u I allo overc11.111e, and am set down with erected 0hrist's owii throne, which glorified m:, .Father in his throne, The olimiut of man may share iu common with l,im who the promises ma<le to the ~ven Churohes was man, and who has 80 exalted humanity (of. eh. ii. 7, 11, 17, 26-28 ; iii, 5, 12). as to render such a condition and auch a There are two points to be noticed iu this position possible. promise: (I) the position promised to the Ver. 22.-'-lle that hath an ear, let him. conqueror, •• in my throne;" {2) the two hear what the Spirit ■aith unto the thrones mentioned. (I) Note the expression, Churches. The seven messages wore not "1n my throne" {not brl, but l11 -r,p 8pl11q,), merely separate admonitions aildres&ed only whioh occurs nowhere else. The mother of to each particular Church, but all the St. James and St. John had requested for epistle• were meant for all the seven them a place on the rigM hand and the left Churches, and, after them, for the universol of our Lord-the hi~liest dignity which- she Church. Eooh Church had an especial CQuld conceive. Tne twelve apostles are failing brought more eniphatically before it; promised to sit on twelve thrones, to jµ<lge but still the seven warnings are one whole. the tribes of Israel. But Christ offers a yet for the edification of all. As it behoves the higher honour, viz. to si& in his throne ; individual Christian to avoid and repent of placing us in the elosest relationship with all sin, and yet to .fix his attention on the hillll!8lf, and exalting u& to his own glory. cure of some besetting sin to which he is (2) The throne promised is not that which peouliarly liable, so these me11S&ges, though Christ now ocoupies with his Father, but intended to be read by all, and heeded by his own. Christ is BOW sitting Oil his all, place vividly before each Church its be- Father's throne. mediating for his Churoh setting sin, whieh more particularly reqnirea on earth, and waiting till his enemies be attention. And as the sine to be avoided made his footstool {Pa. o:r.. 1). To that are to be avoided by all, so the separate thJone there is no admission for humanity, reward& are promised to all who overcome. though Christ shares it in virtue of his Thev are, therefore. not really dietinet r&- Godliead. But when his enemies have been wards, but rather different phases and view■ made his footstool, and death, the last of one great whole, which shall be enjoyed enemy, is destroyed (I Cor. xv. 26), and the in its entirety by thoee who have struggled ~ i t y for his mediation e:r.ists no longer, victoriously with the trials and temptationa 1moe the Churoh militant will have be- of the world. come the Ohurch triumphant, then will be
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1--6.-Sarclis ; or, the cleacl Ohurch. This epistle presents no excepUon to the general rule which we have pointed out regarding all the seven, viz. that our Lord JeSUB Christ presents himself to each Church in that special aspect in which it was most appropriate for that Church to regard him. Here he is spoken of as "he that bath the seven Sjiirits of God "-a phrase used only in .the Apocalypse, and yet, in its meaning, harmonious with all the rest of God's Word. This leads us at once to observo- 1. HERE IS A VERY BEIIARKABLB EXJ'RESBIOl!l' TO DENOTE THE DIVINE ENEBGY, It is one which shows the infinitude thereof in the Third Person in the Trinity. The number seven is repeatedly nsed. here. It is the symbol of perfection and complete- ness. We have seven Churches, seven seals, seven thunders, seven vials, seven -plagues, seven trumpets. 1'he expression, "the seven Spirits of God,» is found inoh. i 4 and v. 6, as well as in this passage. There fa an invariable sequence in the coming of life or power from the Persons in the Trinity, and a corresponding one ln the u~oing of devotion from us to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Blessings are/rom the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. Our aooess is by the Spirit, fhf'OtJ,gh the Son, to the Father. The Energizer in each case fa the Holy Ghost. His energy ls infinite, both in variety and measure. It is absolutely full, complete, al\li-boundless, If, how- tver, this energy is infinite, it can reveal itselt, It has done so. For observe- II. HERE I8 Ali EQUALLY REHARKADLl!i EXI'BBSSIO~ CONCERNING OUR LoRD JESUS CnBlST. We are here biddeu to think of him a.a /laving the seven Spirits of God. Having risen to heaven, "he received gifts for men, tha~ the Lord God might dwell among them,• .A.a Medi&t.or, he has received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost. He is, in his own glorious Person, the channel of all grace from God -tQ the spirit of man. He has, i.e. laolda, the seven Spirits of God. He is not only the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the 1WOrld, but he also baptizet!l with the Holy GbOBt. cm. m. 1-22.] THE REVELATION OF BT. JOHN THE DlVINE. 119