LECTURE II.

THE EPISTLES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. THE COURT OF HEAVEN.THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES.-THE OPENING OF THE SEALED BOOK.-REVELATION II.-VI. 4.

HAVING, in the preceding Lecture, referred to the representative character of the seven Stars in the right hand of Jesus, I shall now briefly advert to the seven Epistles. These epistles, dictated by the great Head of the Church to the seven Churches of Asia, have been profitable to the faithful in all countries, and throughout all ages -encouraging the weak, sustaining the laborious, admonishing the careless, rousing the lukewarm, threatening the backslider, and promising to all who overcome, a heavenly and eternal reward. This promise runs through all the epistles, however diversified they may be in other respects, shewing that the faithful members will not lose their crown, because of the errors or the crimes of the majority of the Church to which they may belong; nor will the careless, or the sinner, or the self-righteous, receive a blessing because of their connection with a pure and faithful Christian community.

When referring to the Old Testament scriptures, Jesus said, "They are they which testify of me." But now he testifies of himself. Each epistle is introduced by our Lord, announcing Himself by a title or an attribute specially adapted to the peculiar circumstances or condition of the Church to which it is addressed.

Thus, to the Ephesians, who are threatened with the removal of their candlestick, he describes himself as holding the seven stars in his right hand, and walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.

To Smyrna he predicts tribulation, and exhorts her members to be faithful unto death, and they shall receive a crown of life.

And in the preface to their epistle, he encourages them by representing himself as "the first and the last, which was dead and is alive."

He draws the attention of the Church of Pergamos to his "sharp sword with two edges," and exhorts them to repent, else he will fight against them with the sword of his mouth.

Uncleanness and idolatry defiled the Church at Thyatira, and the Son of God reminds them that his eyes are like unto a flame of fire-searching the reins and the hearts,—and that his feet are like fine brass: indicating the purity and the holiness which should mark the footsteps of his followers.

The Church of Sardis had only a nominal life, but was dead; the spirit of watchfulness and of activity was almost gone; and she is threatened with sudden judgment. But Jesus tells her that he hath the seven spirits of God-the Spirit that can quicken the dead in trespasses and sins; the Spirit of life which makes free from the law of sin and death, which makes intercessions for the saints, helps their infirmities, and whose fruit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, faith.

To the Church of Philadelphia Jesus reveals himself as the holy and true, that hath the key of David, that openeth and no man shutteth; and he sets before them an open door (as the key-bearer or governor of the city), and encourages them, notwithstanding their little strength, to perseverance-promising as the Almighty ruler, who hath all power in heaven and earth, to humble their enemies, and to keep them in the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world.

The Laodiceans were blinded by spiritual pride, and unconscious that they were wretched, miserable, poor, and blind, and naked; and dreamed that they were rich, and had need of nothing. But Jesus rouses them by an awful threatening, and as the "faithful and true witness," sets before them their deplorable condition, and exhorts them to seek true riches, heavenly raiment, and spiritual health from himself as the "beginning or author of the creation of God," in whom all fulness dwells.

The seven Churches of Asia became gradually corrupted by the superstitious practices which spread throughout the whole of Christendom—and the localities where they once flourished (with the exception of Smyrna) are now miserable villages, or heaps of ruins. These epistles were doubtless especially suited to the state of the churches to which they were addressed; yet we need not hesitate to assert that they have been equally applicable to the Church in all ages. Some writers indeed have fancifully divided the history of the Church into seven periods, and appropriated an epistle to each-and a late talented but eccentric divine imagined that the seven Asiatic churches were symbolical of the churches that now exist under different denominations in Christendom; applying to the Brethren's Church the character and commendation contained in the epistle to that of Philadelphia. In some points certainly a resemblance may be traced; but let us accept the admonition as well as the commendation, and feeling our "little strength," keep the word of Christ's patience, that we may be preserved in the coming hour of temptation,—and "hold fast that which we have, that no man take our crown."

Not only throughout the epistles, but in the whole of the Apocalypse, Jesus manifests himself as the Head over all things to His body the Church. He watches their conduct-he exhorts them to faith and patience in the midst of their fiery trials-and holds out a crown of glory to the victorious. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." This is the golden thread that runs through all the wondrous tissue; and the means by which the faithful overcome, even the blood of the Lamb," is the secret source of their unfailing strength. It is the key-note of this mysterious but sublime oratorio, with which it begins, and with which it ends.

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Immediately after the delivery of these epistles, that is, "of the things which are," John says, "I beheld a door opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Everything, therefore, which follows, was a revelation to John of events yet future, and sent to

each of the seven churches as the faithful and true sayings of God. So we find it written in the last chapter, "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches;" and, consequently in all the churches unto all his servants throughout all ages. Every one "that hath an ear" is called upon to hear.

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John says, "Immediately I was in the Spirit." Whether like Paul, in the body or out of the body, God knoweth; but he was caught up to the third heaven-where Paul had heard unspeakable words which it was not possible for man to utter-but to St. John was given wisdom to understand and ability to describe the glorious visions which he saw. "Behold," he says, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne and round about the throne were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory, and honour, and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, oh Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (ch. iv. 2-11.)

In the former vision Jesus appeared unto his beloved disciple walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, the church militant here below. Now he is permitted to see the glories of heaven, and to stand before the throne on which sits the Eternal and Unsearchable Jehovah, "to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone"-indicating his purity and holiness, his justice and righteousness. John's vision of the throne and of the living creatures or cherubim (here improperly translated beasts), closely resembles that seen by Ezekiel; nor can we doubt their identity when the passages are carefully compared. The prophet Isaiah was favoured with a similar vision; and he tells us the seraphim or burning ones (another name for the cherubim), stood beside the throne and cried one unto another, as they are here represented in St. John's vision, saying, "Holy, holy holy, is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory." These were the same cherubim that are spoken of in the book of Genesis, as placed before the eastern gate of the garden of Eden with a flaming sword (or rather a fire infolding itself, or like burning coals of fire), to preserve the way to the tree of life.

These glorious beings are evidently of angelic nature, instinct with spirit, but of the very highest order. They support the firelike throne of Jehovah, attending his presence, listening reverentially for his commands, and going and returning on them like a flash of lightning. Many conjectures have been hazarded respecting the meaning of their mysterious faces. They appear to be symbolical of the power, the wisdom, the omnipresence, and the patience, longsuffering or mercy of God, extending to the whole creation, rational and irrational, animate and inanimate, and overruling all to the promotion of the gracious purposes of Jehovah. Round about the throne is seen the rainbow, with the green or emerald prevailing, the well-known symbol of the covenant of grace, where mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other. Ps. lxxxv. 10.

We are also reminded in this vision of St. John, of the tabernacle or temple of the Jews. In the holiest of all was seen the

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