aiment, is therefore
to be accepted of the Saviour.

To blot one's name out of the book of life, is to erase his title to
heaven. The figure seems to be an allusion to the ancient custom of
enrolling in a book the names of all free citizens. If their names were
confessedly written there, they were entitled to all the privileges and
immunities of citizenship; but if blotted out, they had forfeited these.
"They that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written
in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the
beast that was, and is not, and yet is," 17:8. Moses said, if God would
not forgive Israel, "blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast
written," Ex. 32:32. Of his enemies, David said, "Let them be blotted out
of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous," Ps.
67:28. Those only enter the New Jerusalem, "which are written in the
Lamb's book of life," 21:27.

The church in Sardis, has long been utterly extinct; and what remains of
the city is a miserable Turkish village.

Epistle to the Church in Philadelphia.

"And to the messenger of the congregation in Philadelphia write:
These things saith the Holy, the True One, he who hath the key of
David, he who openeth, and no one shutteth; and shutteth, and no
one openeth: I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an
open door, and no one can shut it; for thou hast a little
strength, and hast held fast my word, and hast not denied my name.
Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they
are Jews, and are not, but who lie; behold, I will make them come
and bow down before thy feet, and know that I have loved thee.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of trial, which will come on all the world, to
try those, who dwell on the earth. I come quickly: hold fast that
which thou hast, that no one take thy crown. I will make him, who
overcometh, a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out
no more: and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name
of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, (which cometh down out
of heaven from my God:) and my new name. He, who hath an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit saith to the congregations."--Rev. 3:7-13.

The church of Philadelphia had maintained her integrity, and is therefore
addressed in the language of