Essex Remembrancer 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… I. A CHARGE PREFERRED. "Thou hast left thy first love." 1. What is meant by the first love? Ask the young convert, who, after having received the sentence of death in his conscience; after trembling under the curse of a broken law; after struggling in the bondage of darkness, doubt, and fear, has come forth under the leading of the Spirit, into the light, liberty, and joy of the gospel! 2. What then is it to leave this happy state? It is to let the heart grow cold and indifferent to Him whom we can never love enough! It is to lose the sweet enjoyment of privileges, and consider duty wearisome. It is to have services formal and ordinances barren. It is to have idols in the temple of the soul, so that the whole is not, as it ought to be, consecrated to the Lord. II. WE HAVE AN ADMONITION GIVEN. 1. This admonition relates to the past. The Lord here calls the Ephesian Church to bring their past experience and character to mind. They had fallen. They had been once much higher in Christian standing than now. Their minds had been more elevated in holy and heavenly conceptions, and their practice more dignified and honourable. Then, leaving our first love to Christ is falling. Now, this is a state just the reverse of what a Christian's state ought to be. 2. This admonition relates to the present. "Repent!" seeing by a review of the past, to what danger the soul has been exposed; what guilt has been contracted; what honour and enjoyments have been lost; what injury has been done to religion; what injustice to Christ, the work of reformation must immediately begin. 3. This admonition relates to the future. "And do thy first works." All will be vain and unreal without this. There must be fruits meet for repentance, to prove it genuine. III. A THREATENING DENOUNCED. Lessons: 1. It is possible for there to be many things commendable in Christians, and yet something to call for a solemn threatening, like that in our text. 2. It is evident that leaving our first love is very criminal in the sight of Christ. 3. The removal of the gospel from souls in any way is a most awful punishment. (Essex Remembrancer.) 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; |
    |