A Scripture Line of Time, Treatise · Part 1 · Section 9
SECT. IX.
Wherein a Proof is given, The ſeven Churches carry with them a Line of Time contemporizing with whole Apocalyptick Time. Apoc. c. 2. c. 3.
THat theſe ſeven Churches are intended to bear by their Symboliſmes a Line of Time, equal to the whole Apocalyptick Time, I ſhall at preſent uſe no other Argument, but theſe general ones, reſerving the more particular Treaty upon theſe Churches, to another part of this Diſcourſe.
Theſe Churches are, as the whole Prophecy, of a Myſtical Argu. 1 Senſe, and Importance; Chriſt therefore prefixes, I will ſhew you the Myſtery of the ſeven Candleſticks, the ſeven Candleſticks are the ſeven Churches; where the meaning is not, that the expounding the Stars into Angels of the Churches, and the Candleſticks into Churches, is all the Myſtery opened; For even Angels of the Churches muſt be acknowledged to be ſtill Myſtery, or a myſtical Expreſſion; except we would underſtand them of natural Angels, as few or none do: But the meaning is, The ſeven Churches contain a very great Myſtery throughout the Viſion of the Churches; Even as upon the forehead of the Woman. Rev. 17. 5. was a Title written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, &c. that is, Underſtand that whole Inſcription in a mystical Senſe, or to carry the Mystery of the Apostate Church in all Succeſſions; ſo Underſtand the ſeven Churches, carrying the Myſtery of the Chriſtian Church throughout. And it is obſervable, the word Myſtery is expreſly applyed to the True and Falſe Church, As it is ſaid here; The Myſtery of the ſeven Churches and their Stars or Angels; So there, I will tell thee the Myſtery of the Woman, and of the Beaſt, the Fallen Star, with the Key of the bottomleſs Pit, that carries her, And proportionably this whole Prophecy of the Kingdom draws down into it ſelf the Great Myſtery of that Kingdom ſpoken of by all the Prophets ſince the World began, viz. THE TRUE CHURCH IN GLORY.
The particularizing upon the Churches, the ſo Apocalyptick Argu. 2 number, Seven, aſſures us, It will bear its proportion to all the other Sevens. And ſeeing, there are no ſevens to introduce them, nor to receive them, and carry them on; They muſt themſelves by their own Time, Sevens and Symbols embrace the whole Apocalyptical Time, and its Sevens.
For the Book of it is the Book of the Kingdom, the Kingdom is the Myſtery of God, The Churches are the true Kingdoms, when they come to their Glory; and ſo a Myſtery. The Apostate Church is a Mock Kingdom, the Kingdom of Antichriſt foiſted into the place of Chriſts Kingdom, and ſo a Mystery, but a Mystery of Iniquity. The Kingdom of Christ and his univerſal Monarchy is an Empire in a Church, of which He is the Head; The laſt State of the Roman Monarchy is an Imperialiſm by vertue of an Eccleſiaſtical Image made to it, which is a falſe Chriſtſhip that is an Empire in an Apoſtate Church, of which Antichriſt is the Head. How fitly therefore are theſe Things diſplayed in the Symboliſms of Churches?
It is certain, There hath been a Chriſtian Church in all Argu. 3 Ages from the Reſurrection of Chriſt, to this Day, and ſhall be to the New Jeruſalem, and to the End of the World. This is grounded upon thoſe two Places, Matt. 16. 18. Ʋpon this Rock will I build my Church, and the Gates of Hell, either of Hell, as it ſignifies the Grave, Mortality, and Death, or the Powers of Darkneſs ſhall not prevail againſt it: and Matt. 28. ult. Lo I am with you always unto the end of the World. Nor is this controverted among any Chriſtians. From hence it follows, we cannot be Time-bound, or ſtraitned in ſpace of Time, to place theſe Succeſſions in, For there muſt neceſſarily be a Succeſſion of this Chriſtian Church in ſeveral Ages, and States, and ſo muſt continue till the End, which muſt as neceſſarily run a long Apocalyptical Time, and ſo give a bottom to found ſuch Symbols upon, if it pleas'd, (as we ſuppoſe it did) the Prophetick Spirit to give them.
As there muſt neceſſarily have been a Variety of States of Arg. 4 this one Church, ſo the firſt of them muſt needs have been ſettled and founded in Doctrine, Worſhip, Rules of Life, Order, and Diſcipline, by immediate Inſpiration, divine Authority, and Inſtitution through the Miniſtry of the Apoſtles. This is moſt evident from that Book of Scripture, written to that purpoſe, The Acts of the Apoſtles; as alſo from all the Apoſtolical Epiſtles. From hence it follows, the Apoſtolical Church, in its Apoſtolical State, was firſt in order: whether therefore we will allow it to be ſymbollically repreſented or not in that firſt Church of Epheſus, it is certain, that Labour and Patience twice repeated, that trying them, which ſaid, they were Apoſtles, and were not, and finding them Lyars, importing the exact conſigning all Apoſtolical Truths and Rules into an authentick Canon of Scripture, does moſt admirably repreſent that truly Primitive, Apoſtolical State.
Beſides the daily or every days Miſcarriages from this excellent Arg. 5 State, by Hereſies, Errors, and bad Practiſes, to which degenerate and deeply corrupted Humane Nature is ſo ſubject, and of which Apoſtolical Writings take ſo continual notice; there was foretold an eminent viſible, and notorious Apoſtacy, fix'd, and ſettled upon its own Baſe, out of which Antichriſt was to come, and ſo very fit to be taken notice of in this Book of the Kingdom.
Now this Apoſtacy was declar'd expreſly by the Apoſtle Paul to be at work in a mystery of Iniquity; and the Spirit ſaith expreſly, that in the latter Times, which latter Times, as we have before affirm'd, were then begun, though every day more, and more, latter; Some, that is, not a few, but a certain ſort of men, that ſhould make a Body or Species of Men, ſhould depart from the Faith. If then it had begun ſo 1 Tim. 4. 1. Written to Timothy, as then at Epheſus.early, in ſome Lineaments of it, although not in that of Nicolaitaniſm, and that it daily proceeded, and grew much higher after the Apoſtles Departure or Death, ravening Wolves and Men teaching perverſe things ariſing from Chriſtians themſelves, Act. 20. 28. &c.remonſtrated alſo to this very Church of Epheſus; Their leaving their first Love, the removing this Candleſtick out of the Superiority and Excellency of Primo-geniture, and conferring it on Smyrna, in the Crown of Life, and Philadelphia in the Scepter of the New Jeruſalem, are moſt lively Symbols to ſuch a purpoſe, though yet the Overcomers of this protoplast Church are aſſur'd to eat of the Tree of Life in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God.
This Apoſtacy being to become ſo grand an Apoſtacy, it Arg. 6 muſt needs proceed and work on by degrees, ſo as that ſome Church and its Biſhop deriving it ſelf from the Apoſtles, ſhould very elderly vere towards a Synagogue of Satan, and there ſhould be ſuch an Aſſumption by it, and Deference of Advantages to it, by many in the whole Chriſtian Church, tending towards and preparing for ſuch an Apoſtacy, that it gain'd Pretenſions (undeſign'd yet to it particularly) to intitle it ſelf to ſuch a blooming Antichriſtian Power as was foretold to come out of the Apoſtacy; for if it could not derive high from Antiquity, it could not riſe to that Grandeur of Apoſtacy under the Profeſſion of Chriſtianity: And yet in the mean time the Ʋniverſal publick Chriſtian Church may not only remain pure, but be firſt in deep Sufferings for Chriſt, and ſo fill up the Number of Martyrs dying under the Pagan Draconick Empire, but alſo receive the Crown of Life, and of the Glory of the New Jeruſalem in a Figure, by the Empire becoming Christian, as it did in Conſtantine.
Now what Type of ſuch a State of the Church could be more expreſs in all this, than the Church of Smyrna? For whether it was ſo deſign'd by the Spirit, or not, it is certain, in Reaſon, ſuch an Apoſtaſie, Apoſtate Church, and falling Star muſt have a Foundation in Antiquity, even while the Church was pure, and in Sufferings; and that very Church and its Biſhop bore a part in it, and yet was every day more and more under the Aſpect of that Caution given to it Rom. 11. 17, 18, &c. and cſpecially when it was crown'd in Conſtantine.
The Apoſtaſie muſt come to be ſuch a high, enthron'd Apoſtacy, Arg. 7 and ſo obſcuring, over-ſhadowing, covering the true Church under its ſelf, that the very Apoſtatiz'd Synagogue uſurp'd the Title of the true Church; and yet becauſe God owns the true Church only, he ſpeaks only to that, as having under it, in his Account, the falſe Church, and as bearing in the Type of the falſe Church, polluted with Idolatry, ſpiritual Fornication, horrible Corruption of Manners, while indeed the true Church is oppreſs'd, and its Members martyred and ſlain as Antipapal Witneſſes, by the falſe Church; and the Antipas.true Church carries the Name of the enthron'd falſe Church, the high and lofty Pergamus; and therefore the Things that would be great if the Church were directly guilty of them, are call'd ſmall things, and the threatning diverts from that true Church, and falls on the falſe Church only, I will come to thee and ſlay THEM with the Sword of my Mouth, and as a Church partly abhorring the Pollutions of the falſe Church, partly excommunicated, and anathematiz'd, hath the Promiſe of hidden Manna, in the former caſe, and of the white Stone of Abſolution, as to the latter.
Now I appeal to all Proteſtants, Whether this was not truly the State of Things in the depth of the Apoſtaſie? And I appeal to all judicious Conſiderers of the Epiſtle to the Church of Pergamus, Whether ſuch a State could be given in more expreſſive and ſignificant Shades.
It is then moſt evident, There muſt be a Time wherein the Myſtery of Iniquity began to work, ſeeing it did begin gradually; and that Beginning muſt be within the Apoſtolical Times, for the Apoſtle declares it ſo to begin: beſides, from this Neighbourhood it derives a Pretence of Authority, tho' indeed there can be from thence no Authority gain'd to Antichriſtianiſm, ſeeing the Scripture, and not Neighbourhood to the Apoſtles Time, is our Rule, and ſeeing any Authority no higher deriv'd, is ſtain'd and blemiſh'd by that Apoſtolical Declaration, yet a Face, a Countenance of Authority, will be thence deriv'd, to deceive and delude with.
It is alſo moſt evident, The Progreſs of it muſt afterwards grow ſo high to be a Synagogue of Sathan, and after to be a Throne of Sathan; ſo that from hence may ariſe the Symbols of Epheſus, Smyrna, Pergamus.
After the Time that Antichriſtianiſm did thus prevail, ſeeing Argu. 8 it was not to be perpetual, and everlaſting, however long; and that the Ruine of it is firſt to be gradual, and then at laſt ſudden; there muſt be ſome preparatory Wreſtles and Struggles for the Eluctation and Recovery of the true Church after this Oppreſſion, and being muffled up under the Name of a falſe Church, call'd Catholick and Ʋniverſal, and HOLY MOTHER CHURCH, at the ſame Time; yet in regard of the remaining Power of Antichriſtianiſm united with the Powers of the Kings of the Earth, the ſtate of the true Church muſt needs be ſtill cover'd, under the Appearance of ſuch a falſe Ʋniverſal Church, over and above it, and ſo muſt in that regard bear in Type the Name of that apoſtate Daughter, Thyatyra, while in the mean time, its Charity, Jezebel Daughter of Ethbaal. &c.Faith, Patience, Service, Works, againſt that falſe Church, grow continually greater and greater to the very laſt: and its diſownings of the Depths of Sathan, and not accepting them for Deeps of Religion, are very evident and eminent to its Praiſe: The ſuffering Jezebel therefore, or the falſe Church regnant over it becauſe it cannot help it, are ſmall things against it, becauſe but Types; for yet it is accounted ſo perfect, as to be commanded only to hold its own, and no other Burden of Command impos'd on it, but to hold fast what it had already; whereas to ſuffer Jezebel, had it not been overpower'd, had been a very heinous thing.
Now ſo much therefore of this True Church as did ſo eluctate and force its way out of the Falſe, was, while it was forcing its way under one Notion, or Denomination, and when it had forc'd its way under another, and while it in any parts and portions of it continues in the midſt, and within the Bowels of Kingdoms and States ſtill keeping up, and ſubmitting themſelves to the Power of Antichrist. It may ſtill retain its name Thyatyra, and although the Time, or interval, it properly meaſures, when the whole True Church was compris'd in it, may be paſt, yet it may continue in Being, in no higher State, then of Thyatyra, till the appearance of the Morning Star, and the fall of the Tenth of the Great City.
Now it is moſt evident, there have been ſuch earneſt Motions of the True Church from under the Tyranny of Antichriſtianiſm, There ſtill continue ſuch in Antichristian States and Kingdoms, according to their Power, I demand therefore, what more agreeable and expreſſive Lineaments hereof could be given, then in the Church of Thyatyra firſt eſpying, and as under Affliction, looking for the firſt dawns of Light, and after advanc'd to Rule the Nations, &c. in the New Jeruſalem.
After the Emerſion, and actual manumiſſion of ſeveral parts of the True Church from Antichriſtianiſm, and a ſettlement Argu. 9 in Receſs, and Separation from it, ſome Churches through the Favour of Princes, States, and their Laws entred into a Condition of outward Splendor and Glory, Riches, Power, and Authority, of which the Sardius Stone may be a fit emblem; But this outward Elevation not ſo becoming, nor agreeable to the Patience of Chriſts Kingdom, ſuch a Church may be too much taken up about Rites and Juriſdictions, and ſuch extern Decencies, and not preſs forward upon Things, that remain in an order, and ſequence to the Kingdom of Chriſt, and ſo fall under ſevere Cenſures.
This Church repreſents Churches which are yet accepted by Chriſt, as True Churches, they have on their own proper Title, Names, though but few, that have not defiled their Garments. And theſe few, though beſt, are not yet made the Church, but the whole though in a ſleepy and defiled State are the Church, that has the few Names, that had not defiled their Garments; contrariwiſe in Pergamus and Thyatyra, the falſe Church, that calls it ſelf the univerſal, is not the Church, but the Few, ſuppreſs'd, overcome Witneſſes are yet the two Candleſticks ſtanding before the God of the whole Earth, which is a moſt remarkable Difference, ſhewing Sardis a True Church.
Now ſince the Reformation, it is known by general Obſervation, There are ſuch Churches, that are in a State and Splendor Sardian, but let the Application of the Characters remain, till he comes, that ſays, He will Come at an Hour, this Splendid, ſecure, Symbolical Church thinks not of, except the few undefiled Names, and they of it that overcome, who have Promiſes of greater Glory with Chriſt, then this outward; but this Church in its own Name hath the Honour to make a Line of Time from the Reformation to this Day, and ſhall till that ſudden coming of Chriſt upon it, when ſuch a State will be at an End.
There have been Societies of Chriſtians, that ſince the Reformation Arg. 10 have ſubſiſted only upon the Principles of brotherly Love, whoſe Door hath been attempted to be ſhut upon them, as not allowed Churches of Chriſt, or not in ſuch a way of Worſhip, who have had little outward ſtrength, who have yet kept the word of Christ, and not denyed his Name, in a ſtrict adherence to his word only, who have Enemies even of the Reformed, who are relaps'd down to the ſame Pitch the Apoſtacy was at, when ſtyl'd the Synagogue of Sathan, in the Church of Smyrna, not receiving indeed the Beaſts Number of 666. but too far link'd with the Corruptions of Antiquity, after the Empire becoming Chriſtian ſoon Antichriſtianis'd; who though for the preſent at leaſt ſeem irreconcileable with the Apostacy advanc'd to its Number; yet have great Indignation againſt Philadelphia and its Members: Theſe ſhall at the Kingdom of Christ appearing, come and worſhip at this Churches Feet, and be forc'd to acknowledge, Christ lov'd it, whoſe Crown of Honour it is, that it hath kept the Word of Chriſt's patience, embrac'd the Purity of Chriſtianity in a low and mean State; and therefore the Glory, the Kingdom the New Jeruſalem ſhall crown it, when the Hour of Temptation comes upon all the rest of the Earth, and detects the Vanity of their Religion, even of their falſe or defiled Chriſtianity, and the Church-ſtate of thoſe who have not overcome the Impurities of them who call'd themſelves Churches, Chriſtians, Reform'd, and were not ſo, but did lye.
This Church is not yet come to its proper ſpace upon the Line of Time, nor can do, till the Witneſſes riſe out of their Sackcloth, and the Kingdom of Christ be proclaim'd at the ſeventh Trumpet: And how excellent a Type of all this, is the Church Philadelphia?
There ſhall be a moſt perfect, happy, and glorious State Arg. 11 of the Church before the Reſignation of the Kingdom to God and the Father, during the thouſand years; the very firſt Recidivations from which, ſhall be ſpew'd out of Christ's Mouth, and the whole of Church-States drawn up into Eternity: of which Loadicea is a clear Emblem, viz. of the Recidivation and ſpewing out in that laſt State.
Now from All this, it is moſt evident, The Church of Epheſus may have place from the first preaching the Goſpel till the cruel Perſecution of Diocleſian; into which laſt and moſt cruel One, All the Chriſtian Blood ſhed from the Reſurrection ſunk down, as the Blood from Abel to Zacharias upon the Generation of the Jews in the Time of our Saviour, and was requir'd of it: therefore, here Smyrna began to compleat the Churches Sufferings in being faithful unto Death, and receiv'd the Crown of Life, in the Symbol of Conſtantine's Chriſtian Empire, and ſo down to Theodoſius the Great; all which Time the Church continued pure, although it began to be check'd by a Synagogue of Sathan. Thus theſe two Churches contemporiz'd with the Seals: Pergamus and Thyatyra ran along with the ſix first Trumpets under the Apoſtaſie and Beſtian Tyranny, till in the latter part of the ſixth Trumpet, Thyatyra eluctated into the Reformation; then ſeveral of the reform'd Churches ſettled into the Sardian ſtate, and draw the Line of Time, with the laſt 180 of the 1260 Years, in Conjunction with Thyatyra, ſtill exiſtent, tho' not intitled any longer to bear this Line, and with Philadelphia not yet come to bear the Line of Time, which laſt ſhall bear the laſt 75 Years from the Witneſſes Riſing, and the Kingdom of Christ proclaim'd, till the New Jeruſalem and its thouſand Years ſettle upon it, and that new Cube of Time begin: at the End of which, the Laodicean Church no ſooner begins, but ends, and an Amen is ſet to all Time by Eternity receiving it. All which makes apparent, There is no Inconſiſtency, but a high Condecency in theſe ſeven repreſentative Churches, bearing a Line of Time contemporary with all Apocalyptical Time; which ought to be ſhewn.
Hereby we ſee, The Excellency of the Chriſtian Church, Remark.and of our Union with it, and Freedom from Schiſm, depends not upon the Greatneſs, the Antiquity, the Primitiveneſs of Churches, but upon the Divine Apoſtolickneſs of the Doctrine, Worſhip, Rules of Holy Life, truly Chriſtian Diſcipline, wherein we unite with them: The overcoming that evil of leaving the first Love, that Chriſt had againſt the very firſt Church of Epheſus, not made diminutive, as in Pergamus and foreign, ſmall or few things.Thyatyra, was more as to the Excellency of true Chriſtianity, than being of that Church: The not mingling with the Synagogue of Sathan, in the Church of Smyrna, gave the Inculpableneſs and Honour to it and its Members: The not being of the Apoſtate Church, when it call'd its ſelf Catholick in Pergamus and Thyatyra, but keeping to the Truth of the Goſpel, conſtituted the true Church; when the Proſelites and Diſciples of that Apoſtacy were the Proſelites and Diſciples of Balaam, and the Children of Jezebel. The few undefiled Names and Overcomers in Sardis, tho' a Reform'd Church, were of greater Eſtimation with Chriſt than the whole Church beſides; ſome of whoſe rigid Zealots of its Splendour and Power, Uniformity of Rites, it is to be fear'd, made the Synagogue of Sathan; and Philadelphia, tho' of little outward Power or Splendour, yet holding fast the Word of Chriſt, and not denying his Name, and keeping the Word of Christ's Patience, is preferr'd much before it, and honour'd with the New Jeruſalem: from which Bleſſed State Laodicea abating, and growing cool, All Church-ſtates in this World are ſo diſtaſted by Chriſt, that He ſpews them out of his Mouth, and receives only the Overcomers to his Throne, and his whole Church into Eternity.