From persecuting the Christians, he patronized them. that moment the downward course of the Church is rapid. Her unholy alliance with the world proved her saddest and deepest fall. Period-from the beginning of the fourth to the seventh century, when popery was established.* THYATIRA. ·In Thyatira, we have the popery of the middle ages. Jezebel-like, practising all kinds of wickedness, and persecuting the saints of God, under the disguise of religious zeal. Nevertheless there was a God-fearing remnant in Thyatira, whom the Lord comforts with the bright hope of His coming, and with the promise of power over the nations, when He Himself shall reign. But the word of exhortation is "That which ye have already, hold fast till I come." Period-from the establishment of popery to the Lord's coming. It goes on to the end, but is characterized by the dark ages. SARDIS.-Here we see the protestant part of Christendom-that which followed the great work of the Reformation. The foul features of popery disappear, but the new system itself has no vitality. "Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead." But there are true saints in these lifeless systems, and Christ knows them all. "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy." Period-from the eventful sixteenth century onwards. Protestantism after the Reformation. PHILADELPHIA.-The Church of Philadelphia presents a feeble remnant, but they are faithful to the word and name of the Lord Jesus. They shadow forth the out-calling of God in these last days. That out of which they are called The title "Pope" was first adopted by Hyginus in 139; and Pope Boniface III. induced Phocas, Emperor of the East, to confine it to the prelates of Rome in 606. By the connivance of Phocas also, the Pope's supremacy over the christian Church was established.-Haydn's Dict. of Dates. becomes Laodicean in character. Christ is in their midst as the Holy One and the True, and is represented as having charge of the house. He has "the key of David." The treasures of the prophetic word are unlocked for those inside. They are also in the sympathies of His patience, and in the expectation of His coming. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Period-since the Reformation; but more especially from the beginning of this century, and still more in the present day. Activity on all hands is rapidly developing the last phases of Christendom. LAODICEA.-In Laodicea, we have lukewarmness-indifference-latitudinarianism; but with high pretensions, a boastful spirit, and great self-sufficiency. This is the last state of that which bears the name of Christ on the earth. But, alas, it is intolerable to Him. Its final doom has come. Having separated every true believer from the corruptions of Christendom to Himself, He spues it out of His mouth. That which ought to have been sweet to His taste, has become nauseous, and it is cast off for ever. Period-co-existing with Philadelphia and Sardis, but especially the closing scene. Having thus taken a general view of the seven churches, we would now endeavour, through the Lord's help, briefly to trace these different periods of the Church's history. And we purpose examining more fully, each of the seven epistles as we go along, that we may ascertain what light is shed on the different periods by these addresses; and how far the facts of church history illustrate the scripture history of these two chapters. May the Lord guide, for the refreshment and blessing of His own beloved ones. TRIUMPHS OF GRACE IN THE CROSS. NEVER had man's hatred to God been displayed as it was in the death of Christ. When indignation is aroused by some exciting tale of man's cruelty or injustice towards his fellow-man, you will hear people exclaim with astonishment at the divine long-suffering-amazed that God should bear with a world where such deeds are enacted! Bear with it! Once God looked down from heaven to witness the murder of His well-beloved Son! The very mercy He had shewn to others, was used by the rabble as a taunt against Himself. "He saved others," they said, "himself he cannot save." Such was the scene on which God once looked down. And what ensued? The instant destruction of the murderers, and of the world they represented? No; it was on the cross that man's fullest enmity was met by the outflow of God's fullest love. The blood shed by man's wicked hands was accepted as the atonement for human guilt; and the proclamation was issued, that whosoever of all man's guilty race should confide in that precious blood, should receive forgiveness of sins, and association in life, blessedness, and glory with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. What language can set forth the grace which is here dis-> played? The ministry of reconciliation to a world guilty of the murder of God's well-beloved Son is surely the expression of transcendent, sovereign grace. "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself;" and when that world had met His overtures of peace by the murder of His incarnate Son, instead of taking immediate vengeance He sends a new embassy, who exclaim, "Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Nor is this a mere continuance or repetition of the overtures made previous to Christ's death. The proclamation of pardon is now based on that fact. Men's wicked hands were, indeed, the instrument of Christ's death; but what the gospel proclaims is God's part in that wondrous transaction: "For he [God] hath made him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Well indeed may it be said, "Where sin abounded grace did much more abound." So, dear reader, you cast your soul on Christ, believing the record which God has given of His Son, you will find that every foe has been encountered and overcome by Him, and that you have but to share with Him the spoils of the victory won by His arm alone. Is it the law you fear? "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Is it wrath you dread-God's wrath on account of sin? Christ has endured it in our stead. "Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves," was His language on the cross. Is it sin that oppresses you? "Now once, in the end of the world, hath he appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Does death make you afraid? He died, "that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage." Is it God's holiness that penetrates you with alarm? It is God Himself to whom the atoning work of Christ was presented; and so satisfied is He with that precious sacrifice, that He has raised Jesus from the dead, and placed Him at His own right hand. It is God Himself who proclaims to you the virtue of Christ's all-cleansing blood, declaring that "by him all that believe are justified from all things." "It is God that justifieth." Is it the yoke of sin by which you are galled? "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under law, but under grace." So complete is Christ's victory, and so blessed its results to the sinner that believes in Jesus, that, like the apostle he may say, “If God be for us who can be against us?" Life, righteousness, sonship; the Spirit itself, as seal, unction, earnest; and full participation with Christ in all the blessedness and glory to which, as the risen man, he has been exalted, are among the treasures with which those are enriched who receive God's testimony to Him. W. T. GOD'S TAKING. THOU! who never takest from thy beloved, When most is gone from our sweet earthly good, We are too blind with tears, dear Lord, to count Our weary hearts are all too weak to mount To such a heavenly view. Our eyes rest on the empty places here We stand by open tombs And gathering round our footsteps year by year, But thou canst raise the weariest eye to thee- Teach the most faithless and perverse to see, How true thy reckoning is—" a little while," And then-the hidden rapture of thy smile The open treasure-house, our own domain, All sad hours turned to joy-all loss to gain, No aching heart nor empty arms again, For through these passing hours, Safe in thy home and free from every stain E.A. K. |