and declared righteous:] for they are [in my sight] worthy [of it; as having kept themselves white, or undefiled.]
11 Excellent persons, and therefore known by Name, as Exod. 33.12. God is said to know Moses by Name; that is, after a special and particular manner. Or it is a Metaphor, either from Moses's taking the Names of the Children of Israel, Numb. 3.40, 43.26, 53, 54. or from the High priests bearing their Names upon the Stones on his Breast-plate; which being the Foundation Stones of the New Jerusalem, (Chap. 21.) the Names written on them, may be put to signifie Excellent, A∣postolical Members of the Church.
But here we are to note, that these Excellent and undefiled persons, were but a few; and therefore it is dangerous to fol∣low the Majority, or Multitude of this Church, according to what is observed concerning the Sardian Stone that it hath but a very little of a pale or white colour mixt with its red.
12 Or shining Garments, (Matth. 17.2.) which were such as Kings used to wear, and bestow upon their Favourites; whereby also Chearfulness and Innocence is signified, and Pu∣rity and Righteousness, Eccles. 9.8. Rev. 19.8.
And from this Verse we may observe, That this Church may be Communicated with without sin; there being some of its Members (although a few) who remain in it, without being defiled: and that the whole Church is spoken to, and is said to have those Exellent Names, and the undefiled Names are not blamed for having, or suffering the corrupt, as in Pergamus, and Thyatira; which are manifest Indications, that Sardis is not an Apostatical, but a True, and a Reformed Church.
5 He that overcometh [the Corruptions of this State] the same shall be clothed in white Raiment [Vers. 4. Rev. 19.8.] and I will not blot 13 out his Name out of the Book of Life [i. e. he shall be enrolled amongst the Members of my Kingdom, Dan. 12.1. Rev. 13, 7.17, 8.20, 12, 15.21, 27.22, 19.] but I will 14 confess his Name before