The Seven Churches of Asia; An Exposition of the Epistles of Christ to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor with a Succinct Historical and Geographical Account of Each Place and Church, Illustrating the Prphetic Announcement Concerning Them (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 Excerpt: ... Christian name, which distinguished the majority in both churches, as devoted followers of Christ, whose zeal, faith, patience, and charity, had stood the test of severe trial. Yet in each instance, they had allowed the existence of some who, like tares among the wheat, had spread pernicious doctrines and heresies, and were allowed to continue their wicked practices till ultimately they would govern the soil, choke the wheat, and reduce the whole in succeeding ages to be the followers of their pernicious ways. Their evil doctrines were" likely to spread, shoot forth their fibres, and fully occupy the whole ground. The Lord therefore addresses the church in Pergamos as having "the sharp sword with two edges," and the church in Thyatira as "the Son of God, whose eyes are like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass." The church in Thyatira is here reminded, then, of the omniscience and steadfastness of him who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. The church open to such scrutinizing observation may well attend to the injunction of the apostle to the Corinthians: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves"--and, while liable to the judgments of him who is steadfast in all his ways and appointments, should not vainly say in the practice or secreting of any wickedness, "The Lord doth not see; he will not require it." There is grandeur and majesty in the announcement which the Lord makes to this church respecting himself. In neither of the other epistles which we have considered hath the Lord declared his nature; he has implied it by the representations he has made of himself--for in all the epistles there is that set forth which refers to his Divine nature: but he...