exercised by angels would afterwards be exercised by the saints, but other scriptures to the like effect.

Thus we may conclude that the symbolic beings and lamps of fire symbolized the collective body of Christ's church in Paradise, the spirits of just men made perfect; and as indicated by the four and twenty elders having each of them vials full of incense, stated to be the prayers of saints, corresponding with the incense-offering of the Jewish priesthood, and one of the elders bidding John not to weep, when disappointed by the prospect of the sealed book remaining closed, and another of the elders showing him the palm-bearing multitude, and on each of the first four seals being opened, each of the living creatures in turn inviting him to "come and see," we may also conclude that they were even then, and are now, actively engaged in the employments denoted by their several characteristics, and thus the fittest agents, as members of the same family, to afford information, when needed, to the Evangelist, especially as the voice of an unseen one is heard from time to time, as if superintending and avoiding the possibility of error in the Evangelist's record, and adding such other information as could be afforded only by the divine mind.

Another interesting subject for thought here suggests itself as to the angelic influences operating around us in the world; but this, like the former suggestion, not being within the scope of our enquiry, will be also left for private judgment. That the collective body of the church, though thus represented under different characteristics, was here symbolized, is further shown by their own testimony, their new and united song being, chap. v. 9, "For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made us unto our God kings and priests"; and surrounded as they were by angels, numbering ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, a heavenly company was before the eye of the Evangelist, corresponding so exactly with the magnificent assemblage described by Paul to the Hebrew Christians and scene too, as we shall see directly-that we cannot more correctly or advantageously sum up our review

of the vision than in his very words, Heb. xii. 22-24, "But ye are come unto Mount Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to the general assembly of the church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and an innumerable company of angels, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant."

Such an exact description, dictated by the Holy Spirit to one Apostle, of a scene to be visibly represented to another forty years after, could not be accidental, and forces us to exclaim, "Surely holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost"; and if we further connect these heavenly witnesses of the impending revelation with the same Apostle's declaration-Eph. iii. 9, 10, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ-to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be made known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God," we may equally exclaim, "Surely no scripture is of private, or rather, separated interpretation."

Having thus acquainted ourselves with the august company assembled, a similar acquaintance is desirable with the scene and scenic accompaniments of the drama about to be enacted; for the wisdom of God and God's truth was not, as heretofore, to be now made manifest by a simple reading from a book, or by verbal testimony, but by a succession of living pictures; and from the detailed notifications of the imagery employed, given during the progress of the figurations, we may gather :

That a symbolic temple was visible corresponding with the old Jewish Tabernacle, having a sanctuary, with its Holy of Holies, as marked by the throne of God and the Ark of the Covenant; with, also, its Holy Place, marked by the golden altar of incense and the seven burning lamps; with this difference, however, that there is now no veil, the absence of which is very striking, for the veil having been rent at Christ's death, and the way opened into the Holiest, the propriety of its omission from a symbolic picture of a

Christian church will readily be seen. The Temple has also its altar-court, with an altar of sacrifice, and also an outer court, corresponding to that attached to Solomon's Temple. In close proximity is Mount Zion and its Holy City, apparently together with the Temple raised above, but not wholly detached from, the earth, which, with its sea and rivers, are visible in connected landscape, and seen to be subjected to storms, earthquakes, and other phenomena. A firmament above, with its sun, moon, and stars, is also apparent.

And when we consider the difficulty attending an intelligible prefiguration of the world's history through centuries to come, with its ecclesiastical and secular subjects intermingling, we shall not be surprised to find that the agencies of heaven as well as earth were brought into requisition, nor can we withhold our admiration of the powers of the Divine mind, when we see how remarkably those agencies, combined with the distinctive character of the symbols employed, tended to remove such difficulty, and to make the things prefigured clear to the understanding as well as the eye of the Apostle.

To indicate the nature of any figurations or allusions relating to the Church, there was the symbolic temple-its Holy of Holies, with God himself, and the celestial company around the throne, already noticed, furnishing a fitting place to denote by what passed therein the true character of God's providence in the world; as also its Holy Place, to denote the character of any notifications respecting the spirituality of the worship on earth, as seen and estimated by God -its altar court, in which to characterise the public worship as observable on earth, and an outer court attached to, but not of it, by which to signify the rejection from the true church of any, should such there be, bearing the Christian name, but apostate in spirit. To denote the polity and citizenship of Christ's true church there was the symbolic Mount Zion and its Holy City. To denote the polity and citizenship of those who were of the earth, earthy, there was the fit locality of the earth itself, with its great City. To denote ecclesiastical or secular powers there were the

ready symbols, as in other prophecies, of the firmamental luminaries. To denote foreign invasions, there were the equally ready symbols of storms and other phenomena, as also of earthquakes, to denote ecclesiastical or political commotions and revolutions; and the landscape itself, to afford a facility not only to denote the effect produced thereby, but the particular locality also, so affected.

The importance of retaining this scenic arrangement in our minds will soon appear, especially as to the temple sanctuary and courts, for much, otherwise difficult, will, by reference thereto, become easy of comprehension, and the judgment of the Divine mind on matters of religious doctrine prevailing at any particular period be unmistakably obtained. The opening scene is in the sanctuary. A book is in the right hand of Him who sat upon the throne, containing the promised Revelation. It is written within and without, and is sealed with seven seals. A strong angel proclaims, with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" And when no man was found able to open the book, or to look thereon, John, in his representative character of the Christian churches, weeps much, when he is told by one of the elders, "Weep not, behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David (mark the care with which the title thus connected him with early prophecy) hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof." Whereupon the Lamb takes the book out of the right hand of Him who sat upon the throne, and prepares to open the seals. The acclamations of the assembled company, with all creation joining, are at once heard to burst forth, saying-"Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto Him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever." The four living creatures say, "Amen!" and the four-and-twenty elders worship Him that liveth for ever and ever-a scene bringing vividly before us another of Paul's earlier declarations Phil. ii. 8-11, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; wherefore God hath highly exalted him, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in

heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The inspiration of the Apocalypse may be now claimed to be proved by internal evidence; but if not so thought, more proof is ready, which will include that of date also.

THE FIRST SEAL.

Rev. vi. 1, 2. A.D. 98-180.

THE burst of acclamation and praise having subsided, the first seal is opened by the Lamb; a noise as of thunder is heard, and one of the four living creatures inviting John to come and see. He saw and beheld "a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer."

You will remember the statement at the commencement of this lecture, "that events following immediately the seeing of the visions, and agreeing well with the commencing symbols of the prefigurations would be laid before you, and should you thus, at the very outset, be satisfied by the fitness of the application, how much the more as seal after seal, trumpet after trumpet, and vial after vial, consecutively in their recorded order, are successively illustrated by events occurring chronologically in the same order in the world."

The former part of this statement having now to be tested, careful attention is required to prevent our being insensibly drawn by any error attractively disguised into a state of mind prepared to receive, without strict examination, that which is to follow; and whilst bestowing this attention also bear in mind the statement which succeeded it-"As the correspondence between the figurations and the events are too complete to be unrecognised, the only question open for difference of opinion is whether the events are these intended to be prefigured."