If any man demand a reason, why all these Epistles are specially sent and directed to the Angels, or Pastors of the Churches, seeing John before, chap. 1.11. is commanded to write them to the Churches of Asia: I answer, that he writing to the Pastor, excludeth not the Churches, but in them, or under them, he writeth to the whole Churches, as plainly it appeareth in the conclusion of every Epistle, when he saith: Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches. Then that which is spoken to the Angel of the Church, spoken to the Church. The reason why the speech is specially directed to the Pastor of every Church, is because the good or bad estate of the Church, for the most part dependeth upon the ⟨p. 38⟩Ministers. For commonly we see it cometh to pass; Such a Pastor, such a People: Such a Shepherd, such Sheep: Such a Husbandman, such husbandry. And as the Prophet saith,1 Like Priest, like People. For we may observe in all these Epistles, that where the Minister is commended, the people are commended; and where the Minister is discommended, the people are discommended also: So that they stand and fall, sink and swim together. As concerning the Person from whom these Epistles are sent, it is Jesus Christ, who is very gloriously described of his divers qualities in the entrance of every one of these Epistles: First, in the Epistles to the Church of Ephesus, it is said: These things saith he that holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand, and which walketh in the middest of the seven Candlesticks. Secondly, in the Epistle to the Church of Smyrna: These things saith he, that is first and last, which was dead, and is alive. Thirdly, to the Church of Pergamus: Thus saith he, which hath a sharp sword with two edges. Fourthly, to Thyatira: These things saith the Son of God, who hath eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass. Fifthly, to the Church of Sardis: These things saith he ⟨p. 39⟩that hath the seven Spirits of God, and seven Stars. Sixthly, to the Church of Philadelphia, it is thus said of Christ: These things saith he that is holy and true, which hath the key of David, which openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth. Lastly, to Laodicea, it is thus said: These things saith Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the Creatures.
If any man demand a reason, why all these Epistles are specially sent and directed to the Angels, or Pastors of the Churches, seeing Iohn before, chap. 1.11. is commanded to write them to the Churches of Asia: I answer, that he writing to the Pastor, excludeth not the Churches, but in them, or under them, he writeth to the whole Churches, as plainly it appeareth in the conclusion of every Epistle, when he saith: Let him that hath an eare, heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches. Then that which is spoken to the Angel of the Church, spoken to the Church. The reason why the speech is specially directed to the Pastor of every Church, is because the good or bad estate of the Church, for the most part dependeth upon the ⟨p. 38⟩Ministers. For commonly we see it commeth to passe; Such a Pastor, such a People: Such a Shepheard, such Sheep: Such a Husbandman, such husbandry. And as the Prophet saith,1 Like Priest, like People. For we may observe in all these Epistles, that where the Minister is commended, the people are commended; and where the Minister is discommended, the people are discommended also: So that they stand and fall, sinke and swimme together. As concerning the Person from whom these Epistles are sent, it is Jesus Christ, who is very gloriously described of his divers qualities in the entrance of every one of these Epistles: First, in the Epistles to the Church of Ephesus, it is said: These things saith hee that holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand, and which walketh in the middest of the seven Candlestickes. Secondly, in the Epistle to the Church of Smyrna: These things saith he, that is first and last, which was dead, and is alive. Thirdly, to the Church of Pergamus: Thus saith hee, which hath a sharpe sword with two edges. Fourthly, to Thyatira: These things saith the Sonne of God, who hath eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brasse. Fifthly, to the Church of Sardis: These things saith he ⟨p. 39⟩that hath the seven Spirits of God, and seven Stars. Sixtly, to the Church of Philadelphia, it is thus said of Christ: These things saith he that is holy and true, which hath the key of David, which openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth. Lastly, to Laodicea, it is thus said: These things saith Amen, the faithfull and true witnesse, the beginning of the Creatures.
- 1Hos. 4.9.
