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Mr. Lindsay: "I quitted Alah-shehr, deeply disappointed at the statement I received there of the "church of Sardis. I trusted that in its utmost "trials, it would not have been suffered to perish utterly; and I heard with surprise, that not a "vestige of it remained. With what satisfaction "then did I find on the plains of Sardis, a small "church establishment! The few Christians who "dwell around modern Sart, were anxious to settle "there, and erect a church, as they were in the “habit of meeting at each other's houses, for the "exercise of religion: from this design they were "prohibited by Kar' Osman Oglu, the Turkish go

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vernor of the district, and in consequence, about "five years ago, they built a church upon the plain, "within view of ancient Sardis, and there they "maintain a priest. The place has gradually risen "into a little village, now called Tatar-keny : "thither the few Christians of Sart, who amount to seven, and those in its immediate vicinity, resort "for public worship, and form together, a congrega"tion of about forty. There appears then still a "remnant, a few names even in Sardis which have "been preserved."

Many churches and private Christians, it is to be feared, fall under the character of the church of Sardis; and only have a name to live, while they are dead. May all such listen to the compassionate language of the Saviour, be watchful, and strengthen the things which are ready to die! May it be the concern of all who name the name of Christ, to emulate the distinguished honour of those few names in Sardis who had not defiled their garments! Thus they will walk with Christ in white, and arrive at that happy state of everlasting purity, felicity, and joy, which their divine Saviour hath encouraged them to expect. Thus their names will remain in the book of life, and at the last great day will be confessed by Christ before his Father, and all the holy angels.

SECTION VII.

Epistle to the Church of Philadelphia.

Chap. iii. 7-13.

AND to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things 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; 8. I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. the earth. 11. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Philadelphia is distant from Sardis about twentyseven miles to the south-east. This city, in the time of Strabo, a little before the date of the Revelation, had been frequently visited by earthquakes. On this account it was greatly deserted by its inhabitants. This may perhaps account for the poverty of its church; and its poverty may in some degree

account for its excellency. It is remarkable, that in this epistle neither censure, nor reproof, nor threatening, forms any part of our Lord's address. The whole consists of commendation, exhortation, and promise. Christ here styles himself, "He that "is Holy," and "He that is True;" or the Holy One and the True One. This is one of the numerous proofs which the Scriptures contain of the divinity of Christ; for what creature could with any propriety speak of himself in such language as this? The Saviour also describes himself as "He that hath "the key of David; that openeth, and no man "shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth." Our Lord informs this church, that he knew and approved of their works, and had set before them an open door of access into the family and kingdom of God, and an open door of usefulness in spreading his Gospel. The Philadelphians were not eminent for wealth or worldly honours; nor were they distinguished for such gifts and talents as were bestowed upon other churches: but they had a little strength, and of this they appear to have made a good use. They were upright in their profession of Christianity, they stood firm under persecution, and they were using the influence and abilities they possessed in promoting the success of the Gospel. The Christians at this time met with much opposition and persecution from the Jews; and it appears that this was particularly the case with the church of Philadelphia. But the Jews who rejected the Messiah no longer deserved the name of Jews; they are therefore here designated as belonging to the synagogue of Satan. But the Lord promised these humble and faithful professors of the Gospel, that he would constrain those persecuting opposers to come and submit themselves to them in the most humiliating manner. Perhaps the unexpected success of the Gospel in Philadelphia rendered the

Christians so powerful, that the Jews were glad to receive their protection from the rage of the multitude, by which vast numbers of them were frequently massacred in those turbulent times. It has also been conjectured, as the language seems to imply, that many of them were converted to the Gospel by those events. As the Philadelphians had kept the word of Christ in constancy and patience, he promised to keep them "from the hour of tempta"tion, which should come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." This is supposed by some to refer particularly to the violent and general persecution of Trajan; when they should be sheltered from the fury of this tremendous storm, and should not be so severely tried as many other churches were. But as this city was the last of all the seven churches taken by the Mahomedans, and as there has been a succession of Christians there in every generation to the present time, others have applied this promise to their preservation from that delusion which almost extirpated Christianity from these regions. Gibbon, the infidel historian, has given a particular account of the captivity or ruin of the seven churches in Asia, which was consummated by the Ottomans, with the exception of Philadelphia, A. D. 1312; and observes, that "Philadelphia alone has been saved by prophecy or courage. At a distance from the sea, forgotten by "the emperors, encompassed on all sides by the Turks, her valiant sons defended their religion "and freedom above fourscore years, and at length "capitulated with the proudest of the Ottomans. Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect, a column in a scene of "ruins, a pleasing example that the paths of honour "and safety may sometimes be the same." Such is the language of this insidious writer, who sneers at the prophecy, while he records and illustrates its

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fulfilment. The members of this church are next exhorted to look for the coming of their Lord, and to hold fast the truth which they had received, that no one might through any temptation or terror deprive them of the victor's crown. The promise to him that overcometh, is, that he should be a pillar in the temple of God above, and that he should never be removed from thence. Upon this pillar the Saviour promised that he would write the name of his God, that all might know to whom it belonged, and to whose glory it was erected. This imagery is undoubtedly taken from the custom of inscribing on stately columns, the name and exploits of the person to whose memory they were dedicated. He would also write upon it "the name of the city "of his God," whom in his human nature he worshipped and served. This city is called the new Jerusalem, in distinction from the literal Jerusalem. It is of heavenly origin, and derives its glory from the beatific vision of God. The Lord engaged also to write upon him his own new name, that of Immanuel, Jesus, Redeemer, which he has assumed in addition to his former titles, Creator, Upholder, and Lord of all worlds. The whole language evidently implies that the victor should be considered and regarded as a son of God, who should inherit all things.

The city of Philadelphia is still a place of some consequence in respect to trade and external advantages, being on the road of the Persian caravans. It is called by the Turks Alah-shehr, or the beautiful city. In respect to Christianity, there yet remain in this place some surviving fruits of early zeal. "Here," says Mr. Lindsay, "whatever may be lost of the spirit of Christianity, there is still the form of a "Christian church-this has been kept from the "hour of temptation which came upon all the "Christian world. There are here about a thou