The ruin of RomeThe ruine of Rome

For although his gifts were not so great as some others, yet was he very painful and faithful in a little:¹ of whom it is said, Thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name: that is, thou art very constant in the profession and practise of Christian religion. And thereupon Christ promiseth to bless his labours. For saith he: I will make them of the synagogue of Satan which call themselves Jews, and are not, but do lye: Behold I say, I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feet, and shall know that I have loved thee. Here we do plainly see how Christ promiseth to bless this mans ministry, for his painfulness and diligence, although he was not of the greatest gifts. For men of greatest gifts are not always most blessed in their labours. For God doth commonly work the greatest things by weak means, that all glory might redound unto him, and no flesh might boast in his sight. For otherwise, if men of greatest gifts should always be most blessed in their labours, and win most souls unto God, then we would be ready to ascribe that to men, & their gifts, which is proper unto God, and so this praise and glory should be somewhat eclipsed. Thus we see what excellent men the Ministers of Smyrna and Philadelphia were, and what excellent people they had in their charges. But on the contrary, the Pastor and the people of Sardis and Laodicea, are discommended for all things, and commended for nothing. Indeed the Minister of Sardis had a great name for learning and other good gifts, but he was grown very idle & negligent, & did little good with his gifts.² Of whom it is said: Thou hast a name ⟨p. 33⟩that thou livest, but thou art dead. That is, there was no spirit in him, no life of grace, his gifts waxed rusty for want of use: he was fallen asleep: he was fallen away from the grace of God: he was nothing the man which he had been. Therefore he is admonished to awake and strengthen the things which remain, which were ready to die.

For although his gifts were not so great as some others, yet was he very painefull and faithfull in a little:¹ of whom it is said, Thou hast a litle strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name: that is, thou art very constant in the profession and practise of Christian religion. And therevpon Christ promiseth to blesse his labours. For saith hee: I will make them of the sinagogue of Sathan which call themselues Iewes, and are not, but do lye: Beholde I say, I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feete, and shall knowe that I haue loued thee. Here we do plainely see how Christ promiseth to blesse this mans ministerie, for his painefulnesse and diligence, although hee was not of the greatest gifts. For men of greatest gifts are not alwaies most blessed in their labors. For God doth commonly worke the greatest things by weake meanes, that all glory might redound vnto him, and no flesh might boast in his sight. For otherwise, if men of greatest gifts should alwaies bee most blessed in their labours, and winne most soules vnto God, then wee would be readie to ascribe that to men, & their gifts, which is proper vnto God, and so this praise and glorie should be somewhat eclipsed. Thus wee see what excellent men the Ministers of Smyrna and Philadelphia were, and what excellent people they had in their charges. But on the contrarie, the Pastor and the people of Sardis and Laodicea, are discommended for all things, and commended for nothing. Indeede the Minister of Sardis had a great name for learning and other good gifts, but he was growne very idle & negligent, & did little good with his gifts.