21 And I gave her space 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 (hall 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 burden.

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 star. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear

what the Spirit faith unto the churches.

A

C 4

CHAP.

CHA P.

I

una iw i blod iss

AND unto the angel of the church in Sardis, write, These things faith he that hath the feven fpirits of God; and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou haft a name, that thou liveft, and art dead. Patoish dolew od me

12 Be watchful and ftrengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God: 975!

9.3 Remember therefore how thou haft received and heard, and hold faft, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou fhalt 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 whites for they are worthy. voda

1 5 He that overcometh, the fame shall be clothed in white raiment ; and I will not blot out this 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, These 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 worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

io 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 the earth.

upon

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.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, write, Thefe things faith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth :

17 Because thou fayeft, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing and knoweft not that thou art wretched, and miferable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold

tried

(1) Tertull. adverf. Marcion. Lib. 4. Sect. 5. p. 415. Edit.

Rigaltii.

tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayeft be clothed, and that the fhame of thy nakednefs do not appear; and anoint thine with eye-falve, that thou mayeft see.

eyes

19 As many as I love, I rebuke, and chaften: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I ftand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will fup with him, and he with me,

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to fit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am fet down with my

Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the churches.

The fecond and third chapters contain the seven epiftles to the feven churches of Asia, Ephefus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These seven are addreffed particularly, because they were under St. John's immediate inspection; he (1) constituted bishops over them; he was as it were

their

Rigaltii. Paris. 1675. Millii Prolegom. in Nov. Teft. p. 20. (2) Hodie