2. A description of Christ, the author of this epistle, * These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.' The seven Spirits, that is, the Holy Ghost, who is called so because of the plenty, perfection, and variety of his gracious operations and influences ; and, therefore, in the old hymn of the church, it was said to the Holy Ghost, Tu septiformis munere ; and it is said Christ hath these seven Spirits, that is, hath power to send the Holy Ghost, who always acteth as Christ's Spirit, with reference to his merit and inter- cession ; therefore it is said, John xiv. 15, ' He shall take of mine and show it you.' Christ taketh this title upon him now to show that he had Spirit enough to quicken dead Sardis, seven Spirits, when he writetli to a languishing church. The next part of the description is 'and the seven stars;' these are expounded Kev. i. 20. 'And the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches ; ' so that the stars note the subordinate ministries which Christ is said to have, because he appointeth them, gifteth them, assists them in their office and functions.
3. The occasion of the epistle, which is taken from the state of the church, which was well enough known to God, and therefore it is prefaced thus, ' I know thy works,' a phrase that is used to all the rest of the churches, but is most proper to Sardis, whose crime objected is, hypocrisy and pretence. Oh ! how should it startle hypocrites to hear God say, ' I know thy works.' It implieth Christ's strict and severe observation of what is done among his people ; his eyes are every- where, but he observeth the church: Cant. vi. 11, 'He goeth down into the gardens to see the fruits of the valleys ; to see whether the vines flourished, and the pomegranates budded;' phrases which imply a narrow inspection.
The state of the church is described two ways : —
[1.] By its repute and renown among other churches, they did judge and speak well of her: ' Thou hast a name that thou livest' — i.e., thou art reputed to be eminent for faith, piety, and the power of
^ See Mr Jesop's Sermon on the Augel of the Church of Ephesus, p. 12. VOL. V. 2d
418 England's spiritual languishing. [Eev. III. 2.
godliness, and goest for an excellent church in thine own conceit and the opinion of others ; a church is then said to live when it receiveth the grace of life, and expresseth the life of grace, and name is taken for repute and renown.
[2.] By the judgment of Jesus Christ — 'but art dead/ Thy con- dition is not correspondent to the report that goeth of thee. The churches that judge well of thee are deceived ; for though there be much profession, yet very little of the power of truth and godliness is found in thee, which is here expressed by death.
4. The next things observable is the counsel of Christ, and direction to this languishing church, and that is in the verse read : ' Be watch- ful, and strengthen the things that are ready to die,' &c.
In which counsel of Christ to his church you may observe : —
[1.] An excitation, ' Be watchful.'
[2.] A direction, ' Strengthen the things which remain, which are ready to die.'
[3.] A conviction to set on both the former parts, * For I have not found thy works perfect before God.'
The main duty is in the middle, the first part being laid down by way of prej)arative to it, and the third by way of reason and enforce- ment. Therefore, though I shall explain the whole verse, yet I shall single out the middle clause for larger and more special discussion.
[1.] I begin with the excitation, which, as I said, was laid down by way of preparation for the other duty : ' Be watchful,' — i.e., look to it, see whereunto these things will grow. Such sad beginnings should make you consider and observe your sins, and provide against your judgments. Holy watchfulness and observation is the first step to amendment ; and when people begin to understand the approaches of wrath, they are in a fair way to prevent them. There cannot be such a grey hair, or a sadder intimation of swift destruction, than a secure and careless inadvertency. The first thing pressed is, ' Be watchful.'
[2.] You may look upon the conviction, which is brouglit as a reason why they should watch, or recover their former height in godli- ness: ' For I have not found thy works perfect before God.' Whatever men think of them, they are not so holy and entire as to be able to endure my trial. Things in a scripture sense are said to be TreTrX?;- pcofjueva, full and perfect, when they are sincere and sound, without hypocrisy and guile ; and therefore Caleb's integrity is expressed by fulfilling after God, or following of God fully, Num. xiv. 24 ; he under- standeth such a perfect and full growth as keepeth things from languishing or dying away.
[3.] The next thing now is the direction or main duty pressed : ' Strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to die.' There were ra \onra, some sorry remains of religion and godliness, to quicken or strengthen wliicli he addeth a reason, a /xeXA-et airoOavelv, which shall die. The same kind of Greek expression is used concerning the centurion's servant, when he was at the point of death, which is ex- pressed by i]fxeWe reXevTav, Luke vii. 2. They are even languishing and expiring ; unless you strengthen and repair them, they are utterly lost and gone. The word that expresseth their duty is ar/jpc^ov, settle ■ or establish them, which implieth not only a care to keep them from