The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 3 · Verse 11
Verſ. 11. Behold I come quickly, hold that faſt which thou haſt, that no man take thy crown.
Chriſt tells Philadelphia, that he is about a remarkable and notable work; and it is, Behold I come quickly. This is not to be underſtood of Chriſt's ſecond coming to judgment, nor of his ſpiritual coming, but of his coming with the hour of temptation and tryal upon his churches; this is ſomwhat agreeable unto that expreſſion of Chriſt to the church of Epheſus, cap. 2. 5. Elſe I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy Candleſtick, &c. So Chriſt tells the church of Philadelphia, with a Behold to uſher it in, I come quickly: what to do? But with that hour of temptation, upon all the world, to try all that dwell upon the earth: which hapned and fell out preſently after this Viſion was given unto John, in the time of Trajan the Emperour, who ſucceeded Domitian, in whoſe days this Revelation was given to John at Patmos; and in the days of Trajan his ſucceſſor, this hour of temptation, tryal, affliction, and perſecution ſeized upon all the churches of Chriſt in Aſia, and elſe where. Therefore ſhe is exhorted to hold faſt what ſhe had received, and that is, the word of Chriſt, and his patience, which ſhe had formerly received and kept, and that ſhe is now again exhorted to hold faſt, maintain, and perſevere in, when that hour of temptation cometh on all them that dwell upon the earth. Hence Note,
Obſerv. That the conſideration of Chriſt's ſpeedy coming with times of tryals upon his churches, is a ſpecial motive to perſevere with conſtancy in the profeſſion of Chriſt and his truth.
If we knew that judgement was ſo neer at the door, it would make us to trim up our lamps, to have them furniſhed with the oyl of faith, and light of good works, that we may be able to ſtand in the day of tryal. No greater motive to ſet an edge upon our graces, then to know that Chriſt is near with times of tryals. If we knew the good man of the houſe would return this preſent day, we would have all things garniſhed to bid him welcome Hold faſt, for I come quickly; or elſe, as in the next words, you will loſe your honour, and your crown.
Hold that faſt which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. As if Chriſt had ſaid to the church of Philadelphia, Thou haſt hitherto kept the word of my patience, kept cloſe unto my Goſpel, go on couragiouſly in that courſe which thou haſt begun, hold faſt, and perſevere therein, leſt if thou fail in thy courſe, another come and take away thy crown and reward.
Here lies a difficulty, what is meant by this crown.
Some would have it eternal life, which is the crown of our faithful adhering to Chriſt and his doctrine; but I cannot adhere to this opinion: for this crown can never be taken away from the faithful; for though many that are only externally called, may be ſaid for non-perſevering, to loſe their crown which they once hoped for, and indeed, they never had true right and title to it, but only in their outward ſeeming call, and in the book of the viſible church, but not of God's election and predetermination, as formerly more at large is manifeſted verſe 5. on the book of life; Therefore ſurely this crown which may be taken away from the faithful, and given to another; for inconſtancy or non-perſeverance in the truth, is that honour and reward which was promiſed Philadelphia in verſe 9. preceding: That all her enemies ſhould fall low before her, and worſhip before her feet: which kinde of crown and reward indeed may be taken away from the faithful for their looſeneſs, ſlothfulneſs, or remiſneſs in duties of godlineſs, to which they are often promiſed and annexed, and for want thereof, are often removed and given to a more proficient and worthy people. So you ſee what is this crown that may be taken away from the faithful for their remiſneſs and inconſtancy in the truth, to wit, the honour and reverence which their ſincere profeſſion acquired from the churches, and all perſons round about them. Hence Note,
Obſerv. That thoſe churches that hold faſt the truths of chriſt with most conſtancy and courage in the times of tryal, become the moſt honourable and worthy of a crown, of any people in the world.
Who but Philadelphia was worthy that the obſtinate Jews, enemies unto the truth, ſhould come, and bow, and worſhip before her? She kept cloſe to the word of Chriſt's patience, therefore none ſhall take away her crown; her honour ſhall ſtill remain among the churches, as long as any churches ſhall endure. If we tread in the ſteps of faithful Philadelphia, and hold faſt, and go on manfully in the profeſſion of the faith, God will make the formal Jews of our times, the high pretending catholique churchmen, to bow and worſhip before our feet. Is not our name, I mean the name of England, grown honourable among the Nations, their friends abroad, and terrible unto their enemies? And how comes this to paſs, but by means of the faithful in the land, that held faſt and maintained with courage and conſtancy the word of Chriſt's patience among us, in an hour of temptation and tryal, when the Prelatical fire of perſecutions were on foot? If we hold faſt to Chriſt, and perſiſt in his truth and doctrine, none ſhall be able to take away our crown; but if we flag in our duties to him, our crown will be the leſs, and our honour will ſoon flag alſo. When Iſrael kept cloſe to God, and reformed up unto his holy pattern in the Mount, God made them famous among the Nations, and a burdenſome ſtone to all that medled with them: but when they departed from God by their evil and abominable courſes, God gave them up into the hands of their enemies, and led them into the Land of captivity: and ſince for their obſtinacy in iniquity, they have quite loſt their crown, and become a diſperſed people, and a reproach among all Nations where they live. And this is according to that good advice given by godly David, as his laſt Legacy to his wiſe ſon Solomon, in 1 Chron. 28.9. which is applicable to every faithful ſoul: And thou Solomon my ſon, Know thou the God of thy Father, and ſerve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing minde; for the Lord ſearcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the Imaginations of the thoughts, If thou ſeek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forſake him, he will caſt thee off for ever.