AI Sî ;AlTevelatton ofthe Apocalypfe. CA.r, 2. thMgui_ were augmented, all things being diligently fought for that might' "' rather ferve for pomp, then for the truth. Whichkindeof matters, EpheCus. p l' while men did bend all their forceunto,thegolden candle/tack, which worthily had the chief praife among the candlefiicks, was removed out of his place. This thing will be made more deer then the noon- day,or light, in the reff of this Book of the Revelation. In the mean time let thofe men fee how ill they provide for themfelves and the truth, who think all that to be right and (freight, which they read to have been in ufe in there times. Let them rather gó to that entire age, wherein the candleftickí ood in his own place; the which, after it was thruft into a place was. none of his own, was overwhelmed with darkneffe, fo far off was it from being able to give light to others. 6. But this thou hdit33,&c. This alfo.is offorce to fharpen their earnefy care. They might havebeen proud, by reafon of their pre- fent felicity, as if their godlineffe had gotten them that. It is not fo (faith the holy Ghoft) but the reafon why thy punifliment is fomewhat Plaid from coming prefently, is not becaufe thy faithfulneffe and dil?- Bence are approved ofGod,but onely becaufe of Gods mercy,whicii moveth. himto fpare thee, for that little good which thou haft {tilt left in thee. For even as he would not have dcflroyed Sodome, if ten righteousmen hadbeenfound in her,fo his anger loth not burn out againfl: his fervants, as long -as there is any hope left of their coming togood: There was then fore little matter that hindred hint from tranflating the candleflickout of hand,fo as he would not fuller it to have any place of aboad amongfk them. But what fmall thing was this?Truly even this,that hehated the Works of the Nicolaitan.r, that is9 ofthofe,ofwhom Nicholaa of Antiochia was the Ringleader, he.thatt had been fometime one of the fèven Deacons, Ac1-.6. who raughr,thát Wives ought to be common, andthat. it Was but an indifferent thing to° commit adultery, as Ireneue,Theodoret, and others do write. For that. which Clemens of Alexandria faith, that this herefie was rather to be imputed to the paughtinefs ofhis followers, who drew the facF& and Paying ofNicholas , which did onely tend to clearehimfelfeof the fault of jealoufie, wtih which he was charged and upbray ded unto this abhominable licenfioufnefs, it fcarce feemeth to be likely. For Johnwould have faved the credit ofthe man,and would have na- med the true captainof fo great a difhoneffy, and neither would he have fuffered his name to have been falfly abufed by wicked men. The e.4'n elof F.phefas then was cleave from the contagion of this, wicked-.
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