The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 68

the time of receiving these letters, substituted a temporary by a permanent officer, there are no data to enable na to affirm. Can we not well imagine the interest and excitement of the people, when the leader of their worship opened a roll-prefacing, perchance, the reading thereof by saying, "Our loved Apostle John, who used to teach among us, but who is now in banishment at Patmos, has been caught up in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and has been moved to send, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, the following letter"? With what deep emotion would its words be heard! In it there ara six lines of thought suggested. I. THE ASPECT IN WHICH THE SAVIOUR PRESENTS HDISELF TO THEM. It is twv- fold. 1. As holding the stars in his right hand. 2. As walking in the midst of thti seven golden candlesticks (see homiletics on eh. L 9-19, sect. l.; 20,. sect. II.). The first indicates the special care of Christ over the ministers of his Church. It is not for a minister to "lord it over God's heritage," or to attempt dominion over their faith; but he is guilty of a sinful and a mock humility if he does not "magnify his office," and if he,does not regard it as a trust from the Lord Jesus. He will also wrong his Saviour if he does not take comfort in the thought that, as a minister of the Church, he is the object of his Lord's especial care. The second indicates the active energy of Jesus in watching over his Churches, to administer strength, help, comfort, commendation, cheer, rebuke, or warning, as the case may require. 'l'here is also a reminder that the Lord has a.n omniscient eye, to discern the state of things in every one of his Churches. "I know thy works." This attribute of the Lord Jesus is one which should a.wake the utmost solicitude in any Church, that it may be approved of him. II. THE SAVIOUR'S ESTIMATE OF THE CHURCH. 1. There had been much good, which, indeed, had by no means died out. They had laboured, even unto toiling (ver. 2). They had endured, when work had to be done under trying circumst.a.nces, in the midst of a great city, the inhabitants of which were carried away by the worship of the great goddess Diana. There was still an abhorrence of evil, and a. keen and faithful detection of error in doctrine (ver. 3). They had applied to some false apostles a test so severe and so successful, that they were exposed and put to shame. And towards the close of the epistle the commendation is again renewed, as if to show how lo1fogly our Lord notices every virtue. 2. But still there is a grave charge against the Church. A charge not modified by the word" somewhat," which the .Authorized Version thrusts into the translation. " I have ii. against thee-thou hast left thy first love.1 Note: It is quite possible for all the machinery of a Church to be in full working order, while at the same time the spirit of love and zeal which first set it a.going is on the decline. This is a great evil; for (1) it is no part of the structure of the spiritual constitution that any decline should befall it ; (2) there is no difficulty against which Christ has not warned us; (3) there is no emergency for which his grace is not all-sufficient; (4) there is no other object to which our love can be legitimately trans- ferred ; (5) Ohriat is very jealous of our love ; (6) it is a grief and dishonour to him, whose love is a constant flame, to let our love flicker as it does; (7) outside work and energy will not continue long where love is on the decline. No engine will continue to run long after the fire has gone out. III. THE SAv1ou.a's BEBUKB. " I have it against thee." "As many as I loye, I rebuke and chasten." Although it be the case that we must all stand before the tribunal of Christ, it is also the case that we are under his all-searching eye even now. "I the Lord search the heart." IV. THE SAVIOUR'S DIRECTION. "Repent," etc. There is a way back to the cros3. It is the same as that by which the sinner came at first. Repent. There must be direct, personal confession to the Lord Jesus. It is indeed a great wrong done to a Church when its members bring a current of cold air with them, and leave it behind them everywhere; but the greatest wrong is towards that Saviour whose cause ha.a been so solemnly espoused, and for whom the professor has sworn to live and di'- Cold-hearted professor! thy Saviour calls to thee to renew thy broken vow, and to return to him. V. Tim BAVIOUB's WAlll'fING. It is twofold. 1. The declining Church will soonel" 1 Uhlbom, in his ' Obristian Charity in the Early Church,' bas ~e instructive. historio Ulu,;tratl.ona of the decay of motive pow01 ia the ea,ly Ohurohea. '10 .THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVlNE. [ou. ri.1-29,