Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 22 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Verſe 1 Ʋnto the Angel]
THis was Timothy, as ſome think; who not ſtirring up the gift of God that was in him, had remitted ſomewhat of his former fervour. By the ſtile here given him (Angel) he is moniſhed not more of his dignity, then of his duty. That Angel at Bochim, Judg.Eccle…. 56. 2.1. is thought to have been Phineas. And ſome interpret that of Solomon, Neither ſay thou before the Angel, that it was an errour of the Prieſt. It is good counſel to Miniſters that one gives, Ange'orum induiſt is nom…n, induite & naturam, neſit (… dixit nonnemo) nomen inanc, crimen immanc.
Verſe 2. I know thy works and thy labour] Not thy works only, but thy labour in doing them, and what ends thou putteſt upon them. How accurately did our Saviour caſt up and count how long the multitude had been with him, how little they had to eat, how ill it would fare with them if ſent away faſting, &c. Mat 15.32.
And how thou canſt not bear] Moved with a zeal of God, and having a ſtomack for him. Mihi ſanè Auxentius nunquam aliud quàm dia…olus erit, quia Arrianus, ſaith Hilary. I ſhall look upon Auxentius, as upon a devil, ſo long as he is an Arrian.
Verſe 3. And haſt born] Beat the falſe Apoſtles thou couldſt not; but haſt borne much from them. Morientium nempe ſerarum violen…iores ſunt morſ…s. Beaſts bite hardeſt when to bite their laſt.
Verſe 4. Thou haſt left thy fi…st love] Thoſe first ripe fruits that Chriſts ſoul deſireth, M…c 7.1. that kindeneſſe of youth, that ſpouſall-love that God ſo well remembreth, Jer. 2.2. This, Epheſus had left, and ſo became Apheſis, remiſſe and retchleſſe, poſſeſt with a ſpirit of ſloth and indevotion. And ſurely he is a rate and happy man that can ſay in a ſpirituall ſenſe (as it was ſaid of Moſes) that after long profeſſion of zeal, his ſight is not waxed dim, his holy heat not abated, that runs not retrograde, as did Solomon, Aſa, others, with whom the end was worſe then the beginning.
Verſe 5. From whence thou art fallen] viz, From thy former feelings, and preſent fitnes for Gods kingdom, Luk. 9.62.
Andrepent] See the practice of this ſecond repentance, in the relapſed Spouſe returning to her old husband, Cant. 9. See the Note on 2 Cor. 7.11. See an excellent Letter of the Lady Jane to that apoſtate Harding, ſometime her Chaplain, Act. and Mon. fol. 1292. and what ſweet counſel Bradford afterwards gave the ſame Harding, Ib. fol. 1564. beſides the example of Mr Bartlet Green Martyr, fol. 1680.
And doe th… firſt works] Begin the world again (as the Nazarite was to do, that had broken his vow, Numb. 6.) and, to let thee up afreſh, make a gathering of praiers, and ſee that thy works be better at laſt then at firſt.
And remove thy Candleſtick] Sins are the ſnuffs that dim our Candleſtick, and threatneth the removall of it. And ſurely if we repent not, a removall thereof may be as certainly fore-ſeen and ſore-told, as if viſions and letters were ſent us from heaven, as to theſe ſeven Churches.
Except thou repent] Minatur Deus ut non puniat. God therefore menaceth, that men may be warned. As a Bee ſtings not till provoked: ſo neither doth God puniſh till there be no remedy, a Chron. 36.16.
Verſe 6. But this thou haſt] That they might not ſay,Jer. 2.17. & 18.12. when called upon to repent, Nay, but there is no hope. Chriſt picks out that which is praiſe-worthy in them, and commends it. Deſpair carries men to hell, as the devils did the ſwine into the ſea. Caſt not away therefore your confidence, &c.Iren…us. Theod.
The works of the Nicolaitans] Who taught a community of wives, and that it was but a thing indifferent to commit adultery.
Verſe 7. Let him hear] Not with that griſtle only that grows upon his head, but with the ear of his heart. Let him draw up the ear of his heart to the ear on his head, that one found may pierce both. Or Let him hear what, &c. that is, Let him hear for himſelf, hear and know that (each member for his own good) that was delivered to the whole Church.
To eat of the tree of life] This tree is Chriſt. The devil alſo (as he loves to be Gods ape) hath prompted Mahomet to promiſe to ſuch as die in warre for the Mahometan ſaith, delicious fare in Paradiſe, pleaſant walkes, and other ſenſuall delights eternally to be enjoyed,… lunts voiage. p 67. notwithſtanding any former ſinnes.
Verſe 8. Of the Church in Smyrna] Sweet-ſmelling Smyrna, the pooreſt but pureſt of the ſeven.
Verſe 9. I know thy works and tribulation] Mark (ſaith one) the conjunction, Works and tribulation. Active ſtirting Chriſtians are like to ſuffer much. Of Sardis and Laodicea only, we reade not of any troubles they had.
And poverty, but thou art rich] Poverty diſcommends not any to Chriſt: money bears no maſtery in his kingdome. Thou art poor, ſaith he here: but that's neither here nor there: its a matter of nothing, that.
That ſay they are Iews] That is, right worſhippers, as the Turks at this day ſtile themſelves Muſ…lmans, that is, the only true believers,Cyprian Papiſts the only Catholikes. Faciunt & vespa favos. & ſimiae imitantur homines.
Verſe 10. Fear none of thoſe things] Quit thy heart of that cowardly paſſion, and die rather then deny the truth. Put on that reſolution, Neceſſe eſſe ut eam, non ut vivam. Duty muſt be done, though I die for it.
Behold the devil] viz. By his imps and inſtruments whom he acts and agitates, Epheſ 2.2. But he and his are over-ruled and limitted: for he ſhall cast ſome of you, not all of you, into priſon, not into hell, that ye may be tried, no… deſtroied; and this, for ten daiesonly, not for any long continnance.
A crown of life] A crown without eares, corrivals, envy, end.
Verſe 11. Shall not be hurt of the ſecond death] Shall not be killed with death,Bern as ver. 23. Death ſhall not be to him (as it is to the wicked) a trap door to hell, but janua vitae, porta coeli, an in let into life eternall.
Verſe 12. And to the Angel] See the Note on Verſe 1. and on Chap. 1.16.
Verſe 13. Even where Satans ſeat is] There was the Court of King Attalus (—diſcedat ab aulâ qui velit eſſe pius; Flee thee away, O thou ſeer, for this is the Kings Court, Amos 7.13.) and there was after wards the ſeat of the Roman perſecuting Proconſuls, Qui ab aſcenſ…re ſuo Satana perurgebantur, as Bernard hath it. Such a ſeat of Satan is both old and new Rome. At Constantinople (which was called new Rome) Arrius that arch-heretike, Sedens in latrina effudit intestina, voided his entrails at the ſtool, and left Mahometiſme there behinde him as his excrement. Yet, as at Pergamus alſo God had a Church, ſo hath he ſtill even at Conſtantinople; the Patriarch whereof Cyril hath lately ſet forth a Confeſſion of the faith of thoſe Eaſtern Churches, agreeable in all points almoſt to the Proteſtant religion, but diametrally oppoſite to Popery.
Thou holdest fast] As with tooth and nail, foreignor by main ſtrength.
Who was ſlain] An honour not granted to the Angels of heaven, as Latimer was wont to ſay.
Verſe 14. I have a few things] More he might have had, but the Lord is not extream to mark what is amiſſe in his weak,2 Chron. 15.17 but willing people. The high places were not removed: nevertheleſſe (though that was his fault) the heart of Aſa was perfect all his daies.
And to commit fornication] Nothing hath ſo enriched hell (ſaith one) as fair faces. Theſe were thoſe Balaams-blocks, that Iſrael ſo ſtumbled at.
Verſe 15. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans] See the Note on Verſe 6. In the year 1067. The Popiſh Synod of M…llain make laws againſt ſimony, and the hereſie of the Nicolaitans: by which later they meant Prieſts-marriage. Brutum fulmen, novum crimen.
Verſe 16. Or elſe I will come unto thee] He was in the midſt of the ſeven golden Candleſticks before. But when he comes to correct, he comes out of his place, Iſa. 26.21. and it is a motion, that he hath no ſuch minde to, Lam 3.33. it is to do his work, his ſtrange work, Iſa. 28.21.
With the ſword of my mouth] With fearfull threatnings, terrible executions, Having vengeance in readineſſe for the diſobedient, 1 Cor. 10.6. Eliſha had his ſword as well as I…hu and Hazael theirs, 1 King. 19.17. See Hoſea 6.5. Ieremy 1.10. Iſa. 11.4.
Verſe 17. Of the hidden Manna] That is, of Chriſt, whom none of the Princes of this world knew: but God hath revealed him to his hidden ones by the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2.8, 10. with Pſ. 83.3.foreign …. and given them to taſte of that heavenly gift.
A white stone] In token of abſolution. With this white ſtone may the Saints comfort themſelves againſt all the black coals wherewith the world ſeeks to beſmear them. If Libanius could ſay, Let Baſil praiſe me, and I ſhall ſing away all care, who reproacheth me; May not we much more ſay ſo of Chriſt? It is be that juſtifieth us: who ſhall condemn us? Rom 8.34
A new name] Better then that of ſonnes and daughters, Iſa. 56.5. The aſſurance whereof is (ſaith Father Latimer) the ſweet meats of the feaſt of a good conſcience, which is unconceivable and full of glory.
Verſe 18. Who hath his eyes, &c.] See the Note on Chap. 1.14, 15.
Verſe 19. The laſt to be more] This is not every mans happineſſe. See the Note on verſe 4. It is a diſputable queſtion (ſaith one) whether any Chriſtian (except he die ſoon after his converſion) doe go on from ſtrength to ſtrength without ſome ſenſible decay of the inward power of that grace wherewith he is indued.
Verſe 20. Thou ſuffereſt that woman Iezabel] It is a fault then, not only to be active in evil, but to be paſſive of evil. Non faciendo malus, ſed patiendo fuit, ſaid the Poet concerning the Emperour Claudius. The Kings of the earth are taxed, Revel. 18. for not rooting out the Romiſh religion, and ſetting up the truth.
Verſe 21. And I gave her space to repent] In ſpace comes grace, proves not alwaies a true Proverb. They that defer the work, and ſay, that men may repent hereafter, ſay truly, but not …. The branch that bears not timely fruit is cut off, Ioh. 15.2 The ground that yeelds not a ſeaſonable and ſutable return, is nigh unto curſing, Heb. 68. The chick that comes not at the clucking of the hen, becomes a prey to the kite, &c.
Verſe 22. Behold I will caſt her into a bed] A bed of affliction for that bed of ſecurity, upon which ſhe had ſtretcht her ſelf, Amos 64. God hath his ſeaſon, his harveſt for judgement, Mat. 1.30. Men may expect a time of healing and curing, when they ſhall finde nothing elſe, but a time of trouble, Ier. 14.19. One may defer a ſore till it be incurable. See Ezek. 24.13.
Verſe 23. And I will kill her children with death] All men die (ſaith a Divine, deſcanting upon this text) but all are not killed with death. As a godly man ſaid, that he did agrotare vitalitèr, ſo godly men doe mori vitalitèr. He that can ſo die, is fit to die; and the contrary. O it is a wofull thing to be killed with death.
Verſe 24. But unto you I ſay] Here Chriſt comes with his fan, ſhedding and ſhoaling out his own from others, that they might not be diſheartned, when worſe men were menaced.
The depths of Satan] That ſcience falſly ſo called. 1 Tim. 6.20. Thoſe profound points, which the Impoſtours profeſſed and pretended to: as the Gnoſticks, who would needs be held the only knowing men; the Illuminates, and other ſeducers.
Verſe 25. Hold faſt] Hold by ſtrong hand,foreign tugg for it with thoſe that would take it from you.
Verſe 26. And keepeth my works] In oppoſition to Iezabels works, q. d. that keepeth himſelf unſpotted of the world, that foul lusk that lieth in that wicked one, 1 Joh 5.19.
Verſe 27. And he ſhall rule them] q.d. I will communicate my ſelf wholly to him. See Pſ. 139.6, 7, 8, 9 Mat. 19.28.1 Cor. 6.2, 3.
Verſe 28. I will give him the morning ſtarre] i. e. I will clear his wronged innocency, Pſal. 37.6. and grant him a glorious reſurrection, Dan. 12, 3.
Verſe 29. He that hath an ear] See the Note on Verſe 7.