the principal symbols, which occur in "The Revelation." The few, which remain to be noticed, are much more simple and obvious than those, whose import has now been discussed; and they will meet with every requisite explanation as they occur, in the paraphrase upon the Book itself. SECTION VI. OF THE LETTERS, WRITTEN BY ST. JOHN, TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES THAT WERE IN ASIA. THE Whole Book of "The Revelation" embraces two principal points; namely, "the things that then were,” and "the things that were to be hereafter;" in relation to both which St. John was commanded to "write the things that he had seen." What he wrote concerning the former of these is contained in his Letters to the seven Churches; and, with the sublime and awful sanction with which it is introduced, occupies the first three chapters. What he wrote concerning the latter is detailed, in as regular an order as possible, in respect to time, through the rest of the book. As these Churches constituted some of the principal, and most flourishing parts of the visible Church of Christ, at the latter end of the Apostolic * Rev. i. 11. 19. age; and as there was much peculiarity, at the time, in the admonitions and warnings, as well as in the encouragements, that were afforded them, the prophetical declarations, which involved their respective states in after times, might have furnished a very proper introduction to the consideration of those other sacred emblems, or more explicit descriptions, which portray "the signs of the times," and the state of the Christian Church, through every subsequent age of the world. To a corresponding purpose, in effect, the inspired Writer has himself applied them. He has made them introductory to a series of Revelations, which are most surprising in themselves, and of the utmost importance to the latest generations of men. But such a disquisition as this is not at present required. These subjects constitute a ground, which has been repeatedly pre-occupied; and by none more ably and satisfactorily, than by the late learned and venerable Bishop Newton'. Almost every traveller of note, indeed, who, within the last two centuries, has visited those parts of Asia Minor, where these Churches once flourished, has been able to discover, in their modern state, the general accuracy of these predictions. It may, notwithstanding, be of some further use, if I venture to compare once again the singular catastrophes,which have befallen two of these Churches, y In his Dissertations on the Prophecies; Dissert. xxiv. part I. with the threatenings which expressly foreshewed them. The two here intended are those of Ephesus and Laodicea: and they have been selected from the rest, because, with respect to the first of these, all the explications of the prophecy of St. John, which I have had an opportunity of consulting, appear to be deficient in one material point; and because they will both exhibit, in a striking manner, the unhappy consequences of spiritual pride, and of indifference to religious duty; and will thereby supply, it is to be hoped, examples far too memorable to be neglected, and especially at a period, which bears so awful an aspect as the present. I. FIRST, then, let us take a view of the present state of that Church, which had been founded by St. Paul at Ephesus; and to which he addressed one of his epistles from Rome, not long before he suffered. Ꮓ The dignity and eminence of this city appear to have communicated to the Church, which was established within it, a proportionable degree of distinction among the Churches of Asia: for it was at this time the metropolis of Ionia, and, indeed, of the lesser Asia; and one of the most 2 There is a very particular description of its former grandeur to be met with in Ancient Universal History, Vol. vii. 416., &c. edit. 1747. - age; and as there was much peculiarity, at the time, in the admonitions and warnings, ast well as in the encouragements, that were afforded them, the prophetical declarations, which involved their respective states in after times, might have furnished a very proper introduction to the consideration of those other sacred emblems, or more explicit descriptions, which portray "the signs of the times," and the state of the Christian Church, through every subsequent age of the world. To a corresponding purpose, in effect, the inspired Writer has himself applied them. He has made them introductory to a series of Revelations, which are most surprising in themselves, and of the utmost importance to the latest generations of men. But such a disquisition as this is not at present required. These subjects constitute a ground, which has been repeatedly pre-occupied; and by none more ably and satisfactorily, than by the late learned and venerable Bishop Newton". Almost every traveller of note, indeed, who, within the last two centuries, has visited those parts of Asia Minor, where these Churches once flourished, has been able to discover, in their modern state, the general accuracy of these predictions. It may, notwithstanding, be of some further use, if I venture to compare once again the singular catastrophes,which have befallen two of these Churches, y In his Dissertations on the Prophecies; Dissert. xxiv. part I. with the threatenings which expressly foreshewed them. The two here intended are those of Ephesus and Laodicea: and they have been selected from the rest, because, with respect to the first of these, all the explications of the prophecy of St. John, which I have had an opportunity of consulting, appear to be deficient in one material point; and because they will both exhibit, in a striking manner, the unhappy consequences of spiritual pride, and of indifference to religious duty; and will thereby supply, it is to be hoped, examples far too memorable to be neglected, and especially at a period, which bears so awful an aspect as the present. I. FIRST, then, let us take a view of the present state of that Church, which had been founded by St. Paul at Ephesus; and to which he addressed one of his epistles from Rome, not long before he suffered. The dignity and eminence of this city appear to have communicated to the Church, which was established within it, a proportionable degree of distinction among the Churches of Asia: for it was at this time the metropolis of Ionia, and, indeed, of the lesser Asia; and 'one of the most There is a very particular description of its former grandeur to be met with in Ancient Universal History, Vol. vii. 416., &c. edit. 1747. |