EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS

Transcription

1 THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST BOOK 6 REVELATION 2:12-17 EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS EDWARD IRVING 1831

2 Cover picture: Heinrich Halmen, The Church in Pergamos Sabbath Rest Advent Church Fonts used: FreeSans Linux Biolinum G Linux Libertine G A July

3 THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST BOOK 6 REVELATION 2:12-17 EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS EDWARD IRVING Exposition of the Book of Revelation: in a series of Lectures 1831 Reprinted 1867 (vol. 1) and 1870 (vol. 2)

4 WHY THIS WORK? The first tim I cam acoss th witings of Edwad Iving, dp in th back shlvs of th Theology Libay at UBC (Vancouv, BC, Canada), I was dply impssd with th unusual tatmnt h gav to th firnal book of th Bibl. H wot as on who knw his calling, and knw that h had a mssag fom God fo his gnation. Combind with that ugncy, Iving had a lag sns of th gloy of God in Chist, and God s puposs though Chist to val Himslf unto th wold though th Chuch. H also possssd a lag gift fo languag and xpssion, and appa- ntly was quit an oato, as wll as bing a man of gat compassion and snsitivity. His wok on th book of Revelation, which oiginally compisd two volums, but only covd th first six chapts, tows abov oth simila commntais bcaus of it s uniqu blnd of gospl and pophcy. Coming fom a chuch foundd on th Advnt movmnt of th mid s, I was somwhat familia with books on th pophtic pats of Sciptu. Iving s commntay was nothing lik thos. Whas th standad pophtic woks tndd to gt quagmid in histoical vnts and dtails, thus dwlling on th vssl by which God s puposs w wokd out, Iving kpt his y singl to th gloy of God, and sachd into thos dp puposs as fa as h was abl. H ightly dwlt on th tasu that was in th vssl of pophcy. Lik Moss, h wantd to s God s gloy, o as much as was humanly possibl. And h did s much, indd. And bcaus most of th tasu h unathd is pactically lost to th Chuch today, I hav fo a long tim had a stong dsi to mak ths woks mo widly availabl. In this publication, I hav takn only a fw libtis: cocting and modnizing splling and gamma in a fw placs (including th languag in th KJV Bibl fncs), baking up lag paagaphs and sntncs, and insting full Bibl fncs wh appopiat. I hav spaatd th oiginal 2-volum wok into small books, on fo ach of th firft n oiginal lctus. Othwis it is as Iving wot it. Theis is Edwad Iving s pating gift to th Chuch of Chist. In his own wods, fom th xposition on Laodica: But my confidence in truth never fails me. I know that these things are not publishe in vain. It is not for myself, nor for my floock, but for the church of Go, that I write these things, which I pray Go for His own name s sake to hasten an bless. - Frank Zimmerman, 2016 Gather up the fragments, that none be lost.

5 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...1 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH...1 CHRIST WORKS THROUGH HIS CHURCH...2 A KEY TO THE REST OF THE BOOK...5 PROPHETIC HISTORY...7 CHRIST S THIRD DESIGNATION...15 OF DISCIPLINE...26 SATAN S SEAT...32 HOLDING FAST CHRIST S NAME AND FAITH...41 ANTIPAS, THE FAITHFUL MARTYR...53 THE REPROOF...67 THE BALAAMITES...73 THE NICOLAITANES...98 THE THREATENING THE SPIRIT S PROMISE THE HIDDEN MANNA THE WHITE STONE...125

6 Revelation 2 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things says he which has the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan s seat is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name writteen, which no man knows saving he that receives it.

7 INTRODUCTION THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH T HE viw which I hav givn of ths pistls, considd in gnal, is, that in thm is xhibitd th constitution of tu Chistian chuchs und Chist th chif Shphd invisibl, and th visibl psntativs of Him, calld angls, fo th ministy of wod and of sacamnt, hld togth by th on Spiit of Chist in all lov and obdinc, and psvd amongst th nations to hold up, in th midst of daknss and culty, and all tmptation, th tu and faithful nam of God, to th nd that mn may bliv thon, and b savd fom th wath to com. Whin, as in so many sd-bds, ppad with all good cultu, might b sown th sd of th kingdom, and th childn of th kingdom might gow up, and tstify to th Fath s lov to His catus, though apostat, Chist s pow to claim and sanctify th chif of sinns; that all mn, having a continual and abiding poof of th pomis fulfirlld, may b lft without all mann of xcus, if thy do not com unto God, and b in lik mann covd fom th misy and bondag of podigal outcasts, into th adoption and libty of th sons of God. Thes chuchs a witnsss to th pow of Chist in th Spiit, as th Jws a witnsss to His pow in th wod. W a th poof of His supmacy ov spiitual wickdnss, thy a th poof of His povidnc ov th nations of th ath. Both togth a witnsss of His lodship ov all things which God has catd and mad. Theough th spiitual wickdnss in th havnly placs hav sought to coupt us and th uls of th daknss of this wold to dstoy thm, lik th buning bush w a nv consumd, and a psvd by Chist s Spiit and povidnc, by His pow and sovignty ov things visibl and things invisibl

8 Whn Jhovah mad a covnant with th popl of th fom dispnsation, it bgan by sttiing foth th holy constitution of law and govnmnt, and ligion, und which thy should liv, (Exous 20-23) by which thy might b judgd, and to which thy might duc thmslvs, in all aft piods of thi histoy. So judg I, that in this pophtic histoy of th popl of th Nw Tstamnt, though all thi os and apostasis, th is st foth, in th first plac, th natu and constitution, th pivilgs and obligations, of that socity o fllowship which H wishs His Chuch to hold by, and if thy b sducd away, thto to tun with all cafulnss, lst H com and visit thm with His wath and indignation. In no low a plac do I st ths svn pistls, than as th constitutional chat of th chosn gnation and oyal pisthood, and holy nation, and pculia popl of God; by which all canon law, cods of disciplin, acts of cclsiastical judicatois should guid thmslvs, and accoding to which thy shall all b tid by th Gat Had of th Chuch. CHRIST WORKS THROUGH HIS CHURCH As a constitunt pat of th vlation of Jsus Chist, ths pistls a ntitld to th most xact considation. They xhibit Chist as th Had of th Chuch, th Fath of th chosn sd, who, by mans of th odinancs, fds and nouishs up to manhood all thos to whom God th Fath givs faith in His nam. They psnt Him as th gat Vin of lif, nouishing fuitful banchs in th midst of stoms, and pils, and pscutions of many gnations. They show th Chuch as a substantial and ssntial pat of th divin pupos and dc, against which th gats of hll a not abl to pvail; which psvs, though all th wold b st against it. And by this supioity to a wold s tmptations, by this union with Chist, maintaind against a wold s - 2 -

9 distactions, not only is th supnatual chaact of th Chuch dmonstatd, but likwis th divin chaact and pow of that Holy Spiit who psvs th union btwn Chist and His popl against all pows in cation. Fo that which pvails against all cation, must b th Cato, th vy Cato himslf. As th pson sustaining ou wak and wickd natu in full communion of holinss and will with God, is povd to b on with God; so H, maintaining th union of th Chuch with Chist, against all diabolical and woldly attimpts, is povd likwis to b God. The incanation and suction of Chist povd Him to b God, th psvation of a Chuch in th midst of a pscuting wold, povs th Holy Ghost to b God: and th mann of th poof in both cass is th sam. Theat which can withstand and ovcom th cation, must b no lss than th Cato, who is God. In this divin wok of maintaining a Chuch unitd to Chist, in dspit of a confdat confliicting wold of wickd spiits and wickd mn, Chist himslf is th wok. H it is who fom Himslf, as fom th hat and had of pow, shoots foth th ciculating stam of vital holinss and supnatual stngth, which maintains thi most wondous lif in th midst of so many daths. Upon His flish and blood thy a fd, and thy liv by Him, as H, in th days of His flish, livd by th Fath. Theis supnatual, this divin wok of gainsaying cation s vil mind, and withstanding cation s utmost violnc, as it is actd by Chist, povs Him to b Lod of cation, its Contoll, and its Rdm, and its Saviou; whil th xpss limitation of bodily plac and human pow, to which by incanation H has stictd Himslf, quis that th Holy Ghost, by whos svic H thus pvads all plac, and sists all vil, and sustains a pptual Chuch in th midst of a - 3 -

10 wickd and bllious wold, must b Himslf a Divin and Almighty pson, on with th Cato. The sam advantag which God took of ou motal, sinful, and coupt natu, to pov th Divinity of His Son, and His own Almighty gac in ndowing it with holinss, and with pow, and with lif vlasting, has H takn of a bl wold, in od to pov though th Chuch, th Divinity of th Holy Ghost, and th Lodship of th man Chist Jsus, fom whom th Holy Ghost pocds. Thefo it is, that thoughout this book th nations and th kings of th ath a allowd to confdat against th Lod and His Anointd. Satan and th pows of daknss, dath and sin, all culty and caft inss and dlusiv pow of Paganism, subtl caft inss of Papacy, had-hatdnss, mocky, and idicul of infirdlity, a allowd to combin and wok in all ways against th Lod s faithful ons, to th nd that th antagonist pow of th Spiit, and th Spiit s Dicto, th man Chist Jsus, may b manifstd to b abov cation, abov all pow, whth visibl o invisibl, which is th sam as to manifst that it is altogth cativ and divin. Fo I hold it as an axiom, that what is abov th cation, is th Cato; that what sists and ovcoms th wold, visibl and invisibl, is th pow of God. And this suly is th way in which God povs His own Godhad by mighty acts, contolling wickdnss, and binging hug confdacis of vil to an untimly and disgacful nd, as whn H dstoyd Phaaoh and Snnachib: and whn H shall dstoy vil, it is that mn may know that H is God: Psalm 46 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he has made in the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder; he burns the - 4 -

11 chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. And abov all, whn Antichist is dstoyd by th coming of Chist, in th day of His wath, thn it is wittin: Revelation all nations shall come and worship before You; for Your judgments are made manifest. A KEY TO THE REST OF THE BOOK Thes pistls ought to b contmplatd as togth foming a most impotant pat in th stuctu of this book; whos plan cannot b studid, whos compltnss cannot b undstood, without thm. W shall firnd, whn w com to study th book of sals, and indd any on pusing th firft h sal can at onc p - civ it, that th contovsy which God has with th ath is fo th blood of His matys. The sam is manifst with spct to His dalings with Babylon, in whom is found th blood of matys and of all that w slain upon th ath: and whn th kings of th ath hav bn st asid fom thi officcs of gimnt, thos who succd unto th vacant thons a ths sam matys. The goundwok and, as it w, mainsping of th whol action is, thfo, th matydom of Chist s faithful ons, who a v and in vy plac found upon th ath. Whnc th qustion aiss, Wh is th any account of ths matys, o of th povisions of God fo thi bing ad up in continual supply fo this firc and consuming battil which thi nmis a continually waging against thm? The answ is givn by pointing to ths pistls. H is th povision fo aing up th amy of matys. Thes svn chuchs a th nusis of thos hady soldis of God and - 5 -

12 of Chist. Hnc issu thos mighty mn of wa, thos soldis of ightousnss, thos champions of th coss. Thefo it is spokn to vy on of thm by th Spiit in th languag of battil and victoy, To him that ovcoms; and by th sam Spiit a hld out pomiss which com into accomplishmnt against th day of th vlation of Jsus Chist; honoabl titls and high placs in th kingdom of th Son of man. But th Captain-gnal of th host is Chist himslf, who appas at th had of th vision, with that sam swod pocding out of His mouth with which H slays all His nmis in th nd of th day of wath. And His captains subodinat a th angls of th chuchs, though whom H minists th food of vlasting lif, by which thy a abl to tiumph ov all th dfirancs and daths of th nmy. Bing sn in this light, ths pistls stand out as occupying th most nobl plac in this gloious stuctu built fo th tstimony of Jsus Chist; as not of any pivat intptation; as not of any local o tmpoay application; as not of numical limitation to any svn chuchs, but, accoding to ou doctin taught fom th bginning, as containing a constant and abiding, a unifom and univsal, action of Chist in th wold, unto th nd of poducing and poducing thos faithful witnsss, though whom th gloy of th Lod may b manifstd in th sight of all mn, and th battils of th Lod wagd with th unbliving wold. It is th first scn in th gat dama, whin is xhibitd that domstic and havnly condition of pac and holinss, that ightous disciplin and administation of pu and blssd tuth; whon th invad coms lik a fliood to dstoy it; into which h insinuats os and dcptions, to btay and sduc it into all sots of wickdnss

13 But though cully h ags with much bloodshd, and most cunningly h mimics and mocks th tuth; yt h pvails not to mislad o to tify any on of God s lct, and Chist s fliock: who com though th long and laboious confliict of thousands of yas with an unbokn lin of confliict, until at lngth thy ap th victoy in th battil of Amagddon, th battil of th gat day of God Almighty, and wa th bight honos of th first suction, and a upon th ath th tophis of blssd and ightous govnmnt fo v and v, of gloy to God in th highst, pac on ath, and good-will among mn. PROPHETIC HISTORY Whil ths a th viws which I hav bn woking with in th intptation of th two pcding pistls, I hav latly bgun to suspct that, in od to aiv at th compltnss of th ida, th is yt anoth viw ncssay to b takn, which is that of a succssion. Howv, ath in fom and condition, than in pcis and xact as of tim; such a succssion, fo xampl, as in th bast is signifird by th svn hads. To this suspicion I hav bn ld by th gowing vidnc of my own intptations; and in th pincipl of it I hav bn confirmd by a most abl pap upon th subjct in th sixth numb of th Morning Watch. What th dtails of that most abl wit s intptation a, I know but vy impfctly, o ath, not at all: and I am th btti plasd to wok out my own conviction, that th tuth may b confirmd in th mouth of two witnsss, and that I may not b ovswayd by th gat foc and pow of ason which appa in th autho of that pap. The ida which I hav got is, that Satan psnts himslf und svn foms of tmptation to th Chuch, on aft th oth; which givs occasion to ou living Had to offe to th - 7 -

14 Chuch a svnfold fom of instuction and waning and hop: 1. The first tmptation is, dclin of lov; 2. The scond is, pscution and dath; 3. The thid is, amalgamation with th wold, and chastismnt, that thy may not b dstoyd with th wickd; 4. The fouth is, th licns of th moth of halots; 5. The firft h is, th fomality of a nam; 6. The sixth is, gat waknss, littil stngth, togth with th opposition of fals bthn; 7. The svnth is, slf-sufficcincy and vain-gloy. Appopiat to ths svn foms of Antichist in th Chuch a svn foms of Chist th good Shphd, and of th Holy Ghost th Comfot, in th knowldg and faith of which th saints may b stngthnd to ovcom. Now, that th svn chuchs w xactly in th conditions st foth in ths svn instuctions, I nothing doubt. And I bliv that ths svn, ath than any oths, w chosn of vy pupos of bing pattins to all th chuchs which thn w o thaft should b, and so as to xhibit in thi vaity all th possibl vaitis of condition into which any and vy Chuch of Chist can possibly b bought: to th nd that vy Chuch and vy angl looking thunto might s thi own tmptations, wanings, and mans of dlivanc. But, bsids this, I am inclind also to bliv that in ths svn chuchs a xhibitd svn stats into which th Chuch should b bought thoughout all th piod of its histoy, pogssiv conditions of tials though which it should pass, togth with th svn foms of th Spiit, in th stngth of which it should pvail until th day of dmption

15 Theis viw of th pistls I hav bn slow to admit, bing possssd with th th impotant viws of thm givn abov. But it has bn stongly bon in upon my mind by many coincidncs, which w not to b xplaind as accidntal. And pciving that this additional baing did in no way subvt thos oth pincipls which I hav on su gounds stablishd, but did ath com in as futh tial and confirmation of thm, I hav givn a mo patint consid- ation to it, and am now vy much disposd to tak it in along with th st. To xplain it as it now appas at psnt to m, I must cast a glanc backwad upon th two fom pistls. The first is of th Gat Bishop s cafulnss, containing an invocation of th shphds not to dclin fom thi first lov, and of th fliock to b assud of a havnly pastu. Now, if I not, this will tak in th piod duing which th vaious fliocks w gathing out of th nations und thi vaious shphds, ovsn and intndd by th good Shphd himslf, who gav His lif fo th shp, a piod which w must bgin fom th day of Pntcost, and continu till th nxt p- iod sts in, which w shall b in a btti cas to dtmin, whn w shall hav considd what that scond piod is. Theis is vidntly th piod of pscution unto th dath, of th tn days o piods of pscution, that stat of th Chuch to which Chist psnts Himslf as th Rsuction and th Lif, and th Spiit as th Psv fom th scond dath. Now, this piod of wast, and tibulation, and povty, and dath, bgan fom No s tim, and ndd with that of Constantin. Theis would dtmin th Ephsian piod to b th liftim of th apostls, th tims of Paul and Pt and Jams, and th oth discipls of th Lod, though whom th gospl was pachd and th chuchs plantd ov th whol Roman mpi, as Paul himslf dclas: - 9 -

16 Romans Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Theis is th piod of pimitiv lov and incas of th fliock though lov and cafulnss. And th nxt piod, which is intoducd by ason of th dclin of th first lov, is th sason of pscution and dath. Thes piods may also b alizd by th foms of th wickdnss o tmptation whof th first, that of th Nicolaitans, is, as w hav sn, snsuality; and th scond is Judaising, o falling away to th pomp and cicumstanc and splndo of th fom dispnsation. How much this spiit took hold of th Chuch duing th cntuis of pscution, any on convsant with th cclsiastical histoy of thos tims wll knows. Fo though th Ebionits w cast out as htics, this did not pvnt th lavn of ancint fomalitis fom intoducing itslf. The thid pistl is not of dath by matydom, but of judgmnt by th swod, whin th Had of th Chuch should b known not as a suppot und th stok of th xcution, but as th xcution Himslf, whin th chuchs should not b in gnal faithful to His nam, but, bcaus of thi couptnss, should b visitd with th judgmnt of th swod, cuttiing offe th fai and costly shows which thy w making in th flish, that th spiit might b savd, visiting with firc judgmnts upon thos things in which thy glo- id, that thy might b taught to gloy only in th Lod. Theis piod, joining to th oth, must st in with Constantin, and continu till all th chuchs w laid wast by th swod of th babaians, which bings us down to th tim of Chalmagn, o ath of his fath, whn th swod of th babaous nations was shathd, both in th East and in th Wst, and a nw fom of th Chuch bgan to com into bing

17 and activity. The Lombads, last of a tibl succssion in th Wst, and th Saacns, last also of th scougs in th East (fo th Tuk bought dath to th Chuch, whas this pistl concns only chastismnt), cam to thi nd by th sam instumntality of Chals Matl, th fath of Chalmagn. Theis piod includs firv cntuis (fom 300 to 800), duing th last th of which th papacy was changing th fom of th Chuch, and ppaing that aspct of it to which th fouth pistl is addssd. Theis piod also may b cognizd in its tmptations, which a a pisthood making gain of godlinss, as Balaam did, and intoducing into th Chistian Chuch th abominations of th hathn, togth with th snsuality of th Nicolaitans. And th faithful oppos of thi os is calld Antipas, whos psonality, as on of th Chuch of Pgamos, w do in nothing qustion, whil at th sam tim w look at his nam, against all, as casting light upon th piod in qustion, duing which, in th midst of th waknss bought on by th swod of God, th pop ad his had and stood foth in that gatnss of stngth in which w firnd him at th constitution of th mpi in th pson of Chalmagn. Having opnd th succssion of ths th, it would b pmatu to follow out th maining fou, which will com in thi pop plac. Sufficc it to say, that Theyatia, th fouth, is th Chuch und th sduction of Jzbl, o th who of Babylon, whos thatning is not chastismnt but dath. Sadis, th firft h, is th Chuch und th tmptation of nominal othodoxy, in which w and ou faths hav long bn living, having a nam to liv

18 Philadlphia, th sixth, is a stat of th Chuch just coming into bing, which civs fulnss of lov, and with it compltnss of dlivanc. And Laodica is th last stag of th Chuch, upon whos dp slp th Lod shall dscnd lik an amd man. If this succssion can b stablishd, which will appa in th squl, this advantag will b gaind; namly, that th basis of fact will li not only in thos svn chuchs, of which almost all mmoial is passd away, but in th gat outlins of Chuch histoy which can nv pish; whil th vision will com to hav a pophtical and histoical chaact, as wll as a al and univsal on. Still, howv, as a constitunt pat of th book, it will stand as th cod of th things that a; whil, as a potion of th divin vlation, it will occupy th chif plac as a systm of catholic instuction in canonical and cclsiastical juispudnc. The things which w hav alady taught main th sam; and this on thing is addd, that th pistls hav also a baing upon, and an application to, svn succssiv conditions of th Chuch in h wafa against Antichist. Such bing ou viw of this first vision of Chist and sction of this book, w go about to xplain it as containing th milk of valo, and th sd of matydom, th pcpts of th Chistian wafa, th hops of th Chistian champion, and th wads of his painful svic. All things ls which w touch a but subsidiay, and, as it w, by th way; fo xampl, whth th constitutions of ths chuchs answ btti to th Psbytian, Episcopalian, o Indpndnt platfom ad in this island, is a m fagmnt of th subjct, on which I would not spnd any gat attintion o labou, and hav not. Fo all that I hav said on this topic is to maintain this gat pincipl: that th angl of any Chuch, h who is th mssn

19 g and internuncio btwn thm and Chist, is f to go to Chist without any intfnc whatv, and to ftch fom Him plnty fo all his fliock: that no psbyty, no bishop, no pop, no dvil, no, no angl, may da to intud btwn th man who minists in wod and odinancs and th Had of th Chuch, th chif Shphd and Bishop of ou souls. H is th common gound on which th chuchs in this land mt, whth thy b Psbytian, Episcopalian, o Indpndnt. Fo I know it to b th constitution of th Chuch of Scotland, and I undstand it to b th constitution of th Chuch of England, that whn a minist has civd his odination ov a fliock, h is xpctd to act th with a viw to Chist only, to His gloy only; and th lss occasion thy hav to mddl with him, th btti thy account of him, th btti soldi thy stm him. Nay mo, thy xpct it of him to li opn to all tuth, to daw lagly upon th gat souc of th supply, and to mak known fo th whol Chuch whatv pofirt h maks b - yond his bthn. And th Chuch xpcts of h minists to hlp on th wok of pfcting h in all sound doctin and holy disciplin. It is a totally incoct ida of Chuch cds and canons, that thy a boundais to th living spiit of th Chuch, saying vmo, Hithto shall you com, and no futh. And qually fals is it to st thm down as a standad of infallibility v saying, Theis is ight, and whatv contavns this is ctainly wong. H who thus uss th cds and canons of th Chuch maks an idol of thm, and givs th Spiit of Chist, and of th holy mn who famd thm fo th good us of tstifying against th os that thy saw aound thm, to th bst of

20 thi ability, without daming that thy also w not liabl to. Fo th pupos of giving vy angl of th Chuch his tu standing, as th pptual pass btwn Chist and His popl, f as th ai which h baths, and full, full of confirdnc in his Divin Tach; this standing to mak good fo myslf and fo all minists of tuth, that thy may not b hand-fastnd no foot-bound by all th ncssay o unnc- ssay cds and canons of th Chuch. Theis is th ason why I hav gon into ths qustions; fo th common good of minists, and though thm of thi fliocks, not fo th magnifying of any paticula fom of Chuch govnmnt, o fo justifying th odinanc of Establishd chuchs, which, though impotant qustions in thi plac, a bsid ou psnt subjct, and fa bnath ou psnt aim. Having thus collctd, and a littil addd to, ou gnal ida of ths svn pistls, w now pocd to opn, accoding to ou common mthod, that which was wittin fo th Chuch of Pgamos; pmising mly in this plac, that this was th chif city of Mysia, and th sidnc of th Attialian kings, distant fom Smyna about sixty mils towads th noth; bing still a town of som consqunc, with a population of about 15,000, and having in it two Chistian Chuchs, and nin o tn Mohammdan mosqus. In anoth pat of th pistl, ou attintion is calld to its iligious chaact, and that will b th plac to intoduc any histoical notics which main of it. Manwhil w pocd, accoding to ou mthod, to tat, first, of th styl which Chist chooss fo Himslf in spaking to thm

21 CHRIST S THIRD DESIGNATION Revelation 2 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things says He which has the sharp sword with two edges. T HIS is a vy diffent styl fom th two pcding, adoptd towads th Chuchs of Ephsus and Smyna; whof th fom impotd pastoal watchfulnss and scu- ity, th latti omnipsnt and omnipotnt lif, to sustain und pscutions, and to ovcom th pow of dath. But this now bfo us bings ou tnd and mciful Shphd into viw, with wapons of wa, shap and two- dgd, with which H thatns som, that if thy pnt not, H will 16...comeDquickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. So at tims appas th Shphd amongst His fliock, with th instumnts of dath to cut offe such as a visitd with a pstilnt disas, that th oths b not infctd. So also somtims coms th vin-dss, not with his puning-hook, to cla th banchs fom ncumbanc, but with his ax in hand to lop away such as hav fom any caus bcom uttily unfuitful. And so also into th bosom of th swtst, happist family, is th sugon with his instumnts wlcomd; and by no on so much as by th poo patint distactd with suffeing, which nothing but th knif can cu, haply won down with th gnawing pain of toothach, o thatnd with dath by th fast-spading gangn of som incuabl mmb. Yt not His first no His scond appoach maks ou blssd Lod in this mo sv, though not lss loving aspct, but th thid tim, whn nith th authoity and ca of th good Shphd no th assuanc of dath s Conquo hav

22 availd to psv His Chuch in puity fom th tmptations of th wickd. Then, lst fo want of timly coction, H should los His da-bought and wll-blovd childn, H appas amongst thm with th mblms of chastismnt, and of dstuction, in od to nfoc th wod which H is about to utti; and wishing now to b listnd to as wll by th fa as by th affection and tust of th Chuch, H spaks in th chaact of th Judg and th Avng, saying: Revelation 2 12 These things says He which has the sharp sword with two edges. W hav alady, in ou thid lctu 1, asctaind th impot of this symbol to b, not convsion, as som, fom th cicumstanc of its going foth fom th mouth would fain sduc thmslvs to bliv, but chastismnt, vn unto cutting offe and dstuction, as is vidncd in th battil of th Lamb against th bast, wh th swod is calld into us (Revelation 19:15), to slay all th nmis of th Lod, who had not bn takn aliv and cast into th lak of fir buning with bimston; and as to th cicumstanc of its pocding out of His mouth, it btokns th dstuction to pocd fom wod, fom bath of spch, fom saying, and it is don; as it is wittin: Hosea 6 6 I have hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth. Isaiah He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. Without pating what has bn th st foth concn- 1 S Thee Revelation of Jesus Christ, Book 3 Chist th Univsal Had and Bishop of th Chuch, Chapt: The Vision, Sction: The Shap Swod, p

23 ing th ctain maning of this symbol, w pocd now, accoding to ou mthod, to gath fom th oth Sciptus light aound this nam and styl of ou gat Bishop, and to hold it up in du pominncy, ight popotions, and pop application, bfo th Chuch, spcially in this ou day and gnation, th vinyad that w a spcially calld upon to kp. It has bn on of th swtst cations of my soul in th midst of ths pious labos, to sach th Sciptu fo th oigin of thos nams, firgus, and symbols, which a usd in th Apocalyps: and in no cas has this bn attindd with mo difircation than in th cas of th swod pocding out of Mssiah s mouth; which cais ou attintion at onc to th 49th chapt of th pophcis of Isaiah, wh is found th oiginal of this symbol in ths wods: Isaiah 49 1 The Lord has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name. 2 And he has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand has he hid me, and made me a polished shaft;; in his quiver has he hid me; 3 And said unto me, You are my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Wh, by mans of th two similituds of th swod and th polishd shaft, a full ida is convyd than in th txt itslf: th fom pointing out th oigin of all judgmnts in th wod of Mssiah s mouth, th latti pointing out th ffect of ths wods in th hats of th King s nmis: fo as th swod dclas th stngth of him who uss it, th aow dclas th dstuction of him who civs it into his bosom. Theis txt futh dclas, that fo a sason aft Mssiah s mouth had bn thus ndowd with all pow in havn and in ath, and all judgmnt givn unto His hand, bcaus h is th Son of man, H was to b hiddn in th shadow of Jho

24 vah s hand, and in His quiv laid up in sto; until th day of gac and salvation should hav un out its appointd tm, and H shall com to th battil of th gat day of God Almighty, in which th wickd on shall b consumd with th bath of His mouth, and dstoyd with th bightnss of His coming. And bcaus H would hav all mn to know how vy gat and powful, and how much shap than a two-dgd swod, is that wod of His which now spaks fom havn, and will thn xcut vy jot and tittil of all which it has spokn; H bgins this, th sublimst stain of pophcy, with th annunciation of Himslf as such, and in ight of this suplativ xaltation as God s avng, H calls upon all to giv good a to His wods: Isaiah 49 1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, you peoples, from fard And to th ffect it might b known that as man, and th Son of man, H had civd and would yt xcut th judgmnt, H adds: 1...Jehovah has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name. And fom this plac fowad to th conclusion of th popht, that is, thoughout svntn chapts, w hav a s- is of wods spokn by th Judg of all th ath, to th Jws and to th Gntils; to thos that fa God, and to thos who fa Him not, concluding with ths wods: Isaiah For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire, and by his sword, will the Lord plead with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many

25 And so in th Apocalypse, Chist appas first with th swod pocding fom His mouth (Revelation 1:16), and dclas Himslf by this nam unto His Chuch in this thid pistl, and this don, hids Himslf fo a long sason in th quiv of God, until, in th gat cisis and consummation, H appas to judg and mak wa (Revelation 19:11), and to plad with all flish by fir and swod; by fir against th bast and fals popht, by swod against th mnant who had dad to aay thmslvs against th Lamb, and thos that a with Him, who a calld and faithful and chosn. Whosov will tun ths things in his mind must b convincd that gat light should b cast upon Chist s action as th swodsman, fom studying ths chapts of ou popht; which might wll b dnominatd th Revelation of Jesus Christ unto the Jew. I do not popos to myslf in this plac such a wighty task as to giv a paticula account of th substanc of that gloious vlation of Jsus Chist; but only to div fom it light upon th styl o dsignation which H assums to Himslf in th passag bfo us. But it may b said: What vidnc is th that th last svntn chapts of Isaiah a indd on stain of pophcy? The sam vidnc as th is that th whol book of Revelation concns that on pson who appas in th first chapt in such symbolical aimnt, as bing takn picmal, might affeod th mans of idntifying Him thoughout th vaious scns and actions of th book. So in th first fw vss of th 49th chapt, such chaactistics a put upon Him as nabl us to cogniz th sam pson vywh in th following chapts. The a: 1. His bing fom th womb calld and namd of God, and

26 firttid fo His wok (vs 1); 2. th officc to which H was calld, to b His svant, to bing Jacob again to Him, (vs 5); His svant Isal in whom H would b gloifird, (vs 3); 3. His failu th first tim in this svic; I hav spnt my stngth fo nought and in vain; yt suly my judgmnt is with th Lod, and my wok with my God, (vs 4); though Isal b not gathd, (vs 5); 4. His bing hiddn fo a sason with God aft H had civd His pow and gloy, and abiding th till th tims of th Fath b accomplishd, (vs 2); 5. His bing in th mantim, whil H is dspisd and abhod of th nations, givn as a light to th Gntils; fo th apostl positivly fs th accptabl tim and th day of salvation of vs 8 to th psnt dispnsation of th Gntils (2 Corinthians 6:2); and th last is, 6. His bing psvd saf until th tim whn Jhovah shall giv Him fo a covnant of th popl, to stablish th ath, and to caus to inhit th dsolat hitags, to say to th pisons, Go foth, &c (vss 8-9), which is th stoation of Isal, and in thm th blssdnss of th whol ath. Now, lt any on tak ths six fatus of Mssiah, and, with thm in his mind, ad th chapts which follow, and h will firnd how thy a bound togth and most closly intwovn in all thi pats. The 49th chapt is lik an pitom of th whol sis, which togth foms a gloious discous upon ths th puposs of God fo valing His gat and holy nam, and justifying th goodnss of His acts by Isal His svant. The 50th chapt assigns fo th ason of thi bing cast offe, that thy had jctd Him whn H cam and spak unto thm wisdom, and pachd unto thm comfot (vs 4), no

27 would oby th voic of Him whom God had chosn fo His svant (vs 10). Theis chapt is good against th dnis of Chist s wak humanity, of His living by faith, and bing taught of th Fath; and by th Fath xaltd; who a so full of His Godhad, o affect to b so jalous of it, that thy will not look at His manhood, o listn to any on who spaks of it: lt thm listn to th popht Isaiah, o th Holy Ghost spaking by him in th 50th chapt of his pophcy. The 51st and 53d chapts contain a vaious discous fom th mouth of Mssiah to th popl that follow aft ight- ousnss, and claim Abaham fo thi fath, and Saah fo thi moth, into th fllowship of whos inhitanc w a ntd by faith (Galatians 3:14); and th 53d, including th last th vss of th 52nd, fs th gloy of th wok accomplishd fo Zion to Him who is God s svant (52:13; 53:11); and th 54th chapt maks His blssdnss fov su. Thes fou chapts a a song of lovs, containing, first, th caus of th tmpoay spaation of Mssiah fom His blovd Zion (Isaiah 50:1); thn h lamntabl cas, yt ctain safty, duing h alination (Isaiah 51:16); thn h adoning as a bid fo h bidgoom (Isaiah 52:1); and h dmption without pic (Isaiah 52:3); and saf sttilmnt in h inhitanc (Isaiah 52:11). Upon which th stain changs as to its pson, but not as to its subjct; fom th Chuch to h husband, fom Rachl th wif to Isal th svant of many labos; and counts th consummat wisdom and lov with which H had won fo Himslf and His blovd on such gloy on th ath (Isaiah 52:13; 53:12). The lov, th dvotd lov of th bidgoom having thus bn sung, bhold, in Isaiah 54, th blssdnss of th ma- iag, h fuitfulnss (vs 1), th ank of h husband (vs

28 5), His tnal lov and faithfulnss (vs 6-10), th blssdnss of h childn (vs 11, 15), th dstuction of all who is up against h fo v and v (vs 15-17). No on can doubt that ths fou chapts a constuctd upon th pincipl of th maiag btwn Chist and His Chuch, and that chapt 53, so much and so dsvdly pizd, is th account of what lowlinss Chist submits to in od to win th blovd of His hat. Indd, th vy outst of th pophcy in chapt 49 shows it to b constuctd upon th symbolical histoy of Jacob o Isal sving fo his blovd on, and aft a piod of svic firnding himslf disappointd of h by th will of th fath. Now bhold how lading an ida in th Revelation is this sam symbol of th maiag which not only is psntd as th consummation, fom chapt 19 to th nd, but is indd ppad fo thoughout th whol pogss of th stoy; fo xampl, in th nxt pistl, by th pomis of sittiing with Him on His thon, and in th nxt again by th pomis of th whit aimnt, and in th firft h sal by th gift of that bidal attii; whil it is also st out by th contast of Babylon th halot, which bing movd, staightway th faithful and chast spous coms with Chist h husband, to ul th wold. But first (Revelation 19:11) sh must com along with Him to th battil; and tak pat in th action of th swod; which is pliminay to th maiag and coonation and govnmnt. Theis od has no similitud in th wold, sinc chivaly casd; but of all chivaly it is th foundation. The futu husband first acts th soldi, to dliv his captiv pincss, and th young knight nts into battil with som lov-tokn fom th lady of his hat, to animat him to nobl dds; and fai ladis w wont to look on and bhold th powss of thi champions, and w oft poposd as th piz of battil; all this, I say, has its oigin in th fuitful ida of Chist th

29 Rdm of His Chuch, which coms with Him, ya and calls upon Him to go foth (Psalm 45:3-4) as th champion of h mknss and gntlnss and tuth. Som may mak light of such allusions to a stat of socity which is now wont to b vy much dspisd; I would th w somthing wothy to b compad with it in ths sinful days. It is not howv th abuss which I hav to do with, but th ida, and how just, how pu, how nobl that was, and how congnial to th highst facultis of ason, lt th woks of poty and th dds of valo which it has inspid tstify. But whth th illustation of chivaly b admittid o not, th ida of Chist dming His dispossssd and captiv Chuch out of th hous of bondag, and thn binging h with Him as His btothd bid, to witnss th dstuction of His nmis, and to possss along with Him th inhitanc which thy had usupd, is th tu on. Theis much, thfo, w gath fom th xamination of ths chapts of Isaiah, dawn into compaison with Psalm 45, and th book of Revelation, that th swod with two dgs blongs to Him as th champion of th Chuch, of th mk and lowly Chuch against h poud and cul oppssos; that it chaactizs Him as th man of wa, who shall yt by wa mak wa to cas unto th nds of th ath (Psalm 46). The xamination of th maining chapts of Isaiah casts still stong light upon this dsignation of ou Rdm as Him who has th shap swod with two dgs. The is psntd to us in th 57th chapt th pophcy of th socss o th oppsso of th popl of th Lod, out of whos hands thy a dlivd by th Rdm (Isaiah 59:20), whupon follows th gloy of Isal in having ight- ous dominion ov thos Gntils, by whom thy had bn oppssd. The 60th, 61st, 62nd, and 63d chapts, contain a continual

30 fnc to this act of binging th Gntils by th dg of th swod, und th supmacy of th Jws: indd, this ida as th action of th swod is givn so fa back as th song of Moss (Deuteronomy 32:44); wh, aft counting th oppssion of his popl und th Gntils, and chiding thm fo thi unblif as th caus of it all, th Lod gaths wath against th Gntils and thi fals gods, saying thus: Deuteronomy If I whet my glitteering sword, and my hand take hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to my enemies, and will reward them that hate me. 42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. Theis passag, which contains both th swod and th a- ows of th Lod, is th tu oigin of th symbolical aimnt and action of th 45th Psalm, which psnts Chist as coming in th chaact of His Fath s and His popl s avng. As also it is of th symbols in th 49th chapt of Isaiah, and likwis of th day of vnganc, (Isaiah 61:2); as also of th day of vnganc, and th ya of my dmd, (Isaiah 63:4). Theis last passag is makably th action of th swod, bing th sam with th action of th 34th chapt, as w know by th us of th slfsam languag: Isaiah 34 8 For it is the day of the Lord s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. Now th action of that chapt is xpssly dclad to b th action of th swod of th Lod: 5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse to judgment: 6 The sword of the Lord is filled with bloodd

31 And th 63d chapt fs to th Rdm as coming fom this slaught of Edom, with dyd gamnts fom Bozah. And this action bing accomplishd of smiting th apostasy of Edom, th swod is dawn onc mo against all flish: Isaiah For by fire and by sword will the Lord plead with all flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many. Fom ths sachs, which might b xtndd to oth pats of Sciptu, w div this most impotant conclusion, that th symbol of th swod by which Chist would b known to th Chuch of Pgamos, points Him out not mly as th xcution of th Fath s ang in gnal, but also in paticula as th xcution of that judgmnt which is to b bought upon th nations fo thi oppssion of His popl; th judgmnt I man upon th quick, which is dscibd at lngth in th 25th chapt of Matthhew, fom th 31st vs, wh all th nations a tid by thi tatmnt of His popl, and judgd accodingly. But no attiibut of God o of Chist is undstood aight by bing mly undstood histoically, bcaus ths blssd psons a not in tim subsistnt, but th sam ystday, today, and fov. Theough, thfo, w hav bn at pains to gath th impot of this attiibut of Chist, symbolically xpssd by th swod, by fing to th histoical vnt of th judgmnt of th Gntils in which it will b most makably illustatd, w now tun with th infomation thus gathd, and say that ou gat Shphd dsis th Chuch of Pgamos, and all oth chuchs, to gad Him continually in th light of th Judg, as wll as th Saviou of th Chuch. Shphd as H is, good Shphd who gav His lif fo th shp, H bas a od fo chastismnt, as wll as a staffe fo dfns, and a cook fo pastoal ca. Tu Vin though H is,

32 and pant Stm of all th banchs, and thi continual sustnanc and nouishmnt, H would hav it to b undstood that H also fulfirlls th pat of th vin-dss, which, though psonally it blong to th Fath, yt officcially is it pfomd by Chist, into whos hands all judgmnt has bn committid by th Fath. As Had of th Chuch, H would hav it to b known that H xcuts gal authoity as wll as pantal affection, pistly intcssion, and pophtical counsl. Theat it is as much His pogativ to cut offe th wickd fom His hous as to kp th ightous in safty; in on wod, that disciplin is as ssntial an attiibut of Chist as is baptizing with th Holy Ghost, o fding with His body and blood. And this out of lov and unto salvation, dstuction of th flish, that th soul may b savd in th day of th Lod. Of disciplin, thfo, w would say that this pistl ntats, and to this as th infoming and pculia pincipl of it w will hav spct in ou intptation. OF DISCIPLINE The pistl consists of th pats: 1. Commndation; 2. Cnsu; and 3. Exhotation to pntanc. I hav alady obsvd how constantly thoughout ths pistls commndation has th lad of vy oth fling; although som of th chuchs had aivd at as low a pass as can wll b supposd. Evn in th cas bfo us, things w in so bad a condition that ou good Shphd psnts Himslf amd with His shap two-dgd swod, and dpats with th announcmnt of pompt and spdy xcution if thy pnt not, and yt H opns His mouth with wods of commndation

33 H ss it ndful to bthink Himslf, and to fowan thm of disciplin; but still His lov is th sam unabatd, gatful affection as v, and xpsss itslf in codial acknowldgmnt of th angl s good svics in tim past: on would say H almost plads His apology, by twic ov puttiing foth th pculia hadships and tmptations of His station. Can any cla poof b givn of th spiit of lov in which disciplin should b gon about? Can any mo focibl command b givn to th Chuch with what kindly and gntl wods sh should appoach this ungnial pat of h duty. And in th way in which cnsu and disciplin a gon about, its willingnss o unwillingnss, w hav a su mans of asctaining whth Chist is psnt in thos actings of His Chuch, o not. The Roman apostasy, fotifird with hypocisy at all points, undstood this wll, and pacticd it most dxtously in v- y cas of disciplin, howv unjust and atocious. Thei fignd foms of th tu spiit, w Potstants hav bn honst nough to st asid: lt us bwa whth w hav not st asid th spiit also. If, fo xampl, any cout of th Chuch assmbl to tak cognizanc of a both s al o supposd fault, and appoach th subjct with apid hast, bak down th vnabl foms of justic and chaity, and bust out into bitti ailings, and infliam thmslvs with violnt spchs, until thi assmbly hav mo of th tmpstuous sa o boiling whilpool, than of calm dlibat judgmnt, o soothing pity and lov; thn what shall w say, but that this is not movd by th Spiit of Chist to th wok of holy disciplin, but divn on by th passion of ang and vng? And what shall w xpct to com foth fom th boiling caldon of its ag, th wisdom which coms fom abov? I tow not. Fo that is: James first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be en

34 treated; full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. What thn? Theat, I fa, which is dscibd by th Apostl Jams, in ths wods: 14 But if you have bitteer envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. The disciplin of th Chuch may ith bcom th instumnt of th most hidous injustic and cul oppssion, as in th Chuch of Rom it bcam fom th tim of Dominick; o it may main, what it was intndd to b, th pant of union, th psv against o, th blssd pacmak amongst th bthn. No is it difficcult to tac how it passs ov fom th on xtm to th oth. The Lod has laid down th goldn ul of disciplin in ths wods: Matthhew Moreover, if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church: but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto you as a heathen man and a publican. I will b bold to say, that whv this ol is obsvd in th Spiit, th will b pac and hamony and lo in th bosom of th Chuch; and disciplin will b found, nxt to doctin, to b th bst gift of Havn to mn. But, on th oth hand, whn this ul fails to b obsvd, ith in th ltti o th spiit of it, disciplin will bcom no btti than a dadly wapon in th hands of th stong to oppss th

35 wak, in th hands of th ungodly and hypocitical to put away th hatful poofs of th godly and sinc, in th hands of thos who lov to b in daknss to hid and buy in oblivion th light of thos whom God has kindld. A ul it is of th most xquisit bauty and ampl blssing, containing, first, an injunction whn w fl offendd in a both on account of any of his ways and doings, whth affecting us o not, so that it affect th hono and gloy of Him in whom w liv, and fo whom w ought to liv, w should staightway, if w cannot foba any long, go to himslf, o in som way o oth communicat with him, bak th matti to his own pivat a, and dal with him as both ought with both, aft a most tnd and kindly sot; all with th viw of gaining him ov to God and goodnss, without thought o thatning of futh pocding, in faith and hop of a happy tmination, though th common Spiit of tuth and lov. But if God b plasd to ty still futh ou faithfulnss, and foba His blssing of pac, w a, as th scond stp, quid to tak on o two along with us, and in thi ps- nc to st foth th gounds of th offens, Matthhew that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Theat thy may lnd thi hlp to convinc th conscinc of th both who is thought to hav d: and if h hav not d, that in thi haing h may justify himslf, and so in swt confnc th fom and masu of th tuth may b asctaind. But if in th fac of thi judgmnt th o o offens should b ptinaciously psistd in, w a thn commandd to lay th whol matti bfo th Chuch, as th ultimat tibunal byond which th is no high upon th ath

36 To whos sntnc, if h likwis pov factoy, thn is h to b hld as a hathn man and a publican, xcommunicatd fom th fllowship, and put foth fom th blssd pivilgs of th Chuch; that h may know th misy of th howling wildnss which is without, and com as a humbl pnitnt sking to b stod to th potction and pivilgs, th scuity and salvation of th fold. Then, to giv awful sanction to th Chuch s voic on ath, H adds ths mighty wods: Matthhew Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Thes wods hav mad mpos tmbl upon thi thons, and which w intndd to mak all living mn to vnc and stand in aw of th Chuch, as Chist s voic of tuth and witnss upon th ath, though whom H ponouncs th doom not of kings only, but of kingdoms, and of th ath itslf, ya, and to th invisibl potntats of havn maks known th manifold wisdom of God. So much th mo caful ought th Chuch to b in giving judgmnt: so much th mo vnt ought w to b of th judgmnts which sh givs. And, sing th issus of h judgmnt-sat a so awful, so much th mo solicitous to pvnt th intfnc of so tibl a tibunal, and to conciliat diffencs in ths ali stags by sct communion btwn ouslvs, o pivat confnc in th psnc of on o two witnsss. To which also th Lod lads us on by th pomis of a wondful blssing upon concod and concunc btwn both and both; no lss a blssing than that of civing whatv thy shall ask of Havn: