become their enemy and deliver them up either to Balack's or the Moabites hands or smite them himself in wrath and judgment And indeed Balaam's desire and doctrine took effect and was right unto its end and accordingly they sinned and accordingly God was angry with them and smote of them with a Plague twenty four thousand Num 25.9 compare Numb 31.16 to cap. 25.1 2 c. Now it seems the church at Pergamus had such that held such doctrines of Balaam such as pretended fair as Balaam and carried it may be a high profession to Christianity yet laid such a scandal or stumbling block before the church as Balaam did to the children of Israel that is they held that it was lawful to eat of things sacrificed to Idols to participate of the Idolatrizing Sacrifices and heathenish Festivals of the Panim Pergamites as there was of the same consort in the church of Corinth 1 Cor. 10. who would needs participate in the Lord's Supper and in the Idols sacrifices which was the service of devils v. 20 so pleasant and sweet was the old heathenish Idolatries to the new converted Christians that they would needs keep their old jovial Feasts and Sacrifices to Jupiter Bacchus Venus Adonis Priapus c. together with the Eucharistical Feast of the Supper of our Lord. And not only thus turn spiritual fornicators and adulterers but also commit corporal whoredoms and fornications for it was impossible that those loose Idol Feasts could be celebrated without it for the Feasts and Sacrifices of Priapus Venus Bacchus Adonis c. the more shame and bestiality and lasciviousness was discovered therein the more they thought they pleased their God in their Sacrifices And therefore doubtless it was in the excess as all Historians that treat thereof do witness And this is clear from the next verse for it comes in with a conjunction copulative Even so hast thou them that maintain the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans a loose lascivious and idolizing doctrine agreeing with that of Balaams only differing in some mysterious notions being a branch of the high flown Gnosticks who had peculiar expressions and un-intelligible notions proper to their sect I refer you to the precedent v. 6. concerning the Nicolaitans more at large This was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the stumbling block the scandal and offence which some corrupt and unsound Christians laid in the way of others in the church of Pergamus This word stumbling block is here taken up for the manner of men in laying stones blocks or snares in the way that make persons fall or stumble thereat and this word is used in Scriptures sometimes actively sometimes passively The Pharises and Scribes were offended and scandalized at the Doctrine and Miracles of Christ Mat. 15.12 here was an offence taken but none given But an active scandal is when a real offence is given and a manifest stumbling-block is laid in the way as Balack did to Israel and when any open evil is committed either contrary to Gods Law or when our liberty is used in things indifferent in an unseasonable time to the offence of the weaker whereby they are made the worse less godly and honest this also is an active scandal and a stumbling-block Rom. 14. and to be avoyded of all knowing Christians The Notes that arise from this verse thus explained are Obser 1 That God hath a controversie with all such Churches as hold and maintain pernitious unsound doctrines and wicked practises This is that God hates in the Churches and are so abominable to him that God hath a charge against those back-slidden churches for their erroneous doctrines and practises and threatens them that he will come with the sword of his mouth against them and will remove their Candlestick from among them if they do not repent which in few-ages after he exempted against them to the utmost It is not church priviledges will exempt a people sinning against God from his desolating judgments The people of Israel was God's peculiar own people chosen out amongst all the Nations of the world to know his Name the holy people Isa 62.12 Dan. 8.24 a people near unto God and blessed above all Deut. 7.6 14. They were the people that had the holy Land Temple Ordinances Divine worship Oracles of God the Prophets his Tabernacle and the most special presence of God These were the glory of God and as dear unto him as the apple of his eye Zach. 2.8 Yet when this people fell to wicked practises and rebelled against God and cast off his yoke his wholesome Laws and Doctrines none of their church-priviledges could secure or protect them from the desolation and judgments which came upon them It is to small purpose to say when we sin against God we have Abraham to our Father or cry the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord it is neither birth priviledge nor church will secure us from the judgments of God For the Ax is laid unto the root and the people that bringeth not forth fruit worthy of repentance shall beâ—â—â— down and cast into the fire O then seeing God will not spare his own children if they sin and rebel against him and seeing that Judgment must begin at the house of God and if it begin first at us what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God And if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and sinner appear 1 Pet. 4.17 18. Observ 2. That erroneous and corrupt Churches and Persons are very obstinate and tenacious of their corrupt principles and practises The church of Pergamus had those that held and maintained the Doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans they did it not underhand in secret but openly and professedly as the Israelites did in the business of Baal Peor at the advice of Balaam when they committed Idolatry and whoredom with the daughters of Moab they did it not in a corner but avowedly professedly and shamelesly as it is evident in Num. 25. from v. 1. to 6. And beholdone of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses in the sight of all the Congregation of the children of Israel who were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation When Moses and the faithful amongst the Israelites were mourning and weeping for the abominations of their brethren then some of them were so bold and impudent as to come before them even in their faces with their sins in their hands not ashamed of them Sober Christians will think it strange that any professed churches of Christ or Christians should openly and professedly hold and maintain Doctrines practises as bad as Balaam's and the Nicholaitans and if not far worse And yet this carries as much truth with it as any Historical relation in the World and that too maintained with as much pertinaciousness impudency strength of wit and policy as if it were the most virtuous or
both small and great Rev. 19.18 and this is to be executed by the sword that proceeded out of his mouth v. 21. and how this can be effected by the word of his mouth I know not otherwise then by moving and working powerfully on the hearts of such instruments as God shall command and employ to take the material sword in hand for the ruine of antichrist and to effect this work of wrath and judgement Collate to this the Notes on the two precedent verses 14 15. And his face shone as the Sun shineth in his strength This shows farther the resplendency of this vision His face is likened to the Sun in his glory There was much and great glory in this vision and yet all this is but like the Sun in his glory If it were the glory of ten thousand Suns united in one yet would be short of the essential glory of the Son of God it is neither expressible nor comprehensible by any of all the creatures but here is presented by things beneath its excellency that according to man's weakness we may perceive a little of his glory for no man yet ever could see the glory of God and live Hence Note That the execution of Justice and Judgement is a glorious administration Christ's face shone as the Sun in his strength when he was about to call his delinquent and offending churches to an account for their backslidings in chap. 10. v. 1. 3. his face was as it were the Sun in that appearance also but then presently followed thunders and voices as when a Lion roareth to denote unto us when Christ was going forth with terrible judgements upon the world his carriage and appearance therein was most glorious and it is said in Exod. 15.6 upon the destruction of Pharaoh and his host in the red Sea Thy right hand O God is become glorious in power thy right hand hath dashed in pieces the enemy and in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee The acts of God's power and justice do shine so clearly in the world that they dazle mens eyes and hearts and makes them tremble before God So likewise it is amongst the children of men not any Magistrates Commonweals or Nations are more honourable shining and dreadful to their enemies then such as keep close to the rules of Justice and judgement against offenders Never was Solomon more glorious in all his reigne then when he executed justice between the two Harlots and called for the Sword to decide the controversie How honourable was Phineas and what a high reward he got for executing justice and judgement It was an old saying Fiat Justitia ruat Coelum If our chief Magistrates keep close to Justice in our Land and Common-weal our Nation will shine as the Sun in its strength none of the Nations round about will be able to look us in the face for the power and glory of the Lord will be upon us Verse 17. And when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead then he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me fear not I am the first and the last Verse 18. And I am alive but I was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen And I have the Keys of hell and death When John had taken a view of this appearance of the Son of man and of that great and dreadful Majesty and Glory that he appeared in it struck him as dead at his feet Hence Note That the sight of Divine glory is the most effectually and humbling sight When the Prophet Isaiah had a sight of this glory he could cry out I am a man undone and of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of hosts Isa 6.5 When a soul comes to see this glory it brings him to a true sight of his own worthlesness and to an abhorrency in his own eyes There is no greater or more efficacious way to take off our hearts from the creature then to behold the vast disproportion between the glory of God and our poor selves All flesh is as grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field Isa 40.5 6. and why Because the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together And when Job had a sight of this glory he cryed out Job 42.5 Now mine eyes see thee I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Observ 2 That Revelations of Divine glory are dreadfully glorious They struck John as dead There did but Angels appear in an inferiour glory unto Gideon and Manoah and made those Worthies quake Judg. 16. 13. Apparitions of glory works strongly upon the spirits and quickly overwhelms them And if the glory of the creatures is so resplendent how is the glory of God to be born who dwells in the light which no man can approach unto 1 Tim. 6.16 Paul could not behold that glorious light that shined about him Acts 9. but was strucken to the ground and blinded with it In the Earth Heavens and World we may behold the glory of God in part and as in a glass but his essential glory as it is himself wherein he makes his habitation is that light which no man can approach to or comprehend and live and therefore when it is but left out to appear but in some likeness or similitude of man Fire or the like it works such terrible effects upon the beholders of it Abraham fell to the ground when he had this glory appeared to him Gen. 17.3 The three Disciples when they had but a taste of this glory at the Transfiguration in the Mount they fell upon their faces to the earth Now the reasons that the appearance of Divine glory is so dreadful are First Because the Majesty of God is partly in those visions and the luster that accompanies it is too high and burdensom for mortal eye Secondly That it may breed an awe and reverence in us of and unto the Divine Majesty When Israel saw the lightning and heard the Thunder in the Mount all the people in the Camp trembled Exod. 19.16 Thirdly It is to prepare a soul for entertainment of what God hath to speak unto it Our souls are quite out of temper by reason of lusts cares fears and the world to have converse with God This prepares them for this Divine communion Quest Here a question may be made whether the blessed heavenly Spirits Angels or blessed Souls or glorified persons after the resurrection shall or do see the essential glory of God Though it were granted mortal eye cannot see this glory yet those blessed glorified creatures may I answer That I am swayed for the negative My reasons are Because God's essential glory is himself and God is invisible and that glory inaccessible and no farther and in no other way to be seen and comprehended by any created being then himself thinks good to propound it in and this hath
inferiour measure The same oyl that was poured on Aarons head ran down to the skirts of his garments so the same unction of the Spirit that was poured on Christ is in some measure poured on all his inferiour members and therefore most dear and beloved to him Omne simile gaudet simili Thirdly By reason of Union Christ and his Members beiâ— one by a mystical and spiritual union they must needs be most dear and precious to him Fourthly and lastly the great reason that Christ's Saints and churches are most dear unto him is In that he hath laid down his own most precious life for them for greater love then this was never shown in that he died for us even whiles we were fighters against God and enemies by evil works Observ 2. Another Note is That though the world looks upon the faithful distressed churches of Christ as a broken poor and forsaken people both in outward estates and intellectuals also yet God sets another rate upon them and accounts them rich wise mighty comly beautiful and as the most accomplished people in the world Is not this a strange Paradox to the infatuated worldling But it is not so strange as true Christ here calls his poor afflicted Smyrna rich for she was rich indeed with spiritual graces that their persecuting adversaries were ignorant of she was rich in immortible Treasures laid up for her service in heaven above where moth could not corrupt or thiâ—â—â—reak thorow and steal which her blaspheming enemies never dream'd of what wise worldling does think a poor afflicted christian wise He looks upon him so far beneath himself that from his Machiavilian plots and counsels he tells the wise and prudent christian soul Procul hinc proculate prophani Yet God tells them plainly That the wise of the world are taken in their own snare whilst true wisdom is justified of her children And God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty c. 1 Cor. 1.27 28 29. The wise of the world think themselves a wise politique and highly contriving Statists when they have brought the Saints of God and the whole world under their feet and subjection but the Saints of God know no such wisdom but that wisdom which is of God the eternal Word and Christ who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that no flesh should glory in his presence The great Potentates of the world think with their Alexandrian Armies as a Torrent to carry all before them Alas they are deceived there are others more mighty then they the poor afflicted churches of Christ can do more with their prayers and using their interest with God then all the Armies in the world they can pray for legions of Angels and they are ready at their commands Witness the host of Sennacherib destroyed by an Angel at the prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah the Son of Amos 2 Chron. 32.20 How many heathen Armies do we read of in Histories were defeated by the faithful prayers of the godly or at least their force diverted another way A poor despised chriâ— David with a sling and pebble can do more by the prayers of faith then Goliah with his spear Oh! how happy and fortunate were the Captains and Armies of this our Nation whiles the prayers of the faithful in the land continued fervent for them The Bowe and Sword of the mighty had then no power to destroy for the presence of our God was in the midst of them for a defence unto them in all their warlike undertakings Oh therefore ye soveraign Governours take heed how ye offend these little ones of Christ that they may not avert their prayers from you make good your interest with Christ and his Saints and be one with them in faith and prayers then never fear the boisterous storms or waves that are emitted from the Pillars of Hercules to our Albion shores which will prove but as the daylie surges that washes our rocks and clifts and so dash themselves into froth and vanish Next the gaudy Gallant of the times thinks himself the most fair and comly of all God's creatures and looks upon a sober and prudent christian as a despicable creature in respect of his gay Worship whiles God himself sets another character upon both The one is clothed with the white garments of Christ's righteousness and is all fair with the beauties of holiness whiles the other is only covered and â—â—â—hed with the excremental extravagancies and menstruosities of small earthy brutish and despicable creatures and at best do serve but in the room of Fig leaves to be somwhat more honourable badges of their sin and misery it is a shame to glory in that which are the ever-living Ensignes of their sin and shame and seeing the Lillies of the field do exceed even Solomon in his bravery little reason to glory in those rags of ours Next the Glutton that makes his belly his god and fareth deliciously every day conceives he hath a heaven on earth and that the poor afflicted christian comes far short of his happiness in that he hath not that fulness every day in the varieties of Viands and Festivals that he enjoys But alas this wretched Dives never considered that a poor christian hath other food to eat then he ever knew of he hath spiritual Manna bread from heaven and the wine of Paradice that he is quite ignorant of that he that eateth thereof shall never hunger or thirst more Lastly the wisdom of the world looks upon the distressed disciples of Christ as fools wittols and maâ— men and thinks them to be so indeed But on the contrary the judicious christian knows the wisdom of the world to be foolishness and madness to purpose for who but fools and mad-men would perversly run on in the ways of destruction as the wisdom of the world does prompt unto Whilst Christ's faithful ones though suppressed and broken by afflictions and tribulations yet do walk in the way of life and shine as Stars in the Firmament of their Churches and Graces Observ 3. That the sharpest persecution comes from such as are the highest pretenders to truth and godliness The Jews were such that boasted much of their divâ—â—â—cles and priviledges from Abraham Luke 3.8 yet â—ere the most inveterate and bitter adversaries to the Gospel of Christ and to the primitive Apostolical churches of any persons in the world Witness their reproachful blasphemies which consisted not only against Christ himself but against his members also They reproached him that he had a divel and that by Beelzobub he did his miracles and cast out divels yea their malice was not only to him living but reached him after his crucifiction and resurrection that if possibly they could destroy or weaken the faith of his disciples and withal hinder the promulgation of the truth and to that
to them and as apt to hear them as they you But I confess you have those christian societies and churches among you that are as Lillies shining in graces among those Thorns and unfruitful Nations and to retard our reformation in church and ordinances till all be squared and hewn fit for this work or before the Magistrate compels all unto this work is a vain expectation seeing that there is so much of that old leven of our ancestors National Churches National Officers Birth priviledges and Ordinances on that account c. still remaining in the hearts of most amongst us that it will not only render the work of a full reformation in this generation most difficult but the attempt thereof rather dangerous and prejudicial not only to the faithful in this Land but generally to the cause of Christ in all the reformed Nations round about us Witness the intemperate zeale of many that lived in the days of the first reformation who became a reproach and a shame in their irregular attempts about this work Though they had good hearts and desired and aimed at good and just things yet they prosecuted it not justly for to denominate a good action or work The thing it self desired and attempted must not only be a good and honest thing in it self as a full reformation to God's word is but it must have other honest circumstances in it also 1 The time when must be considered in such a time when God and a clear providence calls unto it 2 The manner how must be considered in a peaceable maner it is to be endeavoured and promoted as the work of the spirit of peace not with wars tumults and rebellions against Magistrates which is as the sin of witchcraft So that the best action may lose its reward and the atempters thereof suffer justly for the unjust prosecution thereof It is a sure rule to christians that they are to do no evil that good may come thereof We are not to sin against the Laws of God nor his Ordinance of Magistracy unless cases of inevitable necessity where God will rather have mercy then Sacrifice to promote any just end or good whatsoever for we are bound to walk by the rule of God's commands and precepts not of events and providences Therefore all ye faithfull ones of this land be wise and sober in this your way of temptation stop not the current of God's reformation by your precipitate and irregular actings be you still and you shall see the salvation of our God You see the main hinderance of this full work amongst us even the old leven of false worships derived and left unto us from our ancestors God will remove this more and more by steps and degrees and that more generally and will enlarge the Tents of Jacob among us if we provoke not God by our sins towards him But to expect a total reformation never look for it until the day Star shall arise with an incomparable glory In the interim let us walk honestly and soberly like children of the Light serving and fearing God and honoring the King and then God will make them unto us Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers And most happy and blessed are the people that have their portion and lot in such a Land Object But after all this an Objection may be risen The church of Pergamus had those among them that held and maintained the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans and practised spiritual and corporal adulteries so held the church of Corinth Thyatira had the doctrines of Jezabel Galathia the Jewish doctrine of circumcision and many other great corruptions were among those primitive churches as drunkenness denying the resurrection incest eating things offered unto Idols and the obscenity of the Nicolaitans Yet these are still called the churches of Christ his seven candlesticks his faithful ones called and elect And are not then our Parochial churches our National churches as truly churches of Christ as those were And are they not as sound in doctrine and practises as those first primitive christians and churches were and so deserve the Name of churches of Christ faithful elect and called as well as they 1 I Answer We are to look unto the first institution of all churches if they are gathered and planted by the Ministry of the Gospel and Spirit they are truly churches of Christ elect and called though in process of time the envious one sowed plentifully among the good Wheat his Tares and Darnel as among those of Corinth Pergamus and others in the Primitive time yet I believe Christ had but a few things against theirs in respect what he has against ours they were but corrupt in part ours all leprous they lost but some members we the very vitals For I much question whether our National churches were of this Gospel structure as those primitive churches were at the first seeing we read in History of their civill institution and beginning being so divided or ordained by the politique Laws of the Nation Yet withall I say we had the sincere faith of Christ here preach'd amongst us presently after if not in the very Apostles days by Joseph of Arimathea as Historians testifie this good seed was almost lost among us but again revived by the providence of God in after ages but held captive and low under the Tyranny of Antichristian darkness yet doubtless God had here and elswhere his invisible church and elect ones Our succession to the Apostles is by cleaving to their doctrines and so we own a succession from them but not a visible succession of churches for so we have sayled under the Antichrists raign and tyranny over us and to plead that our parochial Societies are churches of Christ is but at best to plead that our Hundreds or Counties are churchdivisions Presbyteries or Ecclesiastique Jurisdictions also being of the same civil institution with the former But some write that Dionysius Pope of Rome was the first divider and institutor of Parishes about Anno 267. and brought into England by Honorius Bishop of Canterbury as learned Master Selden in his Book de Decimis testifies 2 I Answer If our churches were right in their first institution gathered by the word and spirit we have as really lost the very being of our churches under Antichrist's raign as the churches of Corinth Pergamus Ephesus Smyrna c. under the Saracenical tyranny and Mahometanism And therefore there is as great need to call our churches out of Babylon and to restore them from Antichristianisme as Pergamus c. of the miserable captivated Asian churches from Turcism and Mahometanism unless we grant that the whore of Babylon had the keeping and was the preserver of the Ordinances of the true Spouse and had the power of the Keys committed unto her And therefore the authority that many churches pretend unto by succession of churches is but a sorry one and at the best but Antichristian and Popish Lastly I Answer That it is not corruptions in
remisness and inconstancy in the truth to wit the honour and reverence which their sincere profession acquired from the churches and all persons round about them Hence Note Observ That those churches that hold fast the truths of christ with most constancy and courage in the times of tryal become the most honourable and worthy of a crown of any people in the world Who but Philadelphia was worthy that the obstinate Jews enemies unto the truth should come and bow and worship before her She kept close to the word of Christ's patience therefore none shall take away her crown her honour shall still remain among the churches as long as any churches shall endure If we tread in the steps of faithful Philadelphia and hold fast and go on manfully in the profession of the faith God will make the formal Jews of our times the high pretending catholique churchmen to bow and worship before our feet Is not our name I mean the name of England grown honourable among the Nations their friends abroad and terrible unto their enemies And how comes this to pass but by means of the faithful in the land that held fast and maintained with courage and constancy the word of Christ's patience among us in an hour of temptation and tryal when the Prelatical fire of persecutions were on foot If we hold fast to Christ and persist in his truth and doctrine none shall be able to take away our crown but if we flag in our duties to him our crown will be the less and our honour will soon flag also When Israel kept close to God and reformed up unto his holy pattern in the Mount God made them famous among the Nations and a burdensome stone to all that medled with them but when they departed from God by their evil and abominable courses God gave them up into the hands of their enemies and led them into the Land of captivity and since for their obstinacy in iniquity they have quite lost their crown and become a dispersed people and a reproach among all Nations where they live And this is according to that good advice given by godly David as his last Legacy to his wise son Solomon in 1 Chron. 28.9 which is applicable to every faithful soul And thou Solomon my son Know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the Imaginations of the thoughts If thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever Verse 12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out And I will write upon him the Name of my God and the name of the City of my God which is new Jerusalem which cometh down out of heaven from my God And I will write upon him my new Name In the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that overcometh The Nominative case is put absolutely by a defect of a Preposition to of or for which is an Hebraisme the words are thus to be read As for him that overcometh I will make a pillar c. Agreeable to this are those places Rom. 8.3 For what was impossible to the Law by an Hebraism ought to be read as for or touching the impossibility of the Law and Psalm 18.30 Jehovah his way is perfect which we read The way of God or As for God his way is perfect The same reading is in Rev. cap. 2. 26. The reward of him that overcometh is double 1. I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out 2. Christ sets upon him a threefold Name The Name of his God The Name of New Jerusalem and His own new Name This allusion of a Pillar is taken up by the Spirit from those two Brazen Pillars in Solomon's Temple which was a Type of the true Temple and church of Christ and so nothing was made or placed therein in vain though they seemed small but did typifie and signifie somwhat to us Solomon called his two pillars which he erected by two remarkable Names 1 Kings 7.21 The right Pillar by the name of Jâ—hin and the left by the name of Boaz The one signifying He will stablish and the other In it there is strength So in the Antitype those overcoming Saints that Christ makes Pillars in the Temple of his God have these two qualities or properties put upon them establishment and perpetuity both in their spiritual strength and graces and also in their new church state which cometh down from heaven and lest any should think that those new Pillars of the Temple of God might fail as those of Solomon's did when they were broken and the brass thereof carried away by Nebuchadnezzar into Babel Jer. 52.17 there is another additional property put upon them then that of perpetuity and strength even of eternity in those words And he shall go no more out After the conquering Saints are taken into this holy Temple there is no fear of being turned out of possession of it no Nebuchadnezzar shall ever come and break them in pieces or carry them by force into captivity The Nebuchadnezzars of the world have always hitherto under several forms of Beasts and Governments carryed away and broken to pieces the weak and infirm pillars of the visible church fot indeed they were given into their hands by God to be overcomed and trodden under foot by them Rev. 11. but having at last overcommed by suffering and patience Christ will raise them up again to become Pillars in his New Temple that shall never go out any more and will make them other gates persons then ever formerly they were for he will write upon them the name of his God and what is that Jehovah Shaddai The Lord the mighty God and the name of the new Jerusalem which cometh down from heaven and his own new Name Phil. 2.9 All intimating their glorious state and dignity that Christ will put them in possession of in that new church-state which is promised them before the ultimate day of judgement which shall never perish nor any more be taken from them But on this more hereafter From the words I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my God Note Observ The over-coming Saints of Christ shall be made most honourable in the New Jerusalem the new Temple of God the new Church state that Christ will restore on earth before the end of all prophesied of Rev. 21.1 c. They are made pillars and pillars in the church are honourable James and John are called pillars great eminent Apostles and those were placed in the porch of Solomon's Temple for the great ornament and glory thereof They sit on Thrones judging the Nations round about They are made Kings and Priests unto their God And what more honourable then those high callings to the eye of men of