especially as it may bear upon the personal glory of our Redeemer.  Love to Christ is often tested by an enlightened and firm adherence to the “truth as it is in Jesus,” when “false apostles will sell it for a mess of pottage.” (Prov. xxiii. 23; 2 Cor. xiii. 8.) The first promise here is of a temporal kind, of protection in time of general danger.  The “temptation” thus predicted may refer to some of those “ten persecutions” waged by the Roman emperors against the Christians, as that of Trajan in particular; but doubtless, like many other predictions, it was to have more than one fulfilment.  The expression, “all the world” does indeed sometimes mean the Roman empire, (Luke ii. 1;) but perhaps it would be rash to affirm, that it is to be always thus limited.  Like “the kingdom of heaven,—­the kingdom of God,”—­phrases which have unquestionably a two-fold signification, so it will be safer to consider this expression as of a similar kind.  All other churches would be exposed to trial, from which this one would be exempted.  The trial might consist of persecution, or the spreading of heretical principles and wicked practices, followed by apostacies.  At such a time of trial, a firm adherence to the “doctrines which are after godliness,” would be imperative duty, and the only way to secure the victor’s crown.  The gracious reward of fidelity here promised is a permanent and honorable place in the heavenly temple,—­the temple of Christ’s Father, whose name the citizen of the New Jerusalem should bear for ever, and should be known and recognised as “fellow-citizen with the saints.”  These names may be safely interpreted as importing, “son, daughter of the Lord Almighty, citizen of Zion, Christian.”  As “the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch,” so their gracious Master will “confess their names before his Father and the holy angels.” (Acts xi. 26; Rev. iii. 5.)

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.