Away or other. Neither is it certain that the perfecutions by Nero were confined to the metropolis; they raged indeed moft there, but were extended likewife over all the provinces, as (8) Orofius teftifies with others. Sir Ifaac Newton hath farther (9) fhown, that in the Epiftles of St. Peter, and in St. Paul's Epiftle to the Hebrews, there are feveral allufions to this book of the Apocalyps; and St. Peter and St. Paul, all the ancients agree, fuffered martyrdom in the end of Nero's reign. It may indeed be retorted, that St. John might borrow from St. Peter and St. Paul, as well as St. Peter and St. Paul from St. John: but if you will confider and compare the pallages together, you will find fufficient reafon to be convinced, that St. Peter's and St. Paul's are the copies, and St. John the original. Moreover it is to be obferved, that this Revelation was given on the Lord's day, when the apoftle's heart and affections, as we may reasonably fuppofe, were fublimed by the meditations and devotions of the day, and rendered more recipient of divine infpiration. The heavenly vifions were vouchfafed to St. John, as they were before to Daniel, (Dan. IX. X.) after fupplication and prayer and there being (1) two kinds of prophetic revelation in a vifion and a dream, the Jews accounted a vifion fuperior to a dream, as reprefenting things more perfectly and to the life. In the firft vition Jefus Chrift, or his angel, fpeaking in his name, and acting in his perfon, appears amid the feven golden candlesticks, meaning the fecen churches. His clothing is fomewhat like the high prieft's, and he is defcribed much in the fame manner as the divine appearances in Daniel's vifions. (Dan. VII. 9. X. 5, &c.) St. John at the fight of fo glorious a perfon fell down fenfelefs before him, as Daniel did upon the fame occafion; and like Daniel too, he is gracioufly raised and encouraged, and commanded to write the things which he (8) Primus Romæ Chriftianos fuppliciis et mortibus affecit; ac per omnes provincias pari perfecutione excruciari imperavit. Lib. 7. Cap. 7. p. 473. Edit. Havercamp. (9) Sir Ifaac Newton's Obf. upon the Apoc. Chap. 1. p. 239–246. : VOL. II. (1) In iftis duabus partibus, fomnio et vifione, continentur omnes prophetiæ gradus. Maimon. in More Nevoch. Part 2. Cap. 36. Smith's Dif courfe of Prophecy, Chap. 2. p. 174, 175. M had had feen, contained in this chapter, and the things which are, the present state of the seven churches reprefented in the two next chapters, and the things which shall be hereafter, the future events which begin to be exhibited in the fourth chapter, as it is there faid (ver. 1.) Come up hither, and I will how thee things which must be hereafter. UNTO CHAP. II. NTO the angel of the church of Ephefus, write, Thefe things faith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the feven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil and thou haft tried them which fay they are apoftles, and are not; and haft found them liars: 3 And haft borne, and haft patience, and for my name's fake haft laboured, and haft not fainted. 4 Nevertheless, I have fomewhat against thee, because thou haft left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the firft works; or elfe I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou haft, that thou hateft the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the churches. To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midft of the paradife of God. 8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna, write, These things faith the firft and the laft, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blafphemy of them which fay they are Jews, and are not, but are the fynagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou fhalt fuffer: fuffer behold, the devil fhall caft fome of you into prifon, that ye may be tried; and ye fhall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the churches, He that overcometh, thall not be hurt of the fecond death. 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamus, write, These things faith he, which hath the sharp fword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwelleft, even where Satan's feat is: and thou holdeft faft my name, and haft not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, whọ was flain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, becaufe thou haft there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to caft a ftumbling-block before the children of Ifrael, to eat things facrificed unto idols, and commit fornication. 15 So haft thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or elfe I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the fword of my mouth. 17 He that hàth an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the churches, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white ftone, and in the ftone a new name written, which no man knoweth, faving he that receiveth it. 18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira, write, Thefe things faith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brafs: 19 I know thy works, and charity, and fervice, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the laft to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou fuffereft that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetes, to teach and to feduce my fervants to commit fornication, and to eat things facrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her fpace to repent of her fornication, and the repented not. 22 Behold, I will caft her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches fhall know that I am he which fearcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I fay, and unto the reft in Thyatira, As many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they fpeak, I will put upon you none other bur'den. 25 But that which ye have already, hold faft till I come. 26 And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations : 27 (And he fhall rule them with a rod of iron: as the veffels of a potter fhall they be broken to fhivers) even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning ftar.. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the churches. CHAP. III. 1 ND unto the angel of the church in Sardis, write, Thefe things faith he that hath the feven Spirits of God, and the feven stars; I know thy works, that thou haft a name, that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful and ftrengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou haft received and heard, and hold faft, and repent. If therefore thou thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou haft a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they fhall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the fame fhall be cloathed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confefs his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the churches. 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write, Thefe things faith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man fhutteth; and fhutteth, and no man openeth: 8 I know thy works: behold, I have fet before thee an open door, and no man can fhut it: for thou haft a little ftrength, and haft kept my word, and haft not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the fynagogue of Satan (which fay they are Jews, and are not, but do lie) behold, I will make them to come and worthip before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou haft kept the word of my patience, I alfo will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which fhall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that faft which thou haft, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he fhall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerufalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the churches. M 3 14 And |
