granted, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the personal righteousness of saints, who by suffering for well-doing, have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Ver. 9, 10. "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him, And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." It was one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, that talked with John; he was one of the many spirits who, at the time of the end, should hold the truth of God, by which error was to be destroyed. The marriage supper of the Lamb, is the universal reign of Christ upon the earth, during which all men shall be glad and rejoice. They which are called unto the supper, are they which wait and come to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days of Daniel's prophecy. They are blessed. "And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God:" the explanation of the sayings of Scripture would be inspired, even as the original writings are. Divine wisdom alone can interpret the mysteries of Jehovah's manifold purpose. The evidence of the inspiration of the man who declares these things will be so attested, that the inspired apostle himself is represented as falling down at his feet to worship him. This prostration of John before the man, is similar to the state of Paul's mind, when speaking of the man who was caught up to the third heaven, and into paradise, and who heard unspeakable words, which

it is not possible for a man to utter. Paul says, of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. This honour paid to this man by the great apostle of the Gentiles, and by the beloved disciple, shows their opinion of his glory. Of the same man, Melchizedek, as a king, was a figure; and Paul elsewhere says of him, "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." (Heb. vii. 4.) The claimant to this high distinction must be like Moses, the meekest man in all the earth; and there must be developed in his character and conduct, a degree of perfection correspondingly greater than the other apostles and prophets. When the man appears among his brethren, his claim must not be admitted, except upon his manifesting the possession of a superior moral excellency, and greatness of mind, as compared with all who have gone before him. He must be like unto the Son of God, and have the mind of Christ, otherwise he must be rejected. When he is manifested, he will not show any consciousness of superiority; he will not permit any improper homage to be paid him; he will say unto any who would worship him, a creature, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant: in God's sight I am no better than yourselves: I am of thy brethren who believe in Jesus Christ, and hold His truth: worship God; He alone is supreme, and worthy of adoration; for what I now declare is the testimony, or truth of Jesus, and that testimony is the spirit, or substance of all Scripture.

CHAPTER XXIV.

REV. chap. xix. ver. 11-13. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew but he himself; and he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the Word of God." These verses begin the description of the manner in which Christ's final triumph will be achieved; and the 20th chapter contains a prediction of the manner in which Satan shall make his last terrible onset, and which shall result in his everlasting destruction. The opening of the first seal was a figure of the beginning and progressive revelation of God's triumphant purpose in Christ, the opening of heaven is a figure of its end and full accomplishment. The white horse is again seen, He that sat on him is now called Faithful and True. Jesus is now to be made manifest as the Faithful and True Witness; all He purposed and said having been brought to pass. His war was a war with the powers of darkness, and His judgments have been revealed because of sin; still, while contending with spiritual wickedness and unrighteousness, it was in righteousness that He judged and made war; so that

the song of His triumph is, "just and true are thy

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ways, thou King of saints." His eyes were as a flame of fire:" "He is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (Heb. iv. 12, 13.) "On his head were many crowns:" at the opening of the first seal a crown was given unto Him, and He went forth conquering and to conquer; now he appears victorious in all things, having on His head many crowns, saying, My counsel hath stood, and I have done all my pleasure. "He had a name written, that no man knew but he himself." No man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." These words indicate the Son's equality with the Father. "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the Word of God:" this is He that liveth and was dead, and, behold, He is alive for evermore; His name is the Word, which was in the beginning, and was with God, and was God; the same was in the beginning with God.

Ver. 14-16. "And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." The armies in heaven are the spirits of just men made perfect, and the saints upon the earth. Their following the Word of God on white horses, indicates the

triumph of the gospel in the earth. Their being clothed in fine linen, white and clean, is a figure of their own personal triumphs, in their own hearts, over Satan and sin, by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony. The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow. By the preaching of the word, and by it alone, is the church to smite the nations of the earth. The offensive or aggressive sword of the saints, is the sword of the Spirit, the word of truth. No human or earthly power must be permitted to take part in the triumphs of the Son of God. Out of His mouth, through the preaching of the saints, goeth a sharp sword, with which He will smite the nations, if those who preach that word put their whole trust in Him. It shall be found a rod as powerful and resistless as a rod of iron, for it will be to every man a power omnipotent in his conscience, to torment, if it is not mighty to save, by his willing subjection to it. Therefore it is said, that He treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God; it is the truth, the word of God made manifest in the consciences of wicked and impenitent men, that will torment them for ever and ever. I do not say that Great Britain, who is that peculiar people to whom God has given this high commission to go and preach the gospel to every creature, should, as a nation, disband her armies, and break up her navy. They may, and they must be greatly reduced; and the men composing both branches of the service should be so recruited and dealt with, when enlisted, as to become as famous for their high moral excellence as they now are in respect of courage and bravery when in action.