The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 3 · Verse 15
Verſe 15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot.
This church of Laodicea, as ſhe comes laſt in place, ſo ſhe comes laſt in ſpiritual graces of all her ſiſter churches: Chriſt findes nothing in her that is truly commendable: Even in the churches of Sardis and Pergamus, though as good as dead, and mixed with much corruptions▪ yet there was found in them ſomwhat praiſe-worthy, ſome undefiled Names that were not carried aſide by the falſe Doctrines of Jezebel; but in Laodicea nothing is found commendable; and therefore ſhe hears of nothing from Chriſt but matter of reproof, and of the deſperateneſs of her ſpiritual ſtate and condition. Doubtleſs there were ſome ſincere faithful Witneſſes in this church of Laodicea, notwithſtanding the Spirit's ſilence in it, or elſe ſhe could not be properly numbred as one of the golden candleſticks, or as a church of Chriſt, their number being but ſmall, they were not ſufficient to give a denomination unto the whole; for indeed a body politique whither civil or ſpiritual, is to be denominated ſound or unſound from the major part; as in the caſe of particular ſouls or perſons, if grace be more prevalent in degree in the ſoul then ſin and corruption, it is to be tearmed a ſincere gracious ſoul; but if ſin be moſt prevalent, it may be juſtly tearmed a ſinful and unregenerate ſoul. So is the caſe of political churches, if their frame conſtitution and matter be moſt unſound and corrupt, ſuch churches are not to be denominated ſound healthful bodies: We are not to call darkneſs light, or light darkneſs: Though for their profeſſion of their faith they be called churches of Chriſt; yet for the deadneſs thereof, they may with Sardis be rightly tearmed dead ones, yea twice dead and to be plucked up by the roots. Doubtleſs under Prelacy, both Engliſh and Romiſh, there were and are diverſe pretious chriſtians and Saints of Chriſt; as in the days of Elijah, when the Idol of Baal and his worſhip and the Prieſts thereof were exalted, yet then in that corrupt ſtate of Iſrael, there were ſeven thouſand that bow…d not the knee to Baal; yet them few faithful ones in the days of Elijah, or thoſe in the days of Prelacy, &c. Popery came far ſhort to denominate Iſrael at that time, or our Engliſh or Forraign Nations, under that corrupt frame or temper of antichriſtian Prelacy, to be praiſe-worthy churches, or ſound, ſincere and healthful in their general matter frame or conſtitution. But to return to the charge againſt Laodicea,
I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot.] Laodicea was of a ſtrange mongrel compoſure and temper, neither cold nor hot, moulded and compacted as a certain odd extraction of two contraries, cold and heat: I thought before this, that that maxime was in all things unqueſtionable, In medio conſistit virtus: It ſeems true Religion will not admit of that Principle; for Laodicea is here blamed to be in the mean; that is, in a frame or temper which is neither hot nor cold. By hot is here underſtood one that is zealous, fervent in ſpirit; for the truth and worſhip of God, that cannot endure any corruptions, will-worſhips or ſuperſtitions ſhall be admitted in the true chriſtian Worſhip and Religion; and ſuch a one is called a hot fervent or zealous chriſtian; and this can never be too intenſe as unto the degrees thereof, if it be conſiderate, and according to ſound knowledg. The ignorant inconſiderate zeal is reproued and condemned as dangerous and pernitious, not the ſound and orthodox: It is not with God's graces as with moral habits of vertues, wherein both the extreams ſtraying from mediocrity, either in the exceſs or in the defect, are faults and vices; as the exceſs of liberality may run into prodigality, and the defect into covetous parſimony; or the exceſs in fortitude may be called temerity and fool-hardineſs, and the defect cowardiſe and puſilanimity, and ſo in the reſt: but in gracious habits the caſe is different, Souls cannot exceed therein, Be ye holy as your heavenly Father is holy; no leſs then an aim unto perfection will ſerve turn; be zealous, fervent, boyling hot for God and his truth, it being ſound and conſiderate, it will admit of no mediocrity: Lukewarmneſs, or half friend to God and his ways, is equally an abomination in God's ſight (for he requires the whole heart) as is coldneſs or deadneſs it ſelf; and therefore this ſtrange commixture of tempers in Laodicea is exploded by Chriſt as moſt dangerous and pernitious, and therefore adds, I would thou wert cold or hot. Hence Note,
Obſerv. A lukewarm temper among Christians is not only diſaproved of by Christ, but alſo dangerous and pernitious to their Souls welfare.
Chriſt could not give one good word of Laodicea for this very reaſon; but in the next verſe was ready to ſpew her out, for this her remiſſneſs and mediocrity. Some will neither be faſt friends to Religion, nor yet utterly oppoſite unto it, a true hermaphroditical Laodicean temper: But what makes them thus to hancker and halt betwen two extreames, that they are neither hot nor cold? In their very foreheads you may read the reaſon, worldly intreſt, worldly profit, worldly honours do ſo over-bias them that they will be partly religious, and ſo far forth friends unto it, as may get them repute, and ſo be accounted prudent, civil, and honeſt men; but for the better part of it, to have the heart upright for God, and the affections kindled and intenſe upon and for the glory of God in the day of tryals and perſecutions, they will not touch upon that, they did not take Chriſt upon ſuch account, to follow him to his croſs, there they will leave him; as long as he provides loaves for them they will follow him, but when he is dragged to the Judgment Hall, as our true ſummer-bird at the approach of winter, they fly into their holes for ſecurity, and will not appear more for Chriſt, until he returns with a ſun ſhine and ſpring of proſperity upon them. Theſe are our moderate politique ſtate chriſtians, who are neither hot nor cold, true Hermophrodites in Religion, that will not move a foot farther in matters thereof then what the State dictates to them: If the Prince, as in the days of Q. Mary, command Popery, Popery ſhall up for them; if a Q. Elizabeth ſucceed, all preſently reform and become Proteſtants; if ſhe will have Prelacy in the church maintained, there will be found aſſertors enough of its jure divino; if Presbitery ſhall take the Throne, all of our State chriſtians will preſently fall in to the Geneva and Scottiſh garb; if Independency ſhall get at top, preſently our Laodiceans run to New-England for a model; if that again come out of faſhion, they are ready to run to Amſterdam for a new pattern: So indifferent are ſuch Laodicean chriſtians in matters of Religion, that whatſoever form or intreſt of all ſorts ſhall be uppermoſt, they will be ſure to be of that ſide; and this proceeds from their lukewarm temper and defect, or want of heat or true zeal in the Religion they profeſs; if they were zealous in any form, though unſound, yet they would more cloſely ſtick unto it: Paul, whiles he was a perſecuting Saul, was zealous though in a bad caſe: So the Jews had a zeal unto God, though not according to knowledg: Rom, 10.1. The Papiſts to this day continue zealous to their Superſtitions and will Worſhip: Only thoſe that pretend higheſt and to be raiſed out of the graves of Antichriſt, and to come to a higher pitch of Reformation then any other chriſtian Profeſſors in the world, are like true Laodiceans, neither hot nor cold. I believe that Maſter Brightman though not Prophetically, yet prudentially enough, likned and applied the ſtate of our Engliſh church, as a true counterpane of its pattern, to Laodicea, in the times when he wrote; for we may obſerve ſtill the ſame natural temper in her children at preſent, as he obſerved in their fore-fathers in his time; they are of that mediocrity, that they care not what Religion they follow, ſo their intreſts, honors, and eſtates are ſecured and maintained; I confeſs they are willing to admit of part of the truths of Chriſt in Doctrines; but for the miniſtration of Diſcipline, Governments, and Miniſterial Functions, they are very well ſtill contented to retain them that come from Egypt and Babylon, and not from Chriſt and his holy church; therefore they are to look to it leaſt they are ſpewed out as their fore-fathers the Prelates, for their Laodicean temper and half Reformation, which hitherto they have but as yet attained to.
Object. But here it may be ſaid, May not chriſtians be too hot, too zealous in their intentions towards things of their Religion? were not a moderater carriage and temperature more commendable in them, and more advantageous to the work of the Goſpel then an over fiery zealous one?
To anſwer this Queſtion, firſt underſtand, whereof zeal is compounded, and that is, firſt of an intention of the affections, or an enlarged love on the thing beloved. Secondly, Of jealouſie, which is with great indignation and grief, when an injury (true or ſuppoſed) is offered to the thing ſo fervently loved: So this affection of zeal is not ſimply good or evil but is an indifferent paſſion▪ found in men both good and evil; for the Apoſtles were zealous, and ſo were the Phariſees, Chriſtians were zealous, ſo were the Jews; ſo ſome of the reformed are zealous in their ways, ſo many alſo of the Papiſts; but that that denominates zeal either good or evil, is firſt in reſpect of its object; godly zeal muſt have the knowledg of a right object; it muſt be truly God's glory, God's worſhip, God's truth, God's will and doctrine either in part or in the whole, and that indubitably, that denominates a godly zeal: A zeal to God out of Chriſt, as the Iews had, will not ſuffice to call it a truly godly zeal, becauſe it was not according to knowledg, nor having an adequate and compleat object; 'tis true, their zeal towards God was good and commendable in them, but becauſe it was not guided by ſound knowledg, it was blind and erroneous; and therefore vitious for want of a compleat object.
Secondly, It grieveth for the wrong truly done and not ſuppoſed, as the Iews thought was done by the preaching of the Goſpel unto the glory of God and his true worſhip. True godly zeal muſt have right ends, it ever affecteth and ſeeketh the honour of God, and not ſelf praiſe and vain glory. Examples of this true godly zeal we have in Chriſt, when he whipped the buyers and ſellers out of the Temple, Joh. 2.15. and in Phineas, Numb. 25.8, 11. in Paul and Barnabas when they rent their cloathes, Act. 14.19. and Moſes when he broke the Tables, Exod. 23. and in Paul for the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 1.11. and for the Galatians, Gal. 4.19. But many for want of right objects, right ends, and other due ingredients, have miſſed of true zeal, as Demetrius his zeal for Diana, Act. 19. whom he ought not to have loved; ſo Paul a Phariſee was zealous, but he loved that that he ſhould not have loved, that is, his own righteouſneſs by the Law, as the reſt of the Phariſaical Iews did. Jehu was zealous but failed in the manner, 2 King. 10.6. The Apoſtles out of zeal wiſhing fire upon the Inhabitants of Samaria, Luk. 9.54. failed in the end of their zeal, it being not out of pure affection to God's glory, or out of charity unto their neighbours, but out of revenge and impatience, as from Bonarges, Sons of Thunder; and how zealous and hot are the Papiſts this day for their ſcarlet Strumpet and her fornications, which ought not to be loved, and therefore no true zeal, but ſpurious and impious. The reaſon of all this is that a mans intentions are never good, be they never ſo highly pretending thereunto; but when they are built upon a good warrant, to wit, the Word of God, and referred to right ends, namely, the praiſe of God, and the good of his church and people.
Now to return to anſwer the doubt propoſed, having cleared what true zeal is; with the circumſtances thereof, I anſwer, That we cannot be too zealous when a right object and right ends are propoſed. Paul in Rom. 12.11. exhorteth men to be fervent in the Spirit, hot, boyling hot in ſpiritual affairs: What think ye of Paul when he oppoſed Peter to his face in the buſineſs of circumciſion, and would not give way to his diſſimulation, no not for an hour? ſo zealous was he for the truth of God. God is ſo zealous of his own honour and glory, that he ſmote Uzzah, 2 Sam. 6, 7. for putting only his hand unto the Ark, out of an ignorant zeal to ſave it from falling unto the ground; one would have thought, that God would have commended his zeal, and ſpared his ignorance herein, but being not according unto knowledge, but contrary to the command of God, he ſuffered for it. No good intentions and meanings will make that action or duty good or lawful, be it ever ſo ſpeciouſly religious and gracious, that is not warranted by the rule of the Scriptures: the beſt duties for want of this ſcantling, are turned into ſin. And as God is zealous of his glory, ſo he makes his Miniſters like himſelf, Heb. 1.7. He makes his Miniſters a flame of fire. I would have all indifferent lukewarm moderate State-chriſtians to conſider with themſelves, whether could the Apoſtles and firſt Diſciples of Chriſt, ordinarily propagate the Goſpel thorow the world, if they had been all of an indifferent lukewarm Laodicean temper? Chriſt himſelf was thought by the people to be one too hot, that his zeal was beyond his judgement, Mark 3.21. and therefore ſaid, He was beſide himſelf: Paul was alſo accounted mad, not only by Feſtus, for his zeal towards God, Acts 26.24. but alſo by the chriſtian Corinthians, 2 Cor. 5▪13. So Michel ſcoft at David as one of the fools for his zeal; yet though they, and other Saints of God were vilified and reproached by the ignorant world, yet their zeal have laid that corner ſtone, and foundation of ſalvation, that all the gates of hell ſhall not prevail againſt it. What think you, will the ſcarlet whore that ſitteth as a Queen be dethroned, or Antichriſt be diſcovered and overthrown by a moderate lukewarm Laodicean State, Religion, and Temper? Surely the firſt Beginners and Founders of our Reformation, were of another ſpirit then we in theſe days are of, or elſe it would have made but a ſlow procedure: for want of this true zeal, our Reformation is at a ſtand, and in ſpiritual growth, non progredi, eſt regredi. But I would ſtill be underſtood, that it muſt be a zeal mixed with the former ingredients, and with ſound knowledge, that it may be as an eye, and a guide, to direct and conduct it aright, both in the things to be loved, and in the manner and ends of their love, or elſe, zeal not rightly regulated, may be dangerous and pernicious. There are three ſorts of people that offend and fail in their zeal.
Firſt, Thoſe that are ſtark cold, and have no zeal at all to Gods glory, or his worſhip, as the profane worldling is.
Secondly, Thoſe indifferent lukewarm chriſtians, that are neither hot nor cold, as thoſe Laodiceans were, and as the Iſraelites of old, halting between God and Baal, 1 Kings 18.21.
The third ſort are, They whoſe zeal is blind, void of ſound knowledge and godly wiſdom, who covering their own carnal affections with the cloak of glorifying of God, ruſh on inconſiderately into many evil and unlawful actions: Some on this pretence, endeavour again in theſe our days, to ſet up Antichriſt in his Throne among us: Others, on the other hand, for want of this ſound knowledge joyned to their zeal, under pretence of pulling down Antichriſt and the Scarlet whore, they endeavour to undermine and pull down all Magiſtracy, Miniſtery, Scriptures, and all the Ordinances in Chriſt's churches whatſoever, whereof this age of ours affords as many lamentable examples as any former whatſoever; therefore let every one be inſtant with God in prayer, to add wiſdom and ſound knowledge unto his zeal.
Secondly I anſwer, That in controverted opinions of Religion, that lye deep and dark, whether they are the will of God or not, moderation in ſuch things is moſt commendable, and let every one walk as he hath attained unto; for I am of opinion, that all controverted points and myſteries in the Word of God, will not be made manifeſt unto us, until the day of the revelation of all things, when Chriſt the great Key-bearer of the Houſe of David ſhall appear, to open all the ſealed books, and no man ſhall ſhut again; and ſo that Scripture in ſuch things may be rightly applyed, Be not righteous over much: that is, be not over zealous, hot, or fervent for them. But for plain, obvious, and perſpicuous commands and truths of God, as whether Chriſt's precepts and commands, or Antichriſt's, are to be followed and embraced▪ our zeal and intentions here cannot be too hot, we cannot poſſibly here admit of a Syncratiſm, or a mean, as worldly wiſe Caſsander would endeavour between Papiſt and Proteſtant; either God muſt be God, or Baal muſt be God: either Chriſt muſt have the Throne, or elſe Antichriſt muſt reigne; they cannot poſſibly inhabite in one Temple, God and Dagon will not correſpond; no degree of zeal herein will ſuffice, but what is the higheſt, and aimeth at perfection: the defect whereof, either that of coldneſs, which is more remote, or that of lukewarmneſs, which is nearer, is equally faulty in this particular; either let us be altogether Romiſh, or altogether Reformed; either fully zealous for Chriſt and his ways, or elſe cold thereunto; for no mean will ſerve turn, Therefore Chriſt in the next words ſays to lukewarm Laodicea, I would thou wert cold or hot. That is, I would thou wert reſolved one way or other, I rather thou wert any thing then what thou art; I would as rather thou wert of no Religion, as of this mongrel uncertain hotchpotch Religion that thou art of. From theſe words Note,
Obſerv. That a luke-warm Religion is equally, if not more diſpleaſing unto God, then irreligion, or profaneſs itſelf.
Chriſt here prefers coldneſs, the moſt remote degree in Religion, before a nearer luke-warmneſs: Chriſt wiſhed Laodicea, either to be hot, zealous in the things of God, or elſe cold, that is, dead, ſtrange, and alienated to the things of God, rather then indifferent and lukewarm, as ſhe was. It is as good, and there were as much hopes of us, if we were altogether Romiſh, then half Reformed as we are.
The reaſons that this luke-warm temper is more blame-worthy and dangerous then coldneſs it ſelf, are,
Firſt, Becauſe where there are moſt means of grace, there ſhould be greateſt improvement; Sin is more ſinful, where grace is more abounding, the ſervant that knows his maſters will and doth i… not, is worthy of many ſtripes; the ſin of our firſt parents was the more aggravating, being committed in paradice; the fall of the Angels in heaven left them remedileſs and unpardonable: and that idolatry of thoſe twenty five men in Ezek. 8.16. between the Porch and the Altar, was moſt deteſtable: God would rather that his grace ſhould not be known, then that it ſhould be neglected and deſpiſed; he will be ſanctified of all that come near unto him; Therefore if Baal be God, follow him: why halt ye between both! God hateth ſuch ſcrupulous inquiſition, as if it were hard to determine which part to follow.
Secondly, Becauſe there are greater hopes of the converſion of the irreligious profane of the world, if God ſhall be pleaſed to afford them the means, then of the luke-warm chriſtians, who think all is well with them becauſe of their moderation and peaceableneſs, which indeed is honoured of the world, and for ſome other external priviledges that they enjoy: O! How hard a thing it is this day, to perſwade the moderate indifferent State-chriſtians into the true power of godlineſs, or unto a fervent zeal for God and his Truths, they think they have enough in their birth-right, church priviledges, or common profeſſion, to make them everlaſtingly happy, and therefore think they, what need they trouble themſelves more, they never intended to take heaven by violence, if it would deſcend unto them in a bed of Doune, in an eaſie way, then they would be in for it; but if otherwiſe it be to be taken by ſtriving and violence, then let the violent take it for them, they will have nothing more to do with it: Therefore ſurely Publicans and Harlots ſhall ſooner enter into the Kingdom of heaven, then ſuch eaſie luke-warm Profeſſors, who are neither hot nor cold, I would they were hot or cold.