Revelation 2:1-7 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things said he that holds the seven stars in his right hand… 1. Christ would have us always walking in the sense of His Omniscience. 2. Christ is an unprejudged witness, as Its taketh notice of their good as well as their evil. 3. Such as Christ never called, may take on them highest titles in the Church, as it seemeth these had who called themselves apostles. 4. That diligence in duty, and difficulty in the performance of it, often go together: to do and to bear are often joined. 5. Patience in suffering, and impatience against corruptions and corrupt men, can well stand together. 6. There is no name, privilege, or title that should scare people, especially the ministers of God, from searching or trying corrupt men, that bring corrupt doctrine, though they should have the pretext of apostles, and had never so great gifts. 7. If folks will put to proof many things and persons that have fair names, they will be found very unlike the names they take. 8. The censuring of corrupt unsent ministers is a most difficult task, what from their nature, and sometimes from their parts; what from the addictedness of many unto them, yet it is a special duty: yet that it is acceptable before Jesus Christ may appear from these considerations. (1) That the Scripture holdeth forth no kind of persons as more abominable in themselves and more hateful to Him (Isaiah 56:10). (2) There is no kind of persons that prove more dishonourable to our Lord Jesus and to His gospel than such: these make the law to be despised. (3) The scandalous unfaithfulness of ministers brings a special blot upon all religion, as if it were but mere hypocrisy. (4) There is no such contempt done to our Lord Jesus, as for one to pretend to have commission from Him; and yet to be running unsent by Him; or, having gotten commission, to miscarry by unfaithfulness in it. (5) As there is a suitableness in the censuring of such Church-officers to Christ's mind, so there doth appear in the same a tenderness of and zeal unto His glory. Hence it is, that His most zealous servants, as Elias, Paul, did set themselves most against that generation. (6) There is no sort of men more hurtful to the Church. (7) Not only is there an obstruction to godliness by such, but they have a main influence upon the advancing of profanity. (James Durham.) Parallel Verses KJV: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; |
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