guishes at Ephesus between the angel and the false apostles; at Smyrna, between him and the false Jews; at Pergamos, he protests against the followers of the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes; at Thyatira, against the whore Jezebel; and whatever the Lord separates, we have no right to join. All these heretics and corrupters of the pure religion of Jesus are by these protestations excommunicated from his Church, and absolutely cut off like withered branches, from the body of his people. When the Lord pronounces excommunication, we must not expect to hear Papal curses and anathemas, a simple expression of his divine displeasure is quite sufficient.

II. Not of all the faithful servants of Christ in his vineyard, because he evidently distinguishes at Pergamos, between the angel and Antipas, [ex avrí et ras, antipode, one directly opposite to us ;] who also appears to be a moral representative of the first Christian ascetics and hermits, of the second and third century. They followed what they called an extraordinary rule of sanctity, abstained from wine, flesh, matrimony and commerce, and applied themselves wholly to solitude, contemplation, and devotion, in order to have communion with God in Christ. They aimed to live above nature and the rule of life, as they said, given to the vulgar, and are therefore denominated Antipas, or Antipodes. Though they followed an erroneous opinion of those days, and led severe and austere lives; yet history testifies their true piety, and readiness to become confessors or martyrs for their Saviour's cause. The Lord also plainly distinguishes at Thyatira, between the angel and the rest; and at Sardis, the few names, which he had left there. Both were collective bodies of faithful ministers of Christ, who receive praise and promises, without the least censure or blame, and yet not numbered with the angels there.

III. Nor of the faithful ministry of Christ only-because the angel at Sardis had the name only of being alive, and in reality was dead; and he at Laodicea was lukewarm, and even worse than cold, and therefore the Lord was ready to spue him out of his mouth as a nauseating morsel.

IV. Neither the ministry of those churches only, which are acknowledged by public authority, and sanctioned by civil law. Because this was not the case with the angel at Ephesus and Smyrna, both were persecuted by public authority in Judea and throughout the whole Roman emempire, to the year A. D. 324. The Church and the commonwealth are polities specifically and essentially different.

There is no doubt but these angels hold the only true succession of the gospel ministry of Christ on earth, and the proper lineage of spiritual power and privilege to the stewardship of the mysteries and manifold grace of God. 1 Cor. iv. 1. It therefore highly concerns us to inquire, whom these angels represent, and where we are to meet the true Church of Christ, and its gospel ministry. This subject will according to prophecy, be one day made a matter of greater moment in Christendom; and that in all probability soon.

V. Not of the ruling church power, as such, or the higher ranks of ecclesiastics at those different periods, in any country. For since the time of Constantine the Great, those, whose duty it was to shine like stars of the first magnitude, have generally been the very persons who led the van among the temporisers with the world, and too often themselves corrupted the religion of our blessed Lord and Master. How many might we name from history, who, from views of self-aggrandizement and secular interest, have proved greatly unfaithful at last. This is evident from the history of the Roman Jezebel, which has

had the power for many centuries, and done so much mischief to the cause of Christ. It is equally true, more or less of every established community in preference to others throughout Christendom.

VI. The great question then at last is, whom do these angels more particularly represent? And where shall we meet their Churches? They certainly represent a successive ministry of the Lord's own institution, regularly set apart in his Church, and ordained to be delegates and ambassadors by his authority and in his name to the churches. They are also represented in these charges, as being vested with a standing power of governing the Church under his inspection, and as servants of the Lord, who continue to administer and preserve the means of grace in purity and without essential corruption, till he cometh again in glory. Where can we meet this succession and that power of church government, which Jesus Christ himself received from the Father; John xx. 21. and vested in his apostles, with authority to convey it down by a successive ministry to the period of the Church at Laodicea? After all the attention I am able to pay this subject, in considering these charges, the following is the result.

These angels are not the moral representatives of the ruling church power, as such, at these seven different periods of the Church of Christ,-but of that part of the Christian ministry, who remain to officiate as actual members of those ruling communities, and continue faithful to the confession of the pure doctrine of the gospel, both as to faith and worship, without participating in any essential corruptions that may be introduced during their time.

Those who withdraw from these communities of their own accord, and, without a special call of Providence, hide themselves behind the scene of action, loose their right and place in this ministerial succession. To turn the back upon the enemy for fear of a conflict in so good a cause as the religion of Christ, is a great sin indeed. Rev. xxi, 8

The Protestant reformers were none of these. They neither feared persecution, sufferings nor death; at least Luther was driven away by Papal excommunication, and God accomplished his work through him, without any such important intentions on his part at first. They did not leave the Church of Christ, for they retained all the doctrine and worship of the Saviour's institution, and are therefore acknowledged his ministry under the angel at Philadelphia: they only left a heretical church power, which as such, had lost the right of ministerial succession. For he who makes an unscriptural doctrine his chief object and rallying point of union for his sect, is a teacher of heresy and no longer a pastor in Christ's Church; though many of his adherents for want of knowledge, may on that account be far less culpable in the sight of the Lord, than he is himself.

3. The distinguishing criterion, by which the Lord designates his visible Church, and by which also we may find it amidst the ery of so many parties, Lo, here is Christ! undoubtedly is, purity of doctrine, both as to faith and practice, and the administration of the sacraments, agreeably to the institution of the Lord. Accord ing to this criterion, which is also sanctioned, Acts ii, 42, That community is a Church of Christ, and part of the house of eternal wisdom built on seven pillars (Prov. 9.) which makes solemn and public confession of the doctrine and worship of Christ, and continues stedfastly in the fellowship of the apostles and their successors, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, Wherever we meet this mark of distinction, whether they be single persons in corrupt communities, or whole Churches under solemn profession in the world, there is the lineage of the wife of the Lamb, and the true succession of the gospel ministry among the clergy of such a Church.

Verse 24. I will put upon you none other burden. The angel and the rest at Thyatira had burden enough in be

ing surrounded by the woman Jezebel and her adherents; the Lord offers them this comfort, that all further sufferings shall be dispensed with on that account.

Verse 25. That which ye have, hold fast. That portion of my doctrine and worship among you, hold fast. You will be under continual temptation of loosing it; therefore watch and pray, make use of your spiritual weapons and powers, to preserve it, as a great treasure. This is also addressed to the rest at Thyatira.

Till I come. This declaration of the second advent of Christ is here mentioned for the first time in these charges, and indicates that this branch of the gospel ministry in the midst of this corrupted Church, shall continue till the Lord comes. He tells the angel at Ephesus, that he would come to remove his candlestick, and to him at Pergamos, he would come and fight against the Balaamites; both these declarations denote special judgments; but the words here evidently signify reward, which both the gospel ministry and the rest at Thyatira shall receive, when he comes.

Verse 26. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works. The Greek text is, as follows: Kalvin@v, nai νικῶν, ὁ τηρῶν τὰ ἔργα μου, which should be translated thus: And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my offices; where the word Tnga signifies to keep by guard, preserve, retain, and always expresses carefulness and circumspection. For my translation of the word έργα, vide chapter ii, 2. By these words the Lord describes two different kinds of people, and their best efforts towards performing the duties incumbent on them; who also in the following words receive a twofold promise, in case of a faithful performance.

The words," he that overcometh," certainly refer to the angel at Thyatira, h. e. to that branch of the gospel ministry, which still continues in the Roman Catholic church who, surrounded by the corruptions, temptations and ty