Part 11 (1/2)

Here then we have a deeply interesting view of the Christian remnant

It is not the Church restored, but a distinct cooing on to the end It is of the utmost importance that the reader should be clear in reference to the fact that the last four churches run on synchronously to the end It siives us a very definite, practical view of the Christian reet to Thyatira Then all hope of corporate restoration is given up This simple fact overturns the church of Rome from its very foundations It is presented to us as an apostate and idolatrous syste to do with her So much for the boasted, universal, infallible church of Rome

But what of Sardis? Is this the Church restored? Nothing of the kind

”Thou hast _a name_ that thou livest, and _art dead_” This is not a restored or refor _as a thief_, instead of being cheered with ”the bright andstar”

In a word, it is Protestantism with ”a name,” but the works ”not perfect before God” And what then? The Christian remnant ”_A few naarments; and _they_ [He does not say _thou_] shall ith Me in white: for they are worthy” We have here a vivid andcontrast between dead, cold, nominal profession and a few true-hearted, earnest lovers of Christ--between form and power, death and life

In the last two asseed, and enforced Philadelphia gives us a most precious picture of a company of true Christians, hu fast His word, and not denying His name--Christ and His word treasured in the heart and confessed in the life--a living reality, not a lifeless form The moral beauty of this is excellent The very conte indeed In short, it is Christ reproduced by the Holy Ghost in a beloved re, no assus Christ is all: His word, His naathered up and concentrated here the lovely moral traits of the various reht out in full blow and yielding a fragrant perfurateful to the heart of Christ It is not a question of great service rendered,or splendid in the eyes offar h appreciation of Himself and His precious word This is far more to Him than the most showy services and costly sacrifices What He looks for is a place in the heart Without this all is worthless But the very feeblest breathing of the heart's affections after Himself is most precious

Let us harken to our adorable Lord as He pours out His loving heart to this dear Philadelphian cos saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no th, and hast kept _My word_, and hast not denied _My naue of Satan”--those who take their stand on the boasted ground of traditionary religion--”which _say_ they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worshi+p before thy feet, and to know that _I have loved thee_”--precious, blessed fact, the basis and guarantee of all, for time and eternity!--”Because thou hast kept the word of My _patience_ [not My _power_], I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try the their home on the earth, in contrast to those whose citizenshi+p is in heaven)

The Lord Christ es Himself to keep His beloved asse upon this whole scene He will have His heavenly people with Hile seal is opened, a trumpet sounded, or a vial poured out All praise to His na, joyful hope! May we live in the power of it while ait for the full fruition!

But we must quote the remainder of this most exquisite address, so full of comfort and consolation ”Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown Him that overcometh will I o no more out: and I rite upon him the name of _My God_, and the name of the city of _My God_, new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven fro can exceed the grace that shi+nes in all this Jehovah spoke gracious words to His beloved remnant in the days of Malachi ”_They shall be Mine_,in that day when I make up _My jewels_; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth hihteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all _the proud_, yea, and all that _do wickedly_, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch But unto you that”--what? That have done great things, reat nahteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts” (Mal iii 17-iv

3)

There are points of similarity and points of contrast in the Jewish and Christian reo into just now, inas to both is to illustrate our special theme, namely, that in darkest days we find a devoted remnant dear to the heart of God, the heart of Christ, and who are addressed in theterms, comforted by the htest hopes This we believe to be the special subject laid upon the heart to present to the whole Church of God, for the purpose of encouraging every member of the beloved body of Christ on the face of the earth to stand apart from all that is contrary to His mind as revealed in His word, and to be found in the position, attitude and spirit of the true Christian re of our beloved Lord

I shall merely refer to one point which marks the distinction between the two remnants in the clearest way It is this: the Jewish rehteousness; whereas to the Christian ree of looking out for the bright andStar A little child can understand the difference between these two things Thebefore the sun rises; and in like ht and hteousness fall in healing power on the God-fearing remnant of Israel

And noord, in conclusion, as to Laodicea Nothing can bethan the contrast between it and Philadelphia in every respect We have here the last phase of the professing Christian body It is just about to be spewed out as so insufferably nauseous to Christ It is not a question of gross immorality It may to man's eye present a very respectable appearance; but to the heart of Christ its condition is most repulsive It is characterized by lukewarmness and indifference ”I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of MyChurch in such a condition!

And to think how soon we pass frorateful to the heart of Christ, so refreshi+ng to His spirit--to the withering at feature! We have heartless indifference as to Christ and His interests, coratulation ”Thou sayest, I a_; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thouof their riches, and of their having need of nothing, and Christ outside They have lost the sense of divine righteousness, syhteousness, as symbolized by ”white rais--the very reverse of the dear Philadelphian co There, Christ is all; here, He is actually outside, and the Church is all In a word, it is perfectly appalling to conteot to the last solemn phase of the Church as God's witness on the earth

Yet even here, in the face of this race and changeless love of the heart of Christ shi+ne out in all their undimmed lustre He is outside; this tells what the Church is But He is knocking, calling, waiting: this tells what He is, eternal and universal hoe to His name! ”As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” The gold, the white raiment and the eyesalve are offered Love has various offices to discharge, various characters in which to clothe itself; but it is the same love still--”the sah it has to ”rebuke and chasten” Here His attitude and His action speak volumes, both as to the Church and as to Himself

”Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: _if any man_ hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to _him_, and will sup with him, and _he with Me_”[6]

[6] Here it is not to the outside sinner, but to the professing Church the Lord hty appeal It is not Christ knocking at the door of the sinner's heart, (true as that is also), but at the door of those in the professing Church How telling! how suggestive! Oh,Christians ponder it!

In the church of Sardis the remnant is spoken of as ”a few names”; in Laodicea there is an ”if” as to one; but even if there be a single hearing ear, if there be one to open the door, that one is assured of the high privilege, the i that precious one as Guest and Host ”I with him, and he with Me” When the corporate witness has reached the very lowest point, individual faithfulness is rewarded with intimate fellowshi+p with the heart of Christ Such is the infinite and everlasting love of our beloved Saviour and Lord Oh, ould not trust Him and praise Him and love Him and serve Him?

And now, beloved Christian reader, I would earnestly and affectionately entreat you to join in petition to our ever-gracious God to stir up the hearts of His beloved people all over the world to seek a more pronounced, whole-hearted, devoted discipleshi+p; to turn away fro contrary to His word; to be true to His word and to His name in this dark and evil day; and thus realize the truth, which has passed before us in this paper, that _the greater the ruin, the richer the grace; the deeper the gloo of individual faith_

P S--I feel Ia word on the iospel testiiven by the beloved apostle from his prison at Rome to his dear son Ti Church; and truly the circu interest to thelad tidings of God's salvation Heto pieces, people will not listen to the gospel”--”will not endure sound doctrine”