administered by him in person, that is, in invisible humanity, as "Son of Man," acting in and by the

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human nature; for so will he as SEED OF THE WOMAN" bruise the serpent's head, and shew that he is appointed heir of all things in virtue of his humiliation and obedience unto death. As then the believer values the sufferings of Christ, so should he value this prospect of His kingdom and glory, when " He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied;" by which, as I have before said, the true answer is given to those his enemies who make his humiliation an argument against his divinity, in that "at the name of Jesus"—not, observe, the name of God in the abstract, but the name of God as embodied and manifested in the man Christ Jesus,-" at the name "of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, "and things in earth, and things under the earth, and "every tongue confess him Lord,"-not to the disparagement but-" to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. ii. 10, 11.)

And the crown, which in its bestowment is thus special as it respects Christ, is also special as it respects those who shall then reign with him. This glory follows his sufferings; because he suffered he reigns: and, in conformity with this rule, they who shall reign with him must have suffered with him also. "That I may know "him" (says the Apostle)," and the power of his resurrec

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tion, and the fellowship of his sufferings; being made conformable to his death, if by any means I might ttain unto the resurrection of the dead:" (Phil. iii.

Of what resurrection does he speak? Of the

general resurrection?

No: of that all shall be partakers.

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But of a special resurrection (euváσraois) with a special qualification. Else, what mean the words, "If by ANY MEANS I might attain ?" What means THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS?" And thus, the prospect of the millennial crown was designed to keep the Church faithful in its relation to the world;-designed to keep it a suffering Church, because a Church militant; a Church conformed to Christ in his cross, because conformed to him in his testimony to the truth for which he suffered.

In a time of persecution-and that such a time is near no believer in the yet future revelation of Antichrist can doubt-the influence of this prospect would be felt in its full force. How will the words, "I saw "the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness "of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not "worshipped the Beast, neither his image, neither had "received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their "hands, and THEY lived and reigned with Christ a "thousand years,"-How will these words thrill on the ears of those who shall be called to witness against Antichrist? How will they be comforted, how encouraged, by this promise!* What a text this for the preacher addressing his flock, assembled again it may chance, as aforetime, in "the deserts, the mountains,

* Which also accounts for the martyrs being particularly mentioned in this book in connexion with this privilege: for, the Apocalypse being the prophecy of the last crisis, its promises have also special reference to it.

the dens and caves of the earth!"

Then shall there be

no more question as to the practical influence of this blessed hope; and only happy will the Church be if it has in that day those who will know how to administer to it the consolation of these promises, to hold out to it "the light which shineth in a dark place until the day "dawn, and the day-star arise," the light of " the sure word of prophecy!" And, blessed be God, such a ministry seems now to be preparing, by the revival amongst us of the scriptural expectation of the Lord's coming.

In conclusion-Of the first five verses of chap. xxii. which I have read with chap. xxi. as a continuation of its subject,-of "the river of water of life, clear as "crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the "Lamb," and " the tree of life which bare twelve manner "of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month,”—I have nothing to say in the way of explanation except this one word: that if it be true that "the Tree of Life" ranked as the highest blessing of Paradise, and to be debarred of it was one of the worst consequences of the Fall, I cannot see why we should not receive literally this promise of its restoration; nor why, in reading this and the other descriptions now before us of "the heavenly city," its "gates, foundations, streets, &c." we should be ever on the stretch to search out mystical interpretations. I may indeed seem to be presumptuous, and to arrogate to myself too much of knowledge or superior judgment in asserting them to be literal in opposition to the opinion of so many: but, I must be

allowed to say, he arrogates to himself more who asserts them to be figurative. For, to say they can only be fulfilled figuratively requires us to be aware of the fitness of things, of what can and what cannot consist with our future state of glorified existence: while to take them literally only requires us to receive simply what is written, confessing ourselves incompetent judges of what is or is not suitable. Let this conviction-let the feeling that we know nothing of ourselves, bring us oftener in supplication before the throne of grace for increased light and knowledge, and cause us to plead with greater earnestness the gracious promise-"If any "of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth "to all men liberally, and upbraideth not: and it shall "be given him."

LECTURE TWENTY-FOURTH.

THE CONCLUDING CHARGE.

REVELATION. Chap. xxii. 6-end. "And he said unto me, These things are faithful and true : and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7. Behold, I come quickly blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 8. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them that keep the sayings of this book: Worship God. 10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand. 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morn