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Holy Place, as a memorial for future generations 1. It was hidden, as a mystery, in God's Oracle. But it re-appeared in its spiritual reality in the Divine Joshua, Jesus Christ'. I am the true bread which came down from heaven, says Christ; and this true bread, this hidden manna, is promised to all faithful Israelites, who follow the heavenly Joshua. the white stone, the stone of absolution from original and actual guilt, is also promised to all who are named with the name of CHRIST; that is, who, being enrolled in His service, and so made free, and signed with His cross at Baptism, continue "His faithful soldiers and servants to their lives' end;" for they are inheritors of joys such as eye hath not seen nor ear heard; they communicate in the ineffable glory of Him Who is described, in a later vision, as the great Conqueror, leading His armies on white horses, clothed in fine linen, clean and white; and He has a Name written that no man knew but He Himself".

What the New Jerusalem is, is fully explained by St. John hereafter; and at the close of the Apo

1 Exod. xvi. 33-35.

3

2 John vi. 33. 49. 58.

Mos erat antiquus niveis atrisque lapillis
His damnare reos, illis absolvere culpâ.

Ov. Met. xv. 41.

Bede, Explan. Apocalyp. in cap. ii. Et dabo illi calculum candidum.] Id est, corpus nunc baptismo candidatum, tunc incorruptionis gloria refulgens.

Et in calculo nomen novum scriptum.] Ut filii Dei nominemur et simus.

41 Cor. ii. 9.

5 Rev. xix. 11. 14.

6 Rev. xxi. 2.

calypse, our Lord says, I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star1. Thus the earlier parts of the Revelation anticipate the latter, and the latter explain the former.

The EPISTLES to the Seven Churches are followed by the SEVEN SEALS.

7. In order to conceive this Vision, we must imagine a Roll of parchment wrapped round a cylindrical wand, and sealed with seven Seals. It could not be perceived that the Roll had seven Seals, till it was unfolded; and St. John calls it a Roll sealed with seven Seals2, by anticipation. When one Seal is broken, a portion of the Roll is unwrapped, and its contents are disclosed; then a second Seal is broken; and so on, till the seven Seals are opened, and the whole Volume is unrolled.

What, then, is the design of this Roll?

It presents the History of the conflicts of the Church from St. John's age even to the Day of Doom, or as it is well expressed in the contents of the Sixth Chapter in our Authorized Version, it " contains a prophecy to the end of the world "."

This Volume, be it observed, is represented as sealed; that is, its contents are concealed from human eye; and it is true, for it is impressed with the

1 Rev. xxii. 16.

2 Rev. v. 1.

3 Bede ad loc. "Conflictus et triumphos Ecclesiæ reserat futuros." "In septimo sigillo cernit initium quietis æternæ." Yet some modern Expositors have thought that the time of the Seals extends only to the taking of Jerusalem-although the Seals are prophetic, and the Apocalypse was written some time after that catastrophe.

divine signet: it contains a perfect History, for it is sealed with seven Seals; it is in the hand of Him Who sitteth on the throne'; and no one can open it but the Lamb 2. Hence we learn that all the fortunes of the Church are in God's hand; and that nothing can happen to her but by His providential dispensation; and that Christ alone is worthy to reveal the inscrutable counsels of God; for He is the WORD of God'.

This mysterious Volume is not traced with alphabetical characters, but with hieroglyphical symbols. The first symbol is exhibited at the opening of the first Seal, and the second symbol at the second Seal; and each symbol pourtrays in order the state of the Church in that period to which it refers; and so on, in succession, till we are brought, with the opening of the seventh Seal, to the final condition of the Church on earth 5.

Here we pause, to remark, that, as was before noticed, the inspired Writer in the very beginning of the Revelation hastens to the end: then he returns, as we have seen, and addresses spiritual admonition, in seven Epistles, to the Universal Church: then he reverts again, and reveals to the Church a rapid view of her own History in seven Pictures, displayed in the seven Seals.

8. To speak now of these SEALS.

3 Cf. Isa. xxix. 11.

1 Chap. v. 1.

2 Chap. v. 5. 9. 4 John i. 1. 18.

5 Rev. viii. 1.

At the opening of the first Seal, a voice is heard from one of the four Living Creatures, Come and see. A similar voice from another of the Living Creatures in succession is heard at the opening of the three following Seals, Come and see. This was the invitation by which, as St. John informs us', Philip invited Nathanael to Christ: Come and see. It indicates that the events revealed are great and wonderful: it warns us that we ought to attend to the events which take place in the Church; and that the Divine Roll-God's Word-can alone enable us to read them aright; it consoles the Church with the assurance, that however she may suffer, the voice of the Gospels will survive; and that all her sufferings will be for her own good, and for Christ's glory; and that, therefore, they are spectacles which the true Christian may rejoice to come and see2.

1. The FIRST SEAL is opened. Behold, a Warrior riding, crowned as a King, mounted on a White Horse, the Horse of Victory, armed with a Bow; and He goes forth conquering, and to conquer.

In the Apocalypse, white is the colour of what appertains to Christ, and to Him alone. Thus we read of His hair white as wool. He promises to His they will walk with

faithful followers a white stone:

Him in white. He rides on a white cloud: they

1 John i. 45, 46.

2 Veni, Vidi, Vici, may therefore be his reply.

3 The word deuKòs, white, occurs fifteen times in the Apocalypse, and is applied to what appertains to CHRIST, and never to any thing else.

follow Him on white horses. His spouse is attired in white. He sits on a great white throne.

The Royal Rider, then, on the White Horse is CHRIST.

The Bow and Arrows in His hand, are' Apostles, Evangelists, and Teachers, who are Christ's instruments in advancing His kingdom. This is the interpretation of the Holy Spirit Himself by the Prophet Zechariah, I have bent Judah for Me, and filled the bow with Ephraim, where Judah and Ephraim represent the true servants of God. Christ bends His bow, when He ordains and sends forth His Ministers to the spiritual battle 3, and fills their quiver with the arrows of His Word.

Whatever, then, may be the sufferings of the Church in the following Seals, the Messiah, her Lord, is Invincible. He is most Mighty; as the Psalmist says, He prospereth with His honour; He rides on, because of His Word; and His right hand shall teach Him terrible things. His arrows are very sharp ; the people shall be subdued unto Him; Thy seat, O God, endureth for ever*.

1 See Arethas and Aquinas ad loc. AGNUS vincit cum Arcu Scripturæ.-Haymo: Sagittæ sunt divina Eloquia. Per Equum album debemus intelligere Corpus Dominicum ab omni peccato mundum. See also Vitringa's note, and Bede ad loc. "In primo sigillo videt decus Ecclesiæ primitiva; in sequentibus tribus, triforme contra eam bellum."

2 Zech. ix. 13. ἐνέτεινά σε, Ιούδα, ἐμαυτῷ, εἰς τόξον ἔπλησα τὸν Ἐφραίμ, against τὰ τέκνα τῶν Ἑλλήνων, i. e. against gentile foes.

3 See also Habakkuk iii. 8, 9.

4 Psalm xlv. 4-6.

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