The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 2 · Verse 24-25
Verſ. 24. But unto you I ſay and to the reſt in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they ſpeak, I will put upon you no other burden:
Verſ. 25. But that which ye have already, hold faſt till I come.
Though God is a God of Juſtice and Judgments againſt Jezabel, her Adulteries, and their children, their falſe doctrines and practiſes; yet as unto thoſe of Thyatira that had not embraced thoſe wicked ways, God is a God of grace and mercy unto them: for he tells them, But unto you I ſay, that is, even to the reſt of them that are at Thyatira, ſo many of you as have not embraced this diveliſh doctrine, and have not approved thoſe depths of Satan, as they ſpeak, that is, thoſe miſteries, thoſe high and profound ſpeculations, which are no better then Satan's own devices and ſtratagems. Hence Note,
Obſerv. 1. That Satan will have his foreign his miſteries, his profound ſpeculations, in his falſe worſhip, as well as God ſhall have in his true worſhip.
The Devil will be God's Ape, and as God has his wiſdom, his depths, his heights, and miſterious doctrines; ſo the Divel will have his profound ſpeculations for his Diſciples alſo; if God will have true Prophets and Propheteſſes, the Divel will have his Balaamites, Nicolaitans, and Jezabels; and thoſe ſhall have their miſterious doctrines, as the Gnoſticks of old, who did walk in the way of high ſpeculations and notions hardly intelligible to any ſober chriſtian, ſomewhat like the Necromantick conjurations of the old Romiſh Prieſts, or the ſublevated alegorizing Familiſts and Quakers of theſe days, who when they think they ſpeak with moſt underſtanding, when they are leaſt underſtood either by themſelves or others: I will put upon you no other burden, but that which ye have already; Burden, in the Prophetical writings of the Old Teſtament is taken for the doctrine of God's Judgments againſt his enemies, Iſa. 13.1.15.1.17.1.19.1. and in the Goſpel it is taken for the doctrine of any perſon, as in Mat. 23.4. it is ſaid, That the Phariſees laid burthens on other mens ſhoulders that they themſelves would not touch with one finger, that is, their ſtrict and ſevere doctrines and mandates, to which they would have others bound unto, but would keep themſelves at large; in Mat. 11.30. Chriſt's doctrine is called his yoke, and his burden; his yoak is eaſie and his burden light: And this is that burden that Chriſt will lay on the Thyatirans, and no more but this, to wit, Chriſt's true and Apoſtolique doctrine which they had formerly received from John, and other of Chriſt's Embaſſadors. Hence Note,
Obſerv. The Churches of Chriſt are to receive no other burdens or doctrines then what they have already received from Chriſt.
Chriſt himſelf will add no further burden then his firſt doctrine of truth delivered by himſelf and his Apoſtles: But by what authority do over-preſumptuous men, under pretence of Catholique and Apoſtolique Traditions, add unto the chriſtian Religion which is pure and ſimple, many of their own vain ſuperſtitious ceremonies and inventions, againſt which Chriſt hath declared both here, and in Mar, 7. and Luk. 11. and other places: Surely one day it may be asked of them, Who required theſe things at your hands? To walk by God's manifeſt and plain commands, is a ſure path, and leadeth unto eternal life; but to make ſuperſtructures of our own, or kindle ſparks of our own fire, and warm our ſelves thereat, at leaſt notwithſtanding thoſe, we may ly down in ſorrrow. What burdens did the late Prelatical party lay on the conſciences of the godly, which they never had received from Chriſt or his Apoſtles? and therefore they were truly burdens unto them, and very grievous to bear; but Chriſt's burden is eaſie, and his yoke is ſweet, Mat. 11.30. Every thing of Chriſt is pleaſant unto the enlightned ſoul; though his yoke be heavy unto fleſh and blood, yet it is nothing irkſom, but rather ſweet as hony to the regenerate and ſpiritual chriſtian.
Obſerv. 2. That true Chriſtian Doctrine is a burden or yoke.
He that takes up a burden muſt go through with it, and tugg under it, and paſs through all difficulties or elſe he may looſe his reward: It is not a burden or yoke taken up by our ſelves, for of our ſelvs we would not willingly come under it, it is tedious to fleſh and blood; and therefore Chriſt is ſaid to put it on us, he makes us firſt willing by his ſpirit of grace, and then we are ready to yeild our necks unto this gracious yoke, and our backs unto this burden, therefore it will coſt much ſweat to go through with it: Chriſtians under Chriſt's yoke and burden, muſt not think to live at eaſe or at liberty, and ſtray whither their fancies call them; they are under a burden, a yoke, they muſt attend and keep their work, if they be fruitful proficients in the works of Chriſt; though it is a ſweet burden and an eaſie yoke, yet it is ſtill a yoke and a burden that is to be attended to. Some write that Chriſt being reputed Joſeph the Carpenter's Son, before he fell to the more publique work of his Miniſtry, he followed his Father in Lawes Trade of making yokes for Oxen, to which that expreſſion of his in Mat. 11. did allude; but whether that be true or not, I am ſure he made ſpiritual yokes to lay on the necks of his Diſciples; he lays commands on them both naturally moral, and poſitively moral, to which they were obliged unto, and not only they, but all us, and all that ſhall believe unto the end of the world; and therefore we are all commanded to hold faſt this burden, this yoke of Chriſt, his faithful Doctrine and Religion, until he come, hold faſt till I come: This muſt ſignifie Chriſt's ſecond and general, and not of his firſt, or of his ſpecial coming in ſpirit; for this was ſpoken by Chriſt nere a hundred years after his incarnation, and he was come in ſpirit ſome ſcore years before this was ſpoken; and ſuch as will have it to be meant of Chriſt's coming in ſpirit, this will handſomly follow as a conſequence of ſuch an interpretation, that when Chriſt comes in ſpirit they muſt then let go the truth of Chriſt and his Doctrine; for, hold faſt till I come, and no longer; but at his ſecond and laſt appearance, he hath another glorious adminiſtration to diſcover to us which yet we are ignorant of; but after he was come in ſpirit, he commanded to hold faſt the former burden and doctrine delivered unto the Saints; and therefore ſure it muſt be intended of his ſecond coming to Judge the world. Hence Note,
Obſerv. That we are to hold faſt the Doctrine of Chriſt, already received from Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and delivered to the Saints until his ſecond coming to put an end to all.
Hold faſt till I come] Chriſt's burden or doctrine was not laid upon the Saints for that firſt age or generation only wherein it was publique, as ſome vainly dream, but it was to continue unto all generations, until to him that did hold faſt and overcome, power was given him over the Nations, to rule them with a rod of Iron; now it is evident this power was not yet given by Chriſt unto his Saints; for they are ſtill as Lilies among Thorns, in an afflicted and wilderneſs eſtate, and under the power of the Beaſt and falſe Prophet, until Chriſt ſhall come to give them their releaſe and freedome feom all ſorrows and Anti-chriſtian ſervitude; and therefore Chriſt's doctrine is to continue unto the end, conſult Epheſ. 4.11, 12, 13. 2 Pet. 1.19.