[The angels are those who "kept their first estate," from which others fell. The saints are spoken of under two characters, "the beasts, or living creatures," and "the elders." The former are supposed to represent the ministers of Christ, and the latter, the members of the Church: they altogether compose one body in and under Christ.]

Their number exceeds all computation

[The way to heaven has always been a "strait and narrow way;" yet from the death of Abel their number has been continually increasing: their collective number is inconceivably great.]

The saints take the lead in the worship

[They are represented as standing nearest to the throne: they begin the song, and the angels join in chorus.]

There is perfect harmony throughout the whole assembly.

II. The Object they adored

Many deny that Christ is a proper object of worship. But he has ever been worshipped in the Church

[Paul prayed to him, and received an answer from him1: Stephen addressed him, as Christ himself had before addressed the Father: the offering of prayer to him characterizes every true Christian *.]

And He is the object of universal adoration in heaven

[He is the person described in the text and context'. The description given is applicable to him alonem.]

He is expressly joined with the Father as an equal object of worship

[The terms used are the same, and they are addressed alike to both.]

a In the peculiar qualities of the four living creatures an allusion is probably made to the talents requisite for the ministerial function. The preacher of the Gospel ought to be bold, patient, compassionate, and discerning. Rev. iv. 7.

They are twenty-four; probably in allusion to the twelve Patriarchs and twelve Apostles, who were the heads of the Jewish and Christian, i. e. of the universal Church.

The worship they offer him is such as is proper to God only

III. The adoration they offered Him

The heavenly hosts do not offer blind and ignorant devotions they proclaim the Redeemer's worthiness of divine honour

[Stronger expressions of adoration are no where offered to the Father: the accumulation of words expresses the fervour of their hearts": their view of his essential glory must convince them of his worthiness; but they most admire him in his mediatorial character: the angels, though not interested as we, gladly unite their praises.]

They all join in this unitedly, and with a loud

voice

[Those from earth, and sea, &c. are the spirits of departed saints: all seem to vie with each other without one discordant voice.] INFER

1. How great is the privilege of the saints!

[The saints are even now joined to this blessed assembly": they have the same views of Christ's worthiness and glory: they are engaged in offering the same praises and adorations : they are daily growing in a meetness to join the saints above. How glorious, how desirable is this privilege! Let all seek it by faith in the Lamb that was slain.]

2. How astonishing is the folly of the unrege

nerate !

[This blessedness is offered to all who will believe in Christ; yet the unregenerate "make light of it." But would they think it so contemptible if they had such a vision of it as St. John had? Would they despise it if they could see the state of the damned as contrasted with it? May God convince them of their guilt and folly !]

3. How inconceivably glorious must heaven be! [Here the felicity of the saints is often great P; but hereafter it will transcend our utmost conceptions o. Let

n To explain each word would destroy the energy of the whole. • Heb. xii. 22, 23. P Gen. xxviii. 17. a Here, our views are dim ("by faith") our company few, our associates polluted, our capacity small, our difficulties great, our alloy inseparable, our intermissions frequent, our declensions lamentable:

us frequently rehearse here, that we may be more fit to perform our part on the theatre of heaven.]

but there, we shall see Christ as he is, together with innumerable hosts, each of them shining as the sun; our powers will be wonderfully enlarged; we shall serve him with perfect ease and readiness; and our bliss will be pure and unmixed, without intermission or end, yea, continually, eternally progressive.

MMDIX.

THE WORSHIP OF HEAVEN.

Rev. vii. 9-12. 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; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 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, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

IN the book of the Revelations of St. John there is more spoken of heaven than in all the inspired volume besides. But so greatly are the circumstances diversified, that, though the subject be ever so often brought under our review, it will always be found to wear a different aspect, and to afford fresh matter for profitable consideration. Indeed so important are those different circumstances, that we should suffer a great loss, if we did not successively fix our attention upon them as they arise. The passage before us might afford us a just occasion for entering into the subject at large; because we behold here the worship both of the saints and angels: but we prefer noticing some particulars which distinguish this individual passage; and for that purpose shall set before you under one head the worship of heaven, and then the instruction to be derived from it.

Let us notice, then,

I. The worship of heaven-

We behold it here,

1. As commenced by the glorified saints—

[There was of them " a multitude which no man could number, out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues." Previous to this period the Gospel had spread throughout all the Roman empire, and more especially if we consider the time spoken of as being after the accession of Constantine to the imperial throne, and to the Christian faith. The sealing of the hundred and forty-four thousand is supposed to refer to the peaceful state of the Church at that period. Doubtless, during the three first centuries of the Christian era, incalculable numbers of souls had embraced the faith, and been exalted to glory: and those added to all that had been found faithful to their God under the Mosaic dispensation, and to all the Lord's "hidden ones," whether infant or adult, in every nation under heaven from the beginning of the world, must have gradually swelled the number to a multitude countless as the sands upon the sea-shore.

These all" stood before the throne, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." Perhaps the robes, as well as the palms, were emblems of triumph: or they might denote their perfect purity, being cleansed from all their guilt in the fountain of Christ's blood, and washed also from all defilement by the sanctifying efficacy of his Spirit. We are told this indeed in the verses immediately following our text: "Who are these that are arrayed in white robes? These are they who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamba." The palms in their hands proclaim them victors in the spiritual warfare. Whilst on earth, they sustained many and arduous conflicts: but they overcame their enemies, and were more than conquerors through him who loved them."

66

But do they trace in any respect their salvation either to their own strength or goodness? No, not in any degree: they all without exception ascribe their "salvation to God," as the great Original, from whose wisdom, and goodness, and power it has proceeded; and "to the Lamb," who purchased it for them through his own most precious blood. This is their one unvaried song: and they sing it " with a loud voice," as glorying in a salvation so dearly bought, and so freely given.]

2. As continued by the angelic hosts

[The situation of the angelic hosts is worthy of particular attention: they are round about the throne indeed, as well as the redeemed; but in an exterior circle, and more remote from the common centre; for they are "round about the elders and the four beasts." They, though spotless, have but a creaturerighteousness, whilst the redeemed, though guilty, possessed

a ver. 13, 14.

the righteousness of the Creator himself; and therefore are counted worthy of a nearer access to him than the angels are able to attain.

Nor is their attitude less worthy of remark; for they, though sinless, "fell upon their faces before the throne," accounting no posture too humiliating for creatures however exalted, whilst occupied in the worship of their God.

Unable to join in the song of the redeemed as applicable to themselves who have never fallen, they yet add their hearty "Amen" to all that the redeemed have uttered, acknowledging that all possible praise is due to God and to the Lamb for such marvellous displays of their power and grace. At the same time they vie with the saints in all suitable expressions of adoration and love to their beneficent Creator; viewing with exquisite delight all the Divine perfections as visible in the works of creation, and as exhibited with yet brighter splendour in the stupendous mysteries of redemption. Every term whereby they can evince their gratitude, they accumulate, with an ardour which no words can adequately express; and then add again their "Amen," as concentrating in itself all that with the utmost efforts of their nature they are able to convey.]

Slight as is this view of the heavenly worship, it will suffice for the present occasion, if we duly attend to,

II. The instruction to be derived from it

It will be found well calculated to teach us,

1. Our obligations

[If we call to mind the faculties with which we are endowed, so far superior to all other creatures, and inferior to the angels alone, we shall see that we also have reason to adore our God for the blessings of our creation, as well as the angels themselves. And for the wonders of redemption, we are altogether on a par with those who are already before the throne. The same stupendous efforts have been made for us, as for them. For us was God's co-equal and co-eternal Son sent into the world, as well as for them. For us He lived, and died, and rose again, as well as for them. To us is salvation offered, as freely as ever it was for them; and for us it shall be alike effectual too, if only we embrace it as they did. The only difference between them and us is, that they are put into possession of that which is kept in reserve for us, against the time ordained of the Father for us to possess it. We have the same aid afforded to us that was effectual for them; and the very instant the work of grace is perfected in us, we shall