439 iv. They should fear none of the things they might suffer. verty, (but thou art acquainted with thy tribulation and poverty", rich;) and I know the with the humble opinion thou hast of thyself; blasphemy of them which say they but I know also that thou art rich in faith, and Jews, and are not, but in all its genuine effects, and art daily laying up II. 9. are the synagogue of for thyself an increasing treasure in heaven. Satan. things which thou shalt shall have tribulation Rev. And I also know] the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but while they boast their relation to the synagogue of Moses, [are] indeed the synagogue of Satan, whose temper they breathe in their opposition to my gospel, and to my people, while they blasphe10 Fear none of those mously pretend a zeal for my name, even in their suffer: behold, the de- impieties. But let all my faithful servants be 10 vil shall cast some of encouraged boldly to face their opposition; and you into prison, that ye I say to each of them, in addressing to thee, may be tried; and ye Fear none of the things which thou shalt suffer; ten days: be thou faith- for, behold, I inform you, that the devil, acting ful in and by these instruments, the men of his synagogue, will indeed have a permission to cast some of you into prison; that you may be tried, and by these trials more remarkably approved; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; for a certain limited time, he shall be permitted to afflict you; but bear up courageously against his assaults, as becomes my valiant soldiers: be thou faithful unto death, persevere in thy attachment to me, and thy zeal for my interest, even to the last, though death in its most terrible form should a And poverty] Archbishop Wake supposes this refers to the extraordinary character of Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna; who had, as ecclesiastical history tells us, reduced himself to a voluntary poverty, as many of the primitive bishops did, by selling his estate, and distributing it to the poor. But I much question, whether the personal character of the bishop, or pastor of these churches, be referred to in this address: and the very next verse seems to demonstrate it is not. Compare also ver. 5. b Say they are Jews, and are not.] There were great numbers of Jews in the proconsular Asia; and their inveteracy against the gospel there and elsewhere, is well known. This is an instance, in which the word Jew signifies one of God's peculiar people; and it is not improbable, that many prophetic phrases, in which Jewish rites are mentioned, are to be interpreted with as great a latitude; that is, for those rites of worship which God's peculiar people should use. c Cast some of you into prison.] Whe assault ther the power of the synagogue extended d Tribulation ten days.] Mr. Fleming, e Be thou faithful unto death, &c.] I have endeavoured at large to illustrate the great force of this noble text in my funeral sermon for that illustrious Christian hero, Colonel Gardiner, whose name I could not forbear recording here, and the memoirs of whose life, which from the most intimate knowledge of him I have written, will, I hope, promote the admiration, love, and imitation of all who peruse them. fAntipas 440 iv. Christ's epistle to the church of Pergamos. of life. SECT, assault thee; for thou fightest under a General, ful unto death, and I who, though thou fall by the stroke of this last will give thee a crown Rev. enemy, can raise thee again; and instead of 11. 10. losing by thy fidelity to me, thou shalt be richly 11 He that hath an car, let him hear what be hurt of the second death. 12 And to the an Pergamos write, These rewarded: for I will give thee a crown of eterral life, and advance thee to such glory and felicity, as shall be infinitely more than an equivalent for the utmost thou canst possibly suffer 11 in my cause. He that hath an ear to hear, let him be all attention to hear what the Spirit saith the Spirit saith unto the unto the churches: The valiant conqueror shall be churches; He that secured from evils, which are beyond all com- overcometh, shall not parison greater than any he can endure on earth. In this world he may indeed encounter the first death for my sake; but he shall not be injured hereafter by the second; he shall rest in everlasting security and peace, while those who desert and renounce their duty for the preservation of this transitory life, shall be consigned to that state of misery, where they shall seek death, but it shall for ever flee from them. 12 And to the angel, or minister, of the church which [is] in Pergamos, write, These things saith gel of the church in he, who in token of the penetrating and effica- things saith he which cious nature of his word, is represented as one hath the sharp sword who has the sharp two-edged sword coming out with two edges; of his mouth: even that word, which is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 13 sword: I know thy works, and thy circum- 13 I know thy works, stances, in every respect; and particularly, est, even where Satan's where thou dwellest; [even] where the throne of seat is; and thou holdSatan [is] fixed, in the midst of superstition, and est fast my name, and in the midst of persecution, by the union of faith, even in those hast not denied my which the kingdom of darkness is supported; days wherein Antipas and thou holdest fast the honour of my name, was my faithful marand hast not denied and renounced my faith, among you, where Saeven in those days of extreme difficulty and dan- tan dwelleth. ger in which Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, and sealed his fidelity to me with his blood; even that dear and resolute Christian, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth, and seems to take up his residence, as might be inferred from 1 Antipas my faithful martyr.] Ecclesiastical history has not informed us who this Antipas was. Perhaps he was some zealous minister, who died for the faith he had preached; or some private Christian of obscure birth, rank, and circumstances, ennobled by enduring martyrdom in the Christian cause. But we may be sure the and where thou dwell tyr, who was slain that such condescending notice taken of him by his Divine Master, who mentions his name with affection and regard, would be, instead of a thousand arguments, to animate the courage and fidelity of other Christians, who might be called out to the like extremities. g Balaamites, cause thou hast there commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also trine of the Nicolaitans, them that hold the doc which thing I hate. They are ordered to repent. 441 iv. Rev. the enormities which are continually practising SECT. 14 But I have a few there. Nevertheless, I have a few things to things against thee, be- alledge against thee, that thou hast there them them that hold the doc- who remain uncensured in your societies, who II.14. trine of Balaam, who hold what is, in effect, the detestable doctrine of taught Balak to cast a that infamous Balaam,who taught Balak, king of stumbling-block before the children of Is- Moab, to cast a stumbling-block before the chilrael, to eat things sacri- dren of Israel, by which they fell into sin and ficed to idols, and to ruin; encouraging and seducing them to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. These practices are tolerated by some 15 among you; whom therefore it becomes you to search out, and to treat with due severity; for thou in like manner hast those that hold the doctrine of the accursed Balaamities, or wicked 16 Repent: or else Nicolaitans, which I hate. Repent therefore of 16 I will come unto thee these irregularities or otherwise thou mayest quickly, and will fight against them with the depend upon it, that I will come unto thee quickly in a way of chastisement, and I will fight against them with the sharp sword [that cometh out] of my mouth; I will pronounce terrible calamities against you, and execute upon you what 17 He that hath an I have threatened in my word. He that hath ear, let him hear what an ear at all, capable of hearing, let him the churches; To him hear with the greatest attention, what the Spirit that overcometh I will saith to the churches: To the conqueror, I will give to eatof the hidden manna, and will give give the privilege of being, as it were, admitted him into the most holy place; and there he shall have liberty to eat of the hidden manna; and shall be entertained with those sacred pleasures, which sword of my mouth. the Spirit saith unto g Balaamites, or Nicolaitans.] As Balaam has the same signification in Hebrew which Nicolaus has in Greek, and both signify conquerors of the people, (which name might probably be given to the ceJebrated Balaam, on account of the great influence which he had in the place where he lived,) it seems not improbable, that the doctrine of Balaam, and of the Nicolaitans, might be the same; (or the latter might be more strenuous in justifying and propagating their doctrine, and acting upon it.) As if he had said, Balaam taught Balak to lay a stumbling-block before the children of Israel; and thou hast also them that hold the doctrine of the Balaamites. Probably this doctrine might be like that of some modern seducers, that it was lawful to dissemble the Christian faith, and to conform to established superstition, to prevent persecution; a fatal error, which tends most effectually to overthrow Christianity; the existence of which, in these later ages, is owing to 17 442 Rev. Reflections on the epistles to Smyrna and Pergamos; new name written, which SECT. which God's sanctuary above affords, and of him a white stone, and iv. which the manna that fell in the wilderness, in the stone a and was laid up in a golden vessel before the no man knoweth, sav11. 17. Lord, was only an imperfect type. And I will ing he that receiveth give him a white stone, in token of full absolu- it. tion from all his crimes; and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, except he who receiveth it; I will admit him to that intimacy of sacred friendship, from whence results a joy which the stranger intermeddles not with, and which can be only conceived by those who happily experience it. Ver. IMPROVEMENT. AGAIN let us direct our eyes to that glorious Person, who is 8 the First and the Last; and who, though it may appear incompatible with that Divine title, was once dead, and is alive again; 12 and since he is here awfully represented as with a sharp sword · going out of his mouth, let us be greatly concerned, that we do not incur his displeasure by our irregular conduct, lest he smite, 9 or even destroy us. Let us observe and imitate what he commends in the churches whom he here addresses; their humility in being sensible of their poverty, when enriched by his grace; their pa13 tience, their diligence, and the resolution with which they retained the honour of his name, notwithstanding the throne of Satan was in the midst of them, and the rage of persecution had destroyed Antipas before their eyes; that blessed, that triumphant hero, whose fidelity h4 white stone.] It is well known, that among the Greeks, a white stone was a token of absolution, as a black stone was of condemnation; but the writing a new name upon this stone is not, that I know of, illustrated by any ancient practice, And the connection between the two ideas seems to be this, That in the great day, on which the absolution of Christ's people was to be declared publicly, they were to be admitted into that intimate converse, and high state of favour, which is signified by the new name; which last circumstance plainly alludes to the custom of princes, who give new names to those whom they have raised to very extraordinary dignity; of which we have many instances in the Old Testament; particularly, Gen. xli. 45; 2 Sam. xii. 25: Dan. i. 7. Dr. Goodman thinks this an allusion to the token, or ticket, given to the conqueror in the Olympic games, expressing his name, and signify ing the reward he was to receive for his atchievements. Sce his Par. of the Prod. p. 307. iNo man knoweth, except he who receiveth it.] I have sometimes thought, haubavwv, may signify, one that has received it, as it seems a name given to any person, must be known to others, or it would be given in vain; and then it intimates, that honour shall be conferred on such an one, which shall only be known to the inhabitants of that world to which he shall be admitted, and who have already received it. Otherwise, it must refer to a custom which has sometimes prevailed among princes, of giving particular names, expressing familiarity and delight, to distinguished favourites, by which to call them in the greatest familiarity of converse, whether by discourse, or by letter, and which have not been communicated to others, or used by them at other times. I have hinted at both in the paraphrase, not being able in my own mind certainly to determine, which is the peculiar and more exact sense, Christ's epistle to the church in Thyatira. iv. 443 fidelity and constancy his Divine Saviour commemorates with ap- SECT. probation, and even with satisfaction and pleasure. Who would not be ambitious of dying in the same manner, were it ever so severe and terrible, to be thus honoured and celebrated by our Lord Jesus Christ, or any of his faithful apostles? Let us not be terrified at the apprehension of what we may suffer from the malice of Satan, and Ver. by his instruments, even though not merely imprisonment, but death 10 itself were to await us. It is only for a limited time that he can occasion tribulation to any of the people of God; and our blessed Lord will never be unmindful of that gracious promise, Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. O! let us by faith survey that innumerable company, who, though they have fallen by the stroke of the first death, have been, and shall for ever be, unhurt by the second: that blessed society who are encircled with immortal crowns, which their triumphant Leader, whom they 11 followed with such undaunted fortitude, hath bestowed upon them; who, though they partake no longer of the bread that perisheth, nor are feasted with earthly viands, are yet eating of the hidden manna; who have received the white stone, in token of their absolution; and while the names and memory of many of them have sunk into oblivion, and the honours attending others are of little consequence, they are known in the heavenly regions by a new name, conferred as a mark of favour and distinction by the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. We are drawing on, if we are true Christians, to the completion of that blessed hope. And that we may not be disappointed, may we by Divine grace, be preserved from the ar- 14, 25 tifices of those who call themselves the people of God, while they are 19 indeed of the synagogue of Satan, and from whatever, like the doctrine of Balaam, would ensnare our consciences, and defile our souls. SECT. V. The epistles, which Christ charges St. John to write to the churches of Thyatira and Sardis. Rev. II. 18, to the end. Rev. III. 1. -6. REV. II. 18. AND unto the angel of the church in eyes like unto a flame AND REVELATIONS II. 18. SECT. V. Rev. ND to the angel, or Christian minister, of Thyatira, write, These the church in Thyatira, write, These things things saith the Son of saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes bright, II. 18. God, who hath his and penetrating, as a flame of fire, and his feet of fire, and bis feet are shining like fine brass: I know and approve 19 like fine brass; thy works of piety, which are many, and which, 19 I know thy works I am well apprised, are the effects of ardent vice, love to me; and I am acquainted with the serVOL. X. and charity, and ser 3 K vice |