m We muſt remember that John is here deſcribing a Viſzm, and that part of it which is but introduttive to the matertal parts of 1t. He had in his Viſion ſeen a Book in the right Hand of God the Fa- ther, titting upon his Throne of Glory ; he had heard an Angel pro- claiming, If any were worthy, he ſhould open the Book, and looſe the Seals. None appeared to anſwer that Voice, he was troubled ; he thought he heard one ſaying to him, Be not troubled, the Book ſhall be opened. n Chriſt ſhall open the Book, and loole the Seals of it, who is here expreſſed under a double Charatter; 1. The Lion of the Tribe of Fudah, he is ſo called, undoubtedly, with Allufion to Facob's Prophecy, Gen. 49. 9, 10, wherein Judah was compared to a Lion's Whelp, becauſe he ſhould be vitorious. Chriſt was to be born of this Tribe, and was to be a great Conquerour. 2. He 1s called the Root of David ; he was a Branch of David, as he was Man, but the Root of David, as he was God ; therefore David, Pſal. 110.1, c2lled him Lord, though he was his Son. o Hath prevailed with his Father p for leave to open the Book, and looſe the Seals thereof, 7. e. to reveal thoſe things that are the Counſels,and Purpoſes of God relating to his Church, and the Afffeairs thereof to the Worlds end. I do not think we are at all concerned to enquire who is here meant by the one of the twenty four Elders. As 1n Parables there are ſome things put in meerly to compleat the feigned Hiſtory ; ſo in the Relation of Viſions ſome things of that Nature are put in, which need not a particular Explication. - The Sum 1s, That while 7ohn was troubled for fear he ſhould not know what was in the Book, he was told by one of thoſe who attended the Throne, That he need not be troubled, for Chriſt had obtained a Liberty from his Father (in whoſe Power only Times and Seaſons for future things were) to reveal theſe Counſels of God as to things to come.
6 And 1 beheld g, and lo, in the midſt of the throne, and of the four beaſts, and of the elders, ſtood 2 Lamb 7 as it had been ſlain /; having ſeven horns z, and * ſeven eyes, which are the ſeven Spirits of God ,
ſent forth into all the earrh . |
q Hearing the mention of a Lion of the Tribe of Zudah, he looks about wiſtly to ſee if he could ſee any juſtifying that Repreſentation. 7 Inſtead of a Lion he ſeeth a Lamb. Chriſt Jeſus called a Lamb by this Apoſtle, John 1. 29, 36. and very often 1n this Book, a Lamb, for Whiteneſs and Innocency, 1 Pet. x. 19. for Meekneſs and Pati- ence, Affs 8.32. but here with reference to the Paſchal Lamb, f For he appears wounded and pierced, as if it had been ſlain ; and to ſhew that he was equal with the Father, he appears in the midſt of the Throne, and in the midſt of the Elders, and of the four living Creatures, to ſhew his Preſence with his Churchand Miniſters, Matth. 28. 20, and his walking (as was ſaid chap. 2.) in the midſt of his Churches, which were the Golden Candleſticks there menti- oned. t He appeareth now with ſeven Horns, which are Members in which the Beaſts Strength, Power, and Beauty 15 much ſeen, to denote his Glory, and Beauty, and the Power he had now received, to offend, and conquer all his Enemies, # And with ſeven Eyes which we;e the ſeven Spirits of God, mentioned chap. I. 4. and 4. 5. endued with the Spirit of God, (which is alſo called his Spirit) not given to him by meaſure. w Which Spiritual Gitts and Perfe&ions he exerciſeth over all the Earth, both with Relation to his Church,
and to his Churches Enemies. 7 And hecame and took the book x out of the right hand of him that fate upon the throne y.
x This Lamb with ſeven Horns and ſeven Eyes having been lain, .
and having prevailed with his Father to open this Book, mentioned wer. 1. of all the Secrets, Counſels, and Purpoſes of God relating to his Church, he came and took ft of his Father, y in whoſe right hand it was, as ver. 1. * From hence to the end of his Chapter, © ire nothing but Songs ſang by the living Creatures which Zohn
« ſaw, and the twenty four Elders which he ſaw, and an innume--
© rable Company of Angels, to the Honour and Glory ot Jeſus « Chriſt, as the Redeemer of Man, and the Head of the Church, « ypon this taking of the Book from the right hand of his Fa-
© ther. $ And when he had taken the book >, the four beaſts. a, and tour x4 twenty elders b tell down be-
* Ch.14.2. {ore the Lamb, having every one of them * harps d,
R EVEL ATION.
and golden vials full of || ofors f, which are the prov. crS Of the Saints e. :
{ When the Lamb that had been ſlain had obtained of him that fat on the Throne to open the Book of God's ſecret Counſels relz- ting to his Church, mentioned ver. r. and had taken it out of [:i: right hand, Fohn ſaw a the four living Creatures mentioned char. + 6, 7, 8. by which ſeemed to be repreſented the Miniſters of tite Goſpel, or the whole Church of Chriſt ; and the b four ond twenty Elders had that on their Heads Crowns of Gold, mentioned CHAD. 4. ter, 4. by which, we faid, were repreſented either the Mini%%rs of the Church, or the whole Church. &d He alludeth to the Wor- ſhip of God under the Old Teſtament, where in the Temple they were wont to praiſe God with Inſtruments of Mufick, an. cfferin- up of F Frankincenſe : See 1 Chron. 13. & and 15,16, 2 Chron. _ 12, Nehem. 12. 27. Pſal. 33. 2. and 141. 2. and 159. 3. e Thel? Viols of Odours, he tells us, ſignified the Prayers of the Saints. The whole Verſe ſignifizs the Prayers and Praiſes, even all tha: Adoration which God, under the Goſpel, ſhould have from is M:- niſters and People, for conſtituting his Son the Head of his Church, and making him their Prophet, Prieſt, and King,
9 And * they lung a new ſong f, ſaving, + Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the {
4 WE.
the Old Teſtament, could not bleſs God for the actual Redemprion of Man, by the Blood of Chriſt, but only rejoyce in hope, imra- cing the Promiſes ſeen afar off by the Eye of vaith. g They ac- knowledge Chriſt worthy to be intruſted with his Church, and the Revelations of the Counſels of God, with relation to it, to oper them. þ_ Becauſe he had redeemed his Church, tfcattered over 41! the World, from Sin, Death, and Hell, unto God, to terve kim, 4nd to live for ever with him, and that with no leficr Price, than his own Blood ; Wherefore (as the Apoſtle tells us, Phil. 2. 9.) God had hg.!» exalted him. | 10 * And haſt made us unto our God, Kings an + 1.