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 of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect—­a column in a scene of ruins—­a pleasing example that the path of honor and safety may sometimes be the same.”  Vol.  VI., p. 229.

    14.  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;
    These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
    beginning of the creation of God;

    15.  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:  I
    would thou wert cold or hot.

    16.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
    I will spue thee out of my mouth.

    17.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods,
    and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art
    wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

18.  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 eye salve, that thou mayest see.

    19.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:  be zealous
    therefore, and repent.

    20.  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.

    21.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
    throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father
    in his throne.

    22.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
    the churches.

Laodicea was one of the wealthiest cities of Asia Minor.  It was built upon some low hills, and occupied an important situation in the center of a very fertile district.  It was famous for its money transactions and for the beautiful soft wool grown by the sheep of the country, which facts are both alluded to in the message.  Verses 17, 18.  During the reign of Tiberius Caesar it was entirely destroyed by an earthquake, but its wealthy inhabitants rebuilt it immediately.  A Christian church was soon planted there; for Paul makes the request that his epistle to the Colossians be read in the church of Laodicea and that his epistle to the church of Laodicea (which was not included in the New Testament canon) be read unto them.  Col. 4:16.