for church communion: but this is quite a distinct thing from loading them with fines or shutting them up in prisons. 2. We observe in all the heresies reprobated in the New Testament, a strong tendency, if not to crime, at least to laxity of morals. We believe, for instance, that persons who deny the Deity and atonement of our Saviour, may be sober, honest, and humane; but few of them, we apprehend, pretend to a devotional character, or are anxious for that decided separation from the world, which the Scriptures uniformly inculcate and though, in the present day, there are no temptations to partake of the luxury of feasting in an idolatrous temple; yet many indulge in the same libations, and unite in the same songs, that were formerly offered to Venus, Bacchus, and other Pagan idols. Decision in religious matters is of infinite importance, and no mau whose delight is in any species of intemperance can truly relish the heavenly manua; nor can any such claim that evidence and assurance of his salvation, which is implied in the white stone and the new name here referred to. The church of Thyatira seems to have much resembled that of Pergamos. There were among them many eminent for good works, and charity, and faith, &c. but there was a Jezebel among them. Some wicked woman, possibly, of rank and influence, who, under the mask of a Christiau profession, countenanced occasional attendance at idol temples; and did not see any great harm in those common aberrations from purity and strict morals, which the world covers with the name of "juvenile indiscretions." We are required, however, to "avoid all appearance of evil," and to "hate (even) the garment spotted by the flesh." The earliest, and some of the best modern commentators, indeed, consider this Jezebel not to have been a mere individual, but an heretical party which had crept into the church (similar to the Nicolaitanes at Pergamos, and perhaps with some female Nicolaitan at their head), who pleaded for occasional conformity to their Pagan neighbours. They admired architecture and statuary, and there could be no harm in seeing an idol temple. They loved music, and where could they hear it in such perfection as there? They were men of taste, too, and where could their taste be so highly gratified with the richest viands and the choicest wines? Or they wished to cultivate good fellowship with their neighbours, and to oblige their kindred and friends; and what so likely to do this, as occasionally associating with them in their devotions, though they might not worship the idols in their hearts? And, besides (might these complaisant Christians say), Perhaps they may be induced to attend at our churches in return, and who knows 'but they may be converted?' These and a thousand other plausible excuses might be made by these Jezebel professors, to cover or to excuse their sins. But what says he, whose "eyes are like a flame of fire?" "I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her." But this is not a bed of ease, much less of pleasure, but a bed of "great tribulation:" and those who have languished, or even seen others languishing, in bed, with the gout, the stone, and other acute diseases, must know what "great tribulation" means. "And I will kill her children with death" -perhaps "pestilence;" for St. Paul has taught us, that sickness and death are often the consequence of spiritual degeneracy-" For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." (1 Cor. xi. 30.) Have any of us been visited with personal or family sickness? It may then be well to inquire, has our conduct given no provocation for it? the affectious of a Christian are drawn from religion to the world, the mercy of NOTES. CHAP. III. Ver. 1. The seven Spirits of God.See Note on chap. i. 4, 20.-And-Doddr. But "art dead.-Maimonides states, that it was proverbially said among the Jews, that the wicked are When dead while they are alive." Philo says, "He who lives a life of sin......his soul is dead, and even buried, in his lusts and passions." See Woodhouse, Compare 1 Tim. v. 6. Epistle to the] REVELATION. [Church of Philadelphia. to die : for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life; but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 7 And to the angel of the church in 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; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and ni man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep the from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: held that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my EXPOSITION-Chap. II. Continued. God often sends affliction to bring him stood all mysteries," as St. Paul saith back again. And if any of our family idols have been taken from us, it is not only they boasted their acquaintance with "the (1 Cor. xiii. 2), but "had not charity:" our duty to submit (for that we must do), deep things of God," which they perverte but also to return to the only object whom we can love without the danger of excess. He "whose eyes are as a flame of fire," may « kill our children," to save both their souls and ours. We shall never know and abused to the depths of Satan." The sect of Gnostics (or knowing ones, as the word means) is not yet extinct; and we which such persons take in supposing present state and woe unto those who ians-that is, generally, in being " all the advantages of our afflictions in the themselves wiser than their fellow Christ are spared in this life, to be punished in above what is written." It is not, how another! ever, speculation, but faith and obedience But some of these members of the only, that can gain the victory; but he that church of Thyatira were, it seems, so little sensible of their degeneracy, that they boasted of their attainments: they " under overcometh shall be exalted to a throne, and to a kingdom, like his Lord and Master. NOTES-Chap. III. Cou. Ver. 3. Come on thee as a thief.-See 1 Thess. v. 1-7. Ver. 4. A few names-i. e. names enrolled in the book of life-verse 5.-Shall walk with me in white.-White robes were constantly worn on occasions of festivity, joy, or victory. Ver. 5. I will not blot.-Doddr. says, "I think this plainly implies, that some names shall be blotted out from the book of life; and, consequently, as 'nothing can occasion an alteration of the decrees of God, I think it proves that the book of life does not signify the catalogue of those whom God has absolutely purposed to save.-1 will confess his name. -Compare Matt. x. 32. Ver. 7. He that is holy, he that is true.-Da The Holy one, the True One."The bry of the family of God. See Isa. xxii. 22; Heb. 2, David.-This represents the Saviour as steward Ver. 8. An open door--That is, have given thee sphere of usefulness which none can hinder Ver. 9. Synagogue of Satan-i, e. anbelieving and fore thy feet-that is, to acknowledge my protect persecuting Jews. See chap. ii. 9.- Worship ing hand over thee. Ver. 12. A pillar-That is, be shall have an abiding residence in God's temple abore, and for Jerusalem. See Gal. iv. 26; Heb. xi. 10-16. ever remain a monument of his grace, The New Epistle to the] CHAP. III. God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God and I will write upon [Church of Laodicea. him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (E) 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These 1 CHAP. III. EXPOSITION. (E) Ver. 1—13. Epistles to the Churches of Sardis and Philadelphia.-Sardis was the ancient seat of Croesus and the Lydian kings, but is now a beggarly village, called Sart, in which seven Christians only were counted a few years ago, and they were not allowed to build a church on the site of the ancient city, but built one on the plain adjacent, where they keep a priest, and have sometimes collected forty hearers. At the time in which this Epistle was addressed to them, they are described as being dead while they lived, which is the description St. Paul gives of those who live in pleasure, which was probably the case with the inhabitants of this city generally; and partially, with respect to the church itself." It is bad for the world to be dead (says Mr. Fuller); but for the church to be so is worse: this is salt without savour; which is neither fit for the land, nor the dunghill. It is bad for individuals to be dead; but for the body of a church to be so, is deplorable. It is implied, that they were not only destitute of spirituality, but had defiled their garments by worldly conformity. "There had been some good amongst them, or they would not have been called to remember how they had received and heard;' and some remains of it might continue. As no complaint is made of false doctrine, it is likely they continued orthodox, and kept up the forms of godliness. There seems to have been something of truth, love, and zeal; but they were, like dying embers, ready to expire. "Christ admonished them to wake from their supineness, to take the alarm, and to strengthen the things which remained that were ready to die. This is done by each beginning with himself....... The means of recovery from such a state are, Remembering how we received and heard' the gospel at the first. [We should] call to remembrance the former days, not to get comfort under our declensions; but to recover those views and sensations, which we had at the beginning of our Christian course...... "The few names which had not defiled their garments,' are highly commended. To walk with God at any time is accept able to him; and to do this, while others around us are corrupt, is more so. This is being faithful among the faithless. They shall walk with Christ in glory, honour, and purity. With this agrees the promise to them that overcome: They shall be clothed in white raiment; and Christ will not blot out their names from the book of life.' The blessed God is represented as keeping a register of his servants; not as elect, nor as redeemed, nor as called; but as his professed followers. When any turn back, their names are blotted out: hence, at the last judgment, it is made the rule of condemnation. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.' Some were never there, having never professed to be the followers of Jesus; while others, who had been there, were blotted out in either case, their names would not be found there. Hence, also, it is the rule of admission into the New Jerusalem." (See chap. xx. 15; xxi. 27.) So far Mr. Fuller. But we hasten to the church of Philadelphia, of which all that is said is commendatory, unmingled with censure or reproof. Yet even these are warned to expect trials and temptations; and guarded against supineness and neglect. “Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that thou hast, that no man take thy crown." There is no state to which we may attain in the present life, that does not require watchful ness and prayer. The address to the church of Philadel phia is the only one of the seven epistles wholly commendatory—without reproof or NOTES. Ver. 14. Church of the Laodiceans.-Marg. " in Laodicea."The beg inning-Marg, "chiel "-of the creation. So Dr. Pye Smith, Messiah ii, 582, See Note on Col, i. 15. things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou [and invitations mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. and 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and be with me. 21 To him that overcometh w I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. EXPOSITION-Chap. III. Continued. censure. None of our readers, perhaps, need be told, that the Philadelphia here mentioned is not the capital of North America; but a Greek city, so called, because built by Attalus Philadelphus. It is situated at the foot of mount Tmolis, about 27 miles from Sardis; and was, prior to St. John's time, terribly shaken by earthquakes. It was the last of these cities that fell into the hands of the Turks; and has now more remains of Christianity than either of the others. The Rev. Mr. Lindsay, who visited it in 1816, says, there were" about 1000 Christians in it, chiefly Greeks, who, for the most part, speak only was the case with those of the first and se cond temple, in the days of Nebuchadnetzar and the Romans: so, figuratively, less a pillar in the church than Peter, once gave way; and those who did not, we all removed by death. But when planted in the New Jerusalem, they "shall go to more out" for ever.-2. They are mo mental pillars, and inscribed with" Grate, Grace," on every side. "I will write au him the uame of my God-of the cir of my God-and my new name;" all which are expressions of the goodness and merry of God to sinners. The inscription of these names doubtless implies the enrolment d Turkish:" also, "25 places of worship, the conquerors as citizens of the heavenly world; and a record of their victory," five of which are large regular churches. To these there is a regular bishop, with the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of 20 inferior clergy." Mr. L. gave them a modern Greek Testament, which was thankfully received, and considered as a treasure. (See Orient. Lit. No. 1553.) The promise of being made pillars in God's temple of the New Jerusalem, implies two ideas :-1. Their firmness and stability. On earth, the strongest pillars may give way; some conqueror may overturn the building, and carry them off, as their testimony." "Who then shall conquer? Who maintain the fight Even they who walk by faith, and not by sight; Who, having wash'd their robes, and made then white, Press toward the mark, and see the promis'd land EXPOSITION. (F) Ver. 14-22. Epistle to the Church of Laodicea.-This church, and that of Colosse, were, in the time of St. Paul, sister churches (Còl. ii. 1), and, it has been supposed were, in St. John's time, united. The city of Laodicea bordered on the river Lycus, and had been before, and was, probably, in St. John's time, rich and flourishing; so completely, however, have been fulfilled the awful threatenings of the Chief and Head of God's creation, in case of their not repenting (as they evidently did not), that, of the city nothing remains but ruins, and of Christianity, not a vestige. "The prayers of the mosque (says Mr. Lindsay) are the only prayers heard near the ruins of Laodicea, on which the threat seems to have been fully executed, in its utter rejection as a church." (Orient. Lit. No. 1554. See also Miss. Reg. 1827, p. 296.) Our attention is here called to the awful state of this church, and to the offers of mercy here made to them. 1. As the Philadelphian church was commended without an abating circumstance, so is the Laodicean church censured without a circumstance of palliation. It is described as lukewarm, neither hot nor cold; and, therefore, nauseating as an emetic. This is the charge of "the faithful and true witness." Mr. Fuller remarks, "They may be said to be cold who have no religion, and pretend to none; and they to be hot, who are zealously engaged in Christ's work but these people were neither this nor that. They were not decidedly religious, and yet would not let religion alone." Like Israel in the days of Elijah, they were halting between two opinions. "To halt between truth and error, God and the world (continues Mr. F.), is worse, in many respects, than to be openly irreli gious...... No man thinks the worse of religion for what he sees in the openly profane; but it is otherwise in respect of religious professors. If he that nameth the name of Christ depart not from iniquity, the honour of Christ is affected by his misconduct." These men, however, it appears, were wealthy and proud, and (as often is the case with such) witbal very ignorant. With such men to be rich, is almost every thing which they can desire; but with Christ it is, on the other hand, a great impediment to happiness. "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark x. 23.) Difficult as this is, however, it is not impossible. Let but a man be convinced of his spiritual poverty and wretchednessthat he is miserable and blind and nakedand here is the offer of the true gold to eurich him, white raiment to clothe him, and mental eye-salve to open the eyes of his understanding. Nor is this all: these blessings are not only offered, but urged. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man shall hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him and sup with him." When Christ comes to be a guest, he always brings his provisions with him, and therefore it is added, " And he with me:" in which it is evident enough, that he alludes to the enjoyment of the heavenly state. "To him that overcometh," it is added, "will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne." Here is counsel!-here is warning!-here is encouragement!" He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches!" NOTES. CHAP. IV. Ver. 1. The first voice.-The Greek (Phone), signifies any kind of sound, and is applied to the roaring of waters, chap. xix. 6.—Things which must be hereafter.-Doddr. " shall be after wards." Woodh. "must happen after these." Compare chap. i. 19. Ver. 3. A jasper and a sardine stone.-The jasper, according to Woodhouse, is a pellucid gem, variously |