Annotations Upon the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Vers. 2. I Have not found thy wayes perfect] The words are foreign Thy wayes filled up, thou hast not filled up thy course in following mee, not followed mee fully. That is, when the inwards of the man are filled up with acts of graces and every grace with acts proper for it object.
Vers. 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis] That is, a few faithfull and Saints, he alludes to Souldiers whose names are enrolled by the Captaine when they are admitted.
Which have not defiled their garments] That is,2 Pet. 2.20. have walked answerable to their holy calling by the Gospell, or profession.
And they shall walke with mee in white] Be partakers *Faciam gloriae meae consortes. Pareus. Alba vestis nitore maxime conspicuae gloriae erat insigne. v. 5. & 7.9. & 19.14. Pareus ib. Vestes albae symbolum. 1. perfectae sanctitatis ac puritatis. 2. dignitatis regiae & sacerdotalis. 3. laetitae. 4. triumphi adversus hostes. 5. glorìae. Confer. Apoc. 4. v. 4. cap. 6. v. 11. cap. 7. v. 13. Gerh. in loc.with mee in my glory. This was the habite in times past of Nobles, saith Drusius, whence they are called canditati.
For they are worthy] And what is it to be worthy but to merit, say some. By Christs merits, obedience, righteousnesse, in him and for his sake they were counted worthy *Abbot against Bishop. Deus in Christo eos reddidit dignos gloria Coelesti. Luc. 20.35. Phil. 1.27. 2 Thes. 1.5.11. Gerh in loc., and whatsoever worthinesse God pronounceth of them for their workes, it is by the gracious acceptation thereof in him; worthy, not dignitate sua, sed dignatione divina, they are worthy not absolutely, but compared to the other spoken of before.
Vers. 5. He that overcometh, the same shall be cloathed in white raiment] After the manner *Respicitur for…osse mos Judaeorum sacerdotalis. Lud. de Dieu. Vide D'espagne de la manducation du corps de Christ.of the Priests among the Jewes.
Vers. 7. He that hath the key of David] The key of the house of David, that is the Church, Lukh 1.32. See Esay 22.22.1 Tim. 3.15.
He openeth and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth] That is, Hee worketh irresistably.Dr Tailor.
Vers. 12. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God] That is,Mayerus in Philol. Sac. Pareus. Vide Gerh. in the Church Triumphant: pillars are both the firmament and ornament of Temples.
And he shall goe no more out] That is, he shall receive eternall and immutable glory.
Vers. 14. The beginning of the creation of God] Taken out of Prov. 8.22. See Mat. 8.12.
Vers. 16. So then because thou art luke-warme, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth] These words containe an allegory drawne from the nature of warme water, as Illyricus and Bullenger, or from meates, as Pererius, Ribera and à Lapide, which if they be hot or cold, the stomacke may retaine, but if lukewarme, it casts them up againe.
Vers. 18. I counsell thee to buy of mee] That is waite on mee in the way I conveigh grace. Gold] Some by this understand the word of God,That is, do as men doe in buying of commodities. 1. See thy want of it by viewing thy owne nakednesse. 2. Esteeme it in the just value of it. 3. Exchange all thy sinnes for this righteousnesse. Psal. 12. and 119. others the graces of Gods Spirit. 1 Pet. 1.7. Prov. 8. Gold is the most excellent of all metals and most esteem'd, so are spirituall graces among Christians.
And white raiment] Raiment, that is, the righteousnesse of Christ, graces in Christ suitable to our necessities; white, because it is a naturall colour,Dr Tailor. walke with mee in white. therefore beyond all artificiall, a colour of purity and ornament.
And that the shame of thy nakednesse do not appeare] The Priests had linnen breeches to cover their nakednesse; Christ must cover the shame of our nakednesse.
And annoint thy eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see] The Spirit of illumination.
Vers. 19. I rebuke and chasten] We have no one English word capable of the whole contents of either of the words in the originall, foreign primarily signifies to evict or convince, to give evidence of any thing or against any person,Dr Featelie. to lay his sinnes open before him, so as he cannot but see them and be ashamed of them, as Heb. 11.1. Ephes. 5.11. Psal. 50.21. foreign is likewise a word much more pregnant than chasten, and may be expressed better in one word, I nurture or I discipline, for the word implyeth a… well instruction as correction.
Thronus regis apud Orientales amplus & latus est, lecticae instar, fulcris aliquantulum supra terram evectus ac tapetibus ornatus, adeo ut praeter sedem Regi propriam, alii quoque quos honore afficere cupit Rex in eodem throno sedes habere queant. Ludov. de Dieu. in loc.Vers. 21. In his Throne] See Iohn 17.24. Yet so as Christ the Head doth alwayes excell.
Vers. 22. Hee that hath an eare, let him heare what the Spirit saith unto the Churches] The promises which belong to the whole Church, are to be applyed by every particular Saint.
Verba sensus significant cum affectu & effectu, words of sense signifie with affection and the effect, that is, let him attend unto and follow the admonitions of the Holy Ghost.