on) or to thoſe ſeven Churches mentioned, v. 11. Epheſus, Smyrna, Pergatmus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, (ſeven fa-
mous Places in Aſia the leſs, where the Goſpel was planted) which
being the meſt famous Churches in that part of the World, Fohn is
REVELATION
commanded to depoſite this Prophecy in their Hands, by them to be communicated unto other Churches. Theſe Churches were in the moſt famous Cities of the leſſer Aſia: ſome think 7ohn was the Apo- ftle that preached moſt in Aſia, and founded theſe Churches ; others, that though they were founded by Peter and Paul, yet after their Death John took upon him the charge of them. It is the opi- nion of ſome Learned Men, that the Apoſtle did not, in the Epiſtle fo the Churches in Aſia, deſign only to tell them of their Errour, and preſcribe to their Cure, but that in writing to them, he aſſigns both a Prophetical Inſiru&ion of us all concerning the ſtate of the Church in all Periods from that time to the Day of Judgment, and alſo to reprove and-counfel all prefent and ſucceeding Churches ; but of this we may poſſibly ſpeak more afterward. þ Grace and Peace 1s the common Apoſtolical Salutation, as to the ſenſe of which, we have often ſpoke ; the Apoſtle wiſheth them the free Love of God, that is, Grace, and the Seal of it, Rom. 5. 1. Peace with God and their own Conſctences, and each with other. q Theſe words are a deſcription of Gd, particularly of Jeſus Chriſt in his Eternity and Immutability. He was from Eternity ; he 15 now, and he ſhall be for ever. Or, (as fome) he was in his Promiſes before his Incarnation; he is now God manifeſled-in the Fleſh, and he is to come as a Judge to judge the quick and the dead, This was an ancient Name of God, Exod. 3. 14. 1 am that I am.——-I am hath ſent me unto you. Theſe words interpret the Name Fehovah. r It is very difficult to determine what is meant by the ſeven Spirits here before the Throne, we read of them alſo chap. 3-1.& 4.5. & 5.6, Chriſt is defcribed, chap. 3. 1. as having the ſeven Spirits of God. Tt is ſaid, chap. 4. 5. that the ſeven Lamps o Fin burning before the Throne, are the (even Spirits of God 2 and chap. s. 6, That the Lamb's ſeven Eyes, were the ſeven Spirits of God. This is all the Light we have from Scripture : Some think they are ſeven Angels that are here meant. We read chap. 8. 2. of ſeven An- gels that ſtood before God; and in chap. 15. 16, 17. there 1s alike men- tion of ſeven Angels; and Zech. 4. 2, 10. Zechariah had a Viſion of ſeven Lamps, and ſeven Pipes, which ver. Io. are ſaid to be the Eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole Earth. But John faluting the Churches with Grace and Peace from theſe ſeveh Spirits, and joyning them with Chrift, they do not ſeem to be Creatures, 4An- gels, that are here meant, but ſuch a Being from whom Grace and
Peace cometh. Others therefore underſtand by them, the ſeven Workings of Divine Providence in his managery of the Affairs of the World, with relation to the Church, of which we ſhall read after, but this alſo ſeems hard. The ſenſe ſeems to be, and from the Holy Ghoſt, who, though but one Spiritual Being, yet exerteth his Influ- ence many ways, arid by various Manifeſtations, called here ſeven Spirits, becauſe all flow from the ſame Spirit. They are therefore called, chap. 4. 5. burning Lamps. The Holy Ghoft deſcending in the appearance of Fire, Ads 2, and being compared to Fire, Matth, 3. 11, they are called the Lamb's ſeven Eyes, and ſeven Horns, chap. 5.6. Chriſt had the Spirit without meaſure ; and the Holy Spirit is oft called the Spirit of Chriſt. This ſeemeth the beſt ſenſe ; the Rea- der may find the ObjeRions to it anſwered in Mr. Pool's Synopſis Cri- ticorum upon this Verſe. : :
5 And from Jeſus Chriſt, * who zs the faithful wit- neſs /; and the Þ firſt-begotten of the dead 7, and the || Prince of the kings of the earth # + Unto him that
loved us, and waſhed us from our fins in his own blood- iv.
/ Here is an expreſs mention of Jeſus Chriſt, becauſe he was the Procurer of our Redemption, and our Mediator, to whom the Father committed all Power, as to the Church, Heis called the faithful and true Witneſs, 1 Tim. 6. 13. he witneſſed a good Confeſſion before Pontius Pilate; he bare record of himſelf, on 8.13, 14. Sealfo 1/2. 43.10, & $5.4+ John 18. 37. # That is, who firſt roſe from the dead, viz. by his own Power, John 10. 18. and to die no more. See Ads 13. 34. 1 Cor. 15.20. u The King of Kings, chap. 17. 14. and 19. 16. 1 Tim, 6.15. Thefirſt Name here given to Chriſt ſpeaketh his Prophetical Office, the ſecond his Prieſtly Office, this laſt his Ringly Office. w Here begins a Doxology, or giving Glory to Chriſt, (ſuch Forms are frequent in the Epiſtles) firſt, as he that waſhed us from our ſins, both from the guilt, and from the pollution and dominion of our Sins, with his Blond, paying a Price, and ſatisfying God's Juſtice for, and meriting our Sanification. See Heb. 9. 14. 1 John 1. 7.
6 And hath * made us kings and prieſts unto God and his Father x :. To him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
x Kings, to rule over our own Appetite, and govern our ſelyes by the:Law of his Word, to fight and conquer the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil, Kings in a Spiritual ſenſe, for our Kingdom 1s like his from whom we derive it, nof of this World; therefore he adds, unto God, to the Honour and Glory of God, for his Service, who 1s the Father of Chriſt: Prieſts to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices, accepta- ble to God, through the Beloved, 1 Pef. 2, 5. our Bodies as a /7-
- wing Sacrifice, Rom. 12. 1. part of our Eſtates, Phil. 4. 18. The Sa- crifices of Praiſe, the Fruit of our Lips, Heb. 13.15. So as all the Pri- viledges of the Jews, Exod. 19. 6. belong to us, and that 1n a more eminent manner. Through Chriſt we alſo are a Royal Prieſthood, a peculiar People. y Let all Praiſe, and Honour, and Acknowledgments
*Dan.7.13 be paid, and all Power aſcribed to him for ever.
Matth. 26, * Behold 2, he cometh with clouds 9, and every
*Ch. 3-14. }1 Cor.1 5. 20. [|Ch.17.14- & 19. 16.
YCh. 5.10, & 20. 6.
, eye ſhall ſee him b, and+they a//o which pierced him c: 12.10. and all kindreds of the earth ſhall wail becauſe of him d: |
Joh.19.37. Even ſo, Amen,