A plain explanation of the whole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…A plaine explanation of the vvhole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…

And first he exhorteth the Angel of Sardis to look unto himself, in that he bids him awake, and be not secure and careless; and then to look unto others committed to his charge: And therefore it is that Paul exhorteth Timothy to take heed unto himself; that so he being reformed himself, may be more fit to look to those who are committed to him. For those that were committed to his charge, he biddeth the Angel to strengthen those things that were ready to dye, ⟨p. 17⟩that is, to recover that which was almost lost, and that betime, lest it dye altogether; a note, that as yet they were not clean dead, whereby he mollifieth the speech which went before: For he had said before to the Angel of Sardis, that he was stark dead, meaning, in regard of that they would be, if they reformed not themselves betime: After, he willeth him to remember, that is, consider diligently what gifts he had received, and that he should use them well: namely, thereby he should instruct the Church, and that he repeat, for otherwise, he will come against them suddenly, as a thief in the night, at unawares, when he should be unprepared; and so his destruction should be most fearful: Yet (saith he) I have a few names (as Acts. 1. 15.) that is, a few persons, which had not defiled their Garments, that is, which were found faithful, and had not been infected nor defiled with those sins which reigned in that Church for whose sake he yet spared them, and favoured them as he would have Sodom, if there had been but ten righteous found therein: And these (saith he) shall go with me in white, and be clothed in white array, that is, be covered with his righteousness, and be partakers of his honour; for, white is a token of honour; and that they shall not have their names put out of the book of life, that is, should be crowned with immortality.

And first hee exhorterh the Angell of Sardis to looke vnto himselfe, in that he bids him awake, and be not secure and carelesse; and then to looke vnto others committed to his charge: And therefore it is that Paul exhorteth Timothy to take heede vnto himselfe; that so he being reformed himselfe, may be more fit to looke to those who are committed to him. For those that were committed to his charge, he biddeth the Angell to strengthen those things that were ready to dye, ⟨p. 17⟩