Commentary on Revelation, Lecture 4
LECTURE IIII.
Vers. 8.
And unto the Angel of the Church in Smyrna, write, These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.
9.
I know thy works, and tribulation, and povertie, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Iews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten daies: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches, He that overcometh, shall not be hurt of the second death.
THe second Epistle, is directed to the Church of Smyrna: and as her case doth differ from the case of Ephesus, and that both in respect of suffering and integrity; so doth the Lords message to her differ, and is wholly comfortable.
There is no charge against this Church, as in many of the rest: this doth not imply an universal freedom from guiltinesse of all sorts; But, first, that this Church hath been free of grosse evils, and hath been in honest simplicitie aiming at their duty. And, secondly, it …eareth out the Lords tendernesse in passing over many infirmities in an honest Church where there is much suffering.
It is not our purpose to insist in these Epistles (the matter being clear, and ye having good opportunity of hearing them more fully opened) we shall only give a view of the …cope, to keep the coherence of the whole Book.
The Epistle hath the division common with all the rest, in those three general parts; to wit, first, a Preface or Inscription, comprehending the Person from whom, and to whom, this message is directed. The Titles given to Christ, the Sender, were spoken to, chap. 1. They are two, 1. He is the first and the last: this setteth out the eternity of His God-head, of His eternity as He is God. 2. He is stiled, He that was dead and is alive: this setteth out Hi… O…fice with the effi…a…i… of His death, and the victory that He had obtained by overcoming death, and the devil; and being now above death and suffering, to live God and Man in One Person for ever. These Titles are specially chosen here for the consolation of this suffering honest Church: for, His suffering and dying commendeth Him as pitiful and compassionate; and His God-head and Victory, setteth Him out as sufficiently able: both which being put together, do exceedingly comfort His people, who cannot but live, seing He liveth, and cannot but continue so for ever, Psal. 18.46. Ioh. 14.19.
Secondly, The Body of the Epistle, is contained, vers. 9, 10, 11. it especially runneth on these two, 1. To hold out Smyrna her case, and that both in respect of what was present, vers. 9. and also in respect of what was to come, vers. 10. 2. It holdeth out the consolations which are allowed to her for her incouragement in reference to both, and these two are intermixed.
Her present case hath two things in it. 1. Her outward afflictions are mentioned. 2. Her honesty and integrity under them, is taken notice of, and approven by Jesus Christ. And this last, is a main ground of consolation against the first.
Her outward afflicted condition, is expressed in these three words. 1. They were under tribulation, that is, sad and greatly straitning pressures, as the Word signifieth: and by this may be understood the afflictions of body, name, and estate, and the sad consequents following thereupon, which the Godly are put to by the persecution of wicked men. The 2. word is, povertie; I know thy poverty: we take it literally to be understood of such pinche… and straits in their outward estates, as plundering, sequestration, finings, and other means of that kind use to bring upon men: unto this sort of affliction the Christians in the primitive pe…secutions were exceedingly liable; who yet joyfully suffered the spoiling of their goods, Heb. 10.34. This is indeed no little part of trial, when parents and children are casten loose of all temporal things, and have not for the refreshing of themselves and their families. The 3. part of their affliction, is, the reproach of wicked men that wanted not altogether profession; I know (saith the Lord) the blasphemie of th…se which say they are Iews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. Amongst all the Saints crosses, there are none more bitter than cruel mockings, as they are called, Heb. 11.36. and mockings from Iews that pretended to Worship the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Iacob, would be more heavie than the reproaches of heathens: there were none also more bitter revilers of the Son of God and of His follower…, than these hardned Iews; who having synagogues in considerable Cities, did ever with all their might joyn themselves to reproach and persecute the Christians. It is like that they had a synagogue in this place, pretending to worship God according to the manner of His Law; but because of their obstinate maliciousnesse, they are by the Lord denied to be Iews; and are said to lie, and to be of the synagogue of Satan: because indeed they looked liker a combination for the devil, th…n a Congregation for worshipping of God, who slew the Lord, forbade to speak in His Name, and did persecute His Ministers and People, as the word is, 1 Thess. 2.14, 15.
From which we may see, 1. That the most honest and tender, may be liable to most sharp afflictions. 2. That often rods and crosses of several kinds are joyned together. 3. That reproach is not the least part of affliction of the people of God; and the shame thereof, being well endured, will be accounted honest suffering of a crosse, as if it were a bodily affliction. 4. There is no person more bitter and invective against those that are sincere▪ than such as have had some engagements to God by profession, and have fallen from the same. 5. Pretended friends (as these Iews were) may come to be most grosse enemies, which is both their sin and their plague: therefore, 1 Thess. 2.—16. it is said, that wrath was come upon them to the uttermost. 6. Gods people may look to be met with, and entertained by men, as the Lord Jesus useth to be: if He be well entertained, so will it be with them; if He be despised, as He was by these Iews, let them look to be blasphemed and despised also: for, it is enough to the servant that he be like his Master.
The consolation that is proposed against the foresaid affliction, is two wayes set down, 1. More generally, I know thy works: which doth not only relate to His Omnisciency, as is usuall in these Epistles; but here it taketh in His approbation, as the word after cleareth. Also it is opposed to His taking▪ notice of their enemies malice, I know the blasphemy of them that call themselves Iews, &c. Therefore, His knowing of their works, must include His respect to their honesty, as His knowing of their blasphemy pointeth out His detestation of the same. It is no little part of Believers consolation in any strait, that the Lord Jesus knoweth how it is with them, and can bear testimony to their integrity, when they are even almost overwhelmed with reproaches before men. It is no little encouragement …lso, that He doth take notice of enemies their malice, as here is observed.
The second way the consolation is expressed, is more direct, by Christs plain testimony in these words, thou art rich, that is, what ever men think of thee, as being most despicable, or, whatever thou be in thy own estate, most poor and desolate; yet really, and in my estimation, thou art rich, that is, thou art indeed strong in the grace of God, well furnished with Promises and Priviledges, and abundantly rich in faith and good works, Iam. 2. vers. 5. 1 Tim. 6.18. In which things, true riches do consist. This seemeth to be a strange paradox unto the men of the world, thou art poor, and yet thou art rich; yet often have the Saints found this to be a truth; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things, 2 Cor. 6.10. And if this were believed, it might allay the fervour that men have in pursuing after temporall riches: for, the having of them cannot make them rich, (the greatest men in Smyrna get not this testimony from our Lord Jesus, that they are rich) and the want of them cannot make them poor: and therefore Smyrna, even in her poverty, is rich. This also would make the heavenly Riches to be esteemed of, if men believed that their life did not consist in the abundance of the things that they enjoy, as it is, Luk. 12.15.
The future case of Smyrna, which is set down, vers. 10. is also an afflicted condition; and hath its encouragements suitable thereto, laid down. It is, 1. generally proposed to be suffering, Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer. This Church had been suffering; and though honest, was yet to suffer more.
Obs. 1. Sufferings when they begin, oftentimes are not instantly at a close. Yea, 2. The Lord will sometimes exercise these that are most tender, with one crosse upon the back of another. 3. He Himself is notwithst…nding still tender of them, even when they suffer, as may be gathered from this comfortable message to Smyrna.
2. These sufferings are more particularly described, 1. In the kind of suffering, to wit, I…prisonment: this is not so to be understood, as if they were to be tried by no other kind of suffering; but it setteth out a main part of their crosse, to wit, that some of them should be cast in Prison, and liberty taken from their persons, which it may be, heretofore they enjoyed. 2. It is described in the principall Agent and Instrument of their suffering, The devil shall cast some of you into prison. Heathen Emperours, wicked Governours and Souldiers, were instrumentall therein; yet it is ascribed to the devil, as if it were immediately acted by him, for these reasons, 1. To shew what influence the devil hath in the acting of wicked men, so that in effect their deed, is his deed, they are so subservient to him. 2. It is to shew from what author all persecutions do flow, to wit, from the devil, who is a murderer and a liar from the beginning, and father thereof, Ioh. 8.44. 3. It is to aggrege the horriblnesse of this sin of persecution, as being a main peece of the devils businesse, be instrumentall therein who will. 4. It serveth also to comfort and encourage the suffering people to patience and constancy, seing the devil is their special enemy, they ought therefore not to faint in opposing of him, nor to stumble in being opposed by him.
3. Their suffering is described by a designation of the persons, who were especially thus to suffer, he shall cast some of you into prison, &c. By you, we understand especially the Ministers; some whereof, saith the Lord, were to be cast in prison; and yet but some: to shew that He was not altogether to extinguish their light. The reasons why we understand it especially of Ministers, are, 1. Because that doth especially prove a triall to the Church, when her Ministers are set upon. 2. Because the p…eserving of some of them, i… a speciall comfort against affliction, according to the promise, Isa. 30.20, 21. And were it not to be understood of Ministers, it might have a fulfilling, though they should …ll be cast in prison. 3. The sensible …lte…ing of the number from … in the singular, to you in the plural number, doth clear that the same party is to be understood by both: and seing by the first, the Angel, collectively taken, is certainly to be understood; this sheweth that in this …ast place, such, to wit, Ministers, are also to be understood. This form of changing the number, will be more clear in vers. 24.
4. This future affliction, is described in its end, that is, trial; that ye may be tri…d: this is neither the end that the devils or persecut…rs have before them; but that which the Lord intends, who, by this suffering, minded to discover some infirmities to themselves, and to bring forth the solidity and str…ngth of His grace, to His praise and their comfort before others.
5. It is described in its height, and conti…ance: it… height is tribulation, that is, very sore and great pressures▪ its continuance, is, …yes, in definite, for an indefinite time▪ and doth set out, 1. That their afflictions in general were determined by the Lord, to a day. 2. That it was not long; it was but for dayes. The saddest affliction of the people of God have an end. Yet, 3. It is for ten dayes: to shew that it was for some continuance, and that the people of God ough… not to look for freedom from their crosse… in the first, second, or fifth day. Some apply it to the persecution that followed in the dayes of Trajan, for the space of ten years; but we conceive the most generall acceptation is safest.
The speciall encouragements that are expressed, are two: (for, some are implyed in the former words) The first, is, fear none of th…se things, &c. This is a generall comfort, frequently given by the Lord, fear not, &c. Isa. 41.42, 43. &c. And certainly though it be generall; yet being spoken out of Christs own mouth, must be very comprehensive and massie. By which we learn, That the Saints consolations flow not from their freedom, or being pres…rved from crosses, (for, that is not their comfort here) but they flow from Christs being engaged to sustain them under the same, and from His Word, which ought to keep them from anxiety and fainting in the greatest tribulations. The second encouragement, is subjoyned to an exhortation, Be thou fa…thfull unto death, and I will g…ve th… … crown of life. The Lord subjoyneth the promise to the exhortation, 1. To shew the necessity of stedfastnesse, even under suffering, seing without it there is no promise of reward. 2. It is done to mol…ifie and sweeten the p…remptorinesse of that exhortation by such a sweet encouraging promise annexed to it. The promise is of a crown of life: which looketh to the eternall happinesse that Believers are to enjoy after this, as 2 Tim. 4.7.8. It is called life: because of the cheerfulnesse of that condition, where Mortality is swallowed up of life: and the life that is here, is not worthy of that name. And it is a crown of life: to shew the dignity and excellenty thereof; and also to intimate that it is … prize to be obtained (as Crowns usually were given) after a fight. Also, the Lord saith, I will give it, if thou be faithfull unto death: to shew, that faithfulnesse and perseverance therein, is a necessary pre-requisite to the obtaining of this Crown; yet that it h…th no meritorious influence to alter the nature and freenesse of it, it is still a gift of grace even to those that persevere.
Observe, 1. That faithfulnesse and perseverance in Holinesse, are no lesse necessary than Heaven: for, a man cannot attain the one without the other. 2. What ever pinches a Believer may have, the Crown of Glory ought to make all sweet in the very hope ther…: therefore is it proposed here. 3. It is not every one that have this promise, nor every one that may warrantably apply the same, although most men usually exceed in this, and beg…ile themselves.
The Conclusion (which is the third part of the Epistle) followeth, vers. 11. Wherein there is, 1. The common advertisement to all that have an ear, to hear: which sheweth how carefull men ought to be in hearing of this Word, even as if particu…ly it were spoken to them. 2. There is a spec… promise made to overcomers, he that ov…c…et…, shall not be hurt of the s…ord …. The person to whom the promise i… made▪ was form…ly spoken of: it is not the man that pleaseth himself, or yeeldeth to …ll sort of …en…atio…, or for…a time seemeth to be dilige… but he that fighteth and overcom…th▪ The thing promised, is to be …eeped from …he hurt of the second de…th there is a first death which is a separation of the Soul from the Body, common to good and bad▪ there is a second …th, which i… to b… eternally separated from the presence of God and the Lamb, …specially at the day of Judgement▪ to wi… when all the wicked as d…gs, sorcerer…, and li…rs, shall be cast int… the lake, which is the second death, Rev. …1.8▪ In sum, the promise is, he: that overcometh shall be keeped from hell.
From which we may gather, 1. That there is a second death after men are laid in the grave. 2. That this death is most horrible and dreadfull. 3. That it is a singular care and speciall favour and priviledge to be keeped from that second death. …. It is implyed, that the generality of men, who …re slaves do▪ their lusts, and war not against them for Christ, shall be made liable to this second death, and forever be a pr…y to the same▪ 5. It sheweth what is the Believers advantage by Christs moyand and friendship that lives for ever, he shall be freed from this. And lastly, from the scope, we may gather, that if a man may …e keeped from the second death and wrath to come, he may the more patiently endur… what ever else he may meet with in this world, though it were even the first death it self.
Concerning the influence that the devil hath on some wicked mens actions: and how he doth carrie-on the same.
ONe thing may be further inquired here, to wit, concerning the devils influence on men… actions▪ for, that this effect is attributed to the devil, (the devil shall cast some of you into prison), it holdeth forth a special hand that he hath in acting men to do evil, so that their deed is his. Concerning which, we may in generall say, that the devil may have and often hath great power on men▪ especially wicked men, in making them subservient to his designs. Thus, he maketh men cast some faithful Ministers in prison here: he reigneth, as having men at his command, in the next Epistle▪ and leadeth them captive at his will, 2 Tim. 2.26. he fighteth with Michael, and stirreth up Heresies as well as persecution, chap. 12. he deceiveth the Nations, chap. 20. And often his power is spoken of in this Prophesie: and it is certain that it is very great, 1. having effects upon the bodies of men, to carrie them from one place to another, as he did to the body of Christ, Matth. 4. to afflict them by sicknesse, pain and sores as he did Io… : and the Woman (Luke 13.16.) whom, being a daughter of Abraham, Satan hath …ound, saith Christ, lo, these eighteen years, &c. 2. Upon the external senses▪ he can delude ears, eyes, &c. either by misrepresenting external objects, or by inward disturbing of the faculties and organes, whereby men and women, may, and do often apprehend that they hear, see, &c. such and such things, which indeed they do not. 3. Inwardly he may have influence to disturb the reason, and mar the judgment, as he did in these men whom he possessed, Matth. 8. vers. 28. He hath influence on the understanding, and so he is said to blind men, 2. Corinth. 4. vers. 4. 4. He may work on the memory and affections also, as by stealing away the Word, Mat. 13. vers. 19. and also wakening hatred, lust, envie, &c. Yea, some way he may work on the will, and so he is said to put resolutions in the hear…, as it is said of Ana…ias and Sapphira, to li… to the holy Ghost, Acts. 5.3. and of Iudas, to betray Christ, Ioh. 13.27. So, 1 Chron. 21. being compared with, 2 Sam. 24.1. it is said, that he, that is, Satan, did move and provoke David to number the people. All which in the effects▪ are clear: therefore is he said both to reign in some at his pleasure, and to deceive or delude others by wiles and subtilty, 2 Corinth. 2. vers. 11. which are his devices. These are all certain: Although we cannot fully shew how he effectuateth them; yet, this we may say;
First, He hath no …bsolute independent power to do what he will, but is limited, ordered, and bounded by the Lord. And, secondly, He hath no infallible, insuperable way of acting by himself on men; but as men through their sin yeeld unto him: for, he is dependent, Iob 1.7, 8. and can violent none to sin. Thirdly, He can have no immediate infallible acquaintance with what is in mens hearts: for, that is Gods property. Fourthly, He hath no immediate determinating influence on the will of men: so that although he may perswade violently; yet he cannot determine men to follow: that is the Lords prerogative alone, to have hearts in His hand, Prov. 21. vers. 1. to turn them whithersoever He will. And therefore, whatsoever way the devil prevaileth, it is but by a mediate way of alluring, or deceiving, by making use of means for that end. Fifthly, He can infuse no new corruption, nor can he create any inward species or representations, thereby to tempt: for, that is a work of omnipotencie; but, he must work upon what is within the person that he acteth upon, for producing of these: yet, being permitted of God, he may use most powerfull perswasive means, by his skill and agility to draw men (being now corrupt) insensibly to many grosse sins; or, at least, to tempt them. Which temptation, meeting with corruption in us, and the Lord justly giving over some to it, Satan may prevail over them by such and such like means, as,
1. He may by signes know mens particular inclinations and predominants (although he reach not to the understanding of the thoughts immediatly:) and he may gather what snare may most readily prevail with men for the time, according as evidences may appear in their way, either by their not praying to God, or, by what kythes in words and other carriage, wherein certainly he goeth beyond any man, to wit, in taking up of mens inclinations. 2. He may suit and fit external temptations to their distemper, and tryste them so as there may be accesse to the venting of such lusts: thus, he maketh Iudas his inclination to covetousnesse and the Pharisees envie, to tryste together; David to behold Bathsheba in such a posture, when he is somewhat secure, &c. 3. He may jumble, confound and put through other the inward frame, by working on what is natural in the humours of the body, for awakening lust, passion, revenge, suspicion, fears, &c. whereby men are some way disposed to yeeld to the tentation offered, which he timeth with this. 4. He may cast-in representations in the mind, of such and such things, diverting the imagination from objects which might mar his design; and so he may order what is within, as out of it, or by it, to form representations in the imagination of such and such things: whereby, proposing them (as it were) objectively to the understanding, he may mediately offer them to the will: and for that end also, for a time keep such thoughts in the mind and in the memory. Thus, often the Saints cannot be free of imaginations (by his abusing of the fantasie) which they hate, and at which they have horrour: and therefore, these cannot be thought natively, and naturally to arise from themselves, which are so strange and uncouth to th…m. Thus, some things come unexpectedly, by Satans furnishing the thoughts with a sinful midse for attaining of an end, that is desired; and, it may be, is desirable. Thus also he may darken Scripture, offer diverse senses to it, furnish objections against the truth of it, or against the true meaning of it, obstruct their taking up of the weight of any reason against their Errors, &c. as he is said, to blind. (2 Cor. 4. vers. 4.) the minds of them that believe not, &c. and to spew out a floud of error, Rev. 12.15. He may not only objectively thus present such a thing; but he may continue to bear it in, and to use motives drawn from seeming reason to ingage the will to yeeld to it, as he did to Adam and Eve at the first: and thus, he stirreth not only natural humours of the body; but natural corruptions, engaging all the lusts, as they may have influence to prevail with the will, for yeelding to these tentations; So Iudas his covetousnesse, is engaged to deal with him to sell his Master: for, the devil though he infuse no covetous humour; yet he may act on what there is: and he stirreth the Pharisees envie to concur and make them accept of that offer. And in this doth lye a main part of the tentation, and the devils wiles and devices, whereby he deceiveth, to wit, in making seeming reasons to have weight, as if there were force in them, and true grounds to be rejected as not for such a time, &c. nor of such weight. Thus he prevailed with Eve, presenting the tentation with its plausible, (though false) reasons. And this way, though indirectly, as the Apostle saith, 2 Corinth. 11.3. he continueth to deal with Adams successors; to prevail with them as he did with Eve by his subtilty: and thus he leadeth men at his pleasure, by proposing to them what he will: otherwise he could have no such dominion over men in the world as he hath: and thus, many sins are born-in on men, without any connexion with their natural complexion: and if it were not thus, one man might prevail in some respect more with another (for he can deal by reason with him) than the devil could, if he had no objective influence on them: and the tentations being often unto particular designs, it sheweth, that the d…vil …ath a moral objective way of dealing with men: otherwise it were no more to say that the devil put it in Iudas heart to betray his Master, than to say he stirred him up to love money; but this sheweth, that to him who loved money formerly, the devil proposeth this, as a fit mean to gain somewhat of it. Also, Acts 5. it said to Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie? &c. so that (as it were) when it was objected within themselves, what if it be asked whether the Lands were sold at so much? the devil furnisheth the answer: say (saith he) i… was: and he maketh it probable that none should know it, seing both man and wife were to agree in their answers: and so he presenteth that to them, by which their covetous and distrustfull humours prevailed with them; and they both yeelded: therefore it is also said, Acts 5.4. Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? And, v. 9. How is it that ye have agreed together? The seed, as it were, cometh from the devil who injected it; the conceiving is from our corruption, which entertaineth the motions stirred up by him. And how can it be otherwise said that he blindeth mens eyes that they should not understand the Gospel? for, if it were only by a natural stirring of humours, it would distemper them for every thing; but here lieth the tentation, that they are wise in all other things, but in spiritual things, the devil blindeth them, and maketh the Gospel seem foolishnesse to them. Thus, he …etteth on Ahab by entysing him without by his prophets, and swaying him within out of pride; and he prevailed with the false prophets, by stirring them up to lie, and that in reference to that particular design, which no mere influence on the body could have done.
By all which we may see, that it is not without good reason said, that the devil goeth about seeking whom he may devour; he is near the heart, & is often upon folks counsel when they are not aware. And this sheweth, what need there is of watchfulnesse, that we give not place to the devil, and that he get not occasion to tempt: for, with much subtilty can he make use of it; and act men in executing of his orders, when they know not what he is doing, as likely it was with these persecuters whom he engaged thus to persecute these Ministers: which way of his, being frequently mentioned in this Book, we have, once for all, said this of it.
From this we may also gather, how little weight is to be laid upon the testimonie of this devil, whose work it is to suppresse the Truth of Christ, and to traduce His Servants: for which cause, our Lord and His Apostles, would not suffer him to speak, even when he pretended to confesse Him; because, he was a liar from the beginning, and the father thereof. It's therefore not unworthy the observing how contrary to our Lords way the Jesuites are in this; who, to supplie the defect of other testimonies for their way against the Calvinists, (as they call them) do carefully and industriously gather and heap up testimonies from the devils mouth, and insult therein as a proof incontrovertible: for this end, L…rinus, in cap. 5. act. v. 16. having cited some pretended Histories holding forth the little weight the Lutherans had with the devil, doth subjoyn this as an infallible confirmation of their compliance with him, Sed & ex ore energumenae Laudunensis tota Gallia, ac toto orbe Christiano celebratissima, Calvinianos daem…n irrid…ns, nihil sibi ab illis timendum cla…bat …nctis audientibus, Anno 1566. quoniam amisi essent, & foederati, sicut …estantur act…, Gallicè samma fide scripta, &c. It is in sum, this, That the devil out of the mouth of one that was famous for being possessed by him, did mock the Calvinists, crying out, and that openly before all, that there was nothing to be feared from them, for they were friends and confederates: and for confirmation of this, he asserteth the thing to be with great faithfulnesse recorded: as if the weight did only lye in the matter of fact, and that there were no cause to question his faithfulnesse who gave this testimonie. But of this enough: we have reason to thank God, that our faith in the Truths of God, and our clearnesse of the Errors of their way, are built upon a more sure foundation▪ and that our controversie with them, is not at the devils decision, from whom indeed the Calvinists might expect no favourable sentence. But the Lord is judge Himself, To Him be praise for ever.