3. To whom we should give the glory, if we be savingly instructed by them —
[We cannot take it to ourselves, for " no man can say that Jesus is the Christ, but by the Holy Ghost" Nor are we to give it to the instrument, whether he be man or angel ; for he is but an instrument, a servant of the living God. ^He may be, he ought to be, " esteemed very highly in honour for his work's sake ;" but we must never rob God of his glory to give it to a creature. Is any of you disposed to idolize the creature ? " See thou do it not." " Worship God," and God only : for the testimony which you have received con- cerning Jesus Christ is not our testimony, but God's : " the Spirit of prophecy" revealed it, and the " Spirit of prophecy" applied it to your hearts and consciences : to him therefore be ascribed exclusively, and at all times, the praise, the honour, and the glory for evermore.]
Rev. xix. 16. He hath ov his i-esh/re and on his thinh a name
written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
OF all the Apostles none seem to have been so highly favoured as John. While yet Jesus was on earth, John was characterized above all others as the Disciple whom Jesus loved : and, after his exalt- ation to heaven, John was preserved in the world
many
1216.] Christ's UNIVERSAL DOMiNioi^. 399
many years longer than any other Apostle, and was honoured with a multitude of visions decla- rative of the state of the Church to the remotest period of time. The vision contained in the context oretels the destruction of Antichrist in the latter days, and the consequent establishment of Christ's kingdom upon earth. The person riding upon a white horse as a Mighty Conqueror, is the Lord Jesus Christ himself; who is before described as having " eyes like a flame of fire," and " a sharp sword going forth out of his mouth*;" who is beyond all doubt " The wort of God \" and whose name is truly " Wonderful ;" being incomprehensible to any except himself and his eternal Father ^ In noticing that part of the description which is contained in the text, there are two things to be considered : I. The name by which he is called —
The august title which is here given to Christ denotes,
1. His universal dominion —
[The kings and lords of this world have only a limited sway : they rule over a certain tract of country and a certain portion of mankind, but they are independent of each other. But Jesus Christ rules over them : they are all his vassals, and more entirely subject to his will than the meanest of their servants are to theirs. There is not a principality or power in earth, or heaven, or hell, that is not altogether dependent upon him. He has " a name given him that is above every name** ;" " he is Heir and Lord of all* ;" " and he doth accord- ing to his will in the armies of heaven and among the inhabi- tants of the earth ; nor can any stay his hand or say unto him. What doest thou^?"
It is true that there are many who are enemies to him, and rebels against his authority : but though they think to break his bands asunder and cast away his cords from them, he " has his hook in their nose and his bridle in their jaws," and says to them, as he does to the sea, " Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further." They all unwittingly fulfil his will, even while they labour most to counteract it : and, when they
seem
* Compare ver. 12, 15. with Rev. i. 14, l6.
^ Compare ver. 13 wiih .lohn i. 1, 14.
' Compare ver. 12. with Isai. ix. ti. & Matt. xi. 27.
•• Phil. ii. 9 — 11. * Heb. i. 2. Rom. x. 36. ' Dan. iv. 35.