angel which showed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

This is the attestation of the writer. He not only saw and heard these things, but such was their effect on his mind that on one occasion he conceived the angel who revealed them to him to have been the Son of God himself, and therefore fell down to worship him. Some have expressed surprise that the apostle, after the angel had once refused his adoration, should offer it a second time: but it appears to me that what is here related is merely a repetition of what was said and done before. (Chap. xix. 10.) He first tells of his having" seen" the things that were to be seen, and "heard” the things that were to be heard; and now, of his having been so overcome by them, as to suppose the angel from whom they proceeded to be the Son of God, and of course to have fallen down to worship him. The design of the repetition is merely to add weight to the attestation.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

He who speaketh in these verses is not the angel, but the Son of God himself, whose speech is resumed from verse 7. The eighth and ninth verses are a parenthesis, in which the writer expresses his own feelings. He who in verse 7. said, " Behold I come quickly," here adds, "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy

of this book, for the time is at hand." As if he should say, Do not conceal, but declare them, for they are things of immediate concern. To this is added a solemn declaration of the near approach of that period when the characters of men should be unalterably fixed. Let the persecutors and corrupters of the gospel know, that there is no change but on earth, no Saviour nor Sanctifier beyond the grave. Let the righteous know also, who have faithfully adhered to him through all the temptations and persecutions of the world, that the time draws nigh when their conflicts shall be ended, and they shall be immutably confirmed in righteousness and true holiness. And now the solemn warning of his near approach is repeated, accompanied with a declaration that "bis reward is with him, and that he will give every man according as his work shall be."-The character assumed by the Judge, that of" Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last," while it ascertains his proper divinity, conveys an impressive idea of the proceedings of that day. It is equal to saying, He that shall judge the world will be possessed of a divine as well as of a human nature; and where God is Judge himself, the heavens will declare his righteousness.-Blessed shall they be in that day who have " done his commandments," or who, amidst the temptations and persecutions of the world, have kept his sayings. All the blessedness contained in partaking of "the tree of life," and of the glory of" the new Jerusalem,"shall be theirs. On the other hand," dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie," are" without." Nor does this description appear to refer to ordinary sinners, of which the world is full, but rather to the enemies of the gospel, and the corrupters of pure religion. Thus dogs" denote false teachers; "sorcerers," those who have been employed in drawing away mankind by the lures of the mother of harlots; "whoremongers," those who have committed spiritual fornication with her, or her daughters; "murderers," those who have entered into her persecuting spirit; "idolaters," those who have gone into the worship of saints, and images; and " he that loveth and maketh a lie," is one whose heart favouring

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false doctrine, has employed himself in framing and propagating it. See Chap. xxi. 8.

The Lord Jesus having from the 10th to the 16th verse addressed himself to the apostle, here turns to the churches, assuring them that all which was revealed in the foregoing prophecy was for their use. "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches." Nor was it to those only which were then in being, but to all the churches of succeeding ages. The things contained in this prophecy, therefore, are a message from Christ in his glorified state to us. And as in reference to his second coming he assumed the character of "the first and the last," here he is "the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star :" which names are descriptive of Him who is God in our nature, and whose coming will introduce an everlasting day of light and joy and gladness.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things,—God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Christ does not only assume a name suited to the revelations which had been made, but draws from them the most affecting invitations, and solemn warnings; and with these the book concludes.

Reader,' as if he should say, You have read of the water of life: you are invited to "come," and drink freely of it. You have read or heard of the Spirit that spake to the churches: he speaks also to you individually, and the sum of what he saith is, "Come." You have heard of the bride, and of the glories prepared for her she does not covet to enjoy these things by her

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self, but joins with the spirit of inspiration in inviting you to "6 come." Nay, every one that "heareth" and believeth these things is warranted to invite his neighbour. And let every one who has any regard for his own soul, avoid the cup of the mother of harlots, and come to these living waters. There need be no hesitation on the score of qualifications, for it is free to all who are willing to receive it.

'Know also that the words of this prophecy are sacred. If any man add to them, God will add to him its plagues; and if any man take away from them, God will take away from him whatever he may have expected to receive of its blessings. He who testifieth these things saith, the third time, SURELY, I COME QUICKLY {'

To this solemn testimony of Christ the apostle adds his cordial "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" And as he had introduced the prophecy with an address to the seven churches, so he con. cludes it with the apostolic benediction: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

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