SERMON XX.

REVELATIONS XXI. 5, 6.

AND HE THAT SAT UPON THE THRONE SAID, BEHOLD I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. AND HE SAID UNTO ME, WRITE, FOR THESE WORDS ARE TRUE AND FAITHFUL. AND HE SAID UNTO ME, IT IS DOne. I AM ALPHA And Omega, THE BEGINNING AND THE END. I WILL GIVE UNTO HIM THAT IS ATHIRST OF THE FOUNTAIN OF THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY.

AND who is it that speaks in terms so august, and at the same time terms so gracious? It is the Lord Jesus Christ. He speaks from heaven. Brethren, let us lend an attentive ear to this his voice of majesty and mercy, conveyed to us by the inspired Apostle in our text May God the Holy Spirit give entrance to the Saviour's words into every heart!

The several topics in our text we shall best consider, by taking each in the order in which it is there presented to us.

And what is it that strikes us first? It is the high and sacred dignity of the speaker: the dignity of Him whose words St. John is recording. How is He described? "He that sat upon the throne !"

What throne is this? The 11th verse of the previous chapter tells. "I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

The throne then, is the judgment throne: that tribunal from which "God shall judge the world in righteousness," by Jesus Christ. It is Jesus that shall occupy the throne. Hence his own words, when picturing the awful transactions of the last great day, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of his glory." The same then was the throne which St. John beheld. He saw it in vision. You and I, brethren, are to see it in reality. Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him." up to Him then in peace? afraid before Him when He takes his awful seat? Listen now to the words which you shall hear, as spoken from his throne: listen now in faith, that you may listen then with joy.

O would you look
Would you not be

"Behold I make all things new:"-these words, and their important meaning, are the next matter to be observed. Under what circumstances are they represented as spoken? We must refer to the context.

At the close of the previous chapter, as you have seen, St. John records his vision of the last and universal judgment. Then, with the beginning of this chapter, the judgment is considered as past. What follows?" And I saw," saith the Apostle," a new heaven and a new earth :" a new habitation for the saints of God, which is to appear after this present state of things, "the first heaven and first earth, are passed away. So St. Peter declares of these heavens which are now, that they shall be dissolved, and that this earth shall be burned up; "nevertheless," saith he, "we, according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Immediately then upon this new order of things appearing, what did the Apostle further witness?" I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." This city signifies the Church. So it is afterwards explained. "Come hither," said the angel," and I will shew thee the Bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away, and shewed me that great city, holy Jerusalem." The Lamb's wife, and the holy city then are one. Now the Lamb, we know, is Christ: the Lamb's wife, we also know is his Church: the holy city therefore is the same, the Church, the whole collected body of the saints of God, those who sleep in Jesus, and whom God will bring with Jesus when he comes. This city St. John saw coming down, to be fixed in the midst of the new heavens and new earth. That is to say, the

Church, the saints of God, shall be established in possession of that blessed state of things, which shall open on the close of the judgment day.

Something of the glory and joy of that state is then foretold. "I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away."

And under these circumstances it is, immediately that the holy city is fixed in her land of light and love, so soon as the Church is settled in her inheritance, then "He that sitteth on the throne" speaks, and declares, "Behold, I make all things new." "I have changed, completely changed, the condition of my people: the former things are passed away, a world of sin, and pain, and grief: their lot is now, and for ever, one of purity, and happiness, and safety. Welcome, Ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'

O what a moment of thrilling joy to all the redeemed, when the judgment being ended, the wicked sent away, Jesus and his saints and his angels alone remaining, the new heavens and earth shall open on the sight, and the Church, suited to the occupancy of this delightful territory,

as a beautiful city formed to fill the fairest spot of all the universe, shall take possession of her glorious land of promise, and all her children, safe and triumphant in the light of God's countenance, "shall reign in life by Jesus Christ."

Then, indeed, that blessed Redeemer, having brought all his saints from out of this world of evil and of woe, to those regions of celestial sanctity and joy, shall truly say, "Behold, I make all things new!".

Brethren, you would share that blessedness. Then, remember, as all things there are new, so they who dwell there,-what are they? new creatures in Christ Jesus. You must be made new creatures: you must be born again: else never will you have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ask then, ask earnestly in prayer, and you shall have the Spirit of Jesus, to give you a new heart, to cause you to put on the new man, and, conforming you to Christ, shall make you "meet to be partakers with the saints in light."

7

To proceed with our text. St. John is now himself addressed. The voice of Him that sits upon the throne is directed to him. ' And He said unto me, write, for these words are true and faithful." The words thou hast just heard; that great voice out of heaven, declaring the blessedness of the people of God in their glorified state, and my own affirmation, that all things are made new for their eternal joy,-write all that thou hast heard; it shall all be fulfilled; what thou hast had revealed in vision, my saints shall as