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which he had been. Therefore he was admonished to awaken and ftrengthen the things which remain, which were ready

to die.

The minister of Laodicea, and the people alfo, were grown luke-warm, neither hot nor cold, they were become careless and fecure, not caring greatly which end went forward in God's matters, fo they might enjoy the prefent profits and pleafures of this life.

Concerning the paftors and people of Ephefus, Pergamus and Thyatyra, they are partly commended, and partly difcommended. These three were reasonably good ministers, and had many good parts in them, and took pains in their charges, although there be fome. faults found with them. For the minifter of Ephefus is commended for fix things, for labour, for patience, for zeal, for wifdom, for fincerity, and for courage; but difcommended for leaving his first love; that is, for revolting, or fomewhat going back, or rather indeed, for cooling in the love and zeal of God. The minifter of Pergamus, and people alfo are greatly commended for their conftant profeffion of the truth in the midst of ma-nifold troubles, and the very heat of perfecution. For the rage of the enemies grew fo fierce against the profeffion and profeffors

of the gofpel, that Antipas, the paftor of Pergamos (as fome fuppofe) was put to death: for Chrift faith thus of his church, Thou dwelleft where Satan's throne is, and yet thou keepeft my name, and haft not denied my faith, even in those days when Antipas my faithful martyr was flain among you, where Satan dwelleth,' Rev. ii. 13.

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But yet notwithflanding this church is found fault with for fome few things, that is two grofs faults; the one for fuffering the doctrine of Balaam to be broached there by the inftruments of Satan; the other that they maintained the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, Rev. ii. 14. The doctrine of Ba laam did uphold the lawfulness of eating things facrificed to idols, and of committing fornication; for he taught Balac the king "of Moab, thus to put a ftumbling block before the children of Ifrael.' The doctrine of the Nicolaitans did uphold the common ufe of women, that is, that women might be made common. Thefe two moft grofs and abfurd doctrines were fuf fered and maintained in the church of Pergamos. As concerning the church of Thyatira, they are greatly commended for their love and fervice to the church; for their faith, patience, and manifold works, and efpecially for their conftant proceeding in

religion and godlinefs, and that with increafe; for of this church it is faid, 'I know thy love and fervice, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and that they ' are more at the last than at the first,' Rev. ii. 19. But this church is difcommended for fuffering the wicked woman Jezebel, (that is, a falfe prophetefs, who had craftily crept into this church) to teach and feduce the people of God in that congregation, teaching the fame falfe doctrine that Balaam did at Pergamos, Rev. ii. 10. which was, that it was lawful to commit fornication, and to eat meats facrificed unto idols: hitherto concerning the praifes and difpraises of the churches. Now fol loweth to speak of the admonitions.

First, The church of Ephefus having fallen from her firft love, is admonished to remember from whence fhe was fallen, to repent, and do her firft works. Alfo the church of Smyrna is admonished and exhorted to ftand faft in the midst of those perfecutions and troubles, which fhould be raised up against it by the emperor Trajan, and continue for the fpace of ten years: they are therefore exhorted and encouraged by our Lord Jefus, not to fear the things which they fhould fuffer; for although the devil and his inftruments fhould have fcope to perfecute and imprifon them

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for ten days, that is, ten years, according to the prophetical account; yet if they had continued faithful to the death, they should have had the crown of life. The church

of Pergamos fuffering and maintaining the doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaitans, is ad. monished to repent and amend. The church of Thyatira, which fuffered the falfe doc. trine of Jezebel, is admonished to look to herfelf and to hold faft the truth of religion. Sardis being dull and dead, is admonished to awake and ftrengthen the things which remain that were ready to die. Philadelphia is admonifhed to hold thatwhich they had, that no man take their crown. Laodicea being neither hot nor cold, but luke-warm, is admonished to be zealous and amend. And although they' thought their ftate good enough, being puffed up with pride, yet they are charged to be poor, naked, and blind; and there-upon counfelled and admonished to buy fpiritual gold, that they may be rich; and piritual garments to hide their nakedness, and fpiritual eye-falve to anoint their eyes. that they may fee..

Concerning reprehenfions, Ephefus is reproved for going backward; Pergamos and Thyatira for fuffering and maintaining corrupt doctrine, as hath already been hewn. Sardis for dulnefs, and deafnefs,

and unfoundness in their manner of worfhipping God, Laodicea for luke-warmnefs and felf-conceit.

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Touching threats, Ephefus is threatened, that except they repent and do their firft works, their candlestick fhould be remov ed out of his place; that is, the church fhould be tranflated to fome other place, but not destroyed: for God doth remove, but not destroy his candlesticks. Pergamos is threatened, that unless they did fpeedily repent, Jefus Chrift fhould come fhortly and fight against them with the fword of his mouth. Thyatira is threatened, that except they repent them of their works, they should be caft into a bed of affliction, and all their favourites should be flain with death. Sardis is threatened, that if they did not watch and awake, Christ would come fuddenly upon them as a thief, and they fhould not know what hour he would come.

Concerning promifes, they are very great and large; for everlasting joy, and the very fulness of glory is promised to all that fight the good fight of faith, and overcome in the fpiritual battle against the flesh, the world, and the devil. Ephefus is promifed, that if they fight it out courageoufly and conftant ly to the end, they fhould eat of the tree

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