“And to the messenger of the congregation in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Ruler of the creation of God: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wast cold or hot. So, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will cast thee out of my mouth: because thou sayest, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried by fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and to anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chastise: be fervent therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any one heareth my voice, and openeth the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he shall sup with me. To him, who overcometh I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and have sat down with my Father in his throne. He, who hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the congregations.”—Rev. 3:14-22. By his titles of truth and verity, the Saviour prepares the Laodiceans for the humiliating threatenings, which are uttered against them. By that of “the beginning of the creation of God,” is indicated Christ’s kingship as head and governor of all; and hence the authority on which his declarations are founded. The Laodiceans seemed to have been very well satisfied with their own condition, without possessing any very marked characteristics. They were neither good, nor very wicked; but supposed that they abounded in all spiritual wealth, when they were destitute of all the Christian graces. They could not appreciate their own condition; and not realizing their need, were unlikely to heed the counsel given them, and therefore they have long since ceased to have a name and a place on the earth. Says Gibbon: “The circus and three stately temples of Laodicea, are now peopled with wolves and foxes.” The great majority of them seemed to have become unworthy even of the chastisement which God bestows on those he loves. “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty,” Job 5:17. “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord: neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth,” Prov. 3:11, 12. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him,” Jas. 1:12.