could be defined: they taught that the thousand years signified the whole period which would intervene between the first Advent of Christ and the full Revelation of Antichrist *. Let me now say a few words in conclusion, especially to you, my younger hearers. First let us here adore the might and majesty of Christ. He has come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in His hand, and has bound Satan. Behold Him then, as a glorious Conqueror, triumphing over our deadly foe. Therefore, let us rejoice. His victory is ours. If we are true to Christ, we are invincible. Though your path in this world may be beset with dangers, though it be like the journey in the wilderness,— that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents and scorpions †,-yet Jesus, the Captain of * Haymo ad loc. Millenarius numerus pro perfectione rei ponitur; in hoc tempore ligatus est Diabolus in abysso, id est in cordibus infidelium, ubi latet et regnat usque ad adventum Antichristi, quando solvetur de suo carcere et procedet ad apertas blasphemias et persecutiones. Et mille quidem anni, quantum ad electos pertinet, omne tempus istius vitæ significant usque ad finem sæculi; quantum autem ad reprobos, usque ad adventum Antichristi.-Aquinas ad Rev. xx. Per mille annos: id est, per universum tempus a passione Christi usque ad tempus Antichristi. Numerus enim millenarius est perfectus : per mille annos signatur totum tempus quo colligitur et successivè impletur numerus electorum; pòst vero animæ simul cum corporibus regnabunt. Deut. viii. 15. your Salvation, goes before you. He breaketh the heads of the dragons in the waters, and smiteth the heads of Leviathan in pieces*. He goeth upon the lion and the adder; the young lion and the dragon He treadeth under His feet: yes, and He giveth you the power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you ‡, if you be followers of that which is good §. Therefore, let nothing affright you. Welcome difficulty, welcome danger, welcome death, if they bring you to Christ! Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou, O Lord, art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me []. You have all been baptized into the spiritual Body of Christ, which is His Church; you have thus been "made members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.” Blessed therefore, so far, are ye; for you have been admitted to have part in the first Resurrection **. But remember, the words are, Blessed and holy is he who hath part in the first Resurrection. You cannot be blessed ††, unless you are holy. You *Ps. lxxiv. 13. Luke x. 19. || Ps. xxiii. 4. † Ps. xci. 13. § 1 Pet. iii. 13. ** Haymo ad loc. Felix est qui dum adhuc vivit in corpore a morte animæ resurgit; ille post in carne feliciter resurget, qui in hâc vitâ a mentis suæ morte resurrexit. + Bede ad loc. Beatus, qui servaverit, quo renatus est. cannot have a permanent part in the first Resurrection unless you walk in newness of life. If ye are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above *. It is vain for you to have been born into Christ, unless you live with Christ, in Christ, and for Christ. Nay, it is worse than vain; for, if having been born again, you fall back into the death of sin,-if having been delivered from the fetters of Satan, you make yourself the slave of him who is Christ's prisoner, you revolt from Christ, and crucify the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame t. Then Christ Himself has said of you, Your last state is worse than the first ‡. Then your lot will not be in the first Resurrection,-but in the second Death. Remember therefore, we earnestly intreat you, now while you have time, from what death you have been quickened, and into what life. Reckon ye yourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord §. Mortify your members that are upon the earth ||. Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, that ye should obey the lusts thereof; but yield yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead ** Remember that you have been exalted to heavenly places with Christ. While you look upon Christ sitting at the right hand of God, you see yourselves. * Col. iii. 1. || Col. iii. 5. Heb. vi. 4. 6. § Rom. vi. 10. ** Rom. vi. 13. How should we rejoice, yea, how should we tremble at the thought! Therefore, be risen with Christ; seek those things which are above; purify yourselves, even as He is pure. Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind *. Then you will indeed have ascended with Christ; then you will live and reign with Him; and of you it will then be said, Blessed and holy are ye; for ye have part in the first Resurrection. Once more: let us bear in mind that our trial is not over; our warfare is not accomplished. While we are here in the body, we have need of constant watchfulness, self-denial, meditation, and prayer. This is true of Christians in all ages, and particularly in one of storm and peril like our own. We know, from the Scripture before us, that Satan will be loosed before the Great Day. Compared † with what he will be then, he is now said to be chained. Hence we learn, how fierce he will then be. When he is loosed, he will then show how deadly his power is; and then we shall know and feel how much we owe to that Mighty Angel, Jesus Christ, Who once came down from heaven, with the key of the bottomless pit and with a great chain in His hand, and Who bound Satan, and cast him into the bottomless pit. *Col. iii. 1. 1 John iii. 3. Rom. xii. 2. † Haymo ad loc. Tunc diabolus ille quasi exiet seducere, quia comparatione illius seductionis ista quæ nunc agitur seductio esse denegatur; solvetur modico tempore, et totis viribus sæviet contra electos. We know that Satan will be loosed; and then it will be proved once more,-it will be proved once for all,-by Christ's victory over him, how strong Christ is. He who has come down once to bind Satan, will come down again, to cast him finally into the lake of fire, where he will be tormented for ever and ever *. But, in the mean-while, during the time in which Satan is loosed, many alas! we know, will fall from the faith, fall like stars from heaven; many will worship the Beast and his image: they will give themselves to a strong delusion †; and will believe the strange doctrines, and admire the lying wonders, of the False Prophet; and will receive his mark on their foreheads and on their hands. Most miserable destiny! But they who are Christ's, will stand. For them God will fight. The Nations of the earth will rise against Christ, and will be gathered to battle against Him; they will compass the camp and the beloved city §; and many of its faithful citizens will win the crown of martyrdom, and be slain for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God. But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God; and there shall no torment touch them **. *. Though dead, they live: they live and reign with Christ. And, finally, fire will come down from heaven, and consume the foes of Christ. His victory will then *Rev. xx. 10. Matth. xxv. 41. Rev. xvi. 14. xix. 19. xx. 8. Rev. vi. 9. xx. 4. 2 Thess. ii. 11. § Rev. xx. 9. ** Wisdom iii. 1. |