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3:3 1 Thes 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10; Apoc. 16:15 3:7 Is. 2s:2s 3:14 Sir. 24:9,14; Col 1:15 3:19 Prov 3:12; Heb 12:6

He is commended to write to the churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea: recalling them that err to penance by threatening, but praising the rest, and promising reward to him that overcomes: 15 Addressing also the cold indifferent Christians. 20 He says that God knocks at the door of mens hearts by offering his grace, for to enter into him that will open unto him by consent of Free-will. 1 AND to the Angel of the Church of Sardis, write, Thus says he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, I know your works, that you have the name that you live, and you are dead. 2 Be vigilant, and confirm the rest of the things which were to die. For I find not your works full before my God. 3 Have in mind therefore in what manner you have received and heard: and keep, and do penance. If therefore you watch not, *I will come to you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come to you. 4 But you have a few names in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in whites, because they are worthy. 5 He that shall overcome, shall thus be vested in white garments, and I will not put his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his Angels. 6 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. 7 And to the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia write, Thus says the Holy One and the True One, he that has the *key of David; he that opens, and no man shuts: shuts, and no man opens. 8 I know your works. Behold I have given before you a door opened which no man can shut: because you have a little power, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. 9 Behold I will give of the synagogue of Satan, which say they be Jews, and are not, but do lie. Behold I will make them come and adore before your feet.   And they shall know that I have loved you. 10 because you have kept the word of my patience, and I will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon the whole world to tempt the inhabitants on the earth. 11 Behold I come quickly: hold that which you have, that no man take your crown. 12 He that shall overcome, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God: and he shall go out no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, new Jerusalem which descends out of heaven from my God, and my new name. 13 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. 14 And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea write, Thus says *Amen, the faithful and true witness, which is the beginning of the creature of God. 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold, nor hot. I would you were cold, or hot. 16 But because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, That I am rich, and enriched, and lack nothing: and know not that you are a miser, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy of me gold fire-tried, that you may be made rich: and may be clothed in white garments, that the confusion of your nakedness appear not: and with eie-salve anoint your eyes, that you may see, 19 I, *whom I love, do rebuke and chastise. Be zealous therefore and do penance. 20 Behold I stand at the door and knock.  If any man shall hear my voice, and open the gate, I will enter in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 He that shall overcome, I will give unto him to sit with me in my throne: as I also have overcome, and have set with my Father in his throne. 22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.

3:4 which have not defiled: Such as have not committed deadly sin after baptism. are worthy: Note that there is in man a worthiness of the joys of heaven, by holy living, and this is a common speech in holy Scripture, that man is worthy of God, of heaven, and of salvation. 3:20 knock: God first calls upon man and knocks at the door of his heart, that is to say, offers his grace, and it lies in man to give consent by Free-will, helped also by grace.

COMMENTARY (Doing well in respect of reward) 5. He that shall overcome. In all these speeches to divers Bishops and their churches, he continually encourages them to constancy in faith and good life, by setting before their eyes the reward of the next life.  And yet the Calvinists would have no man do good in respect of such reward. (Adoration of creatures, called Dulia) 9. Adore before your feet. You see this word of adoration is in Scriptures used for worship of creatures also, and that to fall before the feet of holy men or Angels for duty and reverence, is not idolatry, except the proper honor due to God, be given unto them.  See the commentary upon the 19th and 22th chapters concerning the Apostle's prostration before the Angel.  And the adversaries evasion, saying that the adoration was of God only, and that, before the 'feet' of the party signifies nothing else but, 'in his presence,' is false and against the phrase of Scriptures 2Kgs. 4 where the Sunamite adored Elisha, falling down before his feet, and 2Kgs 2. the sons of the  Prophets adored him in the same sort, and here this adoration can not be meant but of the Bishop or Angel of Philadelphia, because he promises this honor as a reward, and as an effect thus in the 19th chapter, 'I fell before his feet to adore him', making it all one, to adore before his feet, and to adore him. (Perseverance in good and continuing to the end) 11. This no man takes your crown. That is, his crown of everlasting life and glory, if he perseveres not to the end in faith and good works, otherwise another shall enter into his place, as Mathias did both to the dignity of the Apostleship, and to the heavenly crown due for the well using and executing of the same function, which Judas might and should have had, if he had persevered to the end, and as the Gentiles came into the grace and place of the Jews.  Other difficulties concerning this kind of speech are resolved in school-men, and are not here to be stood upon. (Neutral or indifferent people in religion) 16. Lukewarm. Zeal and fervor is commendable, especially in God's cause, and the neutral ones that be neither hot nor cold, are to Christ and his Church burdenous, as lukewarm water is to a man's stomach, provoking him to vomit, and therefore he threatens to void up such neutral ones out of his mouth.