christians and churches do much abate and fail in their first zeal and love to Christ and his ways in a short progress of time after their conversion or from their first entertainment of the Truth Paul did much complain of the church of Galatia in this particular at their first entertainment of the truth they were so full of affections and zeal that they were even ready to pull out their eyes to do Paul service who was their great Apostle yet shortly after he complains of them as if they had entertained another Gospel and exclaims O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you It seems Ephesus was much faulty herein and so were divers others of the primitive churches and therefore the Apostles were very urgent and pressing in their preachings to maintain love alive and of the three eminent Gospel graces Faith Hope and Charity charity has the precedency First in regard it hath a more extensive object then the other two faith and hope respects only God and eternal glory as their object charity hath not only God for its object but the Saints also Secondly it hath the precedency in that love abideth in glory when faith and hope ceaseth Thirdly it is as the soul and life unto other graces faith it self is but as a dead carcass unless it be enlivened by love To know and entertain the Gospel and its truth is an excellent gift and quality yet if we do not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Receive the truth in the love thereof we may know so much as may justly condemn us for our unproficiency but not save us for want of love Indeed I could wish that this were still a paradox That the love of christians is waxed cold for it was once a hard saying to be a christian and to want love I have read that some christians of the first ages after Christ were so famous amongst their heathen adversaries for this grace of love that they were ready even to die one for another whereof their very enemies taking notice with approbation when they would commend the love of any they would say proverbially that it was like the love of christians but now O christians Quantum mut ast is ab illo It was far otherwise with you at your first coming to the truth then it is now then every one loved one the other for the truths sake At the first breaking out of light in England from under Antichristian clouds and darkness every one had his breast on fire for the promotion of truth and godliness Presbyterian Independent and Anabaptist were then all under the notion of Puritans and Non-conformists zealous for the common cause of advancement of Christ and his Gospel what is the cause that ye have now left your first love both towards God and towards one another Is God and Truth grown less lovely then at first Or were you mistaken then in the right objects of your love I rather fear of the both that the God of the world hath blinded you when ye seek to advance every one his particular interest by rearing one the other most uncharitably as bears not as christians who are meek full of bowels of compassion easily to be entreated c. Have ye not one Lord one Faith one Baptism one Spirit one Scripture one common hope of Salvation and yet look upon one the other as the Jews did on the Samaritans and that for some small differences in circumstantials of Religion It would better besuit christians to be like the good Samaritan that will be ready to pour oyl and wine into the wounds of their afflicted brethren not vinegar and gall which was the work of those that piercd Christ not of his followers and disciples Tantane Ira Fratrum Sed praestat motes componere fluctus In the next place all sorts of christians have sadly experienced the truth of this position that they have forsaken their first love Where is the love of the Presbyterian to his Geneva model as if it had been the very Elixar of all church Discipline Was he not even fire and sword against Episcopacy that stood in his way as a bar to the advancement of his Form and now Episcopacy being down and the aspect of authority benigne towards them yet how remiss and cold are they in setting up their Elders I believe they fear the Iure Divine of it and therefore will not move a foot farther without a Soveraign hand for to support it but all this shows they have much abated in their first love Next What is become of the ardent affections and frequent private and publique exercises and assemblings of the Independents Were they not the only men in the world in their first appearance that carried the face and judgement of Saints yet now how remiss and cold they are grown all see How formal or rather carnal are some of them become that were once as fire in the hearth and in the sheaf ready to warm and enflame all that came by by their ardent affections and duties Yea are not many of them that would not be satisfied otherwise but with hewen stones for the building of the Temple evidentially visible Saints for the House of the Lord now content and sit down satisfied in a parochial congregation of a mixed multitude the tenth whereof if so much be good wheat amongst the pile of chaff that answereth that part which they have for their maintenance they may account themselves most happy ◠And lastly How is the great zeal of the Anabaptists so called slaked There was a time when they would compass Sea and Land to make a proselyte at their first appearance how strict they were to Discipline and Order that they might justly be called above all others the Disciplinarians Yet now how remiss they are unto it all know by a too large toleration of errours amongst them And how flat their zeal is for the promotion of the truth all see yea strange how they are changed from their first principles who at first loved one the other as christians and for the Truths sake yet now who more worldly or haughty then they Therefore seeing ye have all come short of your duty and made a defection from your first love take the exhortation of the Spirit in the next verse Verse 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent The Spirit sets a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Memento home on the affection and zeal-fallen church of Ephesus and to re-mind her of her first state and condition when she had a greater measure of zeal and love both towards God and his Saints then now she had that that consideration might so work upon her as to make a renovation in her affections and to be-think her self of a recovery of that measure of zeal and love which once she had and bring forth such fruits
Christians is not only disaproved of by Christ but also dangerous and pernitious to their Souls welfare Christ could not give one good word of Laodicea for this very reason but in the next verse was ready to spew her out for this her remissness and mediocrity Some will neither be fast friends to Religion nor yet utterly opposite unto it a true hermaphroditical Laodicean temper But what makes them thus to hancker and halt betwen two extreames that they are neither hot nor cold In their very foreheads you may read the reason worldly intrest worldly profit worldly honours do so over-bias them that they will be partly religious and so far forth friends unto it as may get them repute and so be accounted prudent civil and honest men but for the better part of it to have the heart upright for God and the affections kindled and intense upon and for the glory of God in the day of tryals and persecutions they will not touch upon that they did not take Christ upon such account to follow him to his cross there they will leave him as long as he provides loaves for them they will follow him but when he is dragged to the Judgment Hall as our true summer-bird at the approach of winter they fly into their holes for security and will not appear more for Christ until he returns with a sun shine and spring of prosperity upon them These are our moderate politique state christians who are neither hot nor cold true Hermophrodites in Religion that will not move a foot farther in matters thereof then what the State dictates to them If the Prince as in the days of Q. Mary command Popery Popery shall up for them if a Q. Elizabeth succeed all presently reform and become Protestants if she will have Prelacy in the church maintained there will be found assertors enough of its jure divino if Presbitery shall take the Throne all of our State christians will presently fall in to the Geneva and Scottish garb if Independency shall get at top presently our Laodiceans run to New England for a model if that again come out of fashion they are ready to run to Amsterdam for a new pattern So indifferent are such Laodicean christians in matters of Religion that whatsoever form or intrest of all sorts shall be uppermost they will be sure to be of that side and this proceeds from their luke-warm temper and defect or want of heat or true zeal in the Religion they profess if they were zealous in any form though unsound yet they would more closely stick unto it Paul whiles he was a persecuting Saul was zealous though in a bad case So the Jews had a zeal unto God though not according to knowledg Rom 10.1 The Papists to this day continue zealous to their Superstitions and will Worship Only those that pretend highest and to be raised out of the graves of Antichrist and to come to a higher pitch of Reformation then any other christian Professors in the world are like true Laodiceans neither hot nor cold I believe that Master Brightman though not Prophetically yet prudentially enough likned and applied the state of our English church as a true counterpane of its pattern to Laodicea in the times when he wrote for we may observe still the same natural temper in her children at present as he observed in their fore-fathers in his time they are of that mediocrity that they care not what Religion they follow so their intrests honors and estates are secured and maintained I confess they are willing to admit of part of the truths of Christ in Doctrines but for the ministration of Discipline Governments and Ministerial Functions they are very well still contented to retain them that come from Egypt and Babylon and not from Christ and his holy church therefore they are to look to it least they are spewed out as their fore-fathers the Prelates for their Laodicean temper and half Reformation which hitherto they have but as yet attained to Object But here it may be said May not christians be too hot too zealous in their intentions towards things of their Religion were not a moderater carriage and temperature more commendable in them and more advantageous to the work of the Gospel then an over fiery zealous one To answer this Question first understand whereof zeal is compounded and that is first of an intention of the affections or an enlarged love on the thing beloved Secondly Of jealousie which is with great indignation and grief when an injury true or supposed is offered to the thing so fervently loved So this affection of zeal is not simply good or evil but is an indifferent passion found in men both good and evil for the Apostles were zealous and so were the Pharisees Christians were zealous so were the Jews so some of the reformed are zealous in their ways so many also of the Papists but that that denominates zeal either good or evil is first in respect of its object godly zeal must have the knowledg of a right object it must be truly God's glory God's worship God's truth God's will and doctrine either in part or in the whole and that indubitably that denominates a godly zeal A zeal to God out of Christ as the Iews had will not suffice to call it a truly godly zeal because it was not according to knowledg nor having an adequate and compleat object 't is true their zeal towards God was good and commendable in them but because it was not guided by sound knowledg it was blind and erroneous and therefore vitious for want of a compleat object Secondly It grieveth for the wrong truly done and not supposed as the Iews thought was done by the preaching of the Gospel unto the glory of God and his true worship True godly zeal must have right ends it ever affecteth and seeketh the honour of God and not self praise and vain glory Examples of this true godly zeal we have in Christ when he whipped the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Joh. 2.15 and in Phineas Numb 25.8 11. in Paul and Barnabas when they rent their cloathes Act. 14.19 and Moses when he broke the Tables Exod. 23. and in Paul for the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.11 and for the Galatians Gal. 4.19 But many for want of right objects right ends and other due ingredients have missed of true zeal as Demetrius his zeal for Diana Act. 19. whom he ought not to have loved so Paul a Pharisee was zealous but he loved that that he should not have loved that is his own righteousness by the Law as the rest of the Pharisaical Iews did Jehu was zealous but failed in the manner 2 King 10.6 The Apostles out of zeal wishing fire upon the Inhabitants of Samaria Luk. 9.54 failed in the end of their zeal it being not out of pure affection to God's glory or out of charity unto their neighbours but out of revenge and impatience as from Bonarges Sons of
Thunder and how zealous and hot are the Papists this day for their scarlet Strumpet and her fornications which ought not to be loved and therefore no true zeal but spurious and impious The reason of all this is that a mans intentions are never good be they never so highly pretending thereunto but when they are built upon a good warrant to wit the Word of God and referred to right ends namely the praise of God and the good of his church and people Now to return to answer the doubt proposed having cleared what true zeal is with the circumstances thereof I answer That we cannot be too zealous when a right object and right ends are proposed Paul in Rom. 12.11 exhorteth men to be fervent in the Spirit hot boyling hot in spiritual affairs What think ye of Paul when he opposed Peter to his face in the business of circumcision and would not give way to his dissimulation no not for an hour so zealous was he for the truth of God God is so zealous of his own honour and glory that he smote Uzzah 2 Sam. 6 7. for putting only his hand unto the Ark out of an ignorant zeal to save it from falling unto the ground one would have thought that God would have commended his zeal and spared his ignorance herein but being not according unto knowledge but contrary to the command of God he suffered for it No good intentions and meanings will make that action or duty good or lawful be it ever so speciously religious and gracious that is not warranted by the rule of the Scriptures the best duties for want of this scantling are turned into sin And as God is zealous of his glory so he makes his Ministers like himself Heb. 1.7 He makes his Ministers a flame of fire I would have all indifferent lukewarm moderate State-christians to consider with themselves whether could the Apostles and first Disciples of Christ ordinarily propagate the Gospel thorow the world if they had been all of an indifferent lukewarm Laodicean temper Christ himself was thought by the people to be one too hot that his zeal was beyond his judgement Mark 3.21 and therefore said He was beside himself Paul was also accounted mad not only by Festus for his zeal towards God Acts 26.24 but also by the christian Corinthians 2 Cor. 5 13. So Michel scoft at David as one of the fools for his zeal yet though they and other Saints of God were vilified and reproached by the ignorant world yet their zeal have laid that corner stone and foundation of salvation that all the gates of hell shall not prevail against it What think you will the scarlet whore that sitteth as a Queen be dethroned or Antichrist be discovered and overthrown by a moderate lukewarm Laodicean State Religion and Temper Surely the first Beginners and Founders of our Reformation were of another spirit then we in these days are of or else it would have made but a slow procedure for want of this true zeal our Reformation is at a stand and in spiritual growth non progredi est regredi But I would still be understood that it must be a zeal mixed with the former ingredients and with sound knowledge that it may be as an eye and a guide to direct and conduct it aright both in the things to be loved and in the manner and ends of their love or else zeal not rightly regulated may be dangerous and pernicious There are three sorts of people that offend and fail in their zeal First Those that are stark cold and have no zeal at all to Gods glory or his worship as the profane worldling is Secondly Those indifferent lukewarm christians that are neither hot nor cold as those Laodiceans were and as the Israelites of old halting between God and Baal 1 Kings 18.21 The third sort are They whose zeal is blind void of sound knowledge and godly wisdom who covering their own carnal affections with the cloak of glorifying of God rush on inconsiderately into many evil and unlawful actions Some on this pretence endeavour again in these our days to set up Antichrist in his Throne among us Others on the other hand for want of this sound knowledge joyned to their zeal under pretence of pulling down Antichrist and the Scarlet whore they endeavour to undermine and pull down all Magistracy Ministery Scriptures and all the Ordinances in Christ's churches whatsoever whereof this age of ours affords as many lamentable examples as any former whatsoever therefore let every one be instant with God in prayer to add wisdom and sound knowledge unto his zeal Secondly I answer That in controverted opinions of Religion that lye deep and dark whether they are the will of God or not moderation in such things is most commendable and let every one walk as he hath attained unto for I am of opinion that all controverted points and mysteries in the Word of God will not be made manifest unto us until the day of the revelation of all things when Christ the great Key-bearer of the House of David shall appear to open all the sealed books and no man shall shut again and so that Scripture in such things may be rightly applyed Be not righteous over much that is be not over zealous hot or fervent for them But for plain obvious and perspicuous commands and truths of God as whether Christ's precepts and commands or Antichrist's are to be followed and embraced our zeal and intentions here cannot be too hot we cannot possibly here admit of a Syncratism or a mean as worldly wise Cassander would endeavour between Papist and Protestant either God must be God or Baal must be God either Christ must have the Throne or else Antichrist must reigne they cannot possibly inhabite in one Temple God and Dagon will not correspond no degree of zeal herein will suffice but what is the highest and aimeth at perfection the defect whereof either that of coldness which is more remote or that of lukewarmness which is nearer is equally faulty in this particular either let us be altogether Romish or altogether Reformed either fully zealous for Christ and his ways or else cold thereunto for no mean will serve turn Therefore Christ in the next words says to lukewarm Laodicea I would thou wert cold or hot That is I would thou wert resolved one way or other I rather thou wert any thing then what thou art I would as rather thou wert of no Religion as of this mongrel uncertain hotchpotch Religion that thou art of From these words Note Observ That a luke-warm Religion is equally if not more displeasing unto God then irreligion or profaness itself Christ here prefers coldness the most remote degree in Religion before a nearer luke-warmness Christ wished Laodicea either to be hot zealous in the things of God or else cold that is dead strange and alienated to the things of God rather then indifferent and lukewarm as she was It is as good and there
in himself is too weak for such a work may be fitted in some measure from thy self who art the Wisdom of God and to whom the Revelation of all things is given of the Father because thou art found worthy O do thou enlighten his minde with true Light from above And remove all impediments his iniquities out of thy sight by the washing of thine own bloud then thou maist discover thy minde unto thy poor Servant being hallowed by thy self to a fruitful reception thereof Grant O Christ that by thy favour and the guidance of thy good Spirit he may diligently consider the misteries of this Book and that unto sobriety and declare it forth unto others that the Church of God may receive some advantage by him And if thy Servant O Lord hath herein through weakness built any hay and stubble upon thy precious structure O let it be consumed but so as that thy Servant may be saved in the great day of the Lord God Almighty but if any of thine receive good hereby to thee for it as most due which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty be praise glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen A Catalogue of diverse Questions in this Treatise discussed WHether this Book of Revelation be of divine authority pag. 1 Whether John the divine the subordinate Author thereof be the same with John the Apostle and Evangelist or some other Person 5 Whether the Title of this Book viz. The Revelation of John the Divine be John's own or some other Persons 7 What is meant by the Christian wish or salutation grace and peace unto you 19 How comes John to wish grace and peace to the Churches whilst being Churches of Christ they had this grace and peace aforehand 19 Whether Christ shall have two last commings to Iudgment 25 Whether Christians when they are called unto it are bound in duty to suffer for the profession of all the truths of God 31 and 112 Whether the Lords day mentioned Rev. 1.10 wherein John received his Visions be the first day of the week or not 33 How shall we know Divine raptures extasies or Visions from diabolicall the Divel being Gods ape herein 34 Doth not the Divel often foretell the truth of events 37 Did not Satan tell Saul in that apparition of Samuel in the 1 Sam. 28 19. That he should be delivered with all his host into the hands of the Philistines and that he and his Sons on the morrow should be all with Samuel that is dead and was not that prediction truly fullfilled 38 Whether that Samuel which the Witch of Endor raised unto Saul was the true Prophet Samuel or the Divel in his shape and likeness or otherwise some cousening consort and confederate of the cousening Pythonists 38 39 Whether Christ according to his manhood appeared unto John Rev. 1 13. when he appeared to him as one like unto the Son of man 43 Whether there can be any separation between the deity and manhood of Christ 44 Whether the two edged sword that proceeded out of Christs mouth is to be only spiritually understood and not matterially also 50 51 Whether the blessed heavenly Spirits and Angels or glorified Persons after the Resurrection do or shall see the essential glory of God 53 Do not Angels see Gods face in Heaven and did not Moses and Jacob see God and talked with him face to face 54. and do not divines hold that in Heaven we enjoy the beatifical Vision 55 Whether Christ according to his divine nature was impassible 58 Why John is commanded particularly to write to each Church of the seven apart 68 Whether a sound Church may censure a corrupted Church 69 70 Whether by Angel of the Church of Ephesus be meant the Metropolitane over the rest of the Bishops of Ephesus and whether the Angel of Ephesus was the Metropolitane over the other six sister Churches 71 Whether the Angel of the Church of Ephesus is to be interpreted the Presbytery 72 What gives unto our works the denomination of good works And whether any of our works are simply and strictly to be called good and perfect 79 and 80 In whom lyes the power to try judge and examine false Apostles false teachers and their Doctrines 83 and 196 Whether the jurisdiction of the Church be above the word 84 Whether wicked Persons or unsound in the faith are to be admitted or being admitted to be tolerated in the fellowship of the Church 85 86 c. Whether any else besides true and real Saints or believers in the judgment of charity are to be admitted into Church fellowship 86 87 Whether the judicials or ceremonials of Moses are any foundation for a Gospel ordinance 88 89 Whether Baptisme is administred with best satisfaction of conscience upon infants 88 Whether it must be true justifying faith or dogmatical only that entitles to Baptisme 90 91 Whether the Apostolical Office be ceased to the Church or not and whether it was only tyed unto the first twelve 92 93 94 95 Whether the first 12 Apostles were but of equal authority with other ordinary Officers as Pastors Elders c. 95 Whether the gift of miracles does continue unto the Church 97 How shall we know or try false Apostles from the true 101 102 c. To what Church shall one repaire to receive a sound and orthodox call for the minâ—stery of the Gospell 105 106 c. How should the first reformers have a right call to the ministery if they â— had it not from Rome 108 Whether the Presbytery of England have a right call from the late Bishops as true Presbyters 110 VVhether Believers complaints for want of wills to repent be just or not 118 Whether it be a Legal Teaching to denounce wrath and Judgments on non-amendment or for want of Repentance 119 VVhether Repentance is to be joyned to Christ in some causality unto salvation or joyntly with him somwhat subordinate to that great end 120 And whether Faith and Repentance be the condiiion properly so taken of the Covenant of Grace 121 VVhat is meant by the Spirit that speaks unto the seven Asian Churches 126 What is meant by the Tree of Life and what is meant by Paradice 130 Whether Paradice and Heaven above be all one 131 Whether God tempteth man And whether he tempteth unto evil or sin 143 Doth not many Scriptures say That God tempteth man 144 Whether God hath a hand or efficiency in and about sin 146 Why doth God often afflict his own children with so sharp tribulations And whether the justice of God can be vindicated in that particular 149 VVhether great corruptions nullifies a Church 173 What is the reason that full Reformation cannot be attained 171 172 How is Gods justice vindicated if he smites godly and ungodly together for the sins of the wicked among them 179 VVhether Christ received now by faith to justification and absolution be the hidden Manna and white Stone promised Rev. 2.17 to
Disciples should be offended because of him and that they should be cast out imprisoned reviled and suffer many persecutions for his names sake And the ground or reason of all this is from that promise in Gen. 3. That God would set enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent and this enmity hath abided ever since and will ever abide between those two mystical seeds until the seed of the woman Christ and his members shall become absolute conquerors in the binding up the old serpent who is the father of all enmities and mischiefs This informeth God's people that it should not seem strange unto them when the world and their enemies do rage against them Here a question may come in Whether christians when they are called unto it are bound in duty to suffer for the profession of all the Truths of God To clear this question I shall premise briefly That Truths are either about fundamentals or circumstantials Fundamentals are such as without the knowledge thereof we cannot ordinarily be saved and they are conversant either about the very being of a Saint and Christian or secondly about the well-being in preserving and building up this Christian in his holy faith and these are called principles or rudiments of Religion Heb. 6.1 You know no one can proceed to be an Artist in any Art or Science or come to any perfection therein without some certain rules and principles to proceed by so none can become a true Christian or Artist in that heavenly Science of Christianity without some first laid principles And amongst those Fundamentalls which are necessary to the Being of a christian I believe as some have been too large in the description of their Fundamentals so some have been too narrow and therefore seeing they are not precisely determined by any universal assembly of christians but are left to be gathered up here and there in the Word of God by parcels I shall not be so presumptuous to define their certain number only I say thus much That that Creed which is called the Apostolical setting a qualified sense on that article of Christ's descent into hell to be the exactest square and rule of principles that relates unto the very Being of a Christian that is this day extant and he that is not ready to suffer for the profession thereof is not worthy the name of a Christian Now secondly other Fundamentals are about the well-being of a christian and such are all the Ordinances of the Gospel As Baptism Lord's Supper Prayer Thanks-givings all Church Orders and Fellowships Preaching Exhorting Reproving Overseeing and the like And if it be in our power we are rather to forbear the use of one of them then to defile our souls or consciences under corrupt administrations of them but if at any time we were called to suffer for the essential truth of them we are bound to suffer and to bear them a testimony as a part of the Truth and Word of God But for every opinion that arises about the right administrations of the latter or manner of understanding of the former principles which are but the circumstantials of Religion to set bonds upon the conscience therein it savours rather of a spirit of contention heat and passion then of found judgement and christian wisdom This is to make hard knots where there is none and Christ calls his yoke easie this were to make it burdensom and intollerable The substantial part of Christian Religion is plain and easie and the blinde may walk therein and a lamb may wade thorow This is life eternal that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 It is true there are mysteries high questions and deep things of God in the word these are for the exercise of our spirits and gifts not of our faith no further then as part of the revealed mind of God and therefore we believe them to be truth though we understand them not which are reserved until the day of the revelation of all things when we shall know as we are known and when all our ignorances and imperfections shall be done away This sets a check upon some hot spirits of these times that rather then lose or part with their wilde opinions or let them lie unvented would break all the bonds of peace charity and communion amongst Christians and so utterly deprive the churches of Christ of all the benefit which otherwise their gifts and parts might stand in stead for I doubt all sorts of christians of our times are too far baptized into this errour and Satan hath too great a stroke in it to divide the hearts of Christians about circumstantials when as they hold one and the same fundamentals joyntly together The Lord in mercy to his churches remedy this great evil and sin of our times Vers 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice as of a Trumpet In the Greek copie it is no more but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was in the Spirit which in Beza's translation is rendred correptus in Spiritu I was rapt in Spirit It was indeed a rapture of spirit an extasie wherein John received this Vision and so it hath been with all the Prophets of old they were acted by the Spirit in all their visions and prophesies they were lift up above themselves and out of themselves when they were to have cognizance of Divine things and this was by the Eternal Spirit of God working mightily in their spirits Observ That the Spirit of God does as it were set a violence on those persons he employs about the high mysteries and discoveries of his choicest Truths Paul that great light of the Gentiles he had his raptures into the third heaven whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell Exekiel when he was to receive those high Visions he oft reports of the Spirit entring into him and taking him up cap. 3.12 and 2.2 John for his better accomplishment to receive those divine Visions he is here said to be rapt in Spirit And the reasons of this is First That he might be the better enabled to take a clear and full view of those divine discoveries which were about to be shown unto him When we would show one things distinctly we use to place him up on high for the better sight Secondly That he might have satisfaction in his own spirit that those his visions were from God seeing he had so extraordinary taste of the Spirit in the first place he might well conclude he was now as it were to become the mouth of the Spirit unto the churches Lastly That his thoughts and heart might have been sequestred from things below and his contemplation raised higher on things divine as a true Prophet of God ought to have Another Note from hence is as a corrollary to the former That when Christ sets up any eminent Officer or Light in
one stroke whereas we generally grant that the Law which is moral natural is both divine spiritual our duty and perpetual there is no relaxation to the least Iota of it Secondly We grant the Judicial Law of Moses to be very useful in many particulars for the use and imitation of the church under the Gospel but for the ceremonial part of that Law it is quite dead unto us and is part of that hand-writing of Ordinances which is nailed unto Christ's cross and to give a restauration and resurrection unto it either in its self or in allusions drawn from it pressed home upon the conscience is to add Circumcision unto the Gospel and in effect to lay a yoke upon the necks of the disciples which we nor our fathers were ever able to bear and so by consequence to make Christ of none effect For if the Ceremonial Law and the Judaical Judicial Law as particularly relating to that Nation be void and non-obliging unto christians under the Gospel as all sound Protestants confess and is this day made good and avowed by their general practise for what sort of christians do strictly bind themselves up to the Judicials of Moses but do pick and chuse as they please For as I said but now many good things are in them both useful and imitable for Christian Commonweals to adhere to but to make them of absolute necessity as cogent upon the conscience I know no sound church or teachers does so undertake to become its Advocate and if any should be so heterodox I am resolved and should give it as advice to others to hold fast that liberty wherein Christ hath made us free And if the Judicial Law together with all its Ceremonials as all sound Divines grant and confess and practise accordingly be null and void and non-constringent unto christians then how unequal and unjust it is to make it a foundation or corner stone to build any Gospel ordinance thereon For the Basis being unsound and sandy the structure cannot hold but must needs fall to the ground together and all such conclusions as are extracted from such unsound premises are rather exotique then concentrique with the Word of truth For what have we to do with Legal Types and Shaddows which are long since putrified in their graves And we may say of them as Mary said to Christ concerning her brother Lazarus Lord by this it stinketh We have the Anti-type Christ himself the true substance of all Judaical Types and Shaddows who is the sole Lord of his house and Head of his church who of common elements of Water Bread and Wine by vertue of his Institution hath made them unto us Spiritual water of Regeneration and Spiritual symbols of his Flesh and Blood which are mystically and Sacramentally communicated to every worthy receiver and this Lord as a faithful Legislator hath declared his will about those Ordinances about the manner of the administrations together with the subjects thereof and though some assert that the truth hereabout lies deep and of difficult discerning and I believe it true as unto them and those by reason of the great dust they themselves raise about it as the Fox in the Fable that went to sweep the house with his tail who in stead of cleansing the house made it more filthy by the dust he raised about it but for my part I conceive these two great Gospel ordinances to be plain and clear to plain and simple hearted christians in all the necessary circumstantials thereof as about the manner of their administrations the qualification of the subjects c. for these Ordinances were not instituted alone for philosophical christians but were also subjected to the cognizance and for the edification of all sorts of christians that were not Academicks and therefore their significancy obvious unto all in all such particulars that makes but a reasonable enquiry thereunto and therefore I should judge such as Sophisters and vain Janglers as go about to darken the truth of those two great Gospel lights or Sacraments by analogical arguments levied from the Judicials or Ceremonials of Moses to support them withal or to evidence their truth either in themselves or in any circumstantials thereof whereas they are sufficiently supported and virtuated by a clear light in themselves to wit their own genuine Institutions And here rightly may be appplyed that of the Poet Ne te quesiveris extra And for him that is otherwise minded Cre dat Judeus Apella Non ego But to return to M. Morice from whose answer I have somwhat digressed I shall take leave to present him with few arguments out of that learned M. Baxter being my self very conscious to be Impar congressus Achilli In his book for Infant Baptism against M. Bedford p. 299. this argument of his offers it self If both in the Institution and every example of Baptism through all the Bible the first grace be prerequisite as a condition then the Ordinance was not instituted for the confirming of that first grace but in the Institution and every example of Baptism through all the Bible the first grace is prerequisite as a condition Therefore the Ordinance was not instituted to confer it By the first Grace it is his own words I still mean that Grace which consisteth in a real change of the soul whether habitual or actual or if you will call it seminal or radical you may By prerequisite as a condition I mean either in the party or another for him The force of the consequence is evident in that otherwise Baptism should be instituted to give men that which is pre-required in them and so which they have already as to all them that are capable of it The Antecedent is undeniable as might be manifested by a recital of the particular Texts could we stay so long upon it John required a profession of repentance in those he baptized Jesus first made them Disciples and then by his Apostles baptized them John 4.1 The solemn Institution of it as a standing Ordinance to the Church which tells us fully the end is in Matth. 28.19 20. Go and Disciple me all Nations Baptizing them c Now for the aged a Disciple and a Believer are all one Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Acts 2.38 Repent and be baptized every one c. 41. They that gladly received the Word were baptized Acts 8.12 13. The Samaritans believed and were baptized both men and women Simon himself believed and was baptized Acts 8.36 37. If thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest be baptized And he answered I believe c. Acts 9. Paul believed upon Ananias instruction and then was baptized Acts 10.47 48. and 16.15.33 and 18.8 and 19.4 5 c. Thus far M. Baxter in this place And to see his clearness herein is admirable and what advantage a learned man hath when he hath Truth on his side Which argument is able though by him managed there to another end
denied the instrumentality of his Spirit be sure that in stead of a Zion such will erect a Babel and being ignorant where the green pastures of the Gospel lies they will like idle Shepherds either starve the sheep of their flocks or at least poyson them with unwholsome herbage And these I account as sufficient rules to try and examine false Apostles and Teachers by and to find them liars Object But an Objection may here arise from him that hath the first call of abilities from God That if I count it so necessary for him to denominate him Orthodox in his call to have the additional call of the church also But then saith he to what church shall I repair to receive this call seeing there are so many that are pretenders to be the true and right churches of Christ and that the alone ordaining authority is in them and not in others This is indeed locus lubricus a slippery question and I should be loth to deal with it lest I should offend the contrary minded by ventilating my judgement herein but I profess ingeniously it was neither men nor parties self interests nor by-affections that did lead me first to this undertaking but only the general good of christians unto which the Lord moved my heart with much singleness of Spirit being clearly unbyassed and not so over-much engaged to any of the new parties of these times but that I can reserve my judgement free to close with truth wheresoever I can find it And therefore I think it not amiss but to prosecute my first intendment in the singleness of heart to endeavour to clear up truth according to the scantle of my judgement not as walking in the clouds but in plainness and perspicuity though for my reward I may have his hire that traced truth so near at the heels that had his teeth dashed out for his pains but if I be a fool herein yet being reputed a fool for the promotion of truth it will be some comfort and if I suffer loss herein yet this consideration will consolate Magnis tamen excidit Ausis First then to the business Understand that the word Church in Scripture is ordinarily taken to avoid all criticizing upon the word to be the company of the faithful gathered out of all Nations by the ministry of the Word and Spirit and this I conceive to be the genuine definition of the church which may abundantly be made good both by good authority and Scripture Now this church is either more improperly first called the invisible church or secondly more properly the visible church The invisible church comprehends only the elect and seeing their number to us are unknown therefore they are denominated invisible But secondly The visible church is either to be taken for the visible universal catholique church or secondly for a visible particular political church Now the question is concerning the church in this last notion for 't is apparent the invisible church as invisible hath not to do in visible and outward ordinances Neither secondly the visible universal church can by themselves or others their representatives convene for the institution of Officers for how can it stand with conveniency or with the least shew of reasonableness that all the churches of Christ dispersed and planted in the various and far distant corners and Ilands of the world should either by themselves or their representing Officers meet together in one catholique assembly for the disposing and conferring of all mediate calls and Offices And therefore Christ hath ordained that All wise order and gubernation in and over his mystical body the church that every part of this universal body I mean every particular christian assembly of the church catholique for every particular is part of the whole should have within their own limits and jurisdiction a full power to exercise all the offices and ordinances which Christ hath given and instituted for the good and edification of his church unto the end of the world Neither is the church to be called catholique in respect of any her Officers for we know no such office since the first Apostles that were so extraordinary gifted as to have the denomination of Catholique authority over the universal church though they may be accounted to have Jus ad rem fit to be officers of any parts of the catholique church and so to have a potential right thereunto yet actual they have not before their particular calls does invest them into Jus in re as well as their gifts and abilities does to Jus ad rem But the profession of that catholique universal faith which is one and the same in all churches over the whole world that gives denomination to the universal or catholique church therefore the results and conclusions of combined Churches Provincial or National may be only admitted as prudentially binding and obliging as Ecclesiastical Laws and Canons but not as having a divine authority stamped upon them though agreeable to the divine truth it self so that such constitutions are to be received and embraced not solely virtute authoritatis convocation is sed virtute veritatis propositae which if the same conclusions were enjoyned by a particular christian political church were to be received by all of that church not only for the truths sake therein but in submission to the divine authority of the church that commands and institutes them Such is the difference between prudential Ecclesiastique Edicts and Ecclesiastique divine Institutions the one is humane and binding only prudentially the other is divine and obligeth conscienciously These considerations being cleared I come to answer the question to what particular visible church must a candidate apply himself for a mediate authoritative call and mission to receive it rightly and according to the mind of God and satisfaction of a good Conscience I answer and take leave here first to distinguish and take notice between the bene esse and the esse of a call There may be particular churches which I cannot deny but to be truly churches of Christ but not true ones that is they may have being in Christ by faith as branches in the Vine yet mixed with much rottenness and unsoundness and as a leprous person is a man yet a sorry one so a church holding the faith which is as the soul and life thereof yet entertaining much corruption and errour may be truly called a christian church but a sad one So the Ministerial call does answer the constitution of the churches from whence they proceed It s observable that the off-springs constitution do follow the parents temperature strong issues are not to be expected of sickly parents Fortes creantur fortibus as Seneca so in politique bodies of particular churches if they are found and healthy in the faith their off springs are strong and healthy also then their officers and ordinances will be lively efficacious and virtual If ootherwise be with them they will lose much of their vigour life and vertue and
as in sickly bodies have much to do to keep life and soul together Hence I assert a person may receive a call from divers particular churches but the more sound and Orthodox the church is from whence it is derived the more orthodox and sound is the call though in a corrupted church there may be the true essentials of all offices and calls yet not so virtual and with that satisfaction of conscience as in a more sound and undefiled one But for the particular church of Rome as now constituted cannot be a perfect church to this end nay I much question whether she hath not by her abounding abominations false doctrines and idolatries lost the very essence of a church of Christ and so by consequence the essence of all church offices and ordinances also A wife and spouse when she turns a harlot she loseth the priviledges of a wife and ipso facto virtually becomes a cast-out and divorced So the church of Rome though by some too favourably acknowledged to be truly a church though not a true one having not only forsaken her first love but having committed adultery and spiritual fornication with the Kings of the earth and the inhabitants of the earth being made drunk with the wine of her fornication Rev. 17.2 now she that hath played the part of so notorious a harlot as that she is entituled in Scripture v. 5. The mother of harlots and abominations of the earth the great Whore Babylon the great c. how such a church or rather antichristian Synagogue should give an essence to christian officers and ordinances it cannot enter into my judgement or conscience to conclude though otherwise extensive enough in charity to erroneous and backsliding churches and ready to acknowledge and approve whatsoever of truth and God is in them But that which is most admirable to consider in this adulterate Romish church is that God hath so far infatuated her spiritual reason and understanding that of all those offices and officers we read in the Gospel that Christ hath instituted for the work of his Ministery and perfecting of the Saints we can hear but of one to wit Bishops and that too with most abundant Prelatical corruptions in the whole Apocryphal catalogue of the officers of the Synagogue of Rome where is it asserted in Scripture of a secondary monstrous head of the church to be a Pope Where shall you read of those Princely Cardinals in the whole Treasury of God's Word In what page of his word shall you find the Lord-like Titles of Archbishops Lord Abbots Archdeacons c Where shall we find it recorded in holy Writ of all the rest of the rabble and supernumerary officers of this harlot church as Deans Canons Prebends Surrogates Priests Abbots Abbesses Friers Nuns Doctors Proctors Sumners cum multis aliis c And again hath not this adulteress instead of those spurious Issues spewed out of her bosome the sound and orthodox offices and officers of Christ As where shall you hear in all her Egyptian or Babylonish Territory the sound of those Gospel officers as Pastors Teachers Elders Bishops rightly qualified c Therefore sure shame unto all such that will own a derivation of office and call from such a church that hath not only banished such officers out of her jurisdiction as are truly Christ's but is become her self an adulteress and the mother of harlots and also the Throne of Antichrist and yet if any for all this will endeavour to avouch their calls and missions good as unto the essentials thereof from the church of Rome they must in the first place maintain that she is truly a church of Christ as unto the essence at least and to separate and depart from such a church I know not how they can defend it without sin therefore either be so ingenious as to acknowledge to be a true essential christian church and justifie your calls therefrom and hold communion with her or else acknowledge her to be the Synagogue of Satan and of Antichrist together with all her dependencies of missions calls and ordinances which at best are but antichristian and therefore worthily to be rejected removed and loathed of all true christian hearts Besides we have a command for it Come out of her my people and I pray how shall we depart or come out of her if we communicate with her in her holy things Indeed ingenious M. Baxter affirms if the Pope be Antichrist the case is clear as the good Bishops Downam Jewel c. hath evinced See his Worcestershire agreement p. 69 and 70. Object But it may be objected How then should the first Reformers that fell off from Rome have a right call to the Ministerial offices of the church if they had it not from that church from which they departed I answer Surely they never owned their call from Rome from whence they had departed and had manifested to be the seat of Antichrist but withal assert that their call was som what extraordinary and som what ordinary God in that time of spiritual darkness moved most powerfully and vigorously on the hearts of the first Restorers as Wickliffe Husse Luther c. and gave them such a call of abilities and courage that was not ordinary in that great first undertaking and breaking forth of light Secondly He gave them the ordinary call of their respective churches to be their Pastors Teachers c. So being both abilitated and called of God and man they had a true and justifiable call to the Ministery of Christ If any one say the Ministerial office must precede in order before the Being of the church I grant that the church cannot be called or gathered without a precedent officer for How shall they hear without a Preacher Or how shall they preach unless they be sent But withal rejoyn and super-add that in the first constitution of churches extraordinary calls did supply all wants otherwise so I am of opinion it may be granted that in so miserable collapsed church estate as the Antichristian darkness in the times of the first Reformation was God did supply not with ordinary gifts only those that he employed in that work of the first Reformation and in absence of the ordinary call God gave them an additament of parts and gifts not ordinary which was to be observed in all their constant course and Ministery carried on with a Spirit of extraordinary courage and abilities Witness that saying of Luther when he was advised by some of his friends in respect of danger that he should abstain from a Diet wherein he promised to give his adversaries a conference he answered if there were as many divels at the Diet as there were tyles in the City he would not fear them but would among them But in rightly constituted churches the ordinary call is not to be neglected but to be attended to as a positive Law of God indispensable and not in the least to be slighted but where God hath dispensed
sacrificing the Saints which they term heretiques or schismatiques and troublers of their peace and union but when you meet such a fiery persecuting spirit in any that pretend to Christ judge of it whence it is by these Scriptures Gal. 5.20 Col. 3.12 13. So great hath been the malice of false Prophets and false Teachers ever against the true Saints that they have never rested till they have got their blood shed It was the Pope and his false Prelates and Priests that first filled all Europe with blood it was the same cursed progeny that brought so many precious souls to the stake and faggot in Queen Maries days otherwise of her self as History testifies of nature good enough Quere But it may here be queried for what things ought we to suffer with patience and constancy and not to faint under the burden thereof I have partly formerly answered this question in the ninth verse of the first chapter I shall here add one word more for the rectifying the judgment and keeping the conscience undefiled herein First Know that every soul is strictly obliged to observe all the Laws of God whether Moral Natural or Positive and to undergo all sufferings whatsoever rather then to dishonour God by the breach of the former or neglect his worship by the contempt of the latter We are not only bound under persecutors to keep the conscience undefiled in not committing gross sins as Idolatry c. but also we are obliged to perform all our positive christian duties though we suffer for it as we find that Daniel gave a testimony in this case though to the hazard of persecution to extremity and would not forbear his three times a day solemn prayers and that upon his knees in his chamber and his windows open towards Jerusalem though he knew his enemies might by that means surprize and accuse him and cause him to be cast into the Den of Lions yet did he hold himself bound daily to the Law of outward Worship though the looking to Jerusalem was but a ceremony ordained by God upon Solomon's prayer 1 Kings 8.9 Also the Macchabean Worthies did not think that persecution did or could discharge them from the strict observing even of the Ceremonial Law of not eating Swines flesh but for it endured all extremity of torments as the Story relates and for it are justly ranked among the Worthies of the old Testament who lived and died in faith Heb. 11. So jealous is God not only for the preservation of his Moral Laws but even of those Ceremonial and Ritual Laws that after he hath discovered his Will about them and commands them they forthwith become morally positive Laws and obligent until their repeals from the same authority are manifested and cleared Therefore by this Judge what a lax and loose Religion does Hobbs his Leviathan prescribe unto us to submit to any Religion that the chief or soveraign Magistrate shall dictate to us and that it is not christians duty to suffer for any Article but for that that Jesus Christ is the Messias so subjecting almost the whole will of God in morals and positives unto the will of man But as to this let us like true christians pray Libera Domine nos a malo Verse 4. Nevertheless I have somwhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love We have heard the vertues and graces of the Church of Ephesus and how she had a just and honourable approbation for them yet notwithstanding there is a tang in the end which shows some defection in her and after all her commendations there is a Nevertheless follows close in the heels thereof with somwhat to be said against her just as it is often said of the good Kings of Israel in the book of Kings That they walked and did uprightly in the sight of God as David the King but withal there is added a but But they departed not from the sins of Jeroboam that made Israel to sin Hence by the way Note Observ That the purest churches and the best christians are not altogether exempted from stains but have their spots and blemishes as well as resplendent graces It was the Spouse condition in Cant. 1.5 where she describes her self and saith I am black but comly O ye daughters of Jerusalem as the Tents of Kedar as the Curtains of Solomon Let us out survey the first churches and christians to elucidate and confirm this truth and seeing they stood neerest the light even the Sun of Truth and his Twelve illustrious radiating Signs his Apostles in my judgement they are to be reputed the soundest and the purest yet see whether we read not of their Maculae or spots as well as of their shining graces The church of Corinth was a famous church yet she had her failings contaminating the holy feasts and their Agapees with surfetting and drunkenness and besides the foul errors of false Apostles as denying the Resurrection c. The church of Galatia was not much inferiour in her wantonnizing after liveless ceremonial fancies and pressed them as necessary with Christ unto salvation and when Paul opposed them herein for whose sake they once were ready to pull out their eyes to do him good yet now for crossing their capricious whimsies is become their greatest adversary The churches of Ephesus Pergamus c. had their several encomiums for their graces yet there were some things chargeable on them for waxing cold in their first love for admitting the Doctrine of Balaam Nicolaitans Jezabel c. If we descend from bodies collective to individual persons we shall find the same lot befal unto all consider Noah Job David Peter c. but I desire not to rake up the faults of the Saints which are not left upon record to encourage to sin but to be presidents of the grace of God and as examples for encouragement unto repentant sinners Because thou hast left thy first love Some difficulty seems in these words whether by first love be intended Christ whom the church of Ephesus had left Or that first ardent affection and zeal which she bore to Christ at her first conversion The latter Interpretation to me is clear Because the church of Ephesus had not withdrawn her self from the faith of Christ as is evident by the two precedent verses for it was for Christ's sake and his truth that she had suffered much both from wicked persons and wicked teachers therefore as long as her faith was sound she could not be said to have left Christ as her first Love and taken a new love or new object of her faith But that for which she is charged as faulty is that she hath left her first love that is her first zeal and fervent affections which she bore to Christ and his Ordinances at her first conversion and this is plain from the next verse where she is commanded to repent and to do her first works From hence observe Observ That it is frequently seen that many true and faithful
end blasphemed and raised a most false report touching his resurrection and affirmed That his Disciples came and stole him away out of his Sepulcher and that he was not indeed risen as they affirmed but conveyed away closely by them that he might be deified And this the unbelieving perverse Jews say unto this day Their malice stops not here against the Head but also falls foul upon his members and churches in succeeding ages We see how maliciously they fall upon Stephen in Act. 7. and how zealous Saul himself was whiles an unconverted Jew against the Disciples at Damascus Acts 9. What uproars did the Iews raise and what provocations did they use to incense the Magistrates and chief Governours against the Apostles and Disciples of Christ in every place and City These Asiatique churches were not free of their clamours or their invectives against the christian profession Paul met them at Antioch Acts 13.45 and at Iconiâ—m Acts 14.2.19 who stoned Paul and at Thessolonica Acts 17.5 an uproar was risen by the Iews by reason of him at Corinth he was drawn before Gallio at the Iudgement seat by the envie of the Iews Acts 18.12 and at Ephesus he found the same malicious dealings from the Iews Acts 19.9 he found some of the same Blasphemers there that were in the church of Smyrna and Philadelphia Rev. 3.9 that spoke euil of that way of the christian faith before the multitude Yea the very heathens themselves were more friendly to the christians then the Iews the professed people of God witness the entertainment of Paul amongst the Athenians Acts 17. the carriage of Gallio Festus Felix and Agrippa towards him Pilate a Roman Prefect would wash his hands from the death of Christ whiles the Iews the visible people of God cryed out Crucifie him At Malta amongst the Barbarians Paul was almost deified Acts 28.6 But when at Ierusalem and amongst the Iews they would haue torn him to pieces Acts 21. and 23.12 O strange That zeal perverted should so rage in fury against the truth of God and his Christ These Iews did not only occasionally oppose the faith of Christ and the publishers thereof but of set purpose did go to every City and place where it was taught for to oppose and suppress it if they could else possibly they could not be found in so various places and Cities and at so far distance one from the other doing their parts and venting their malice against it Object But some may say That those that raised blasphemies in the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia were not properly Iews by blood but such as say they were Iews and are not but do lie cap. 3. 9. I answer Indeed they were not worthy to be called Iews who had many eminent priviledges peculiar to their Nation our Apostle Paul could boast that he was an Ebrew of the Hebrews and Rom. 3.1 2. they had much advantage every way chiefly Because unto them were committed the Oracles of God and the word of peace and reconciliation by Christ was first to be preached unto them then next unto the Gentiles Mat. 10.5 And indeed they were not worthy of the name of Iews that had such great and glorious priviledges and yet so averse unto the Truth Yet secondly I say they must needs be the same Iews of the same blood and progenie that opposed persecuted and blasphemed Paul and other true churches of Christ also with those found blaspheming reviling and persecuting in Smyrna and Philadelphia being so like one the other in their cursed practises But lastly I answer Though they say they are Iews yet indeed are not for he is not a Iew that is one outward but he is a true Iew a true Israelite of God that is one inward It is not he that tals and boasts of his carnal priviledges and birth-right as from Abraham and does not the works of Abraham is a Iew but such an one is a true spiritual Iew that walks in the steps of faithful Abraham but for those reviling persecuting Iews they were rather to be termed Rabshekahs and Barbarians then Iews for their circumcision was become unto them by reason of their impieties and blasphemies against the truth uncircumcision and therefore not worthy to be called Iews Iust as a nominal christian when turned antichristian and a blasphemer and persecutor of the true profession of Christ who will think him worthy of the name of christian And though he arrogates to himself that name and Title and says as the Iews here did he is a christian who will not say unto him he is not but a lyar and a Barbarian or at best an antichristian But if it were demanded What were the blasphemies of those Jews against the church of Smyrna and Philadelphia c. I answer as before Doubtless their blasphemy was Bicernis or two-fold The one horn thereof strook directly at Christ The other at the churches and his members This appears by Acts 19.9 when Paul preached in the Jews Synagogues Christ and his Doctrine divers were hardned and believed not but spoke evil of that way before the multitude First They would blaspheme the Master and say that he was a deceiver and cast out Divels by Beelzebub and a destroyer of their Laws and Customs which they had from Noses And next That his Disciples and Followers were seditious and perverters of all Magistracy and Governments and also amongst themselves unclean using promiscuous lusts as the Nicolaitans were denying the holy Laws of God so by these Diabolical artifices to bring them into contempt with the whole world and so under the rod of persecution and tribulation See the charge of Tertullian the Orator of the Jews against Paul Acts 24.5 6 c. tending partly to this effect and the Jews perceiving the heresies of the Nicolaitans Gnosticks and others of like unclean practises to creep in among the churches were bold to reproach them as all such and of the same unclean judgements and practices with the former Consider the words of Epiphanius to this purpose out of M. Baxter's book of Infidelity page 131. Which sort of men says he Satan seems to have fitted and sent for a reproach and stumbling block to the church of God and having put on themselves the names of christians that for their sakes the Nations being offended should abhor the profit of the church of God and should refuse the truth declared to them because of their savage wickedness and incredible vileness that I say their frequent vilanies being taken notice of they might perswade themselves that those are such that are of the holy church of God and so may turn away their ears as I said from the true doctrine of God or at least beholding the dishonesty of a few might cast the same reproaches upon all c. These doubtless were the advantages that the Jews took to blaspheme the churches of Christ with and so to make Christ's doctrine and followers seem abominable whiles some that were
called christians were truly and worthily abominable This artifice and method Satan keeps still afoot to this day to vilifie Christ's Truth 's and his followers by terming their doctrines Novel and new Lights though of above 1600 years standing and of Apostolical Institution and if they prove faithful Assertors of it are presently termed factious or Schismatical for it being as they say Disturbers of the National Peace perverters of Customs Laws and Governments and forthwith branded with Anti-magistratical and Anti-Ministerial Titles as if they were against Magistracy when they say in the first place Fear God in the next Honour the King Or if they were against all Ministers because they are against the formal lazie and belly-god Priests whose very forms as carnal ordinances are perished with using and in the room thereof desires a Ministery sound able godly efficacious spiritual and more edifying in the assemblies and churches of Christ In the next place if any defection happens in the churches of Christ as if some among them turn loose Nicolaitans or the like there will not be wanting the Nominal Jews formal christians to blaspheme them as if they were all of that feather The Papists as soon as they heard of some heresies broken forth among the Protestants presently cry out and blaspheme the whole name of Protestants as if they were all of that heresie Among the old Episcopal men of our Nation it was a common saying That a Geneva Presbytery made a fair gap and was a downright way to Brownism and Anabaptism as M. Hooker's Preface to his Ecclesiastical Policy manifests And if any Non-conformist turned Anabaptist or Brownist presently they would say the Presbyters were all such And again if any Independent or Baptist now a days became a Familistical Quaker or Antiscripturist presently the Presbyters lay the same harsh judgement and contumely upon the whole churches of the same profession to render them abominable in the eyes of all as if the eleven Apostles were all Judasses because one in twelve was a Judas This Satanical method should be quite laid by by such as have truly learned Christ This was the old Jewish trick and stratagem against the primitive precious Asiatique churches of Christ who were not all Nicholaitans because some Nicolaitans were crept in among them but precious in the eye of God both for their graces and sufferings for the testimony of Jesus But for such as will blaspheme the true doctrines of Christ and the Professors thereof by means of the evil among them and to cast a reproach tribulation and affliction thereby upon them all let them too withal not be discontented to read their judgement in this verse Whiles they say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan Observ 4. The last Note from these words shall be That a mis-led zeal is both dangerous and pernicious Little did the Jews think that they were fighting against the God of heaven when they were persecuting and blaspheming the Professors of Christ Nay they do it and think as Paul in his ignorance that they do God good service in it If our zeal be not commixt with sound knowledge instead of promoting the glory of God we may do the downright work of Satan These poor Jews had an indubitable aim and zeal to glorifie God for so Paul bears testimony of them Rom. 10.2 but it was exercised amiss in that it was not according unto knowledge if their judgement had been rightly informed or bore the least proportion with their zeal they would not persecute the disciples of Christ from city to city and from Town to Town much less put the Lord of life to death amongst them But the Scriptures must be fulfilled Use Christians now adays should look to it lest they go about to do the work of Satan when they blaspheme and persecute all others that are differently minded from them in some particulars They may call themselves christians but are not for it savours not of a christian spirit which is ready to cover and heal the infirmity of his christian brother not to revile or cast a rancour on it to Gangrene it which is the work of Satan Though I am not for the least toleration of evil or heresie in the church of Christ yet I would have all to take heed how they blaspheme persecute or speak evil of that way or practise which has the visible stamp of Christ upon it though at present by reason of some clouds of ignorance over them they cannot plainly discern the truth of it In this case the counsel of Gamaliel Acts 5. is very seasonable Refrain your selves from these men and let them alone for if their work be of men it will surely come to nought but if it be of God ye cannot destroy it lest ye be found even fighters against God Verse 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Divel shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten days Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life I know says Christ the tribulation and affliction that will overtake thee O church of Smyrna yet fear none of those things which shall come upon thee Neither art thou to suffer only the reproach and blasphemy of the tongue but also the divel shall so far prevail against you as by his instigation that the Tyrants of the world and your malicious enemies shall so far persecute you and cast some of you into prison but comfort ye it is not for your destruction but only for the tryal of your faith and constancy to your christian profession and your tribulation is not for a little space but to continue ten days that is ten years that answers ten prophetical days or rather I understand it ten days of tribulation shall pass over you to wit the ten great primitive persecutions the first whereof began against the christians under Nero and the tenth under Dioclesian yet however this long and tedious persecution reach thee yet leave not thy constancy but be thou faithful unto thy Lord and Saviour though their persecution be so high and fiery as to make thee to taste the tortures of death for thy faith yet be thou a faithful witness to me in that death and thou shalt be crowned as a reward of thy faithfulness with the glory of eternal life Observ 1. From the words is God never lets the divel loose to raise tribulation or persecution against his churches but he gives them first a cordial a preparative and strength from himself that they may not sink under ut though they may suffer by it Before the ten great days of persecution fell on the primitive Asian churches Christ tells them Fear not those things which ye shall suffer though imprisonments and death it self attend you for it is only for your tryal and that your faith may be more apparent by your constant Martyrdom in the face
way is never like to win the prize Heaven is set forth as a crown and reward of our faithfulness though not for the merit of the work but according to the work it is freely given as wicked works shall not pass unpunished neither shall good works or our faithfulness towards Christ pass unrewarded Every one shall receive according as he hath done in the flesh whether good or evil And he that hath fought the good fight of faith and perseveres therein under all afflictions and that even to death he is the true christian conquerour and for him is laid up the crown of eternal life The true militant christian must not look for the crown if he turn's back to the enemy and that which is most admirable herein is that the method of obtaining this crown is far different from that of obtaining worldly crowns they are got by over-mastering and surviving the enemy but the christians crown is gotten by suffering and dying the christians cross and the crown kiss each other And to set you right that seek after and contend for this crown First Understand what this crown of life is It is not only the translation of the soul after death into the supernal heavens that is not so properly called life but that blessed state which soul and body shall enjoy after the resurrection of the just and therefore it is called a crown of life that is life given most eminently which is the most desirable blessing of all things as being one of the chiefest gifts of the blessed Saints in the resurrection and so part is put for the whole and therefore it is here called a Crown of life To denote unto us first That that blessed state of life which the Saints shall then enjoy will be a most honourable state and so it is often set forth by a kingdom in Scriptures Luk. 22.29.12.32 Rev. 3.21 Secondly That it is an endless estate Thirdly That it is a state gotten by conquest and as a prize set unto a race 1 Cor. 9.24 Fourthly That it is a most glorious estate and a living crown and that that will continue to all eternity Secondly In the next place understand how this crown of eternal life is rightly to be obtained every suffering will not do it The cause must be good that makes a Martyr it must be for Christ and that in faithfulness Secondly The heart must be upright for Christ therein It is not vain-glory or worldly applause or obstinacy in private opinions that will weigh the least to make a Martyr it must be in the uprightness of your hearts and that you can appeal unto God with the Psalmist Psal 44.21 and say The Lord knoweth the secrets of the heart Yea for thy sake are we slain all the day long Lastly This suffering must be out of love unto God and his glory or else all in vain as Paul said 1 Cor. 13.3 If I give my body to be burned and have not love it profiteth me nothing There may many die for Christ and yet not out of love to Christ obstinacy of mind and formal profession may do much in that particular but a true zeal to God and his glory makes the Holocost a sweet smelling Sacrifice and the crown of life its reward Observ The last Observation from these words is Sufferings and afflictions are but the opening the door to a Christians happiness The most happy estate of the worldling is but vanity and the most suffering state of a christian is a crowning when the christian suffereth the loss of all things for righteousness sake he aboundeth then in greater measure of graces yea when he suffereth death it self it is gain unto him for he hath only left thereby a world of troubles sin and vanities for a crown or life and glory For if our hopes were only in this life we were of all men most miserable Therefore be thou faithful unto the death and thou shalt have a crown of life Vers 11. Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death The Spirit doth often inculcate in this and the next chapter this charge and duty on the judicious and enlightened christian to take notice what the Spirit of Christ in this spiritual appearance saith unto the churches To avoid repetition see more on this on verse 7. of this chapter But he that overcometh that is that abideth constant and faithful unto Christ and his truths under all temptations and tribulations and so a faithful christian overcometh it is he that shall not be hurt of the second death that is the second death mentioned in 21 chap. Rev. ver 8. and 20.14 In that Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone for evermore shall not touch him Negatives in Scripture strongly evince the enjoyment of the contrary as Thou shalt not be hurt of the second death that is thou shalt surely live thou shalt taste of the Tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God and a crown of life shall be thy portion It is here called the second death in respect the first death is but a partial punishment of the wicked but the second death is that when the first death and hell shall deliver up the dead were in them and they shall be cast into the Lake of fire cap. 20. 13 14. there is a first life and a second life that we shall enjoy the first life is that that we now at present enjoy the life of grace the second life we shall be made partakers of at the resurrection of the just The life that the soul in heaven enjoys is but a partial life and incompleat in respect of that at the resurrection as the punishment of the wicked under the first death either spiritual or corporal is but partial so the glory of the elect is but partial and incompleat now in heaven in respect of that that will be revealed at the resurrection Abraham now doth not know us and Jacob is ignorant of us neither do the faints departed know our wants nor are touched with our infirmities Their condition is happy but what it is we know not but this we are sure of at the resurrection we shall know as we are known and see as we are seen and this is eternal life and the crown of life that is so often promised to the Saints in Scripture So then there is a first death and a second death the first death is but a partial punishment for the wicked but the second death is the compleat execution of divine wrath upon them in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone for evermore Observ The Observation from the words are That the constant faithful and persevering Christian is secured from all dangers of death whatsoever Tribulations in this life and death it self does him no hurt that tries him refines him and renders him glorious into the hands of his Creator Hell
Satan Law nor the second death cannot take hold upon him for it is Christ that died for him for Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect It is Christ that is risen for their justification therefore they are beyond all danger of miscarrying and so may justly tryumph and say O Death where is thy sting Hell where is thy victory But thanks be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. Vers 12. And to the Angel of the Church which is at Pergamus write this saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges Christ here followeth the charge against the church at Pergamus It is inscribed to the Angel or Pastor of the church which is at Pergamus and in the 18. vers following To the Angel of the Church which is at Thyatira the Spirit herein clearly denoting unto us that the inscription in the first verse of this chapter To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus or of the Ephesian Church and here To the Angel of the Church at Pergamus or in Pergamus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are of one and the same significants and latitude and therefore such places are very incongruously taken up to prove a Church of the same extent and latitude with the Nation And though we may lawfully use the terms of the church of England of Scotland France c. it must always be understood in a limited sense not that all England Scotland France Ephesus Smyrna or Pergamus were the Church but that it is the church of England or in England of Ephesus or in or at Ephesus of Pergamus or rather as it is here in Pergamus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in or at Thyatira And therefore it is most safe to keep close to the sound of wholsom words in such expressions Write this saith he that hath the sharp sword with two edges Christ sets himself forth unto each church in a diverse mode John saw him in the first chapter in a general and full appearance and discovery of himself in his full luster And now he discovers himself by parts unto the churches according to their several wants and imperfections Where by the way take this Note Observ That Christ's discoveries of himself unto his Churches are always most suitable to their present conditions To afflicted and persecuted faithful churches as Ephesus and Smyrna were he appears as a God of protection and salvation unto them as in the first verse under the description of having the seven Stars in his right hand and walking in the midst of the seven Golden candlesticks and in the eighth verse he saith to the church of Smyrna for a comfortable discovery unto them write these things saith he that is first and last which was dead and is alive But now unto the more unsound and corrupted churches of Pergamus and Thyatira his discovery is in another posture as one having a two edged sword proceeding from his mouth and eyes like a flame of fire and his feet like fine brass v. 18. an appearance of indignation Wrath and Judgment Faithful afflicted Christians need discoveries of grace peace and consolation but unfound and corrupt ones ought to have the doctrine of Judgments and wrath preach'd unto them he that knoweth not rightly to divide the words of truth is no compleat workman in Christ's Vineyard he is a workman that need not be ashamed that knows how to preach Gospel and glad tidings of reconciliation and peace to poor humbled and repentant sinners But Hell and wrath and judgments and fiery indignations to the obstinate and impenitent the doctrine of grace and threats are not contradictories being wisely managed yet in this appearance of Christ of having a sharp two edged sword proceeding out of his mouth there is much mercy in it for understand that by the sword of Christ's mouth is meant his word and doctrine confer with Heb. 4.12 Psal 148.6 and 56.5 Prov. 5.4 for that is two edged and cuts two ways First it cuts off the sin and corruptions of the faithful by its kindly operating through the influence of the Spirit Secondly It cuts confounds and destroys the wicked not through any innate quality in the Word but by accident for by their refusal and contempt thereof so consequently of the divine Majesty the Author and Instituter thereof God goes out with the other edg or side of his sword against them on his black and red horse of wrath and Judgments Hence Note Observ That God's Judgments towards his back-slidden Churches are mingled with much mercie Though Christ's appearance to Pergamus and Thyatira was much in wrath for their defilements and back-slidings yet he added much grace and mercy thereunto both in approbation of their graces and calling them to repentance for their defections Christ gives always line upon line and precept upon precept providence after providence and mercy after mercy to invite us to repentance before he will take his last cause of Judgment with us his heart is still towards our amendment though he is provoked highly by our sins against us and who but an heart of Adamant would not believe him when he swears As I live saith the Lord I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn and live And the very weapons that he uses against sinners are the sword of his mouth with two edges it heals as well as wounds the one edge is anointed with the balm of Grace though the other with the gall of Judgment Vers 13. I know thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satan's seat is and thou heldest fast 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 Christ in the first place goes on in the approbation and encouragement of the church of Pergamus and tels her that he knows her works and that her habitation or domestical conversation for so the word signifies is in a place even where Satan's Seat is or Throne is as the Orginal has it We know the Seat or Throne is taken in Scripture for the place or ensign of Dominion Rule or Sway as Psal 1. v. 1. Blessed is he that sitteth not in the seat of the scornful that is in the society of such scorners as go on with a high hand and say their tongues are their own who shall us controul As Christ has his Throne and Seat so Satan has his as Christ goes out as an absolute Monarch in his Kingdom hath his Royal Laws and commands and the observers thereof therein so Satan hath also his Kingdom and his Throne set up therein where his commands are obeyed by the childen of disobedience without controul and therefore this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the Throne of Satan is is rendred in the latter part of this verse in another variation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where Satan dwelleth or does his houshold affairs A mans house
were Ezekiel Daniel and others of Gods precious children in Babylon amongst the Caldeans It is the common lot of the godly to be amongst Briars and Thorns that will nothing but scratch and tear them and therefore it should be no strange thing nor too great a vexing burden unto us that God and providence hath disposed of our habitations amongst the ungodly For hereby 1. God hath the greater glory from us 2. We are kept closer to him 3. Our Graces shine more eminently as Stars in a frosty night shine clearest and Fishes in the saltest Seas are sweetest so we keep our savor the better for it and our Graces are more enlivened 4. Our Conversations it sutable to Gods word may be a means of their conversion amongst whom we live Obs 3. To a Godly soul to have its habitation amongst the wicked is a Soul vexing grief Righteous Lot was vexed with the filthy conversation of the Sodomites 2 Pet. 2.7 Though God hath disposed this in his providence yet it is an affliction and for the present grievous Wo is me saith David that I sojourn in Mesech and that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar with a barbarous profane people that were like to the posterity of Mesech and Kedar O what a burden it was to Moses and to all true Israelites to dwell amongst the Egyptians How did the poor captive Israelites weep when they were in Caldea by the River of Chebar And what a burden it is still for honest believing Souls to dwell amongst a profane and wicked multitude Where they cannot stir out of doores or converse but with very few but that they shall hear God profaned his Name blasphemed his Truths and Scriptures slighted vilified derided and jested at his Saints and Faithful ones either spitefully treated openly persecuted or at least closely undermined to bring the rod of affliction upon them Therefore among the truly godly the society and cohabitation of the Saints is most desirable but of the wicked most grievous and loathed Obs 4. God hath the more special eye of care and providence over his people that have their habitations amongst the wicked and ungodly Though they dwell where Satan's Seat and Throne is yet God holdeth them as the seven Stars in his right hand verse 1. and he knoweth their works of tribulation and where they dwell and therefore is present with sutable grace and strength from himself for their support and comfort Thou remembrest us said David in our low estate Where Christ's Church hath the greatest enemies God will shew himself their greatest friend where his Saints are most afflicted and straitned there he will supply with a greater measure of grace and enlargement In Babylon of old among the inveterate enemies of God and his Israel God sent an Ezekiel Daniel Ezra c. choice men and Prophets of God for their comfort and consolation So we often see in the most barbarous and wicked places of the World that God sends there the greatest soundest and clearest light to his servants that dwels amongst them Ephesus Smyrna Pergamus c. places of Idolatry and cruelty and where Satan's seat was had their Angels and Martyrs that shined in true faith and godliness The Churches of Christ of late years have shined more eminent in faith and holiness in Switzerland in Saxony in Savoy and the barbarous corners of the Pyrenean mountains and Alpes then other places of the World and so in England and Scotland under the Antichristian and persecuting Bishops of late the Saints then living under them did shine more eminent in their graces then now they do in this their day of prosperity and many then were more faithful Martyrs unto the truth of Christ then now they are for the more high Satan and his instruments are against the Saints God's care over them is the more intense and the measure of his graces the more enlarged towards them Obs 5. That it is the Saints great duty and their highest glory to hold fast their faith and profession of the truth in the worst times and amongst the worst of people The Church at Pergamus is approved for holding fast Christ's Name and Faith amongst them in whom Satan did bear sway and in such a time when Antipas was Martyred and suffered death for the same profession It is an easy matter to carry a full sail of profession when the soft gale of prosperity bloweth neither is it any difficult matter for an hypocritical heart to seem godly with the godly to be sober with the sober or to be righteous amongst the righteous But the spirit of a man is then tried when his habitation is amongst the ungodly that can keep himself sound amongst their corruptions upright and perfect amongst the unrighteous and untainted with their follies and sweet as Fishes in the Brackish Ocean The three faithful children would not bow in Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar's Image though death it self attended them Be thou faithful unto the death and thou shalt have a Crown of life Many will follow Christ in smiling times or when the State does countenance Christ and godliness this is to follow Christ for the loaves sake But when Christ is hurried to Pilat's Hall of Judgment his formal followers will forsake him yea Peter himself may deny him weak Christians may stumble and draw back when Pillars of the Church as Peter fall so fouly He is the only approved Christian that will hold his profession fast before the face of Nero and Dioclesian as the virum victoriae which St. Austin mentions and at the Stake can freely with Stephen forgive his enemies and commend his spirit unto his God Jo Hus Hierom of Prague the poor Waldenses and our later Christian Martyrs as Bradford Philpot Glover c. in our English Marian days hath with Antipas for their constant witnessing unto the truth and faith of Christ attained the ever-living and honorable names of faithful Martyrs of Christ and that most justly in that they suffered in the worst of times when Antipas was slain that is in a persecuting bloody age when many godly persons burnt at the Stake and amongst the worst sort of people the wicked Antichristian Tyranizing and bloody Prelates for holding fast the profession of the truth and faith in such ungodly times and amongst such a divelish crew amongst whom Satan had his Throne sway and full Dominion they justly shall ever live in the memory and hearts of all the faithful as Reverend Martyrs unto Christ and his truth Thus for a man to be a Lot in Sodom never touched with Sodom's wickedness to keep himself pure and sincere and undefiled in the midst of a crooked generation to shine as a light in the midst of darkness this brings honor both to God and man Obs 6. The graces of well approved and faithful Christians departed are to be set forth as patterns and examples to the living both for encouragement and imitation Antipas is here set as an example of
become their enemy and deliver them up either to Balack's or the Moabites hands or smite them himself in wrath and judgment And indeed Balaam's desire and doctrine took effect and was right unto its end and accordingly they sinned and accordingly God was angry with them and smote of them with a Plague twenty four thousand Num 25.9 compare Numb 31.16 to cap. 25.1 2 c. Now it seems the church at Pergamus had such that held such doctrines of Balaam such as pretended fair as Balaam and carried it may be a high profession to Christianity yet laid such a scandal or stumbling block before the church as Balaam did to the children of Israel that is they held that it was lawful to eat of things sacrificed to Idols to participate of the Idolatrizing Sacrifices and heathenish Festivals of the Panim Pergamites as there was of the same consort in the church of Corinth 1 Cor. 10. who would needs participate in the Lord's Supper and in the Idols sacrifices which was the service of devils v. 20 so pleasant and sweet was the old heathenish Idolatries to the new converted Christians that they would needs keep their old jovial Feasts and Sacrifices to Jupiter Bacchus Venus Adonis Priapus c. together with the Eucharistical Feast of the Supper of our Lord. And not only thus turn spiritual fornicators and adulterers but also commit corporal whoredoms and fornications for it was impossible that those loose Idol Feasts could be celebrated without it for the Feasts and Sacrifices of Priapus Venus Bacchus Adonis c. the more shame and bestiality and lasciviousness was discovered therein the more they thought they pleased their God in their Sacrifices And therefore doubtless it was in the excess as all Historians that treat thereof do witness And this is clear from the next verse for it comes in with a conjunction copulative Even so hast thou them that maintain the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans a loose lascivious and idolizing doctrine agreeing with that of Balaams only differing in some mysterious notions being a branch of the high flown Gnosticks who had peculiar expressions and un-intelligible notions proper to their sect I refer you to the precedent v. 6. concerning the Nicolaitans more at large This was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the stumbling block the scandal and offence which some corrupt and unsound Christians laid in the way of others in the church of Pergamus This word stumbling block is here taken up for the manner of men in laying stones blocks or snares in the way that make persons fall or stumble thereat and this word is used in Scriptures sometimes actively sometimes passively The Pharises and Scribes were offended and scandalized at the Doctrine and Miracles of Christ Mat. 15.12 here was an offence taken but none given But an active scandal is when a real offence is given and a manifest stumbling-block is laid in the way as Balack did to Israel and when any open evil is committed either contrary to Gods Law or when our liberty is used in things indifferent in an unseasonable time to the offence of the weaker whereby they are made the worse less godly and honest this also is an active scandal and a stumbling-block Rom. 14. and to be avoyded of all knowing Christians The Notes that arise from this verse thus explained are Obser 1 That God hath a controversie with all such Churches as hold and maintain pernitious unsound doctrines and wicked practises This is that God hates in the Churches and are so abominable to him that God hath a charge against those back-slidden churches for their erroneous doctrines and practises and threatens them that he will come with the sword of his mouth against them and will remove their Candlestick from among them if they do not repent which in few-ages after he exempted against them to the utmost It is not church priviledges will exempt a people sinning against God from his desolating judgments The people of Israel was God's peculiar own people chosen out amongst all the Nations of the world to know his Name the holy people Isa 62.12 Dan. 8.24 a people near unto God and blessed above all Deut. 7.6 14. They were the people that had the holy Land Temple Ordinances Divine worship Oracles of God the Prophets his Tabernacle and the most special presence of God These were the glory of God and as dear unto him as the apple of his eye Zach. 2.8 Yet when this people fell to wicked practises and rebelled against God and cast off his yoke his wholesome Laws and Doctrines none of their church-priviledges could secure or protect them from the desolation and judgments which came upon them It is to small purpose to say when we sin against God we have Abraham to our Father or cry the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord it is neither birth priviledge nor church will secure us from the judgments of God For the Ax is laid unto the root and the people that bringeth not forth fruit worthy of repentance shall beâ—â—â— down and cast into the fire O then seeing God will not spare his own children if they sin and rebel against him and seeing that Judgment must begin at the house of God and if it begin first at us what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God And if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and sinner appear 1 Pet. 4.17 18. Observ 2. That erroneous and corrupt Churches and Persons are very obstinate and tenacious of their corrupt principles and practises The church of Pergamus had those that held and maintained the Doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans they did it not underhand in secret but openly and professedly as the Israelites did in the business of Baal Peor at the advice of Balaam when they committed Idolatry and whoredom with the daughters of Moab they did it not in a corner but avowedly professedly and shamelesly as it is evident in Num. 25. from v. 1. to 6. And beholdone of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses in the sight of all the Congregation of the children of Israel who were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation When Moses and the faithful amongst the Israelites were mourning and weeping for the abominations of their brethren then some of them were so bold and impudent as to come before them even in their faces with their sins in their hands not ashamed of them Sober Christians will think it strange that any professed churches of Christ or Christians should openly and professedly hold and maintain Doctrines practises as bad as Balaam's and the Nicholaitans and if not far worse And yet this carries as much truth with it as any Historical relation in the World and that too maintained with as much pertinaciousness impudency strength of wit and policy as if it were the most virtuous or
then monastical lives and Votaries of all sorts testifie then they Yet who hath laid more stumbling blocks in the waies of christians and the truth then they by their Balaamitish doctrines and practises It is most usual amongst us to commend the days of our forefathers as most imitable and religious yet how sad to consider when we find the very doctrines of Balaam left unto us from them for though at present I have not numbred the thirty seventh year of my age yet I well remember how rise the doctrines of Balaam were practised here amongst us and that too by imitation from our predecessors We had our Floralia our Feasts and Sacrifices to the Goddess of Maia which were carried on with a great and solemn vanity with much Paganish customs exercised thereabout mixed with a great deal of vanity sin shame and bestiality and this not only permitted but maintained and defended by ungodly Balaamites in opposition to the godly in their times Yet the practise thereof in these parts was so vile that the same persons the same day that they did eat of the body and blood of Christ in his Ordinance of the Supper the same day were drunken and filled with things offered unto Idols I mean in their heathenish sports and vanities but blessed be God that hath now taught us otherwise Yet though at present we make a fair profession yet still we have some remainders of this doctrine of Balaam all England over even in keeping our Wakes our Revels our Parochial Festivals a foot wherein there is a great smatch of Antichristian Idolatrizing and eating things offered to Idols and lusting after the Midianitish women and Flesh pots and Onyons of Egypt in the observation of these and other Roman Festivals If Feasts or Festivals be they never so piously instituted as the ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or love-Feasts amongst the primitive christians were once come to be defiled and to lose their Primitive virgin institution and ends and to become Sacrifices to Bacchus or Venus or to any Idol whatsoever they are to be disanulled abrogated and laid aside as an unholy thing The Lord deliver his churches and people from the politique Balaamites of these times who will teach Balack to lay a stumbling block before the children of Israel and the Lord give a discerning heart unto our Soveraign Magistrate to discover all such that come unto him and move or teach him to lay stumbling blocks or snares in the ways of the true Israelites of God let such have the wages of Balaam who have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Beor so let them receive the wages of unrighteousness for their hire Observ 4. That false Prophets and false Teachers are still ready to insinuate with and please the humors of the Princes of the people in all their wicked designes Balaam was very ready and intense to answer Balack's cursed desires against Israel if the Lord had not prevented him What elsemade Balaam after he had the denial of God that he should not go to Balack Numb 22.12 to make another application to God to get permission to go to Balack And when he knew his errand that it was to curse Israel how often did he tempt the Lord with Sacrifices if possibly he could to draw God to his designe And though God did manifest his displeasure to Balaam in his way in the business he went about by the Angel with the sword and made his Ass miraculously to reprove him yet neither miracle cross providence nor prohibition shall hinder Balaam to serve Balack against the Israelites if he may If once false Prophets perceive the humor of their Princes they will be sure to sew pillows under their arm-holes they will observe the humors of men and apply themselves to please answerably Yet this is not all they will as Balaam instruct Balack in wicked and cursed designes and practises though they have commands enough to the contrary and witnessed sufficiently from heaven against it yet they will justle such cursed and bloody plots into their Princes hearts that they never thought of yea that are abhorrent to some of their natures as it is witnessed in the History of Q. Mary That her own natural disposition was good and merciful and only instigated and taught to persecution against the Saints by the wicked Balaamites false Teachers as Bonner Fisher c. It is observed by some that our late King Charles of England had never split the Ship of the Commonweale against the Rock had he not hearkned too much to the advice of the Balaamites about him the Bishops their corrupt party who taught him to lay snares or stumbling-blocks in the way of the true Israelites of God in this Nation to wit by the promotion and countenance of Romish Idolatries and their Midianitish Fornications But behold the wisdom of God they were both taken in their own snares and laid in the dust together And so acording to that Numb 31.8 They slew the King of Midianitish 〈◊〉 Princes and Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword Beyond Seas it is a Proverb No cursed design afoot but a Priest has a finger in it I could pray it were not in England I could wish that they in our Israel had less of Achitophel or Machiavel in them and more of the simplicity of he Gospel of Christ in the room thereof Observ 5. False Prophets as Balaam lay their designs not only for the temporal destruction of the godly but for the eternal also if they may Balaams designe in his cursed counsel to Balak was that the Israelites should Idolatrize and adulterize that the judgements of God might both reach their bodies and souls together The divel and his agents desire that all may have no better portion then themselves they will not be contented with the destruction of Saints bodies but will night and day like roaring lyons go about to seek to destroy them and to cause them to lose and forfeit their eternal state of happiness if they could It was this that made these churches of Asia to lose their candlesticks and it will be always the Balaamitish doctrines and practises that will cause God to remove his presence of grace power and comfort from one people to another that is more sound and fruitful O therefore ye churches of Christ look to your doctrines and practises that they be right and straight to the rule of God's Word so God will delight to dwell among you and will make you the habitation of his glory otherwise will leave your place desolate and forsaken though you be his people in profession If you turn to idols false worships and wicked practises though Moses and Eliah be among you righteous souls they shall only save themselves but the wicked shall be cut off from the land of the living which is reserved as an inheritance for the pure and undefiled Observ 6. That
them is charity its precedency lies in this 1. In that it perfumes and enlivens all the other graces faith it self is dead without it And to suppose a faith without love is to suppose a man without a soul The gifts of prophesies tongues and miracles are but barren and usless things without this 2. This hath for its object both God and Man we exercise our faith and hope only towards God and his promises but our charity is extended both towards God and Man And therefore love is called Rom. 13.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fulfilling of the Law it is the whole sum and hinge on which the commandements turn In this one word charity both the Tables of the decalogue are abridged 3. It excells in that it is the greatest note of our interest in God and Christ Faith is that giveth right unto the promises but love is that giveth life to faith It is the very soul of all our graces If we gave our bodies to be burnt for Christ and had not charity it will profit nothing 1 Cor. 13.3 By this we know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren 1 John 3.14 and Ia. 1.12 The Crown of life is promised to them that love God and Rom. 8.28 Love is made the very discovery of effectual calling and election 4. Love excells in that it is the perfection of the Law it is the very end of the Commandments 1 Tim. 1.5 and were Love but perfect in us it would make us perfect Keepers and Observers of the Law both towards God and Man Love knits the Members of Christs Body together and so perfects his Body It unites us to God and so maketh the perfecting of divine love in us 1 John 4.12 17. and here it is we are commanded twice to put on love above all things 1 Pet. 4.8 and Col. 3.14 but once above all things to take the shield of faith 5. And lastly when faith hope patience and all other graces ceases charity abideth Love is not only a portion for the Saints in this life but in the other also then we shall love God and Christ when faith and hope ceaseth therefore justly did Christ in this place and the Apostle in 1 Cor. 13.13 give it the precedency above al other Graces of the Spirit 2. Love brings forth another grace service external worship and obedience him whom we love we obey we serve we honour and worship The service of love is most intense and effectual When Christ communed with Simon Peter John 21. and asked him thrice Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me Yea Lord thou knowest it saith Peter Christ answered feed my sheep The more love that Peter manifested the more service and duty was put upon him Services that we perform to God not out of love but formality or custome are but as scabbed or lame Sacrifices under the Law which the Lord hated Right ends in our services are First Love and zeal to God's glory Secondly Love to the obedience of God's commandments Thirdly Love to the edification of others These ends makes us a true and sincere worship love goeth through all and is the fulfilling of the Law 3. Thyatira is approved for her faith made lively and effectual by love True faith is never seperated from love they go hand in hand together but love hath the precedency for the reasons aforesaid though faith is first in order of nature for faith is that grace that gives the first being unto a christian but love is the perfection of that being There must be first a knowledge of God and assent unto his truths which is the first act of faith before we can love that God or his Truths but withal I say there is so inseperable union between these two graces no sooner hath faith a being and a body but love comes to animate it to make it sound lively and perfect Observ hence Note That it is not a bare opinion or entertainment of the truth that is a true lively faith but that that worketh by love Many will one day say we have prophesied in thy Name taught in thy Name cast out devils in thy Name professed and beleived thy truths and yet the Lord will say unto them I know you not and all for want of this grace of love towards God and his Saints A sound and true faith contains in it these three principal ingredients that gives the very form and being to it First A sound distinct knowledge of the thing believed I know and am perswaded saith Paul Rom. 14.14 Persons that are ignorant of Gods promises and of the word of eternal life can never believe aright Secondly A firm perswasion strongly assuming the heart As a sound believer must not be an ignorant soul so must he not be a wavering-minded man but must have an undeceivable certainty and truth in that he does believe Thirdly A confident resting and rejoycing with satisfaction unto the Soul surely looking to enjoy that it does beleive True faith hath these four acts and degrees in it 1. Knowledge 2. Assent 3. Adherence and 4. Assurance A believer may have the three first acts and want the latter and a sound beleiver and a justified person Though God for causes to himself known may never give the grace of Assurance yet that faith that only knows God distinctly to be a God of salvation in his promises to repentant sinners through Christ and so takes him and adheres unto him in the love and truth thereof doubtless that soul shall never be a cast-away though God's presence of assurance and joyful satisfaction be never manifested unto him If we be saved it is enough though God reserves his comfortable presence and inward love for us unto another world 4. Thyatira hath another excellent grace and that is Patience or sufferance with patience as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carries it in the Greek A wicked man may suffer affliction but not suffer with patience without murmuring swearing or blaspheming as the godly doth The wicked may haue patience perforce and unwillingly when he cannot help it the afliction being above his reach to remedy but the godly is patient as it is an effect of love because he loveth much he is ready to suffer much with constancy and patience as Jacob served two seven years hardship for his beloved Rachel so a faithful soul is ready to suffer all afflictions chearfully and with much patience all the years of his life because he loves God and Christ and so accounts the afflictions of this life not to be valued with the glory that shall hereafter be revealed to all those that love God 5. Thyatira was a growing fruitful church her latter works were more then her first done upon better grounds and better principles From whence Note Observ That the gracious works of the more grown Christians doe exceed those of the younger sort in soundness The Neophites or young Christians may be more zealous
then the approved Presbiters of a church but the latter zeal is better â—egulated and more sober then the former When I was a child saith Paul I spake as a child I did as a child I understood as a child but when I became a man I put away childish things So it is in our spiritual growth in our first birth we are very childish and zealous of small things external circumstances in worship we then look upon as great things and if a painted window a cross a suâ—pless a cope c. stand in our way we presently stumble at them and think it the most acceptable service we can perform to God either to burn them or break them to peices as Antichristian trumperies Again if we come a little higher then we spend most or all our strength about the defence of external forms of worship as whether Presbitery Independency or the way of the Anabaptists so called be the righter way This humour too is most prevalent in the Neophites but the waightier things of God and his Law is for the elder and stronger sort The one thinks to catch Heaven by Tything Mint and Anniss by being very intense about the smaller things of the Law but the other â—ot leaving the first undone falls upon the kernel and substance of Religion which is fit meat for stronger men The grown christian's graces excels the younger as his love is more sound he loves not for interest or opinion sake as many young ones does but he loves the brethren on this ground as being members of one body being made partakers of the same divine truth with himself Secondly His service is more cordial in respect of the larger experience of the goodness of God to his Soul he hath often met God's presence in his ordinances then the younger christian hath and therefore needs must his desires and affections excell unto God's Ordinances and worships seeing he hath ofâ—ner met God therein as in a special habitation of his glory Thirdly An old christian's faith is sounder then the younger he believes not because he hath heard only with the ear but he believes because he hath seen tasted and experienced the truth and faithfulness of God and his promises to his soul which the other it may be as yet has not attained too Fourthly His patience is more tryed more refined then the younger Fifthly and lastly In effect all his graces are sounder and better circumstantiated then those of the younger christians for ends for grounds for manners for time and in all other circumstances whatsoever Therefore it is our duty to strive that our last works may be more then our first otherwise shame unto us as unprofitable servants Vers 20. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel which calleth her self a Prophetess to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols Yet nevertheless O thou church of Thyatira though I do approve and encourage thy gracious works of love faith seruice and patience and commend thee for thy proficiency in them yet I have a few things certain offences to lay in charge against thee Hence Note Observ If our sins be few and great though our graces be many and eminent yet God will come against us for them Few great and scandalous sins are as dead flies in pretious Oyntment it will defile the whole box of spiritual graces God will not Inhabit quietly and at peace in one mansion with sin and wickedness If Ephraim will have Idols God will let him alone And if Israel will uphold wickedness though his own peculiar people who were abounding in sacrifices and holy services yet that shall not priviledge them from a Babylonish captivity If his own select people will turn wild Olives and cruciâ—â—e the Lords Prophets and his Christ he can cut them off and make them a desolate and dispersed people upon the face of the whole earth Thyatira had many excellent graces and so had Ephesus Smyrna Pergamus c. yet for their sins and especially those of Idolatry and Fornication the corrupt doctrines of Balaam Jezabel and the Nicolaitans God came against them in judgment and fiery indignation and removed his candlesticks from amongst them and left them desolate If we conceive our graces of Faith Love Service c. will secure us from the wrath of God though we admit Antichristian doctrines of Idolatry false and evil worships among us we shall be much deceived Doubtless many of our former Bishops were very godly men as Jewel Downham Usher Hall Davenant c. yet their real graces and holiness could not stop the hand of God in going forth in wrath against the Antichristian practises and false worships tolerated and allowed in the churches of Eng◠〈…〉 only could deliver their own souls but they themselves 〈◊〉 main and the whole function shall smart for it in the day of 〈◊〉 Lord's indignation and though some of them were godly and pious men yet for their tolerating and conniving at false doctrines and worships they themselves shall suffer in the common judgment but their pious and gracious souls shall be saved so as by fire not that of Purgatory first kindled in the Popes Kitchen but by the fire of afflictions sanctified unto them by that fire of purging and cleansing away our dross to wit God's Spirit and Word We are therefore to look to it how we admitt offences amongst us though they be but few they may draw God into judgment against us and though they may not at present unchurch us yet if held unrepented of they may provoke God to come against us quickly with the sword of his mouth O let no man plead for toleration of sin false doctrines or worships from the Primitive practises or presidents of the first churches so as they sinned first in these particulars so they were made the first examples of God's wrath and justice It is but a sad saying of some That their present churches are as sound straight and holy as the Primitive ones They had their drunkards incestuous followers of the doctrine of Balaam the Nicolaitans and Jezabel and we say they in our Parochial churches have not worse Alas they are now made unto us examples of God's righteous judgments for those and the rest of their sins and their very habitations given unto the cursed Mahometans and their off springs turned Barbarians and Heathens and if we be found in the same sins and transgressions with them O May we not fear the same desolating judgment Let us not contemn the long-suffering of God but speedily repent and do our first works So far should we be from boasting on that account that it should rather be unto us just matter of grief and sorrow But to proceed The charge against Thyatira was That thou sufferest the woman Jezabel who calleth her self a Prophetess to teach and deceive my servants c. This woman Jezebel here mentioned doubtless
bodies and spirits Well then try your faith and profession whether it be dead or formal or active or living by these few particulars it is not a naked assent or unactive outward profession will serve turn this is dead and liveless yea twice dead and to be plucked up by the roots Jud. 12. dead in your first natural condition and dead in your hypocritical profession for by this it appeareth never to be otherwise with you But a lively faith is a working faith by and through the influence of Christ and his spirit being zealous of good works and all for Christ's sake and his glory Paul's whole life Phil. 1.21 was as it were consecrated to Christ for to me to live is Christ says he that is my life is Christ's for his uses his purposes and his glory In short a true and lively faith works by Christ by the continual supply and influence of his spirit and for Christ and with aim at his glory Observ 2. 'T is very usual for dead Formalists to carry a higher hand in outward profession then the real Christian Sardis pretends highly to faith and to a name that she lived beyond her sister churches and the name was only that she aimed at for in the truth of grace she was no better then dead and rotten It is not very usual still among dead and carnal christians to boast of their christianity their baptisme their church their external ordinances and the like They needs would satisfie themselves in the name of christians as the carnal Jews that said they were Jews and were not vers 9. So unto these carnal Formalists the name of christians is pleasant to them yet still are enemies to the true Saints of God and the power of godliness and the reason of this is in that they perceive they want the true working faith which is only acceptable unto God all being naturally self-lovers they would needs content themselves and God too if they might with a guilded sophisticate and dead faith and profession which is to be had at an easier rate then the true one which should commend them unto God and denominate them his Saints in the eye of the world but this faith is too short for such a work being dead false and liveless as a carcass without a soul but that is the faith that justifieth and Christ accepteth that worketh by love 1 Thes 1.3 Vers 2. Be thou watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to dy for I have not found thy works perfect before God Esto vigilans as Beza reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and I should rather take it in the active sense Be thou awake or awake thou then be watchful for it it argues the state of life and activity to be watchful watch and pray but to awake it only shows a dormant dead and sleepy state wherein the church of Sardis was for she bore the name that she lived but she was as good as dead therefore Christ tels her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rouse up thy self from thy sleepy state and strengthen the things which remain re-inforce revive and stir up those small remaining sparks of graces that are ready even to give up the very last gaspe within thee and though thou thinkest and maist have a conceit of thy self that thou art something in that thou hast an external profession and name that thou livest yet I must tell thee saith Christ I have not found thy works perfect before God Hence Note Observ A state of sin is a great impairing and consumption unto the life of grace Sardis is brought by it even to death's door her graces that were once eminent are come thereby to some smal remainders and they too almost extinct and neer the grave and though death it self I mean spiritual hath not yet seized her yet she is somwhat neer it she is under the shadow of death for she sleeps and is called to awake and to stir up the remainders of life that is in her least she takes her last sleep by the spiritual death of grace here and eternal death hereafter Sin is to the soul as sickness is to the body 1. It carries with it its distemperatures and disorders of the soul 2. Ugliness and deformity it is compared to the Leprosie under the Law 3. Grief and pain as sickness causes grief to the body so sin causes horror and anguish unto the soul 4. It causes weakness for the more sin the more weakness and disability to spiritual duties We were without strength saith the Apostle Rom. 5.6 weak feeble souls in the things of God whilst we were in sin and the state of nature 5. Every sickness of the body tends to the death of the body so every sin tends to the death both of body and soul eternally The only remedy that we have against this poyson and sting of sin is to hasten to Christ by faith who is the Phisitian of our souls and by whose stripes we are healed Object But is it not said here to Sardis to awake and strengthen the things that remain that are ready to dye Was it not in the power of Sardis to awake her self recover her self and renew her graces without going to Christ by faith I answer Negatively Christ is set up for that very end not only for a propitiation If any man sin we have an Advocate but it is also from his influence and from him as the Fountain of life whereby all our graces are maintained and kept alive For the life I live as the Apostle says is by the life of the Son of God If Christ should withdraw his gracious presence from our souls we should never awake out of sin nor do our first works or renovate our selves by repentance Secondly This duty to awake and renew their graces was set on those of Sardis that had already received the first grace and Christ by faith for it is here said strengthen the things which remain therefore they had a being though a sorry one and those that have received grace from Christ are in a capacity to work from the power of that grace Having received the promises saith the Apostle that is Christ the great end and object of the promises cleanse your selves go on in the work of sanctification in the power of Christ for all our gracious acts are to be done in and through his continued power and influence Thirdly When we are commanded to awake strengthen and renew our selves by repentance c. they must be always taken to be as inseparable parts of a lively faith for we cannot awake from sin unless we first look upon Christ in the promises neither can we possibly renew or restore our falne graces before we first eye God in Christ out of whose fulness we receive grace for grace Therefore in vain to set home spiritual duties on persons that have not first received light and life from Christ Christ is the first work that must be offered and
them for his names sake â—o all generations for ever But if it be asked How we shall honour God faithfully this way It is answered we must as those few undefiled names or Saints of Sardis overcome the corruptions and pollutions of the times by witnessing against them and openly stand for and profess the contrary truths and ways of God and follow the advice of Paul to Timothy 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use And therefore let the understanding christian mark and consider this as it is in the advice of the Spirit in the immediate subsequent verse Verse 6. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches This verse formerly opened therefore needs no farther explanation Verse 7. And to the Angel of the church of Philadelphia write These things saith he that is holy he that is true he that hath the key of David he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth This Epistle inscribed to the Angel of the church of Philadelphia is directed also from Christ under various remarkable descriptions for holiness truth and soveraignty having the key of David which he beareth not idly for with it he openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth This church of Philadelphia was one of those seven famous churches scituate in the lesser Asia now called Natolia whose Angel or Pastor was Demas or Damias as Ignatius Epistles testifie And indeed it was a church by the Spirit 's description which was the fairest among the Sisters the most comly orthodox and sound among all the seven whose very name doth set forth her gracious nature and qualities Philadelphia signifying Brotherly love or love of the Brethren which doth notably agree to the excellency of grace that was found in this church being not openly convinced of any crime but altogether extolled for her gracious deportment M. Brightman makes this his darling and beloved Philadelphia to typifie and represent his reformed Geneva French or Scottish church model but upon further enquiry I doubt his counterpane will fall short of their first pattern in purity and soundness and he makes the church of England as then governed by Bishops for their luke-warmness and remisness in matters of Religion to be the counterpane of Laodicea his blear-eyed Leah but Philadelphia the Geneva Helvetian and French Reformed church begun by Zuinglius and Calvin to be his much adored darling and Rachel and so he makes Sardis to represent the German Reformed church under Luther and his associates Pergamus to represent the degenerate church of Rome as then in being about the time of Luther and so upward he makes the several states and ages of the church the counterpanes of Thyatira Smyrna and Ephesus unto the Apostles times But by what warrant M. Brightman does this or why he is so luxuriant in his applications I know not and I conceive under due respect to so learned an Author as M. Brightman that it is beside the intention of the Spirit that ever those seven Asian churches should typifie or represent any other churches or state of churches that should rise in futurity only they are left unto us and to all ages to come as examples and patterns to understand and know the dealings of God with them that if we be partakers in the same graces with them we shall have the same encouragements approbation and reward as they had but if we be found guilty of the same transgressions as they were we shall fall under the same judgements as they did and that that made M. Brightman thus over-free in his applications in his counterpanes I verily believe to be the variety of conditions both good and had found in those seven churches which by a good wit may be stretch'd out to represent the condition and state of any church whatsoever which is not altogether beside the scope or intention of the Spirit in them for it is often inculcated in this and the former chapter He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches What was written unto them was not only for themselves but for the cognizance of all others in the future also coming under the same conditions and qualifications with themselves But to proceed These things saith he that is holy he that is true c. These words contain a description of Christ who sends this Epistle to the Angel of Philadelphia whose two first properties are taken out of the nature of the Son of God to wit Holiness and truth Christ makes this discovery of himself sutable to the condition of the church of Philadelphia which was an eminent shining star both for the profession of the truth and for holiness to the other the more delinquent churches he discovers himself in another posture with eyes and feet like burning brass and with a two edged sword proceeding out of his mouth but with the gracious he appears more gracious and to the truly godly he appears in his own proper nature in Truth and Holiness Hence Note Observ Christ discovers himself unto his people not only as the holy One but as the God of Truth also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These things saith he that is holy he that is true They are much deceived that aim at holiness without the truth They that own not Christ according to the truth can never be truly holy ones or sanctified persons for truth sanctifies John 17.17 Let their actions be never so highly estimated in the eye of the world as proceeding from holy self-denying persons yet if they be not done in the truth that is from a true fountain and to right ends they will lose their reward and be at best but as tinkling Cymbals What profit doth it yeild the monastical Votaries of Rome when they devote themselves to so rigid austerities and pretend so high to holiness whiles they have banished truth from their borders when neither their ends nor their aims are right according to the truth of God's word To what end is the Quakers austere carriage and outward holiness whilest they deny Redemption or Satisfaction by the blood of Christ Will their inherent holiness or their austere upright carriage serve instead of Christ's imputed righteousness Holiness and truth must go together to denominate a true Saint Heathen Philosophers will quite out-strip the best of christians in divers acts of vertue but when proceeding from a christian according unto truth they are to be called by another name holy or godly actions If you try the doctrines of men only by the holiness of the persons that brings them you may entertain errors instead of truth for truth is not always with the most seeming holiest men But if doctrines come from persons holding the truth in sincerity and professing the same truth in purity and integrity of their souls doubtless such doctrines in their first origen
the Sinagogue of Satan The words in the Greek copy are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza's Version reads them Prebebo eos qui sunt ex Synaga Satana The Verb is in the Present tense I give and not in the Future and what is given Those that call themselves Jews I give or I yeild is put in the present tense either for the more certain denotation of the certainty of the good promised to come in the future for so the latter clause doth intimate I will make them that they shall come and worship c. Or else Secondly it denotes unto us that God did at that present time make some of the Iews to submit themselves unto his church as it were a taste and first fruits or as a pawn and earnest of their more full general and universal call and subjection to the Scepter of Iesus Christ which should ensue in future ages which the latter clause of this verse is full unto whereof more hereafter I formerly she wed on cap. 2. ver 9. how those Iews that are only so by lineage and descent do lye when they cal themselves Iews and are not To call ones self a Iew in those days when John wrote this Revelation was as much as to profess and to arrogate to themselves that they were the seed of Jacob and had Abraham to their Father and were the Israel of God the only people of God his peculiar Inheritage to whom the promises appertained the children of the Kingdom to whom the Oracles of God were committed and all others Aliens and Barbarians in respect of them who alone had the priviledges of the children a holy Nation the Lord's Portion who alone had the Temple Divine Ordinances Worship and clear Visions of God Now when those persons that boasted themselves of those priviledges yet persecuted reviled and blasphemed Christ and his churches as they did that of Smyrna cap. 2. 9. They cease to be true Iews and make a lye when they call or profess themselves Iews true Israelites of God when indeed they are children of the Divel and of the Sinagogue of Satan for his works and counsels they do really execute and performe they do synagere work together plot study and execute one and the same thing and therefore worthy to be denominated his Disciples of this infernal Colledg and Synagogue and not of Christ's church colledg or of the Society of Iesus Hence Note Observ That many are apt to call and boast themselves to be true Jews true Israelites of God true Christians that in truth are not for their evil works and blasphemies both towards Christ and true Christians doth evidently shew that they do lye in their Profession and Indeed are not true inward Jews and Christians but of the Synagogue of Satan You would have thought it strange to hear of a Sinagogue of Satan an University as it were for the Divel set up among the holy people of God his own Inheritance and yet it was most true John Baptist could have called them a generation of Vipers and Christ more plainly the children of the Divel for his works they did do and John here a Synagogue of Satan and that most deservedly for their contumelious reproaches and oppositions against the Gospel of Christ and true Believers We have a true counterpane of these carnal Jews among the christian churches in those days who call themselves christians and children of the Kingdome and yet only fit to be cast into utter darkness They crack of the Temple of God of Ministry of Ordinances of true Visions of God and the truth and yet who more enemies to the truth and to true godliness They are just like the Iews of old that boast of Abraham to be their Father and that they are Israelites as from Jacob and yet are ready with the Iews to crucifie the Lord of life in his Saints and followers They think it enough with their elder Brethren the Iews to have Abrahams and Iacobs to their Ancestors and Progenitors but for Abraham's faith or Jacob's spirit in wrestling with God let that alone for them that will They think it safe enough to be of Israel according to the flesh to be born in a christian Nation or church and to have some external badges and priviledges of children as Baptisme or the like then all is well whilst the weightiest things of the Law and the most substaintial parts of Religion they let ly by and contemn And what are all their arrogating Titles when truth is wanting but a kind of blasphemy and a lye I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not cap. 2. 9. for indeed he is not a Iew which is one outwardly in circumcision of the flesh but he is a Iew which is one inwardly whose heart is circumcised and is one in the spirit Rom. 2.28 There were two sorts of people that did call themselves Iews and were not but did lye 1. The Samaritans 2. They of Iudea and Ierusalem and both by their perverse carriages to Christ and the truth did blaspheme and dishonour the honourable name of a Iew. So among christians there are two sorts that wound this honourable name of christians who call themselves christian churches and are not but do wrong and blaspheme the honourable name of church and christians I mean the Romish Popish Synagogue and many of the pretended reformed churches The first like the Iews of old cry out The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord O The Church The holy Catholique Church The Chaire of Peter The infallible Chair of Peter We are the only Spouse of Christ no salvation without our jurisdiction and yet who greater blasphemers reproachers and persecutors of the true christian churches and Saints then they And seeing they will not part with the Title of the church let them keep it but is such a one as is here mentioned the church or Synagogue of Satan not of Christ and as long as their Idolatries continue she will ever be a Babel not a Bethel counterfeit Iews no real spiritual ones christians only in Title and shew not in truth notwithstanding all their high pretentions and claimes to the contrary 2. So many of the pretended reformed christians cry out We are of the reformation we are baptised we are of the Lutheranes confession we are of the Calvinists and yet no Papist more blind more ignorant more vile more profane or greater enemies to Christ in the power of godliness The names titles and honour of christians they love they esteem they expect and yet who vainer who more profane more ungodly or less deserve it then they They are only nominal christians outward Iews but to the inward spiritual Iew who more strangers to it then they Let them therefore look to it notwithstanding their high and honourable affected titles least the spirit of God shall declare the very truth and manifest to all true christians that they are only seeming Iews and do lye
needs be sure and firm for In him according to that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 1.20 are all the promises of God yea and Amen and that he may get the better faith and credence thereunto he adds another title The faithful and true witness Paul could publiquely profess That he was a faithful witness of the mind and counsel of God to his discsples and that he had hid nothing back that did necessarily conduce to their salvation and think ye that Christ in these Revelations hath not dealt as the faithful and true witness who is the God of all truth himself O ye of little faith that will not believe the truth of those Prophesies the downfal of the Beast Babylon and the whore together with the resurrection of the witnesses and the churches glorious restored state on earth before the end of the world which are clearly and fully asserted and evidenced from this book of Prophesies Hath not Christ promised it that is the Amen in whom all the promises are yea and Amen and coming from him that is the true and faithful witness that can never fail And to take off all suspition of failure of the truth of those prophesies there is a third property here added The beginning of the Creation of God This hath relation to that description of Christ in chap. 1. v. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It may be rendred either The beginning of the Creation of God or The principality of the Creation of God For Christ is both the beginning of all creatures for by him all things were made and without him nothing were made and he is also the supreme Prince and Governour of all the works of the creation for so it necessarily follows That all things should be subject to his principality and government who did at first create them and give a Being to them Therefore to shut up this The sayings of these Prophesies in this book must needs be sure and come to pass in their appointed seasons seeing the Amen the faithful and true witness and the Creator Preserver and Governour of all the works of the Creation hath said and spoken them who will not then believe them coming first from so faithful and true a witness and from one who is the beginning and Prince of the whole creation and therefore most able to perform them Verse 15. I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou wert cold or hot This church of Laodicea as she comes last in place so she comes last in spiritual graces of all her sister churches Christ findes nothing in her that is truly commendable Even in the churches of Sardis and Pergamus though as good as dead and mixed with much corruptions yet there was found in them somwhat praise-worthy some undefiled Names that were not carried aside by the false Doctrines of Jezebel but in Laodicea nothing is found commendable and therefore she hears of nothing from Christ but matter of reproof and of the desperateness of her spiritual state and condition Doubtless there were some sincere faithful Witnesses in this church of Laodicea notwithstanding the Spirit 's silence in it or else she could not be properly numbred as one of the golden candlesticks or as a church of Christ their number being but small they were not sufficient to give a denomination unto the whole for indeed a body politique whither civil or spiritual is to be denominated sound or unsound from the major part as in the case of particular souls or persons if grace be more prevalent in degree in the soul then sin and corruption it is to be tearmed a sincere gracious soul but if sin be most prevalent it may be justly tearmed a sinful and unregenerate soul So is the case of political churches if their frame constitution and matter be most unsound and corrupt such churches are not to be denominated sound healthful bodies We are not to call darkness light or light darkness Though for their profession of their faith they be called churches of Christ yet for the deadness thereof they may with Sardis be rightly tearmed dead ones yea twice dead and to be plucked up by the roots Doubtless under Prelacy both English and Romish there were and are diverse pretious christians and Saints of Christ as in the days of Elijah when the Idol of Baal and his worship and the Priests thereof were exalted yet then in that corrupt state of Israel there were seven thousand that bowâ—d not the knee to Baal yet them few faithful ones in the days of Elijah or those in the days of Prelacy c. Popery came far short to denominate Israel at that time or our English or Forraign Nations under that corrupt frame or temper of antichristian Prelacy to be praise-worthy churches or sound sincere and healthful in their general matter frame or constitution But to return to the charge against Laodicea I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot Laodicea was of a strange mongrel composure and temper neither cold nor hot moulded and compacted as a certain odd extraction of two contraries cold and heat I thought before this that that maxime was in all things unquestionable In medio consistit virtus It seems true Religion will not admit of that Principle for Laodicea is here blamed to be in the mean that is in a frame or temper which is neither hot nor cold By hot is here understood one that is zealous fervent in spirit for the truth and worship of God that cannot endure any corruptions will-worships or superstitions shall be admitted in the true christian Worship and Religion and such a one is called a hot fervent or zealous christian and this can never be too intense as unto the degrees thereof if it be considerate and according to sound knowledg The ignorant inconsiderate zeal is reproued and condemned as dangerous and pernitious not the sound and orthodox It is not with God's graces as with moral habits of vertues wherein both the extreams straying from mediocrity either in the excess or in the defect are faults and vices as the excess of liberality may run into prodigality and the defect into covetous parsimony or the excess in fortitude may be called temerity and fool-hardiness and the defect cowardise and pusilanimity and so in the rest but in gracious habits the case is different Souls cannot exceed therein Be ye holy as your heavenly Father is holy no less then an aim unto perfection will serve turn be zealous fervent boyling hot for God and his truth it being sound and considerate it will admit of no mediocrity Lukewarmness or half friend to God and his ways is equally an abomination in God's sight for he requires the whole heart as is coldness or deadness it self and therefore this strange commixture of tempers in Laodicea is exploded by Christ as most dangerous and pernitious and therefore adds I would thou wert cold or hot Hence Note Observ A lukewarm temper among
mouth for this their sin hath not God done the very same thing with us here in England here of late for this hermaphrodical religion that was professed amongst us half popish half reformed half rotten half sound even spewed it out root and branch never to be licked up more Is it not also to be feared that the same mongrel luke-warm condition is creeping in upon us again What meaneth else the many vindications that are set forth of late of the lawfulness of their practises doctrines missions calls hyerarchical superintendencies national churches and maintenancies and the like If Christ have vomited them out as unholy things he will not return again to take them up they are loathed of him for their mongrel temper and therefore spewed out and if you will know who they are that endeavours to lick them up again They are dogs I mean whelps of Rome that desire to return to their vomit They are Sows I mean unclean worldlings that make their belly their God that desire to return to wallow in the myre of Antichristian fooleries I shall say no more but this If Reformation according to Gospel pattern be the way be zealous in it burn in it walk in it stoutly couragiously as children of light but if Rome be the way to the new Jerusalem take her mark follow her and be not ashamed of her for Christ will not endure a middle temperature between both either be all Romish or all Reformed there is no medium between heaven and hell neither between true christian and antichristian either be the one or the other for because thou art neither hot nor cold it will come to pass to thee as it did to Laodicea Christ will spew thee out of his mouth Be wise therefore ye children of light Hold fast the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free Have not your faces or thoughts towards the onyons and flesh pots of Egypt again but let your faces be to Zion-wards to build up the breaches thereof and be hot zealous fervent therein and that according to knowledge and then doubtless God will be with you and lead you into Goshen into a land of peace and rest Vers 17. Because thou sayest I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blinde and naked Laodiceas sin of luke-warmness had a two-fold ground or rise 1. Proceeding from a false perswasion of her own worthiness 2. From the ignorance of her own misery Her vain perswasion of her own worth proceeds from the consideration and conceit of her great wealth and riches not only spiritual which she wanted and Christ adviseth her to buy of him in the next verse but temporal and worldly she boasts her self not only to be rich and abounding in riches of both sorts but also to want nothing she had such a fulness that her contentation was compleat Many persons may abound and be rich and yet want much of fulness of satisfaction and contentation but the church of Laodicea it seemed abounded to contentation in her own conceit which is the highest pitch of riches for she had need of nothing and hence grew that sin of hers luke-warmness and half christianity From hence Note Observ 1. That the most rich and abounding wealthy churches are aptest to become the more remiss moderate indifferent and luke-warm christians In the primitive times when the churches were poor and low in the world they were purest more zealous and eminent for truth and martyrdom but when the church was indulged and lull'd in the lap of Constantine the great she grew more remiss and as riches and preferments were heaped on her she grew dayly more luke-warm till at the last she became key-cold as unto the truth as it is in Jesus and so shortly became purely Antichristian when the great preferments of Episcopal Lordships Deanries Arch-deanries Prebendaries c. were on foot among us Christ's Pastors became silken Priests and where was then true zeal for the truth That was driven into corners among some poor Puritans Brownists Anabaptists so scornfully called and the like but for the rest they were but half christians a medley of moral civilians half Romish half Reformed and this proceeds from the nature of riches and prosperity which is apter to choke the seed of grace then adversity and to bring a forgetfulness of God and a luke-warmness upon the hearts of those that do abound therein and therefore the children of God are so often warned in the Word that they take heed to themselves lest when they are full and cloyed with God's blessings through over-fulness they should forget the Lord. Thou sayest thou art rich c. And knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable c. The other cause of Laodiceas sin is the ignorance of her misery which she could not see and perceive by reason she was blinded by her outward prosperity and riches From whence Observe Observ 2. That the most ignorant and wretchedly miserable Church is the most boasting and highest pretending to spiritual riches and graces Doth not the church of Rome this day vaunt that she is the only rich one increased with goods and have need of nothing And 't is true if she only meant of worldly goods she is most pompous and replete therein but that is not all she vaunts too of her spiritual riches she calls her self Roma sancta the only Mother church the holy catholique church and no salvation without her pales the only Keeper of the Treasures of the Spirit and dispenseth them where she pleaseth and yet notwithstanding this high claim and pretence who more truly wretched miserable blinde ignorant naked and destitute of all true graces then she Laodicea was so vain-glorious that she could boast of her riches and yet she was the poorest of the seven of all the Reformed churches Our English under Episcopacy was wont to bear the Bell for outward splendour and glorying not only in her external riches but also of the magnificence of her worship beyond all others and yet among them all who nearer and dearer to her Sister Rome then she She was then looked upon as the first returning daughter to her Mother Harlot as the Apostate Bayly in his Epistle to the Reader of his book called End to Controversie testifies page 67. where he says That there were no other difference between them but that the Tapers upon their Altars wanted light and their Altars Priests and their Ceremonies purpose But the Lord since hath made a wider breach his name be praised for it and rendered her more irreconcileable to Rome then ever heretofore and we trust never more to be made up between them For further describing the wretchedness of the highly pretending church of Rome which may be truly parallell'd to the church of Laodicea in this particular of vain-glorying and boasting she hath here five degrees ascribed to her The two first are as common
constancy and faithful Martyrdom unto Christ and his truth It is great encouragement to the living to have the pattern of former worthy men before them It is said that it was the reading of Achilles life in Homer that made Alexander ambitious to be his competitor in noble atchievments Again Julius Cesar taking up Alexander's example endeavoured to be sole Lord of the whole World So also it is on a spiritual account Abraham is called the Father of the faithful for his approved faith in the promises of God and they are his children and the true seed of Abraham that walk in the steps of faithful Abraham And so Abraham Abel Enoch Noah Sarah Moses c. are made ever-living examples of faith and godlines for imitation to all generations to come Heb. 11. It much comforts us and bears up our spirits in sufferings when we hear that Christ our head and captain hath perfected our salvation by sufferings he having trodden to us our first this thorny way let us not be ashamed to take up our cross and follow him whensoever he shall call us to it and so in all things else in him that are imitable by us not as he was Mediator but as a holy person and head of his mystical body the Church and so he presents himself as a gracious example to his Disciples Jo. 13.15 For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you As he is the perfection of all the creatures and the light it self and wisdom of the Father so sure o all patterns and examples his in the ways of grace are most sound wise and perfect And blessed are they they that follow their Lord and Master for he is the way and the life Vers 14.15 But I have a few things against thee because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam who taught Balack to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto Idols and to commit Fornication So hast thou also them that maintain the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate The churches of Smyrna and Laodicea only of the whole seven did pass the approbation of the Spirit without any but prefixed or annexed to them The church of Pergamus had her commendable graces of constancy in the faith and profession of the truth in the worst of times and amongst the vilest people even where the Seat of Satan was Yet all in her is not well or sound for Christ comes on with a but against her But I have a few things against thee because c. Whence by the way Observe Obs 1. That many Churches of Christ and persons may suffer much for Christ and the profession of Christ yet not sound and right in all the truths of Christ Doubtless the church at Pergamus had and enjoyed but sad and afflicting days when Antipas Christ's faithful Martyr was slayn for then she denied not the faith but held her profession with much constancy The church at Thyatira too was commended for her faith and her patience verse 19. yet both these churches notwithstanding their fair profession they had much rottenness and unsoundness in the root their Doctrines were not strait that they had among them there were those in the one held the doctrines of Balaam and the doctrines of the Niolaitans in the other the doctrines of Jezabel and her wicked practises both most unsound both in doctrine and practise yet both highly suffering for the Name of Christ We see that the profession of the Name of Christ amongst the Gentiles was sufficient to bring suffering on the Disciples but suffering for that profession was not sufficient to make them sound in all things Some may prophecy in Christ's Name and cast out Divels in his Name and suffer and give their bodies to be burnt for his Name and yet at the last day Christ may tell them he knew them not He that will attain a comfortable Martyrdom for the profession of the Faith of Christ let him first see that his ends be right First That it be truly and really for Christ Secondly That it be out of love to Christ and his truth Thirdly That it tends wholly to the glory of God and not at self This is the true suffering that will attain to the crown of life But to proceed Christ hath a charge against this church of Pergamus and it is Because thou hast there them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam who taught Balack to cast a stumbling block or a stone of offence in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before the children of Israel Because thou hast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou hast that is thou keepest holdest and intendest to keep and hold thou hast these Balaamites not by accident or chance but by choyce thou hast them because thou delightest in them and wilt have it so Thy habendum and tenendum go together thou hast them and wilt not part with them because thou lovest them therefore thy sin is the greater herein And what hast thou Those that hold the doctrine of Balaam c. the doctrine of Balaam was when he saw that God had blessed Jacob and that there was no Inchantment against Israel he cursedly advised Balack the Prince of the Midianites to make a great Sacrifice to Baal Peor and to invite the Israelites unto it Now Baal Peor was the filthy lascivious Idol Priapus as Godwin's Jewish Antiquities testifie whose Festivals and Sacrifices were celebrated by both Sexes in most shameless postures and manners And therefore Hos 9.10 It is said they went to Baal Peor and discovered themselves to their shame because it made them shameless and to discover their nakedness before that Idol Now the cursed advice or doctrine of Balaam for a man's doctrine is his advice or counsel consisteth of two parts First To sacrifice to Idols and to participate at their cursed Altars in eating of their idolothites expresly against the Law of God and that of S. Paul 1 Cor. 10.20 28 Acts 15.29 Secondly In mixing with the Midianitish women a notion utterly forbidden to the Jewish Nation not to meddle with in such a way So that though Balaam could not curse Israel according to Balack's desires being overmastered by God yet it seems his heart went still after the wages of unrighteousness as 2 Pet. 2.15 testifies that is his desires and heart was to take Balack's hire and reward to curse Israel if the Lord had not overmastered both his tongue and heart and instead of cursing them he was enforced to bless them and seeing he could not pleasure Balack according to his expectation and desires as a Prophet in his malediction yet he was free as a private Machavilian or an Achitophel to counsel Balack that the readiest way to bring the people of Israel at enmity with their God was to bring them to Idolatry and Adultery and so God that was their keeper and Saviour against all enchantments and cursings would