He is commanded to write to the Churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicia: rebuking them that err to penance by threatening, but praising the rest, and promising reward to him that overcometh: 15 detesting also the cold indifferent Christian. 20 He saith that God knocketh at the door of mens hearts by offering his grace, for to enter in to him that will open unto him by consent of free will.He is commaunded to write to the Churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicia: rebuking them that erre to penance by threatning, but praising the rest, and promising reward to him that ouercommeth: 15 detesting also the cold indifferent Christian. 20 He saith that God knocketh at the doore of mens hartes by offering his grace, for to enter in to him that wil open vnto him by consent of free wil.✦
And to the Angel of the Church of Sardis, write, Thus saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, I know thy works, that thou hast the name that thou livest, and thou art dead.AND to the Angel of the Church of Sardis, write, Thus saith he that hath the seuen Spirites of God, and the seuen starres, I know thy workes, that thou hast the name that thou liuest, and thou art dead.✦Et angelo ecclesiæ Sardis scribe : Hæc dicit qui habet septem spiritus Dei, et septem stellas : Scio opera tua, quia nomen habes quod vivas, et mortuus es.
2Be vigilant, and confirma: strengthen, make firm, not ratify or verify the rest of the things which were to die. For I find not thy works full before my God.Be vigilant, and confirme the rest of the things which were to die. For I finde not thy workes ful before my God.✦Esto vigilans, et confirma cetera, quæ moritura erant. Non enim invenio opera tua plena coram Deo meo.
3Have in mind therefore in what manner thou hast received and heard: and keep, and do poenitentiam: penitential satisfaction and amendment for sin, not mere inward repentance. If therefore thou watch not, I will come to thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come to thee.Haue in minde therfore in what maner thou hast receiued and heard: and keepe, and doe penance. If therfore thou watch not, * I wil come to thee as a theefe, & thou shalt not know what houre I wil come to thee.✦In mente ergo habe qualiter acceperis, et audieris, et serva, et pœnitentiam age. Si ergo non vigilaveris, veniam ad te tamquam fur et nescies qua hora veniam ad te.
4But thou hast a few names in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in in albis: white garments, because they are worthy.But thou hast a few names in Sardis, c which haue not defiled their garments: and they shal walke with me in whites, because they are worthy.✦Sed habes pauca nomina in Sardis qui non inquinaverunt vestimenta sua : et ambulabunt mecum in albis, quia digni sunt.
5He that shall overcome, shall thus be vested in white garments, and I will not put his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my father, and before his Angels.He that shal ouercome, shal thus be vested in white garmentes, and I wil not put his name out of the booke of life, and I wil confesse his name before my father, and before his Angels.¶✦Qui vicerit, sic vestietur vestimentis albis, et non delebo nomen ejus de libro vitæ, et confitebor nomen ejus coram Patre meo, et coram angelis ejus.
6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches.He that hath an eare, let him heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches.Qui habet aurem, audiat quid Spiritus dicat ecclesiis.
7And to the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia write, Thus saith the Holy one and the True one, he that hath the key of David: he that openeth, and no man shutteth: shutteth, and no man openeth.And to the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia write, Thus saith the Holy one and the True one, he that hath the * key of Dauid: he that openeth, and no man shutteth: shutteth, and no man openeth.✦Et angelo Philadelphiæ ecclesiæ scribe : Hæc dicit Sanctus et Verus, qui habet clavem David : qui aperit, et nemo claudit : claudit, et nemo aperit :
8I know thy works. Behold I have given before thee a door opened which no man can shut: because thou hast a little power, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.I know thy workes. Behold I haue giuen before thee a doore opened which no man can shut: because thou hast a litle power, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.✦Scio opera tua. Ecce dedi coram te ostium apertum, quod nemo potest claudere : quia modicam habes virtutem, et servasti verbum meum, et non negasti nomen meum.
9Behold I will give of the synagogue of Satan, which say they be Jews, and are not, but do lie. Behold I will make them come and adore before thy feet. and they shall know that I have loved thee.Behold I wil giue of the synagogue of Satan, which say they be Iewes, and are not, but doe lie. Behold I wil make them come and adore before thy feete. and they shal know that I haue loued thee.¶✦Ecce dabo de synagoga Satanæ, qui dicunt se Judæos esse, et non sunt, sed mentiuntur : ecce faciam illos ut veniant, et adorent ante pedes tuos : et scient quia ego dilexi te,
10because thou hast kept the word of my patience, and I will keep thee from the hour of tentationis: trial, testing, which shall come upon the whole world to tempt the inhabitants on the earth.because thou hast kept the word of my patience, and I wil keepe thee from the houre of tentation, which shal come vpon the whole world to tempt the inhabitants on the earth.✦quoniam servasti verbum patientiæ meæ, et ego servabo te ab hora tentationis, quæ ventura est in orbem universum tentare habitantes in terra.
11Behold I come quickly: hold that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.Behold I come quickely: hold that which thou hast, that no man take thy crowne.¶✦Ecce venio cito : tene quod habes, ut nemo accipiat coronam tuam.
12He that shall overcome, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God: and he shall go out no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, new Jerusalem which descendeth out of heaven from my God, and my new name.He that shal ouercome, I wil make him a piller in the temple of my God: and he shal goe out no more: and I wil write vpon him the name of my God, and the name of the citie of my God, new Hierusalem which descendeth out of heauen from my God, and my new name.✦Qui vicerit, faciam illum columnam in templo Dei mei, et foras non egredietur amplius : et scribam super eum nomen Dei mei, et nomen civitatis Dei mei novæ Jerusalem, quæ descendit de cælo a Deo meo, et nomen meum novum.
13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches.He that hath an eare, let him heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches.Qui habet aurem, audiat quid Spiritus dicat ecclesiis.
14And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicia write, Thus saith Amen, the faithful and true witness, which is the beginning of the creature of God.And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicia write, Thus saith c Amen, the faithful and true witnesse, * which is the beginning of the creature of God.✦Et angelo Laodiciæ ecclesiæ scribe : Hæc dicit : Amen, testis fidelis et verus, qui est principium creaturæ Dei.
15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold, nor hot. I would thou were cold, or hot.I know thy workes, that thou art neither colde, nor hote. I would thou were colde, or hote.✦Scio opera tua : quia neque frigidus es, neque calidus : utinam frigidus esses, aut calidus :
16But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.But because thou art lukewarme, and neither cold nor hote, I wil begin to vomite thee out of my mouth.¶✦sed quia tepidus es, et nec frigidus, nec calidus, incipiam te evomere ex ore meo :
17Because thou sayest, That I am rich, and enriched, and lack nothing: and knowest not that thou art a miser: a money-hoarder, stingy person; a wretched, pitiable creature, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.Because thou saiest, That I am riche, and enriched, and lacke nothing: and knowest not that thou art a miser, and miserable, and poore, and blinde, and naked.✦quia dicis : Quod dives sum, et locupletatus, et nullius egeo : et nescis quia tu es miser, et miserabilis, et pauper, et cæcus, et nudus.
18I counsel thee to buy of me gold fire-tried, that thou mayest be made rich: and mayest be clothed in white garments, that the confusion of thy nakedness appear not: and with eye-salve anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.I counsel thee to bye of me gold fire-tried, that thou maiest be made riche: and maiest be clothed in white garmentes, that the confusion of thy nakednes appeare not: and with eie-salue anoint thine eies, that thou maiest see.✦Suadeo tibi emere a me aurum ignitum probatum, ut locuples fias, et vestimentis albis induaris, et non appareat confusio nuditatis tuæ, et collyrio inunge oculos tuos ut videas.
19I, whom I love, do rebuke and chastise. Be zealous therefore and do penance.I, * whom I loue, do rebuke and chastise. Be zelous therfore and doe penance.✦Ego quos amo, arguo, et castigo. Æmulare ergo, et pœnitentiam age.
20Behold I stand at the door and knock. if any man shall hear my voice, and open the gate, I will enter in to him, and will cœnabo: dine, take the evening meal with him, and he with me.Behold I stand at the doore and knocke. if any man shal heare my voice, and open the gate, I wil enter in to him, and wil suppe with him, and he with me.✦Ecce sto ad ostium, et pulso : si quis audierit vocem meam, et aperuerit mihi januam, intrabo ad illum, et cœnabo cum illo, et ipse mecum.
21He that shall overcome, I will give unto him to sit with me in my throne: as I also have overcome, and have sitten with my father in his throne.He that shal ouercome, I wil giue vnto him to sitte with me in my throne: as I also haue ouercome, and haue sitten with my father in his throne.✦Qui vicerit, dabo ei sedere mecum in throno meo : sicut et ego vici, et sedi cum Patre meo in throno ejus.
22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches.He that hath an eare, let him heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches.✦Qui habet aurem, audiat quid Spiritus dicat ecclesiis.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
5He that shall overcome. In all these speeches to divers Bishops and their Churches, he continually encourageth them to constancy in faith and good life, by setting before their eyes the reward of the next life. And yet the Calvinists would have no man do good in respect of such reward.He that shal ouercome. In all these speaches to diuers Bishops and their Churches, he continually encourageth them to constancie in faith and good life, by setting before their eies the reward of the next life. And yet the Caluinists would haue no man do good in respect of such reward.
9Adore before thy feet. You see this word of adoration is in Scriptures used for worship of creatures also, and that to fall before the feet of holy men or Angels for duty and reverence, is not idolatry, except the proper honour due to God, be given unto them. See the Annotations upon the 19 & 22 Chapter concerning the Apostles prostration before the Angel. And the Adversaries evasion, saying that the adoration was of God only: and that, before the feet of the party, signifieth nothing else but, in his presence, is false and against the phrase of Scriptures. as 4 Reg. 4. where the Sunamite adored Eliseus, falling down before his feet, and 4 Reg. 2. the sons of the Prophets adored him in the same sort. and here this adoration can not be meant but of the Bishop or Angel of Philadelphia, because he promiseth this honour as a reward, and as an effect of his love towards him, saying, And they shall know that I have loved thee. And that which he saith in the 22 Chapter, I fell down to adore before the feet of the Angel: the very same he expresseth thus in the 19 Chapter, I fell before his feet to adore him: making it all one, to adore before his feet, and to adore him.Adore before thy feete. You see this word of adoration is in Scriptures vsed for worship of creatures also, and that to fall before the feete of holy men or Angels for duety and reuerence, is not idolatrie, except the proper honour due to God, be giuen vnto them. See the Annotations vpon the 19 & 22 Chapter concerning the Apostles prostration before the Angel. And the Aduersaries euasion, saying that the adoration was of God onely: and that, before the feete of the partie, signifieth nothing els but, in his presence, is false and against the phrase of Scriptures. as 4 Reg. 4. where the Sunamite adored Eliseus, falling downe before his feete, and 4 Reg. 2. the sonnes of the Prophets adored him in the same sort. and here this adoration can not be ment but of the Bishop or Angel of Philadelphia, because he promiseth this honour as a reward, and as an effecte of his loue towards him, saying, And they shal know that I haue loued thee. And that which he saith in the 22 Chapter, I fel downe to adore before the feete of the Angel: the very same he expresseth thus in the 19 Chapter, I fel before his feete to adore him: making it al one, to adore before his feete, and to adore him.
11That no man take thy crown. That is, his crown of everlasting life and glory, if he persevere not to the end in faith & good works: otherwise an other shall enter into his place, as Mathias did both to the dignity of the Apostleship, & to the heavenly crown due for the well using and executing of the same function: which Judas might and should have had, if he had persevered to the end. and as the Gentiles came into the grace and place of the Jews. Other difficulties concerning this kind of speech are resolved in Schoolmen, and are not here to be stood upon.That no man take thy crowne. That is, his crowne of euerlasting life and glorie, if he perseuere not to the end in faith & good workes: otherwise an other shal enter into his place, as Mathias did both to the dignitie of the Apostleship, & to the heauenly crowne due for the wel vsing and executing of the same function: which Iudas might and should haue had, if he had perseuered to the end. and as the Gentiles came into the grace and place of the Iewes. Other difficulties concerning this kinde of speache are resolued in Schoolemen, and are not here to be stoode vpon.
16Lukewarm. Zeal and fervour is commendable, specially in Gods cause: and the Neuters that be neither hot nor cold, are to Christ and his Church burdenous and loathsome, as lukewarm water is to a mans stomach, provoking him to vomit. and therefore he threateneth to void up such Neuters out of his mouth.Lukewarme. Zeale and feruour is commendable, specially in Gods cause: and the Neuters that be neither hote nor cold, are to Christ and his Church burdenous and lothsome, as lukewarme water is to a mans stomake, prouoking him to vomite. and therfore he threateneth to void vp such Neuters out of his mouth.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.