10. The only apparent Argument against this interpretation is weak,1 and so our interpretation must stand: For they say that the word Church is never taken but for a company of believers, and the redeemed, Eph. 2. 20. builded on the rock Christ. I deny not but the word Church is very sparingly taken for the overseers only; yet it is taken in that sense, and there is reason why it cannot be otherwise taken in this place; for Revelation. 2. The Angel of the Church of Ephesus, Smyrna, &c. standeth for the whole Church, and the whole Church is written unto under the name of the Angel of such a Church: Which may be demonstrated thus, 1. because not only the Ministers, but the people that have ears to hear, are all and every one of them commanded to hear. 2, The promise of eating the tree of life, v. 7. of giving the hidden Manna, and the white stone, and the new name, and they shall be clothed in white, and their names not blotted out of the book of life who overcometh, agreeth not to Ministers only. 3. The command of being faithful to the death, of holding fast what they have, that none take away their crown, of strengthening what remaineth, of being zealous, and of repenting, are not given to Ministers only. 4. The rebukes of falling from the first Love, of not watching, of lukewarmness are not laid upon Ministers only; therefore to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, of the Church of Smyrna, must need force have this meaning, Unto the Church of Ephesus, of Smyrna, and what is said to the Angels, is said to the Churches, as is clear, comparing chap. 1. v. 20. and chap. 2. v. 1. with v. 9. 11, 17. So Acts 18▪ v, 21, 22. ⟨p. 92⟩Paul is said to salute the Church, that must be the chief men and Elders of the Church; for the Church being so numerous at Jerusalem, as is proved, he could not salute the Church of believers, 1. his manner in writing his Epistles is to salute the prime persons only, and the rest in general; and this being a real salutation, or by all appearance verbal, he could not salute them all man by man, seeing he saw them in the bye, and the Kirk of Jerusalem (for he landed at Caesarea) was more numerous,2 then that he could salute them all, man by man. And also the Church is named from the Pastors, Isa. 40. 9.
10. The onely apparent Argument against this interpretation is weake,1 and so our interpretation must stand: For they say that the word Church is never taken but for a company of beleevers, and the redeemed, Eph. 2. 20. builded on the rocke Christ. I deny not but the word Church is very sparingly taken for the overseers onely; yet it is taken in that sense, and there is reason why it cannot bee otherwise taken in this place; for Revelation. 2. The Angell of the Church of Ephesus, Smyrna, &c. standeth for the whole Church, and the whole Church is written unto under the name of the Angell of such a Church: Which may be demonstrated thus, 1. because not only the Ministers, but the people that have eares to heare, are all and every one of them commanded to heare. 2, The promise of eating the tree of life, v. 7. of giving the hidden Manna, and the white stone, and the new name, and they shall be cloathed in white, and their names not blotted out of the booke of life who overcommeth, agreeth not to Ministers onely. 3. The command of being faithfull to the death, of holding fast what they have, that none take away their crowne, of strengthening what remaineth, of being zealous, and of repenting, are not given to Ministers only. 4. The rebukes of falling from the first Love, of not watching, of lukewarmnesse are not laid upon Ministers onely; therfore to the Angell of the Church of Ephesus, of the Church of Smyrna, must need force have this meaning, Vnto the Church of Ephesus, of Smyrna, and what is said to the Angels, is said to the Churches, as is cleare, comparing chap. 1. v. 20. and chap. 2. v. 1. with v. 9. 11, 17. So Acts 18▪ v, 21, 22. ⟨p. 92⟩Paul is said to salute the Church, that must be the chiefe men and Elders of the Church; for the Church being so numerous at Jerusalem, as is proved, he could not salute the Church of beleevers, 1. his manner in writing his Epistles is to salute the prime persons onely, and the rest in generall; and this being a reall salutation, or by all appearance verball, he could not salute them all man by man, seeing he saw them in the bye, and the Kirke of Jerusalem (for he landed at Cesarea) was more numerous,2 then that he could salute them all, man by man. And also the Church is named from the Pastors,
- 1Arg. 10.
- 2Also Isa. •0 9. O Zion that bringeth goodtydings, is an exhortation, as Junius saith, to the preaching Church whic • is expounded, Isa. 51 •. and Nah. 1▪ 15. and R•m. 10. 15. only of the Pastors sent of God to preach the Evangel of peace.Also Isa. •0 9. O Sion that bringeth goodtydings, is an exhortation, as Junius saith, to the preaching Church whic • is expounded, Isa. 51 •. and Nah. 1▪ 15. and R•m. 10. 15. only of the Pastors sent of God to preach the Evangil of peace.
