but short, your pains but transient. Your torments will end, when those of your oppressors \vill commence : and your lives will be renewed in glorj', when theirs will terminate in ever- lasting misery. Be therefore faithful unto death in imitation of your Lord ; and he will exalt you to a participation of that bliss, which he himself enjoys upon the throne of God.]
Rev. ii. 12 — 17. And to the an^el of the Church in Pergamof write ; These thinqs saith he which hath the sharp sword ivith two edges. I know thy works, and ivhere thou dwellesi, even where Satan s seat is : and thou holdest fust my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas: was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dweUeth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit forni- cation. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicola'itans, which thing I hate. Repent ; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them- irith the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear ivhat the Spirit saith unto the churches ; To him thaf. over- cometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which 720 man knowelh, saving he that receiveth it.
THROUGHOUT all these epistles we cannot but be struck with the majesty of Him, at whose com- mand they were written. To him, as the omniscient, omnipotent Jehovah, it appertains to discern infallibly the works of all, to denounce his judgments against those who harbour any allowed iniquity, and to encourage his faithful servants with assurances of eternal happiness and gh)ry.
Having occasion in this epistle to reprove with severity some members of the Church, and to threaten them with his heavy displeasure, he de- scribes himself as " having the sharp sword with two edges" issuing from his mouth, in readiness to inflict the threatened punishment upon them, if they do not instantly repent.
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