The Decay of Love to God in Churches

Hez Wyllys Secr.

p. 1THE Decay of Love to GOD in Churches, Offensive and Dangerous.

REVELATION II.4.

Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy First Love.

THE Lord JESUS CHRIST, who is in the bosom of the Father, (Job. 1.18.) was fully acquainted as God, with all his Decrees & Counsels, being one with him in them, (Job. 10.30.) Yet as Man did not know them: But of that day & that hour, knoweth no man, no not the Angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father, Mark 13.32. Having received the Revelation contained in this Book from the Father, communicateth it by his Angel to his Apostle John, to be committed to writing p. 2& sent to his Churches. The Book is ◊◊◊◊ed, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, &c C◊◊p 1.v.1. (And it is observed by One, that as Moses the Favourite Prophet began the Scriptures, so John the Favourite Apostile finisheth them.) In this Book Jesus Chirst is represented, as carefuly observing his Churches and Ministers here one 〈…〉. He wal◊e◊h in the midst of the golden Candlesticks, & holdeth the Stars in his right hand, He knoweth their works & also their frames and dispositions. The Seven particular Epistles which he ordered to be writen to the Seven Churches in Asia, do especially manifest it. For tho' as some suppose, they may relate to the whole Church & shew its State in several spaces or periods, from the time they were written to the end of the world, Yet doubtless they have respect to and shew the State of th◊se particular Churches in that 〈…〉. The 〈…〉 are directed to the 〈…〉 of the Churches, i. e. to the Pastor or 〈…〉, As v. 1. Unto the Angel 〈…〉 Churches 〈…〉 &c Under whose Person ought to be underst◊◊d the whole Church. [〈◊〉] . To the Minister of that Church, by whom it should be in order produce◊ to the whole Assembly. [〈◊〉] And tho' it may appear 〈…〉 probable to them that p. 3are in the Episcoped Scheme, that those Angels were an order of Officers superior to Presbyters; there seems to be nothing forcible to persuade those of our Opinion, that they were any other than ordinary Pastors to whom the Epistles were written to be communicated to the Churches, as what they were concerned in as well as their Ministers. For the Apostle's first direction was to write & send to the Churches. Chao. 1.v. 11. And it is manifest from diverse expressions in the Epistles, & from the conclusion of every one of 'em, that there was respect had to the Churches in their contents; viz He that hath an ear, let him hear when tha Spirit saith unto the Churches—And indeed in them instruction, incouragement & warning, is given to the Churches in all succeeding ages. Our Text is a part of the Epistle written to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, in which we may take notice, p. 3I. Of the Author, JESUS CHRIST, as appareth by the description in the first verse. Not exclusive of the other Persons of the Holy Trinity; What Jesus Christ saith here, God saith; He speaketh to us by his Son: And he that loveth the One loveth the Other also, 1 Job. 5.1. And every one that loveth him that Begat, loveth him also that is Begotten of him. And we shall use the Names of p. 4GOD and JESUS CHRIST somewhat promiscously in the following discourse.

2. That Jesus Christ takes notice of & mentions several things which were good and praiseworthy: But faulteth them in the Text, which we shall now consider only as it hath respect to the Church of Ephesus. And in it we may observe,

(1) The Introduction, Nevertheless, i.e. Notwithstanding those good things which are in thee, which I do observe & have mention'd to thy praise; I am not satisfi'd with thee.

(2) But I have against thee; as it is in the Original, i. e. To accuse thee of & for which I am offended with thee; there seems to be Moises in the word, (somewhat) put in by the Translators, i. e. the thing is grievous & I am very angry with thee; as the severity of the Punishment threatned on impenitence intimateth, viz. And will remove thy Candlestick, &c. I will Un-church thee, I will remove the Gospel and the Privileges of a Church from thee, I will destroy thee from being a Church.

(3) The fault or ground of the Offence, viz. Because thou hast left thy first love, Thou art waxen cold and remiss in thy Love to God & one another, thy former Zeal & warmth in Religion is lost or left.

p. 5DOCT. Though there may be good things in Churches; yet if they have left their First Love, Jesus Chirst is Offended with them.

[Prop. I. Churches may have left their first love, tho' there are good things among 'em.

Prop. II. Jesus Christ is offended with them when it is so.]

PROP. I. Churches may have left their First Love, tho' there are good things among them.

p. 5I. Love is the great thing that God requireth of the Children of men. In Love to God is summ'd up all the Duty that we owe to him. This is the first & great Commandment, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God With All thy heart & with all thy soul & with all thy mind. And to love our Nei'bour is the sum of the Second Table of the Law. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy nei'bour as thy self. Mat. 22.37, 38. In loving our Nei'bour is virtually contain'd all the duty's we owe him, & therein we fulfil the Law relating to him. …