing their covetous inclinations and very greedy of gain Prov. 1. 19. Amos 8. 4 8. Rising early and sitting up late and eating the bread of carefulness that they may encrease and heap up to themselves the uncertain riches of this World Ps 127. 2. 1 Tim. 6. 5 8 10. Some are zealous of the traditions of their Fathers Gal. 1. 13 14. and to establish a righteousness to themselves according to the Law Rom. 10. 1 3. and ch 9. 31 33. Some and very many in our days are zealous in receiving pleading for and promoting Evil Doctrines and compass Sea and Land to make a Prosâ—lite Prov. 4. 16. and ch 7. 5. 24. Mat. 23. 15. Gal. 4. 17 18. But our Lord doth not exhort or provoke them to any such evil zeal as we have been speaking of But the zeal here intimately counselled to is that which is joined with repentance from all dead as well as deadly works And he here exhorts them to that which they were wanting in v. 15 16. Even to such a zeal as is exercised 1. In an eager and diligent seeking after Christ and the things of him so as to buy of him Gold tried in the Fire that they might be rich and White Raiment v. 18. And to that end to anoint their Eyes with Eye-salve that they might so see and behold the beauty and glory of Christ his love and loveliness that they might prize him above and prefer him before all others both persons and things and forsake all that they have that they might know him win him and be â—ound in him and be conformed to him Prov. 2. 2 6. Psal 42. 1 3. and 63. 1. 8. and 84. and 119. 20 40 129 131 145 148. 174. 2. This zeal here intimately counselled to is a â—ervency in serving the Lord Rom. 12. 11 a serving him especially in those things in which his Kingdom doth consist As in Righâ—cousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17 18. In walking before him and with â—ervency seeking the good of Men Acts 18. 25. Thus the Apostles did whether they were lookt on as mad Men or sober Men For the love of Christ did constrain them so as they could not but speak the things which they had seen and heard 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. with Acts 4. 20. And this zeal is to be exercised toward Brethren in seeking their good especially Col. 4. 12 13. In loving them with a pure heart â—ervently 1 Pet. 1. 21 22. In having above all things â—ervent eharity among themselves 1 Pet. 4. 8. administring to their wants and necessities according to ability 2 Cor. 9. 2. watching over one another looking diligently that none fail of the Grace of God 2 Cor. 11. 1 3. Heb. 12. 15 16. and standing fast in one Spirit with one mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel and in nothing terrified by adversaries and overcoming by the Blood of the Lamb and Word of the Testimony not loving their lives to the death Gal. 2. 3. Ps 119. 139. Jude 3. Phil. 1. 27 28. Rev. 12. 11. Now in that he saith Be zealous therefore c. So he signifieth to us 1. That one reason why he rebukes and chastens whom he loves is because they are not zealous and as with respect to his people because they abate in their love to and zeal for him and goe backward and not forward Jer. 15. 6 7. And this he doth 1. As with respect to himself it 's a loathsome and unbearable thing to him that they grow remiss and indifferent Therefore he threatens this Church before I will spue thee out of my mouth See v. 15 16. See also the notes on ch 2. v. 4. and v. 5. and ch 3. v. 3. The Lord our God is a jealous God who will not give his glory to another nor his praise to graven images â—ant 8. 6. Isay 42. 8. see how he speaks as one grieved in Spirit I Remember thee saith he the kindness of thy youth the love of thine espousals when thou wentest after me in the wilderness Thus saith the Lord what iniquity have your Fathers found in me that they are gone far from me and have walked after vanity Jer. 2. 1 13. 2. As with respect to themselves that they might not be condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 32. But might consider their ways which are not good and bethink themselves and return unto him Hos 2. 6 14. 1 King 8. 46 48. Ps 116. 3 7. To which after 3. With respect to others Because such backsliders do great hurt to them by their Lukewarmness and indifferency as by their zeal they provoke many so by their want of it they hinder others from seeking after the Lord and strengthen them in their evil ways Prov. 28. 4. Jer. 2. 34 36. and ch 23. 13 14. 2. He also signifies that this is his end in his rebukes and chastenings not to drive us from him or make us more remiss in seeking after him but to awake us to earnestness and diligence in seeking after him To purge away our iniquities and take away our sins and to make us more fruitful in every good work and word Isay 27. 9. Joh. 15. 2. Heb. 12. 1 6 7 2 Cor. 7. 9 11. This was his gracious end in rebuking and chastening this Angel and Church that he might deliver them from Lukewarmeness which was so loathsome to him and hurtful to them and that they might be zealous and â—ervent O mistake we not his end in his rebukes and corrections but let us turn unto him
is here assured to every one that overcometh I will grant to sit with me in my throne In which is signified 1. Christ hath a throne distinct from his Father's which he will sit upon and hath prepared Ps 9. 5 7. unto the Son he saith Thy throne O God is for ever and ever Ps 45. 6. with Heb. 1. 8 9. the which he hath obtained by his blood Ps 89. 20 29 36. and this throne is distinct from the Father 's on which he now sits none ever sat on the Father's throne nor shall do but Christ not the Angels Rev. 7. 11. nor any Saint see the notes on ch 4. v. 2. But on Christ's throne every one that overcometh shall sit as is here assured The Fathers throne is in Heaven Ps 11. 4. as before is said But the Son shall be on earth at new Jerusalem which shall come down out of Heaven see the notes on v. 12. So it is said they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord Jer. 3. 17. with Isay 24. 23. The former is the throne of his eternal Father the latter the throne of his Father David according to what God promised and sware to David Ps 132. 11. Isay 9. 7. and ch 16. 5. Luke 1. 32. Acts 2. 30 32. Zech. 14. 9. and when he sits upon it he shall govern the people upon earth Ps 9. 7 8. and 67. and 72. and in the latter end of this Davidical reign all shall be brought before him and judged by him Mat. 25. 31. Rev. 20. 11 14. and he shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father and then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15. 24 25 26 27. 2. To him that overcometh will he grant to sit with him in his throne they shall sit on the throne of Glory 1 Sam. 2. 8. that is they shall reign with Christ Rev. 20. 4 6. partake of his glory 2 Thes 2. 14. rule Isay 32. 1. reign on the earth Rev. 5. 8. 10. the Kingdome shall be theirs Dan. 7. 18 27. they shall judge the world 1 Cor. 6. 1 2. 2 Tim. 2. 12. Rev. 22. 5 1 Cor. 4. 8. when Christ who is their life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in glory Oh then mortify we our members that are upon the earth Col. 3. 1 4 5. see the notes before on ch 2. v. 26 Verse 22. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches see the notes before on ch 2. v. 7. AN EXPOSITION On the Fourth CHAPTER OF THE REVELATION Chap. 4. Verse 1. After this I looked and behold a door was opened in Heaven and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me which said come up hither and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter THis is the beginning of or introduction into another Vision distinct from that chap. 1. 10 11 c. And having respect to things to come See notes on chap. 1. vers 19. as here appears and in what follows In this verse we have to consider 1. When he had this vision vouchsafed to him After this 2. The posture he was in I looked 3. An admirable thing presented to him And behold a door waâ— opened in heaven 4. An account of a voice speaking with and to him And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me which said come up hither and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter 1. When he had this vision vouchsafed to him after this or these things namely 1. After that visional representation of the Son of man in chap. 1. 10 13 c. Needful it is first to know him that we may thereby know all other things rightly and for our good as Job 5. 27. Then shall we know even all things if we follow on to know the LORD Hos 6. 3. Prov. 28. 5. Joh. 12. 46. Hence when our Saviour foretells his Disciples that when the Spirit of truth came He would guide them into all truth And shew them things to come He then immediately adds He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew unto you As a direction to the way and means whereby the Holy Spirit should teach them all things and shew to them things to come Joh. 16. 13 14 15. And the Apostle tells the believing Corinâ—hians that he determined to know nothing else among them save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. with Chap. 1. 22 23. Joh. 14. 6 7. and chap. 8. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 7 8. 2. After he had received from Christ the Epistles or messages to the several Churches with the instructions commendations admonitions reproofs consolations c. therein contained possibly to signifie to us That these things were to be well considered and digested before he was fit to receive the following Revelations and Visions And so to instruct us that the way for us to be acquainted with those things more difficult is by having embracing and yielding up to the more easie quitting our selves from the things reproved Prov. 1. 23. Dan. 9. 13. fighting against and overcoming all our spiritual enemies in the power of his might and so learning his teachings yielding up to his operations obeying his counsels considering his encouraging promises therein propounded to us Mâ—tt 13. 11. 12. Hos 6. 3. 3. After this or these things may signifie to us that he received things gradually and successively He was finite and could not receive all at once but some at one time and some at another Rev. 7. 1 9. The light did shine in unto him more and more Psal 84. 7. Hos 6. 3. Prov. 4. 18. Jer. 33. 3. And after he was faithful in the first charge given unto him Chap. 1. 10 12 c. He that is faithful in that which is committed to him unto such an one more shall be given Dan. 2. 21 22. Mark 4. 24. 2. The posture he was in when this further Vision was vouchsafed to him I looked viz. with the eyes of his understanding or soul Eph. 1. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 4. He looked he was in a waiting watching posture expecting now to receive some further Revelation somewhat like that Habbak 2. 1 2. Act. 3. 4 5 the eyes of his Soul were exercised in looking yet in a visional and extraordinaâ—y manner to see somewhat further than yet he had seen And it seems though this Beholding was in or after an extraordinary manner yet it was here somewhat previous unto and forewent that of his being in the spirit Vers 2. And not altogether the same as some suppose Dr. H. And this word looked or beheld respects both things seen and heard as here appears and chap. 1. 12. and 5. 11. and chap. 8. 13 c. And so he looked for some Revelation either for the eye or ear or
ascended up unto the right hand of God and received of the father the promise of the holy Spirit which also he hath shed forth and poured out upon his holy Apostles that by them the preaching might be fully known and they have used great plainness of speech and not as Moses who put a veiâ— over his face c. so as his Churches may all with open face behold the glory of the Lord c. 2 Cor. 3. 12 13 18. Act. 2. 17. and now they may arise and shine for their light is come Isa 59. 20 21. and chap. 60. 1 2. with Eph. 5. 14. and though among them that were born of women there had not risen a greater Prophet than John the Baptist Yet as our Saviour saith he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he Matth. 11. 11. the anointing which they have received abideth in them and they neâ—d not that any man teach them but as the same anointing teacheth them of all things and is truth and is no lye 1 John 2. 27. and thus we here understand this saying The living creatures the Church in the four quarters of the world were full of eyes full of quick-sighted men and full of understanding as hath been said and they are said to be full of eyes before and behind That is to say 1. Before To see and behold things before and so to behold Jesus Christ and him crucified who is before them and neerer to the throne than they Chap. 5. 6. They by faith see Jesus who by the grace of God tasted death for every man Heb. 2. 9. and herein perceive his love because he laid down his life for them 1 Joh. 3. 16. He is in the Gospel evidently set forth before their eyes as one who hath been crucified for them Gal. 3. 1. that they might rejoyce in him with joy unspeakable and â—ull of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. and always sing that new song of praise and thanksgiving Worthy is the lamb that was slain c. Rev. 5. 8 9 10. and to see and behold the glory which he hath received and is possessed of in our nature 2 Cor. 3. 18. and that now he appears in the presence of God for them they are come to Jesus the Media tour of the new Testament and to the blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel Hebr. 12. 24. Rev. 5. 6. 2. And in Jesus Christ to behold him that sits on the throne For he that seeth him seeth the father also he that knoweth him knoweth him that sent him John 12. 4â— 45. and chap 14. 6 7. 2 Cor. 4. 4 6. to behold in and through him his wisdom power holiness and justice and his great and wonderful love to manwaâ—d which he hath manifested in sending his only begotten son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins that we might live through him 1 John 4. 8 10 14. and his peculiar love to them that believe in Christ John 14 21 23. and how he sits upon the throne ruling over all and ordering all things for their good especially who love God Psal 103. 19. and 29. 10 11. Rom. 8. 28 32. Now they do â—â—â—h these eyes by faith see the King in his glory as Moses also dâ—â—â— Isa 33 16 17. with Hebr. 11. 27. 3. To behold the thundrings and lightnings and voices all preparations to and executions of wrath and judgment they see when a storm is coming that they may enter into the rock and hide themselves in the dust for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his majesty Isa 2. 10. for all storms and tempests all judgments and testimonies of displeasure proceed out of the throne which is before them See the Notes before on ver 5. and they who have their conversation by faith in Heaven may behold Gods hand when it is lifted up and meditate terrour Isa 33. 17 18. The prudent foresee the evil and hide themselves but the simple pass on and are punished Prov. 22. 3. and chap. 27. 12. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him c. Psal 25. 13 14. 4. To behold future things which shall be hereafter so our Saviour promised his disciples That the holy Spirit should guide them into all truth and shew them things to come John 16. 13. and thus haâ—h he done in this book of the Revelation which God gave unto Jesus Christ to shew unto his servants things which must come to pass Rev. 1. 1. and chap. 22. 6 16. and so with their eyes which are before they may behold the destruction of Mystery Babylon and of all that are enemies to and persist in rebellion against Jesus Christ and his Gospel and People Rev. 11. 18. and chap. 14. 8 11. and chaâ— 18. 19. and the coming of Christ with Clouds Rev. 1. 7. his coming again to raise them that sleep in him in the first resurrection and delivering them from all evil and enemies compleatly and gloriously and granting them to sit with him in his throne and to reign with him on earth Rev. 5. 9 10. and chap. 20. 21 22. they may now by faith look upon these things that are not seen and which are now revealed as in former times they were not 2 Cor. 4. 18. Hence whereas the Prophet speaking of the glory to be revealed saith Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waits for him The Apostle citeth that Scripture saying Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him But then he addeth hereto further and above what the Prophet had said But God hath revealed them to us by his spirit c. Compare Isa 64. 4. with 1 Cor. 2. 9 10 11. to signifie to us thâ—â— these things are now manifested to us as they were not in foregoiâ—â—imes though yet as with respect to these things it must still be remembred that their sight and knowledg hereof is by faith and but in part 1 Cor. 13. 9 12. and they are instructed that when these things begin to come to pass they should look up and lift up their heads for their redemption draws nigh Luk 21. 28. 2. And these four living creatures are also full of eyes behind to know see and discern things which are over and past As to say a a little 1. To see into the types and shadows of the Law which are accomplished and opened to us in and by Jesus Christ they were a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ Col. 2. 17. and which things are now revealed to us by Christ and his Apostles in the Gospel which hath by them been preached according to the revelation of the mystery The Law came by Moses but grace and truth by Jesus Christ
Joh. 1. 17. Col. 1. 26 27. Eph. 3. 3 10. and to behold all things in the Prophets which are now more openly made known in Gods speaking to us in these last days by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things Heb. 1. 1 2 3. Acts 3. 22 23. Luk. 24. 25 27 44 45 46. 2. To behold the truth and fidelity of God in keeping and performing his Covenant and promise which he made to the Fathers in raising up an born of salvation in the house of his servant David as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began Luk. 1. 54 55 69 73 74. God hath according to his promise raised up a Saviour Jesus and that promise which he made unto the fathers he hath fulfilled in that he hath raised up Jesus again Acts 13. 23 32 33. that they may trust safely in him for the future considering and beholding his faithfulness in what he hath accomplish'd Isa 55. 4. and with these eyes they may behold the personal abasement and sufferings of Christ and therein their wretched and miserable condition by nature and what dead sinful polluted ones they were when his kindness and love to manward appeared to them and how they were redeemed unto God from their vain conversation not by corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ Eph. 2. 1 3 4 5 11 16. Tit. 3. 3 5. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. with Rev. 5. 9 10. and ch 1. 5 6. that they may admire the greatness of the love of Christ which passeth knowledg Eph. 3. 19. and glory in and of nothing but the cross of Christ Gal. 6. 14. and be cloathed with humility and even cover their faces with their wings reflecting upon and remembring their own vileness and great filthiness until washed ver 8. and might learn to pity and shew meekness unto all men Tit. 3. 2 3 4 5. 2. To behold how they are surrounded and encompassed about with the Bow with Gods truth and faithfulness in keeping the Covenant and mercy Deut. 7. 9 12. For all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies Psal 25. 10. see the notes before on ver 3. and to see and behold an innumerable company of Angels to pitch their camps about them and to keep them in all their ways and to bear them up in their hands lest at any time they dash their feet against a stone Rev. 5. 11. and chap. 7. 11. with Psal 34. 7. and 91. 11. Heb. 1. 14. They may with these eyes behold these charets of fire round about them as Elishahs servant sometimes did 2 King 6. 15 17. or as Jacob when he was to pass through his brother Esau's land and to meet with him he saw the angels of God and said This is Gods host which was to encamp about and secure him Gen. 32. 1 2 3. which is greatly for their consolation and encouragement to wait on the Lord and keep his way Psal 91. 1 3 11. And to behold the sea of glaâ—s see the notes before on the former part of this verse yea indeed with these eyes they may behold all things for their good and which are needful to be known by them a little whereof we have been speaking of In this House of the Lord they may behold his beauty and enquire into his holy temple and in the time of trouble he will hide them as in a pavilion Upon such account the Pâ—almist prefers a day in Gods Courts before a thousand and did chuse rather to â—it upon the threshold in the house of his God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness for saith he the Lord God is a sun to enlighten and comfort him and a shield to defend and protect him he will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 27. 4 5. and 84. 10 12. and 91. 1 4. Ver. 7. And the first living creature was like a lyon and the second living creature like a calf and the third living creature had a face as a man and the fourth living creature was like a flying Eagle In this Verse are described unto us the likenesses of these four living creatures before spoken of or their appearances in this vision they had these four likenesses or appearances either 1. With respect unto the four ensigns or standards of the four camps of that one Israel of old in which as is frequently said there were these four likenesses the likeness of a Lyon in Judah's Ensign Hence it is said The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Numb 2. 2 3. with Gen. 49. 9. and Rev. 5. 5. The likeness of a Calf or Ox Psal 106. 19 20. or Bullock in Ephraims Ensign as it is said His glory is like the firstling of his bullock c. Numb 2. 18. with Deut. 33. 17. The likeness of a man in Reubens Ensign Numb 2. 10. The likeness of an Eagle in Dan's Ensign Numb 2. 25. And though a learned man Dr. H. saith on ver 6. these four living creatures refer not to the Camps or encamping of Israel yet here he approves of these four likenesses to have respect to the four likenesses in Israels Ensigns or Standards And surely great respect is had in this Book to Israel after the flesh who were our types as we have occasionally often noted And indeed these four living creatures are the Israel of God as also we have said Gal. 6. 15 16. And we may also say The four living creatures ver 6. being so called with allusion to the four Camps of Israel and here their four appearances having respect unto the likenesses of their four Standards Ensigns or Flags so we may learn from hence that Christs Church on earth is his Army his Saints are his Warriers Hence it is said unto every one of the seven Churches in chap. 2. and chap. 3. To him that overcometh c. Psal 20. 5. Christs Spouse is beautiful as â—irzah which was the City of the Kings of Israel in which they kept their Courts 1 King 14. 17. and chap. 15. 33. and chap. 16. 8 9 15 23. As she is the City of the great King of Israel comely as Jerusalem which is builded as a City that is compact together Psal 122. 3. and terrible as an army with banners Cant. 6. â—4 10. His Church is his Host which is set for the defence and confirmation of his Gospel to be valiant for the truth upon the earth Jer. 9. 3. To stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing terrified by her adversaries Phil. 1. 27 28. To contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints against the flesh the world and the devil Jude 3. see the notes before on chap. 2. ver 7. 2. Or they have these four likenesses with allusion to those
knowledge concerning the Creatures may increase sorrow Job 5. 1. Eccles 1. 18. And herein appeared somewhat of infirmity in the Apostle in lamenting so greatly because no Creature could open this Book had he applied that unto all Creatures which Peter doth to himsâ—lf and this Apostle saying Why loâ—k ye so â—arnestly on us Act. 3. 12 he might have been preserved from weeping or however from weeping much And yet there is somewhat imitable in the Apostles weeping his ardent desire of knowing that which was held forth that it might be made known occasioned him thus to lament He was not like them that said unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Job 21. 14. nor like the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans who said I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing Rev. 3. 14-17 But he wept thorow his desire of knowing more and even actually said what the Apostle Paul did verbally I have not yet attained neither am aâ—ready perfect but I follow after c. Phil. 3. 12 13. and did we more know the sweetness and pleasantness of this excellent knowledge it would cause us to cry after knowledge and lift up our voice for understanding to seek it as silver and to search for it as hidden Treasures and to follow on to know that we might know the LORD Prov. 2. 3-10 and chapt 4. 4-7 and chap. 8. 9 10. Hos 6. 3-6 Verse 5. And one of the Elders saith unto me weep not Behold the Lion of the Tribe of Juda the Root of David hath prevailed to open the Book and to loose the seven Seals thereof In this Verse there is matter of consolation spoken to the Apostle now while weeping In which we have to consider for our usefulness 1. The instrumental Comforter And one of the Elders saith unto me 2. What he said to comfort him and that is propounded to us 1. By what he said to him as with respect to himself Weep not 2. By what he said to him concerning another In which there is contained a good and weighty Reason why he should not weep Behold the Lion of the Tribe of Juda the Root of David hath prevailed to open the Book and to loose the seven Seals thereof 1. The instrumental Comforter And one of the Elders saith unto me That is to say one of the four and twenty spoken of before in Chap. 4. where we have shewn what these Elders are even such of the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles as had lived and died in the Faith See the Notes before on Chap. 4. ver 4. From hence then we may note 1. That the Soul or Spirit dies not when the Body doth so as too many fondly imagine and conceit but it lives when the body returns to the dust Eccl. 12. 7. And they shall praise the LORD that seek him their heart shall live for ever Psal 22. 26. And when they are absent from the body they are present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 6-8 Phil. 1. 22 23. The Spirits of just and righteous ones are perfect when their Bodies sleep in the dust when they are taken away out of this world they shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Isa 57. 2. Heb. 12. 23. or else it would be no advantage or gain to them to die as the Apostle signifies it is but rather a loss and disadvantage â—hil 1. 20-23 and they know more and are more excellent in an happier and more blessed state and condition than the Saints that are in the earth Psal 16. 2 3. Rev. 7. 13-17 and Chap. 14. 13. See the Notes on Chapt. 4. ver 4. 2. That in some Visions they have appeared and spoken after their decease unto and in the hearing of some Saints living on the earth as here it doth appear and in Chap. 7. 13-17 one of the Elders informed John what they were which were arrayed in white Robes and whence they came and what their continual exercise and great blessedness and happiness is and shall be And in that Vision when Christ was transfigured it is said there talked with him two men which were Moses whom the LORD buried in a Valley in the Land of Moab Deut. 34. 5. 6 and Elâ—as who appeared in glory and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem Luk. 9. 28 32. with Matth. 17. 4-9 which may confirm the truth of the former and us in the belief of it viz. that their Spirits live when their Bodies are dead In that being dead they yet speak as Heb. 11. 4. And in that such a Messenger was now sent to comfort John so it shews that all are his Servants who sits upon the Throne sometimes in these Visions he spake by Angels as ver 2. and in many other places of this Book may be seen and sometimes by the Spirits of just and holy men made perfect as here and Chap. 7. 13. 3. As considering and comparing this with what follows so we may learn That they may be Instruments of comfort to those who are in affliction which are not nor can be Authors of comfort to them Though this Elder could not open the Book and loose the Seals thereof and so preserve or deliver John from weeping yet he could and did instrumentally direct to one that could and afterwards did do what he could not So it is true more generally the Saints and holy Ones even the most eminent of them also have no sufficiencie of themselves as of themselves to think any thing 2 Cor. 3. 4 5. and yet as the same Apostle saith in that place to the Believers Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts known and read of all men being manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us And again He hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit c. 2 Cor. 3. 2 3-6 they are nothing in themselves 2 Cor. 12. 11. they cannot give peace quiet fears comfort in trials and heaviness of themselves but yet they can do all things in and through Christ that strengtheneth them Phil. 4. 13. they have excellent treasures in their earthen vessels 2 Cor. 4. 7. And this Commandment is given unto them Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith your God speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem c. Isa 40. 1 2-8 9. Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees say to them that are of a fearful heart Be strong fear not c. Then even then also when Gods Servants comfort them ministerially they being workers together with God the eyes of the blind shall be opened to wit enlightned and their Souls comforted Isa 35. 3 4 5. with Psal 13. 3. And this consideration may be useful to us 1. To the Ministers of Christ To preserve or deliver them from having unsober thoughts of themselves Rom. 12. 3. For Who is Paul or
now ascended up on high and hath led Captivity captive Psal 68. 18. with Eph. 4. 8-10 His right hand and his holy Arm hath gotten him the victory Psal 98. 1. He hath spoiled Prineipalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself Col. 2. 15. He hath overcome and prevailed mightily against his Enemies Rev. 3. 21. And he hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us Gal. 3. 13. He hath given a resolution to that Question and done that which was impossible for all Creatures Shall the Prey be taken from the Mighty But thus saith the LORD even the Captivity of the Mighty shall be and now as to the Ground-work of it hath been taken away and the prey of the terrible delivered Isa 49. 24 25. He hath cast out the Prince of this world out of his Principality that he had gotten over mankind and drawn all men unto himself to be under his gracious Government that through him the world might be saved Joh. 12. 31 32. with Chap. 3. 16 17. and Chapt. 5. 22 23. Psal 118. 6-20-24 And from the Prey he is gone up into Heaven into Heaven it self having finisht the work in his own body which the Father gave him to do and is glorified with the Father 's own Self with the Glory which he had with him before the world was 1 Pet. 3. 22. Hebr. 9. 24. John 17. 4 5. And he is gone up to Ariel the Lion of God as the Altar in former times was called Isai 29. 1-6 Ezek. 43. 15. A Type of Christ who is the true Altar and Sacrifice Heb. 9. 14 And unto him who hath appeared to be the LORD strong and mighty the LORD mighty in battle the everlasting doors of Heaven are set open and the King of Glory in our nature is entred in and hath taken possession thereof Psal 24. 7 8 9 10. and Psal 118. 19-21 And he hath obtained eternal redemption forgiveness of sins for ever Heb. 9. 12. with Eph. 1. 7. and Heb. 10. 12. And all Grace and Truth all Power and Spirit John 1. 14-16 as is declared in the following Verse to this we are speaking to And now we have an Altar this Ariel this Lion of God that by him we might offer up the Sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks unto his Name Hebr. 13. 10-15 16. He stooped down he couched as a Lion and as an old Lion This is still to be understood as it is applied to a Lion and to a Lion and as it follows his going up from his Prey And so it signifies That after our Lord Jesus had taken the Prey he lay down as it were After he had purged our sins abolisht our death and overcome all our Enemies in and by himself redeemed us from the curse of the Law and obtained eternal redemption for us by his Blood he sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. Rev. â— 2â— Heb 9. 12. This Man after he had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God Heb. 10. 11 12. He entred into rest and ceased from these his works as God did from his Heb. 4. 10. And as it is said of the Lions when they have roared after their Prey and sought their meat of God they then lay them down in their dens Psal 104. 21 22. So it is said of Israel which was a Type of Christ Hos 11. 1. with Matth. 2. 15. Behold the people shall rise up as a great Lion and lift up himself as a young Lion he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey and drink of the blood of the slain But then it is implied he should lie down and take his rest Numb 23. 24. And again He couched he lay down as a Lion and as a great Lion Numb 24. 8 9. So our powerful and victorious Lion having vanquisht his Enemies is entred into rest He for the joy set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is now set down on the right hand of the Throne of God Heb. 12. 2. 1 Pet. 3. 22. having all power given to him both in Heaven and on Earth and is God's King whom he hath set down upon his holy hill of Zion Matth. 28. 11. Psal 2. 6. Zech. 6. 12 13. Who shall rouze him up that is to say none shall to do it And as it is said of Israel when mention is made of his King to wit That he shall be higher than Agag â—ho shall stir him up viz. none shall be able to do it Num. 24. 7-9 None to be sure shall divest or dispossess our Mighty One of his Rest Rule Glory and Power and whosoever provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own Soul for his wrath and terrour is as the roaring of a Lion Prov. 19. 12. and Chap. 20. 2. Gen. 49. 9 10. Of the increase of his Kingdom and peace there shall be no end Isaâ— 9. 6 7. Luke 1. 33-38 His Kingdom is an evealasting Kingdom and his Dominion endureth for ever Psal 145. 10-13 Oh! this is that Lion that is infinitely better than Sampson's for he is raised again from the dead and is gone up into Heaven and is on the right hand of God and out of him comes sweetness indeed that which is better than honey and the Honey-comb wherewith our Souls may be delighted Judg. 14. 14-18 Isa 55. 1-3 Prov. 24. 13 14. And like as a Lion and as a young Lion roaring on the prey when a multitude of shepheards is called forth against him he will not be afraid of their voice nor abase himself so will he fight for Mount Zion c. Isa 31. 4 5. His face is continually towards the righteous Ezek. 41. 19. with Psal 92. 12 13. And like a Lion he will both tread down and tear in pieces his enemies if they go on still in their trespasses and none can deliver Mica 5. 8 9. Hos 5. 14. and Chap. 13. 7 8. And yet in seasonably submitting to him they shall find mercy for the Lion is a noble generous Creature Amos 5. 19. And this Lion of the Tribe of Juda is very merciful Hebr. 2. 17. and Chap. 5. 1-2 The Root of David This is a further description of our Lord Jesus Christ In which the Elder hath respect unto that Prophesie In that day there shall be a Root of Jesse Isa 11. 10. who was the immediate father of David Matth. 1. 6. And our Lord himself thus also describeth himself saying I Jesus am the Root of David Revel 22. 16. He is the Root 1. One that hath been planted oâ— put as it were into the earth As we know a Root is placed in the earth Job 1. 4 8. Isa 37. 31. So our Lord Jesus who was in the beginning with God yea who was God the Lord from Heaven was made flesh John 1. 1-3 14. He
but with singing and rejoicing glorifie the Lord and render his praise glorious And this certainly is the proper and direct meaning of the expression here And if we take in both we may truly say the prayers and praises of Saints are Harps such as â—â—e delightful to the Lord and make sweet melody in his ears sweet is their voice therein Cant. 2. 14. Eph. 5. 18 19 20. And they are also likened and compared to Phials golden Phials because Phials are proper to contain some liquid thing and of these it is said golden Phials full of odours oâ— incense Now here we may enquire and consider what are these odours here spoken of To which we may say they are not properly the prayers of Saints for the word which is of the feminine gender and cannot agree with odours which word is of the neâ—ter but agrees with Harps and immediately and most properly with Phials the Harps and Phials are the prayers the odours something wherewith the prayers are filled or whereof they are full and distinct from the prayers Hence it is said there was given unto the Angel much incense or many odours that he should offer with or add to the prayers of all Saints Rev. 8. 3 4. But we may say there was under the Law direction given by the Lord â—o Moses the Mediator of that first Testament 1. To make an ointment an holy ointment of sweet fragrant odoriferous spices as it is said The Lord spake unto Moses saying take thou unto thee principal or head-spices of pure myrrâ— or myrrâ— of liberty sweet cinamon sweet calamus cassia c. And thou shalt make an oyl of holy ointment And with this the Priests were to be anointed and the Altar Vessels Candlestick c. Exod. 30. 22-23 and indeed this ointment was very sweet and full of odours and would send â—orth a sweet perfume Prov. 7. 17. and is signified in the type and Truth sometimes to be in a box or Phial as here 1 Sam. 10. 1. Cant. 1. 3. And hereby was typed forth the holy Spirit in the gifts and graces thereof wherewith Christ was immeasurably anointed Joh. 3. 34. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me saith he because â—e hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor c. Luk. 4. 18. Act. 10. 38. God his God anointed him with the oyl of gladness above his fellows Heb. 1. 8 9. And herewith also his Saints and holy ones are anointed Psal 133. 1-3 They have an unction from the holy oâ—e and they know all things 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. 2 Cor. 1. 2 1. And it is needful that all their prayers and praises should be anointed herewith with these odours of his Spirit Likewise also the spirit helpeth our infiâ—mities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for the Saints according to God Rom. 8. 26 27. Hence the believers are exhorted to pray in the holy Spirit Ephes 6. 18. Jude v. 20 21. and the sacrifices acceptable to God are such as are sanctified by the Holy Ghost Rom. 15. 16 17. with Exod. 30. 23-26-33 and the Apostle thus exhoâ—ts the believers Be ye filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord c. to signifie that in being filled with this heavenly oyl or ointment their praises would be full of odours Eph. 5. 18-20 Col. 3. 16. And the sacrifices which are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ are such as are directed unto filled and sanctified by the holy Spirit and so made and called spiritual sacrifices 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. Psal 16. 3 4. 2. More directly by these odours may be meant incense as also it is exprest in the Margent and in Rev. 8. 3 4. and herein relation is also had to that incense under the Law that immediately mentioned and directed unto after the holy ointment fore-spoken of as it is said The Lord said unto Moses take unto thee sweet spices Stacte a Gum as is said droping from the Myrrh-tree and Onicha and Galbanum these sweet spices with pure frankincense And thou shalt make a perfume and confection after the art of the Apothecary tempered together pure and holy Exod. 30. 34 35 36 37 38. Which incense or sweet perfume was daily to be burnt as it is said Aaron shall burn upon the altar of Incense sweet incense or incense of spices every morning when he dresseth the lamps he shall burn incense upon it and when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even he shall burn incense upon it a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations Exod. 30. 7 8. And herewith Aaron made atonement and intercessions Numb 16. 46-48 and this incense as it seems was burnt with or when their daily offerings were offered Jer. 17. 26. and 41. 5. 2 Chron. 13. 5. to make them acceptable And suâ—ely this incense was a type of the Intercession of Christ who makes Intercession for transgressors Isa 53. 12. And ever lives to make intercession for them that come to God by him and is therefâ—re able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. And as in former times at the hour of prayer to wit as it seems at the time of the Evening oblaâ—ion when the people were praying without the Priest was burning incense within that their prayers might ascend with the smoke of the incense or sweet perfume and so come up with acceptance before God Dan. 9. 21. with Luk. 1. 9-11 and Act. 3. 1. So now Jesus Christ by the sweet odours and incense of his sacrifice and intercession doth perâ—ume the prayers and praises of the Saints and so makes them acceptable to God Rev. 8. 3 4. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 13. 15 16. Whereto the Prophet David as it seems refers when he saith Let my prayer be set forth before thee we read as incense but as is put in by the Translators and so we may first thus read it with incense and the lifting up of mine hands with the evening-sacrifice Their incense and evening-sacrifice being as offered together as we have said so a type of the oblation and intercession of Christ who in the evening of the world died yea rather is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Rom. 8. 34 and so by means of his oblation and interceâ—sion we may secondarily read those words of the Psalmist as they are ordinarily read Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense c. Psal 141. 2. Maâ— 1. 11. 1. Now we may here see how we have in truth and by way of excellency and eminency what they had in the type and figure in former times they had holy ointment incense odours and so have we but ours are more excellent and wonderfully preferred before what they had under the Law 2. We may hence also understand and discern whence it
17. God honoured him also in being with him and owning and strengthening him when he was generally despised and rejected of Men Joh. 8. 54. with Isay 53. 3. In laying our sins upon him and delivering him to death for the offences of all He crowned him with honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for every Man Heb. 2. 9. with Isay 49. 6. And hath upon the account of his sufferings honoured him for the sufferings of death he hath crowned him with honour Heb. 2. 9. with Ps 91. 15. He hath raised him again from the dead Rom. 1. 4. And laid him as a good foundation of Faith and Hope for Mankind 1 Pet. 2. 4 6. Isay 28. 16. The Stone which the Builders refused and disallowed is become the Head of the Corner This is the Lord 's doing c. Psal 118. 22 23. And he is the fountain of all grace and spiritual blessings God hath given him the preeminence in all things for in him it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell Col. 1. 18 19. And he is the Bread of Life the Door of approach unto God the true Vine c. And he hâ—th preferred him above all above the glorious Angels He hath by Inheritance a more excellent Name than they Heb. 1. 4 14. Above Moses the Mediatour of the Old Testament Heb. 3. 1 6. Above Aaron the typical High Priest Heb. 5. 4. 7. He is the first-born higher than the Kings of the Earth the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Col. 1. 18. with Psal 89. 27. Rev. 1. 5. and 17. 14. Because he humbled himself and became obedient unto death the death of the Cross Therefore also God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name which is above every Name Phil. 2. 8 10. Eph. 1. 20 21. And hath put all things under his feet though yet we see not all things put under them Psal 8. 5 8. with Heb. 2. 6 8 9. Eph. 1. 22. And in due season his Horn shall gloriously and visibly be exalted with honour Psal 112. 9. with Psal 145. 5. 14. And Honour from all Creatures Divine Honour even Religious and Divine VVorship Isay 29. 13. with Mat. 15. 8 9. See notes before on v. 8. And particularly by all Men God hath committed all Judgment to him that all Men should honour the Son as they honour the Father they should honour him in hearing his word and believing on him that sent him Joh. 5. 22 24. with 2 Pet. 1. 17. and Mat. 17. 5. and by all his Saints as here he is v. 8. 10. A Son honoureth his Father Mal. 1. 6. And they that hear his word and believe on him are the Children which God hath given him And it is but meet and reasonable therefore that they should honour him not doing their own wayes nor finding their own pleasure nor speaking their own words Heb. 2. 13. Isay 58. 13. See Notes before on ch 4. v. 9. And he hath gotten him honour upon that crooked Serpent Leviathan the Devil as God did on Pharaoh Exod. 14. 17 18. In that he hath bound that strong one thorow Death destroyed him that had the power of Death and is destroying and will destroy him as to his second in due season Psal 110. 1. Heb. 10. 11 12. Oh then seeing he is worthy to receive honour let us honour him in preferring him before our chiefest joy and loving him more than our nearest Relations in this World Mat. 10. 37 38. with 1 Sam. 2. 29 30. Luke 14. 26 27 33. Let us kiss him come unto and follow him in the regeneration Ps 2. 12. Joh. 12. 26. Let us honour him with our substance and with the first-fruits of our increase Prov. 3. 9. Considering that honour is with him and he hath power to give and dispense it to others and will honour them that honour him Prov. 3. 13 16. and 4. 8. and ch 8. 6 18. 6. And glory This is near in signification to the former expression as is said before see Notes on ch 4. v. 9. And he is indeed worthy to receive glory to be highly and honourably esteâ—med To receive lustre beauty splendoâ— and majesty in the nature of Man The God of our Fathers glorified his Son Jesus Act. 3. 13. He herein glorified him in begetting and making or creating him his Son Jer. 31. 22. In acknowledging him to be his Son 2 Pet. 1. 17. In being with him and strengthening him unto and in all his services and sufferings Joh. 17. 1. In appointing him and giving him by his grace to die for our sins to taste death for every Man Joh. 12. 23 24. and ch 13. 31. Heb. 2. 9. In raising him from the dead for our justification Act. 3. 13 15. And giving all glory to him upon the account of his sufferings Joh. 17. 4 5. 1 Pet. 1. 19 21. He hath a glorious Body Phil. 3. 21. Act. 22. 11. He is a spiritual Man and hath an heavenly Image 1 Cor. 15. 44 48. A glorious Dominion and Lordship over all Creatures God hath Crowned him with glory and put all things under his feet Ps 8. 4 8. with Heb. 2. 6 9. A glorious fulness of all grace and truth Joh. 1. 14 16. with Col. 1. 18 19. and ch 2. 3 9 10. The spirit of glory rests upon him Isay 11. 1. In him is redemption righteousness eternal life yea all things that the Father hath are his Joh. 16. 15. But to this we shall have afterwards further occasion to speak in the last particular here attributed to the Lamb viz. Blessing He is gone and received up into glory 1 Tim. 3. 16. Act. 7. 55. And is set down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. and ch 8. 1. where he is and remains a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech He glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but he that said unto him Thou are my Son this day have I begâ—tten thee Heb. 5. 4 5. And God hath given this glory unto him to be a Covenant of the people a Light of the Gentiles to open the blind Eyes c. And to be the Apostle of the Believers Profession Isay 42. 6 8. Heb. 3. 1 3. And in due season he shall appear in glory Ps 102. 16. In his own glory in his Father's glory and in the glory of the holy Angels Mat. 16. 27. Mark 8. 38. Luke 9. 26. And shall sit upon the Throne of his glory Mat. 25. 31. and 19. 28. And he is worthy to receive glory from all his Angels and Saints 1 Chron. 16. 28 29. Ps 29. 12. and 96. 7 8. with Heb. 1. 6. And he hath power to give glory unto and confer it upon others upon them that come unto and follow him in the regeneration Mat. 19. 28 29. He is the Lord of glory as the owner and professor of it so the giver and dispencer of it both now and hereafter Jam.
when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful c. Rom. 1. 19 20 21. 2. And as with respect to the new Creation he hath created all things in Jesus Christ The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth a woman hath compassed a man Jer. 31. 22. and Christ is the beginning of the new ' Creation of God also Rev. 3. 14. In whom there is a dinner prepared and all things are now ready Matth. 22. 2-4 Luk. 14. 17. And if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away and behold all things are become new and all things are of God 2 Cor. 5. 14-17 18. He prepared a body for Christ laid our sins and trespasses upon him delivered him up for our offences and raised him from the dead for our justification and hath exalted him and set him on his own right hand in the Heavens and blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Jesus He loveth the son and hath given all things into his hand because he laid down his life that he might take it up again and all things that the Father hath are his Ephes 1. 3. John 3. 35. with chap. 10. 17. and chap. 16. 14 15. and in due season he will by Jesus Christ make all things new Rev. 21. 1-5 But to this we shall add no more here because we shall have more apt occasion to speak to it God assisting in chap. 5. 8 9 10. But shall especially take these words and look upon them as referring unto the first Creation and agreeing with chap. 10. 6. and chap. 14. 6-8 2. And for tby pleasure or will they are and were created This is a further reason why the Elders acknowledg he is worthy to receive glory and honour and power or a further branch of the former reason And herein is declared to us the Reason and End why all things are and were created to wit for his will and pleasure For as of him and thorow him so to him are all things To whom therefore be glory for ever Rom. 11. 35 36. For him are all things and by him are all things Heb. 2. 10. And by Christ were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth All things were created by him and for him Col. 1. 16. And for thy pleasure they are namely they subsist or consist in that order in which they are they are upheld by him in Christ and by his Providence even by his divine Power Wisdom and Goodness during his pleasure and for his pleasure he preserves them O Lord thou preservest man and beast how excellent is thy loving-kindness O God! Psal 36. 5 6 7. He disposeth the whole world Job 34. 12-17 and his counsel thereabout shall stand and he will do all his pleasure Isa 46. 10. He doth according to his will in the Army of Heaven and among the Inhabitants of the Earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him What doest thou Dan. 4. 35. Col. 1. 16 17-20 And were created to wit all things were made for his pleasure The Lord hath made all things for himself Prov. 16. 4. Quest But now what is his will and pleasure for which all things are and were created This is needful to be enquired intâ— and considered by us Answ Unto that we may give Answer and say 1. As with respect unto all creatures below and inferiour to man as they were created and are for his praise in their several stations and places and according to their natures and beings Psal 148. 3-10 and 150. 6. so they were made and are for mans use and service so in his first Creation God gave man dominion over the fish of the Sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth Gen. 1. 26 28-30 31. And after man by sin had lost that Dominion and Lordship our Lord who was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world hath restored this dominion again into the nature of man in himself Psal 8. 3-8 9. with Hebr. 2. 6-8 9. And thorow him Gods tender mercies are over all his works for the good of mankind while it is called to day Psal 145. 8 9 and 85. 10-12 and 68. 18 19. And hence after the Lord smelled a savour of rest in the sacrifice offered by Noah a type of the sacrifice of Christ Ephes 5. 2. He said unto Noah and his Sons The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every fowl of the air upon all that moveth on the earth and upon all the fishes of the Sea into your hand are they delivered every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you even as the green herb have I given you all things Gen. 9. 1 2 3. Col. 1. 20. Ephes 5. 20. 1 Tim. 4. 4 5. 2. As with respect to that part of his Creation which is rational even mankind for of intelligent creatures to wit Angels we shall not speak directly so we may say his will or pleasure in creating and preserving them was 1. Not to sin against him or be disobedient unto him who was and is their creator and preserver He is not a God not such a God as hath pleasure in wickedness Psal 5. 4. that is not his will or pleasure The lusts of sinful men and the will of God are opposite and contrary one to another as the Apostle signifieth saying That we no longer should live to the lusts of men but unto the will of God for the time past of our lives may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles where the Apostle gives us to understand That the living to the lusts of evil men is a working the will of the Gentiles who knâ—w not God but serve Devils and not the doing the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2 3. with 1 Thes 4. 5. and 1 Cor. 10. 20. And so the doing and finding our own pleasure is opposite to the doing his and delâ—ghting our selves in him Isa 58. 13 14. And the doing his will and loving the world the lusts of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are set against and the one contrary to the other 1 John 2. 15 16 17. Sâ—n is an abominable thing to him which he hates Jer. 44. 4. And he that doth it is of the Devil and not of God and the lusts of the Devil he doth do and not the will of the most pure God John 8. 44. He that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother but he is manifest to be herein a child of the Devil 1 John 3. 8-10 If we say we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness we lye and do not the truth 1 Joh. 1. 5 6. Indeed in just
and severe judgment and as a Testimony of high displeasure unto men when they will not listen unto or be ruled by him but rebel against the light vex his holy Spirit hold the Truth in unrighteousness will not hearken unto him will none of him receive not the love of the truth to be saved thereby and persist in such-like stubborn iniquity he at last gives them up to their own hearts lusts Psal 81. 8-12 13 14. gives them up to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient Rom. 1. 18-28 sends them strong delusion to believe a lye c. 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. takes away his grace from them and his spirit shall not always strive with them Matth. 13. 11 12-15 Gen. 6. 3. But it was not his end in creating them that they should sin against him nor did he punish sin with sin in mans first disobedience in eating of the forbidden fruit for he had not fore-sinned or offended And that he thus at any time punisheth sin it evidently shews unto us that it was not his will or pleasure they should so sin because he is so angry with and so punisheth men for their sin and wickedness as Elihu saith Far be it from God that he should do wickedness and from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity for the work of a man shall be render unto him and cause every man to find according to his ways yea surely God will not do wickedly neither will the Almighty pervert judgment Job 34. 10-12 Shall not the judg of all the earth do right Gen. 18. 25. And when he thus gives up men he doth not tempt them to evil but withdraws or withholds his grace and spirit which they have abused and offered despite unto Matth. 13. 12 Psal 51. 11. Hos 2. 5-9 Nor doth he thus deal with any until they have provoked him with an high hand and he is as it were non-plust and knows not what other course to take with them and is even put upon it thus to say What could have been done more what shall I do unto thee Isa 5. 1-4-7 Hos 4. 13-17 with chap. 6. 4 5 6-11 Jer. 9. 7. Let no man then say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed Then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Do not err every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning Jam. 1. 13-17 He that sits upon the throne is holy glorious in holiness his glory and beauty is holiness he is one of purer eyes than to be hold iniquity as he hath most clearly and comfortably manifested in the Cross of Christ see the notes before on ver 8. and that it was not his will that men should sin or continue to sin is also evidenced to us in that when they had sought out many inventions and were deceived by the Devil he sent his Son to save men from their sins and so to destroy not his own works but the works of the Devil even sin and its fruits 1 John 3. 8. And Christ gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world and this was according to the will of God and our Father Galit 1. 4. Oh that then we may abominate and abhor such horrid and blasphemous sayings as these are viz. That God is the Author of sin and that men do sin by his impulse c. knowing that he is a most perfect hater of sin and never created men to sin nor doth he preserve them here to this end This was not nor is his will and pleasure for which they are and were created Christ came into the world to do the will of him that sent him and it was his meat and drink to do it John 4. 34. and chap. 5. 30. and chap. 6. 38. And he always did those things that pleased him John 8. 28 29. But he never did sin neither was guile found in his mouth be loved righteousness and hated iniquity 1 Pet. 2. 22 23. Heb. 1. 9. Therefore to do or commit sin is none of his Fathers will or pleasure but that which is contrary thereto Jer. 7. 31. and chap. 32. 32-35 But contrariwise Christ came to destroy sin as hath been said and to deliver men therefrom that they should not serve it but that being dead to sin they might live to righteousness 1 John 3. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 24. and chap. 3. 18. and chap. 4. 1 23. 2 Cor. 5. 15. And this was and is Gods will and pleasure Rom. 5. and chap. 6. 1 2 3-6 2. Nor was it his will and pleasure in creating men nor is it his will in preserving them while it is the day of his grace and patience towards them that any of them should be eternally miserable and therefore he reprobated none before they were created nor before they had sinned against him fury is not in him naturally towards his creatures Isa 27. 4. but he hath a desire to the work of his hands Job 14. 15. Psal 138. 8. Job 10. 3. Though he may be angry and wrathfully displeased with men yet he is never so until men kindle his anger against them or provoke him thereunto as Moses saith The Lords anger was kindled the same time c. Numb 32. 9 10-12 And again Tâ—ey will turn away thy sâ—ns from following me that they may serve other Gods so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you and destroy thee suddenly Deut. 7. 4 And the Lord saith Ye have kindled a fire in mine anger which shall burn for ever Jer. 17. 4. and many other places of Scripture speak the same language or to the same purpose God is a righteous judg and God is angry every day Psal 7 11. but he is moved and provoked thereto from some outward cause He is indeed the Father of mercies he delighteth therein 2 Cor. 1. 3. Mica 7. 18. He is rich in grace and the fountain of mercy that proceeds and comes forth out of his bowels yea his mercies are his bowels Luke 1. 78. Jam. 5. 11. He is the God of love yea love it self to manward as he hath manifested himself to be in sending his Son the Saviour of the world 2 Cor. 13. 11. 1 John 4. 8-10-14 He is the God of grace the God of all grace 1 Pet. 5. 10. but he is never called the God of wrath or hatred his wrath or positive hatred proceeds from some external cause or reason And therefore he never willed any of his creatures to eternal destruction but for sin which was not his pleasure or will they should commit as we have before shewed Everlasting fire was no otherwise prepared for any