name of God is meant an open acknowledgement that they are fervants of God, as fhall be fhewn in the commentary on chap. xxi. 4. By the city of God is meant the millenium ftate of the church, as fhall be fhewn in the commentary on chap. xxi. By Chrift's new name is meant the new name which is given to him, chap. xix. 16. "And he hath on "his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords."

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All these three inscriptions refer to the millennium state of the church as fhall appear from the commentary on these paffages. It is then that men fhall ferve God rather than man, and fhall not be afhamed to profefs themselves the fervants and worshippers of God. It is then that the church of Christ shall appear in the greateft purity and magnificence. And it is then, that all the Kings and Lords of the world fhall bow to the fceptre of Jefus, that he shall appear in a character new and different from that which he and his religion have hitherto exhibited in the world. He, whofe religion was every where fpoken against, and who himself appeared in the form of a slave, and suffered like one, shall then establish his religion over the whole world, and by the triumph of his kingdom of truth, righteoufnefs, peace and joy, over all. the kingdoms of the world, fhall in fact prove himfelf to be the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and fhall then affume this new name. P

VOL. I.

It

If

It is thus declared, that, for ever in heaven, fuch perfons fhall be honoured as illuftrious inftruments in the hand of God, by which the millenium ftate of the church hath been brought about. none had overcome the various temptations and trials to which they have been expofed in paft times; if none overcome the trials they meet with in the prefent times, and if none fhall overcome the trials to which they shall be exposed between this day and the time predicted for the commencement of the millenium ftate ;-that ftate could never commence. If none in the paft or prefent times had feared God more than man; obeyed God rather than man; practifed religion in its fcriptural purity; or experienced the kingly power of Chrift in rendering them a willing people to himself, and in making them conquerors, and more than conquerors over all their enemies ;-the millenium ftate would never arrive. As the men of this character in every age and country between the date of this book, and the commencement of the millenium ftate, are expofed to much greater trials, that the men who fhall live in that state shall be; as, on account of the great difference of fituations, much more praife is due to them, than even to the members of the church in the millennium ftate, if in both cafes the whole praife is not due to the grace of God; and as they are the volun-' tary inftruments in the hand of God for bringing

about

about that ftate ;-they fhall, on that account, be highly distinguished for ever in heaven, as pillars which fupport and adorn the church of Christ. They fhall be known with honour by all the redeemed in the heavenly state, as the excellent ones of the earth, to whom under God, the church of Chrift and the world were indebted for the millenium ftate. Let every one who hears this epiftle, attend to it, and remember, that what the Spirit faith to the church of Philadelphia, he faith to all who are in fimilar fituations and of fimilar characters.

Verses 14th, 15th.-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, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot.

This epiftle is addreffed to the minister of the church of the Laodiceans. Laodicea was a very confiderable city of Caria in Afia Minor; and had several cities under its jurifdiction. It was a place of great riches, partly from the kindness of its citizens, who, by their wills, had left great wealth to it; and partly on account of the fale of its wool, which was in great request in other places, on account of its colour and foftnefs.

In this epiftle, Chrift defigns himself the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Amen is a Hebrew word, which fignifies true or certain. It is commonly used at the end of prayers, and there it fignifies, fo it is, and fo let it be.

In Chap. i. 8. Chrift ftiles himself Alpha and Omega, and then explains what we are to underftand by that defignation, even the beginning and the ending. In like manner, when he ftiles himfelf the Amen, he explains, that, by Amen we are to understand, the true and faithful witness, and the beginning of the creation of God. Whatever, he fays is truth, and shall be verified. If he promifes any thing, his promife is not only made in truth,, but it fhall alfo be faithfully performed. If, with respect to creation, he says but the word, creatures arise into existence. He at first gave beginning to the creation of God. "In the begin

ning was the word, and the word was with God, "and the word was God.-All things were made

by him; and without him was not any thing "made that was made." This character of Christ is very fuitable to the ftate of this church, and the ftrain of the epiftle addreffed to her.-The lukewarm are not eafily roufed to a fenfe of their fin and danger; what therefore can be fo fit to rouse them as a description of their fin and a threatening of their danger, by him who is the Amen: All

whose words are true, all whofe threatenings fhall be accomplished; and who having created, is able to destroy.

This church is reproved for her lukewarmness and indifference in matters of religion. Whilst fhe profeffed to believe, at least, whilft fhe did not actually disbelieve the truths of religion she treated the most important doctrines, and duties with the utmost indifference..

Verse 16th. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will fpue thee out of my mouth.

Because of her lukewarmnefs, Chrift declares that he will reject this church with disgust and abhorrence. This threatening was inflicted on her. In the tenth year of Nero, this city was destroyed by an earthquake, and though it was rebuilt afterwards, it is long ago destroyed, is a heap of ruins, and inhabited by wild beafts only. (See Plin. Nat. His. l. 5. c. 29. Tacit. Ann. l. 14. c. 27.)

Verses 17th, 18th.-Because thou fayest, 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, I counsel thee to buy of

me

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