as

attack them, see note ch. i. 16. It is with this
powerful sword that Antichrist shall be slain, and the
enemies of the church shall be finally subdued *.
The word of God, advancing in its purity, and gain-
ing dominion over the hearts and actions of men,
shall in due time expel idolatry, infidelity, and the
persecuting spirit of worldly policy and of insincere
religion †.
This "word of God" is described
having a living efficacy, "sharper than any two-edged
"sword," penetrating into the inmost parts of man ;
and it is represented as an object of terror to those
of the brethren, who, from an evil heart of unbelief,
shall apostatize from the living God §. And, in the
subsequent verse, the whole congregation is directed
to exhort each other daily, lest any of them be
hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Apply this to
the Church of Pergamos, which the members of it
might then have done, by having recourse to the same
Sacred Scripture.

Ver. 17. Hidden manna.] This expression will become intelligible, by the perusal of the 6th chapter of Saint John's Gospel from the 26th verse. Our Lord declares to the multitude, who followed him in the expectation of being miraculously fed, that he ☑ himself is the bread of life, the manna from heaven, which shall support those partaking of it to everlasting life: and when they could not, or would not, understand him in the spiritual sense which he intended, he tells them that he is to be understood in a figurative, and not in a literal meaning. "It is "the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth no"thing; the words that I speak to you, they are "Spirit, and they are Life." The "hidden manna" is this bread of life in its spiritual signification, of which the manna, free from corruption, laid up in the tabernacle, was only a type; namely, the benefits derived to the faithful followers of Christ by the offering of his body; forgiveness of sins and everlasting salvation. In the midst of a figurative discourse, our Lord presented his disciples with this plain interpretation : Verily, verily I say unto you, "he that believeth on me hath everlasting life; I

am that bread of life*." He who through faith in his crucified Redeemer, follows him in his victorious career, unmoved by the temptations or threats of the enemy, is by his Lord's appointment entitled to this food of heavenly life. But this "Life is hid

"with Christ in Godt." "It does not yet appear "what we shall be †." "Eye hath not seen, nor ear

heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, "the things which God hath prepared for those that "love him." Such appears to be the hidden manna, namely, the ineffable joys of a blessed immortality.

From the small remains of history, which are preserved to us of this church, she seems to have remembered these splendid promises of her Lord; for many of the Pergamenians underwent the fiery trial of martyrdom, at the time when Polycarp suffered at Smyrna ||.

Ver. 17. White stone.) Stones, ψηφοι, calculi, were used by the ancient nations, as the names import, to calculate and to vote with; and in criminal processes the white stone was the mark of acquittal, the * black one of condemnation :

Mos erat antiquus niveis atrisque lapillis;
His damnare reos, illis absolvere culpa*.

The white stone, presented to the conquering Christian, may be supposed to signify, "well done, "thou good and faithful servant." But this white stone is inscribed with characters; so were the ψηφι of the ancients. The letter with the Greeks was the token of condemnation; or, in a general sense, of disapprobation. So Persius;

Et potis es nigrum vitio præfigere Thetat.

But on this white stone, given by our Lord to his approved servants, was written a new name, which will be explained in the following note.

Ver. 17. A new name.] By the custom of nations, from the earliest ages, a person raised to dignity was + commonly invested with a new name or title, expressive of his deserts. Many instances occur in Scripture. It is the promise of God to Zion, that, becoming the glory and the light of the Gentiles, " she shall " be called by a new name, which the mouth of the "Lord shall name." He has promised also to the Eunuchs and Gentiles, who shall keep his covenant, "and love the name of the Lord, a place and a name "better than of sons and of daughters, an everlast"ing name which shall not be cut off §." Of this kind and nature is the new name or title, given by the Lord of Heaven to his elected servants. The

honour which they shall receive at his hands, when their spiritual warfare is accomplished, is beyond conception, and can only be known by being enjoyed.

PART I.

SECTION VII.

The Address to the Church in Thyatira.