x Joh.4.1, are Apoſtles, and are not f ;
ly. 5s. His calling Miniſters, Angels, ſpeaks this a Prophecy, for that is a Prophetical Stile. 6. The mentioning the ſame Number of Churches and Miniſters, as of the Seals, ſpeaks this part of the Revelation as comprehenfive, with reſpe& to time, as the other. 7. It is not probable, that theſe Epiſtles would have been uſhered in with ſuch a Viſion, if they had been meerly Hiſtorical, and Di- daQtick, « not Prophetical alſe6. 8. They argue from chap. 1. 19. where Fohn is bid to write not only what is, but what ſhall come to paſs. 9. They argue from the matter of the Epiſtles ——Let the curious Reader ſee more of this in the Authors themfelyes, as alſo in
Mr. Bi/ightman, CHAF KK
John is charged to write firſt to the Angel of the Church of Epheſus, I. His works commended, 2, 3. Tet reproved for a decay of firſt Love, 4. An Exhortation to Repentance, 5. The Tree of Life pro- miſed to them that overcome, 7. Secondly, to him of Smyrna, his Affflidtions known, 8. Perſeverance encouraged by - comfortable Pro- miſes, 9——11. Thirdly, to him of Pergamus, ftedfaſineſs in Afffition commended, 12, 13. Tet a few things againſt him, 14. Repentance preſſed by a threatning, 16, And by a Promiſe, 17+ Fourth!y, to him of Thyatyre, who is commended for his Faithful- neſs and Growth in Grace, 18, 19. His fin rebuked and threat- ned, 20-———23. They that were kept pure, exhorted to ſledfaſt- neſs, 24,25, Glorious Promiſes made unto them, 26 —=—=—29.
Some things are to be obſerved of all the Epiſtles before we come to the particular Epiſtles.
I. God's writing in this form (as a Man to his Friend) ſpeaks Chriffs Love to the Church, his Spouſe.
2, There were not ſeven Books wrote, but one Book in zobich theſe ſeven Epiſtles were, out of which each Church, or the Church in its ſeveral Periods, might learn what concerned it.
3. Theſe Epiſtles concerning matters of Faith and Man- ners.are wrote plainly,not in myſterious Expreſſions.
4- The Scope of them all is, to inſtrutt, reprove, com- mend, and comfort.
5. They are all diretted tothe Miniſters of the Churches, as their Heads, but the matter concerns the whole Church.
6. It is alſo obſerved, That Chriſt, in the beginning © every Epiſtle, notifieth himſelf by ſome one of thoſe things mentioned intheViſion inthe former Chapter.
Chap. 2. 1» Theſe things, ſaith he, zhat holds the ſeven Stars, Chap. 1. 16. :
Verſe 8. The firſt and the laſt, which was dead, and is alive, chap. 1. 17, 18.
Verſe 12. Theſe things (faith he) which hath the ſharp Sword with two edges, Chap. 1. 16. |
Chap 2.18. The Sonof God who bath his Eyes like unto a flame of Fire, and his Feet like fine Braſs, Chap. 1. 14, 15. L
we 1. He that hath the ſeven Spirits of God, and the ſeven Stars, Ch. t. 4, 16. : _ 3. 7. He that hath the Key of David, that ts boly and true, that openeth, &c. Ch. 1. 5, 18. Verle 14. The faithful and true Witneſs, Ch 1.5.
Nto the angel of the church of Epheſus write a, u Theſe things, faith he rhat holdeth the ſeven ſtars in his right hand 6, who walketh in the midſt of the ſeven golden candleſticks c : -
a Epheſus was the Principal City of Aſia the Leſs, it lay in the Weſtern parts of it upon the Jonian Sea, a City of great Riches and
Trade, but much given to 1do/atry and Superſlition, tamous for the Temple of Diana ; Paul was there twice, at his ſecond coming he
ſtaid thereabouts three years, As 18. ch. 19. ch. 20. He was by a |
Tumult driven thence into Macedonia, and left Timothy there, 1 7im. 1. 3. It appears from As 20. 17. that there were more Miniſters there than one ; but they were all Angels, and from the oneneſs of their Bufineſs all are called an Angel. 6 That 15, Chriſt, ch. I. 16, 20, who hath put an Honour on his Miniſters, ſheweth ſpecial fayour to them, and will prote& them. c Who hath a ſpecial Eye to his Church, being not an idle SpeRator, but preſent with his Church, to obſerve how all in it walk, and perform their ſeveral parts, and is at hand, either to reward or puniſh them.
' 2 *T know thy works d, and thy labour, and thy 13, patience e, and how thou canit not bear them which 8 are evil +: and thou * haſt tried them which ſay they and haſt found them
liars g :
d Theſe words being in the Front of all the ſeven Epiſtles, can- not be interpreted, as ſignifying a Knowledge of Approbation, as Pſal.1.6, but of a Comprehenſion in the Underſtanding, and as fignify- ing Chriſt's Omniciency 3 though it be true, that the Lord both un- derſto2d and approved of ſome of the Wprks of this Church, par- ticularly. e Their Labour in- propagating the Knowledge of Chriſt, and Doftrine of the Goſpel, and their patient taking up, and bear- ing th Cros, F And. their Zeal and Warmth, that they would
Vol. IT.
R EV ELATION.
Churches. 3. The Number, Seven, is the Number -uſed to fignifte Perfeftion. 4. What is ſaid of Chriſt's walking in the midſt of the Golden Candleſticks, having the Stars in his Right Hand, &c. agreeth to him, with reference to all Churches, not to theſe ſeven on-
paſſtvely in the Furnace
of
not endure either Perſons erroneous in Judgment, or lewd in their Lives, in their Communion. f In the Primitive Church there were ſome that falfly- pretended an immediate Call, or Miſſion from Chriſt, to preach what they did, but this Church would not indure them. It appears from Pax/'s Epiſtle to Timothy, that there were then falſe Teachers very bufie in that Church; poſſibly Zbion and Cerinthus, (who both lived in this time, and Cerinthus preached in Aſa) or their Diſciples, might be ſome of them. They tried them, poſſibly by the Word of God, according to the Rules given in it to try the Spirits. £ And found that they had no ſuch 1mmediate Miſſion, no Authority from Chriſt.
3 And haſt born þ, and haſt patience 7, and for = names ſake haſt laboured &, and haſt not faint- Ea 4.
h The contradiion of falfe Teachers, and the Perſecutions of Fews and Pagans, (for at this time the ſecond Perſecution was be- gan by Domitian). i Grace (with Quietneſs and Submiſſion) to bear the Will of God in any fort of Evils. k And for me haſt 12- boured actively in propagating the Truths of my Goſpel, as well as
Trials and Perſecutions. 1 And haſt per- ſevered fo as thou haſt neither been ſeduced to other Doftrine by falſe Teachers, nor loſt thy Integrity, and Holinefs of Converſation.
4 Nevertheleſs I have ſomewhat againſt thee m, be-
cauſe thou haft left thy firſt love 7:.