ALL SAINTS' DAY. FOR THE EPISTLE. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thonsand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve Rev. vii., 2 to 12. thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand, 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 9 After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, | saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. The compilers of our liturgy, in selecting this portion of Scripture for the edification of churchmen, have evidently regarded it as a mystical description of the happiness of the blessed in glory, of those blessed, who, in all ages of the world and under all dispensations, have "through faith wrought righteousness, obtained promises'," and won the crown of life. And if this really be the purport of the vision which the beloved disciple was on this occasion, in spirit, permitted to see, there has been great judgment shown in the adaptation to the present festival of a portion of Scripture, which, although mysterious, is not incomprehensible, and although sublime, is not devoid of applicability to the uses of spiritual instruction. This festival is dedicated to "all saints," or in other words, is a commemoration, on a special day devoted to the purpose, of all 1 1 Heb. xi., 33. the true and holy men that have ever glorified God on earth, and have been called to give him glory and to be glorified in heaven. And this day's service does not only commemorate holy men departed, but holy beings above, beings whose nature is essentially spiritual, and whose chiefest glory it is to magnify “the glory which excelleth." And although this day's service is specially appointed to commemorate those true and holy men of God, who, in the days of the beloved disciple, had found their reward in heaven, yet must we not, I think, exclude those from the number, who, since his day, have lived in faith, and died in hope; men who, even if they have not, through so “much tribulation, entered into the kingdom of God," have yet been great in his kingdom, and shown, although they have not suffered for his sake, that "faith wrought with their works, and by works was their faith made perfect'." Of this glorious company of saints does the apostle Paul speak, when he says, "Ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and 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 of this glorious company of saints does the Church on earth speak, when, in their name, she says, "To thee all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein, to thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory. The glorious company of the apostles, praise thee; the goodly fellowship of the prophets, praise thee; the noble army of martyrs, praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee, the Father, of an infinite majesty, thine honourable, true, and only Son, also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter"." And now we may notice, at greater length, the applicability of the Epistle for the day to the subject in hand. And first, we should understand what is meant by "the seal,” which “the servants of God" are here said to have had "on their foreheads." In Ezekiel there is an account of a vision, in which six slayers, apparently about to enter on their work of destruction in the city, are commanded to stay their hand, until “a mark had been set on the foreheads of them that sighed and cried for all the 1 James ii., 22. Te Deum. 2 Heb. xii., 22, 23. 3 abominations done in the midst thereof1." And again, the blood on the lintel, when the first-born of Egypt were about to be destroyed, was actually a sign of safety to the Israelites, and the destroying angel, when he saw the sign, passed over their houses, and was not permitted to smite them". It thus appears, that to "set a seal" upon a person, signifies, in the language of Scripture, to afford him special safety and protection, probably on account of piety and faithfulness, in a season of manifold danger. In times not miraculous, like the present, it would signify an inward sense of comfort and trust in God implanted in the soul by the Holy Spirit, which would support in all dangers, and carry through all temptations, every true servant of God. The Holy Spirit, by imparting this heavenly support, gives the faithful disciple an actual assurance or token, that he claims him as his property, and will preserve him from harm. It is thus also that we may regard the vision in Ezekiel, and the transaction in Exodus. The Lord in both cases saved the faithful from destruction, and indicated his purpose by a sign. And in both cases he saved the faithful, because, as such, they were his property-sealed for security-marked for preservation. The faithful are especially the property of Jesus,—and once he has sealed them as his, "none can pluck them out of his hand3." They are "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise," and they are sealed "unto the day of redemption." It is thus, I think, that we may understand the command in this Epistle, to "seal the servants of God on their foreheads." The Lord thereby indicated that he would preserve his people from falling,—give them grace-keep them safely— and finally,-unless they were again "entangled in the pollutions of the world and overcome," give them everlasting felicity. And the Church of Christ on earth, that is, all the true Israel of God, wheresoever dispersed, is herein declared to have received the mystical sign, thus graciously revealed to it, of the divine love and appropriation. And then another scene opens, the vision of the Church in heaven, where a great multitude, which no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, and all the angels, and the elders, and the four beasts, appear before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands, and engaged in one glorious and unin2 Exod. xii., 23. 3 John X., 28. 1 Ezek. ix., 1, 2, 3, 4. Eph. i., 13. 4 5 Eph. iv., 30. terrupted service of worship, adoration, and praise. And hence does it appear, on a full and further consideration of the purport of the Epistle for the day, that it has, on the whole, been well chosen, and though apparently mysterious, and in some of its features inexplicable, is yet abundant in doctrine not only highly intelligible, but calculated to illustrate forcibly the peculiar character of the festival. Finally, let us turn all that portion of our subject which is intelligible, to a spiritual and practical use. This is "All Saints' Day." It is dedicated to the memory of all the saints that have been distinguished in the Church for piety, faithfulness, and stedfastness even unto death. Is it not then a day, on which all the baptized disciples of Christ, and all those true servants of a crucified Redeemer, who are "called to be saints'," and admonished to "follow holiness," should set about making the inquiry, whether they are or are not practically exemplifying the great doctrine of a "communion of saints?" The saints whom we commemorate to-day, although now saints in heaven, were formerly saints on earth,—and if we have any desire to be one with them, and to have them one with us, we must read their histories, and copy their examples. We must be "followers of them, as they were of Christ." We must be imitators of their walk on earth, and of their work in heaven. And for what were they especially remarkable? They were remarkable, when on earth, for the union they maintained amongst each other. "The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul." They lived, laboured, suffered, and prayed together. And they were remarkable for holiness. They were "blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom they did shine as lights in the world"." And they were remarkable for their ardour in praising God and glorifying him. "Whether they did eat or drink, or whatsoever they did, they did all to the glory of God." And in the vision of the beloved disciple they are similarly occupied in heaven. And behold the encouragement! If we will only believe and love and do service, as did the saints and as becometh the Gospel of Christ, the blood of the Lamb will "whiten our robes," and the power of the Spirit will enable us to triumph. We shall be assured, by his grace dwelling in us and working 1 Rom. i., 7. 2 Heb. xii., 14. 31 Cor. xi., 1. with us, of omnipotent protection and succour, and although Satan and his host encompass us, shall have a confident anticipation, that "the foundation of God standeth sure, bearing this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his1." And behold the other encouragement, the reward and occupation in heaven! And to this, as well as to the other, did the saints, whom we this day commemorate, attain, for they lived and died in faith. And their reward and occupation is to cry with a loud voice and say, "Salvation unto our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever!" Amen. GUNPOWDER TREASON.-Nov. 5. THE EPISTLE. Rom. xiii., 1 to 7. LET every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For, for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. This day the Church commemorates, with a solemn service, "the happy deliverance of King James I. and the three estates of England from the most traitorous and bloody-intended massacre by gunpowder, and also the happy arrival of his Majesty King William on this day for the deliverance of our Church and nation." In the course of the service, which is very full, an Epistle is appointed to be read, which lays down the duties of Christian subjects with clearness and precision. And the inculcation of these duties is most appropriate on such an anniversary. 1 2 Tim. ii., 19. |