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I HAVE lately expressed a wish to enter upon this difficult part of the Holy Scriptures: not because I conceive myself at present equal to the undertaking; but because I think I understand something of it, and hope by going through it in the way of exposition to understand more. I enter on it with fear: but as I shall not attempt to explain that which appears to me of doubtful import, I hope it may not be a presumptuous, but a profitable undertaking.

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that read

These Discourses were delivered in the years 1809 and 1810, and drawn out in 1811.

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eth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

The book takes its title, it seems, from the first verse. All scripture is a revelation in some sense; but this is a disclosure of things to come.

Christ is the great prophet of the church. He it was, as we shall see, that was found worthy to open the sealed book. It is necessary to distinguish between the knowledge of Christ as a divine person, and that which he possesses as the prophet of his church. As divine, he knows all things; all things are naked to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do: but as a prophet he receives his messages from the Father, and makes them known to In this sense he knew not the day of judgment; that is, it was no part of the revelation which God gave to him to make known to men. As Christ in the character of a prophet has these things revealed to him, so in communicating them after his ascension he made use of an angel. It might have been too much for a mortal man to be admitted directly to converse with him in his glorified state.

us.

The writer introduces himself to the churches in the character of a witness, declaring that the things which he was about to communicate were from above-they were "the word of God," and therefore might be depended upon; "the testimony of Jesus Christ," on the fulfilment of which he rested the truth of the gospel, and which he himself in vision plainly "saw."

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To induce us to give the most serious attention to the subject, a blessing is pronounced on those who read, and hear, and keep" the words of this prophecy, especially as the time of its fulfilment was at hand. I recollect no other part of scripture that is prefaced with such an inducement to read and understand and practically regard it. The prophecy must be of immediate concern to the church of Christ, and requires to be read and heard, not for the gratifying of curiosity, but for the obedience of faith. We must "keep" it, as one engaged in a voyage through dangerous seas keeps his chart, and consults it on all necessary occasions. It is that to the New Testament church which the

pillar of the cloud was to the church in the wilderness, guiding → it through the labyrinths of antichristian errors and corruptions. It must not be neglected under a notion of its being hard to be understood. As well might the mariner amidst the rocks neglect his friendly chart, under an idea of its being difficult to understand and apply it.

It would seem too from this promise, that the successful study of the prophecy depends not merely on literary attainments, but on a practical regard to the things contained in it. Whatever advantages attach to the former, and these are many and great, they will not succeed nor obtain the blessing without the latter.

4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come : and from the seven spirits which are before his throne: 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

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The proconsular Asia had probably been the chief seat of the writer's labours since the death of the apostle Paul. To the churches in this province, therefore, he was directed to address the prophecy. The benediction is affectionate and appropriate. The periphrasis used of God the Father, "Who is, and who was, and who is to come," is singularly appropriate as an introduction to a prophecy concerning the mutability of creatures. The "seven spirits" are the abundant gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Spirit in respect of his abundant gifts and graces. The number seven is not only a well-known symbol of perfection, but corresponds with the number of the churches; and as they represent the whole church, so these describe the Holy Spirit in his rich and abundant influences.

To the blessing from the Father and the Holy Spirit he adds, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth." By the first of these appellations our Lord accredits the prophecy as being his testimony; and by the last two cheers his suffering followers, by reminding them of his having emerged from death and obtained a complete ascendency over all his and their enemies.

And now having mentioned the name of Jesus Christ he cannot leave it without adding a sweet doxology on his dying love, and its interesting effects" Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and Amen." Nor has he yet taken leave of this subject : Christ's suffering people must be directed to his second coming, when the persecuting Jews who pierced him in his person, and the persecuting Gentiles who were now piercing him in his members, will be called to account. To their just punishment, dreadful as it will be, the servants of God will add their "Amen.'

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8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The apostle, after expatiating on the glory of Christ in his salutation, now introduces him as speaking himself. That these are his words, and not those of the Father, will appear from comparing them with Chap. i. 1. and xxii. 6-16. It was Jesus Christ, and not the Father, who communicated, through the angel, with his servant John. The Father is sometimes referred to in the prophecy; but, if I mistake not, it is in the third person only: not as speaking, but as spoken of. Jesus Christ therefore is "the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty ;" and consequently is able to preserve his church, and to execute the punishments denounced in this prophecy against her enemies.

9 I John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that

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