Ver. 1. Unto the angel] This was Timothy, as some think; who not stirring up the gift of God that was in him, had remitted somewhat of his former fervour. By the style here given him (“angel”) he is monished not more of his dignity than of his duty. That angel at Bochim, Judges 2:1, is thought to have been Phineas. And some interpret that of Solomon, “Neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error of the priest,” Ecclesiastes 5:6. It is good counsel to ministers that one gives, Angelorum induistis nomen, induite et naturam, ne sit (ut digit nonnemo) nomen inane, crimen immane: Ye have put on the name, put on also the nature of angels; lest an empty name fill up the measure of your sins. Of the church of Ephesus] εφεσις or εφεσι. Languishing Ephesus hath not her name fo r nought; for she was so named of remissness or slackening her hold, wherewith she is here upbraided, Conveniunt rebus nomina saepe suis.
Ver. 2. I know thy works and thy labour] Not thy works only, but thy labour in doing them, and what ends thou puttest upon them. How accurately did our Saviour cast up and count how long the multitude had been with him, how little they had to eat, how ill it would fare with them if sent away fasting, &c., Matthew 15:32. And how thou canst not bear] Moved with a zeal of God, and having a stomach for him. Mihi sane Auxentius nunquam aliud quam diabolus erit, quia Arianus, saith Hilary: I shall look upon Auxentius as upon a devil, so long as he is an Arian.
Ver. 3. And hast borne] Bear the false apostles thou couldst not; but hast borne much from them. Morientium nempe ferarum violentiores sunt morsus. Beasts bite hardest when to bite their last.
Ver. 4. Thou hast left thy first love] Those first ripe fruits that Christ’s soul desireth, Micah 7:1, that kindness of youth, that spousal love, that God so well remembereth, Jeremiah 2:2. This Ephesus had left, and so became Aphesis, remiss and reckless, possessed with a spirit of sloth and indevotion. And surely he is a rare and happy man that can say in a spiritual sense (as it was said of Moses), that after long profession of zeal, his sight is not waxed dim, his holy heat not abated, that runs not retrograde, as did Solomon, Asa, others, with whom the end was worse than the beginning.
Ver. 5. From whence thou art fallen] viz. From thy former feelings and present fitness for God’s kingdom, Luke 9:62. And repent] See the practice of this second repentance in the relapsed spouse returning to her old husband, Song of Solomon 5:6. [See Trapp on “2Co 7:11”] See an excellent letter of the Lady Jane to that apostate Harding, sometime her chaplain, Acts and Mon. fol. 1292, and what sweet counsel Bradford afterwards gave the same Harding, lb. fol. 1564, besides the example of Mr Bartlet Green, martyr, fol. 1680. And do the first works] Begin the world again (as the Nazarite was to do that had broken his vow, Numbers 6), and, to set thee up afresh, make a gathering of prayers, and see that thy works be better at last than at first. And remove thy candlestick] Sins are the snuffs that dim our candlestick and threaten the removal of it. And surely if we repent not, a removal thereof may be as certainly foreseen and foretold as if visions and letters were sent us from heaven, as to these seven Churches. There is a prophecy in Thelesphorus, reported, that Antichrist shall never overcome Venice, nor Paris, nor London; but we have a more sure word of prophecy here. This nation is sick of a spiritual pleurisy; we begin to surfeit on the bread of life. When God sees his mercies lying under table, it is just with him to call to the enemy to take away. Except thou repent] Minatur Deus ut non puniat. God therefore menaceth, that men may be warned. As a bee stings not till provoked; so neither doth God punish till there be no remedy, 2 Chronicles 36:16. Currat ergo poenitentia, ne proecurrat sententia, saith one; mittamus preces et lacrymas cordis legatos, saith another. Haste, haste, haste, to meet the Lord with entreaties of peace; lest we be laid waste as Sodom and desolate as the people of Gomorrah, Isaiah 1:9.
Ver. 6. But this thou hast] That they might not say, when called upon to repent, Nay, but there is no hope, Jeremiah 2:25 18:12. Christ picks out that which is praiseworthy in them, and commends it. Despair carries men to hell, as the devils did the swine into the sea; cast not away therefore your confidence, &c. The works of the Nicolaitans] Who taught a community of wives, and that it was but a thing indifferent to commit adultery. (Irenaeus, Theod.)
Ver. 7. Let him hear] Not with that gristle only that grows upon his head, but with the ear of his heart. Let him draw up the ear of his heart to the ear on his head, that one sound may pierce both. Or, Let him hear what, &c., that is, Let him hear for himself, hear and know that (each member for his own good) that was delivered to the whole Church. To eat of the tree of life] This tree is Christ. The devil also (as he loves to be God’s ape) hath prompted Mahomet to promise to such as die in war for the Mahometan faith, delicious fare in Paradise, pleasant walks, and other sensual delights eternally to be enjoyed, notwithstanding any former sins.