,aid, that the Divine judgment comes silently, stealthily, secretly, invisibly, unex- pectedly, "as a thief." Who can mark the hour when God's Spirit leaves a man? Who sees the master of the house riae up and shut the door? It is not always true, as the muoh misleading verse tells- • While the le.mp holds out to bum, The vilest sinner may return." Before that lamp is quenclied, the Holy Spirit's blessed flame may hve been quenched, and he, resisted, grieved, done despite to, may have for ever gone away. And it is equally untrue to affirm that the point of death bars all return. It is not death, but the determined character of the soul, that decides that matter. Death cannot shut the Spirit out hor life ensure that he remain, but the :fixed bias and -0hara.cter into which we have settled down. And then: 3. Then follows the bwtting out of the narM, etc. (Ver. 5.) Of him who overcomes Christ says, "I will by no means blot out his name." Hence it is implied that. the rest ho will blot out, Ye.~, the name may be in that book; th,rougb the blessed atonement and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ oar names are there; but the queiition is-Will they be allowed to stay there? The branch may be in the Vine; it is so; but "if it bear not fruit, then," etc. Christ has put us all in, but we can force him, all unwilling, to blot us out again. And to be as Sardie was will do this. Have mercy upon us, 0 Lord 1 III. ON THEIR RESTORATlON. Their sin had not altered the fact that he still had "the seven Spirits," etc. And should the Lord's earnest word have the effect designed, it would, and we may ·.well believe it did, awake many that slept, and arouae them froin the dead, that Christ might give them life. And how would they be encouraged by this revelation of the Lord's grace I " How sweet the name of Jesus" would sound in their ears I Did it not enable them to say to their adversary, " Rejoice not against me, 0 mine enemy: when l fall I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." The effort they would have to make would be severe, but here in this name was abundance of grace for all their need. And to encourage them the Lord points them: 1. To the "few" who had. overcom6. '£here was, then, no irresistible might in the thraldom in which they were held, These had overcome, so might they. 'l'he grace that enabled these was waiting for them likewise. Not only would these "few" be greatly strengthened by the Lord's remembrance of and special promise to them, but the rest also would learn that victory was possible for them through him who had the "seven Spirits," etc. 2. To means that, if f aitli.fully used, toould be effectual,. (1) Let them become wakeful-such is the meaning. This was a primary and imperative need. And when thus awake, let them (2) remember how they had received and heard. With what earnestness and joy and devotedness of spirit they bad begun their Christian career! Let them look back on that. And· let them (3) hold fast, u. keep, what remained, for all was not lost yet. The door of hope was not shut. And let them (4) repent, i.e. have done with all habits, practices, and con- duct, with all ways of thinking and speaking, which had lured them into and all but lost them in their deceitfulness, Let them confess it all before the Lord, and come away, from it at once and for ever. And (5) let, them strengthen the things which remained. As the traveller crossing the .Alps in snow-storm, all but benumbed, striking his foot against tile body of one who had just before passed that way and had sunk down in the snow, overcome by the deadly torpor of the cold~as he, roused by the blow and proceeding to use all efforts to awii.ken the fallen one, happily succeeds, he is made at the same time altogether wakeful and alive himself: so let any whose own spiritual condition is feeble try to make others strong, and they, too, in the endeavour will win strength. Let them thus act. And next he points them to: 3. The reward qf thfllllf who overcome. (1) The white robe, symbol of victory, purity,joy. (2) The fellowship with Christ. "They shall walk with m., in white." What enhancement of their blessedness this! (3) The retention of their names in the book of life. "I will by no means blot out," etc. All the loving purposes which be cherished for them when he entered their names there, they shall realize and enjoy. (4) 'l'he confession of their names before his Father and his angels. What a compel!I.Sation for the contempt of the world I how insignificant and despicable is that contempt when placed over againssc this •~nour which Christ here promises! Ahl _who would stay in the 1184_ slate .of 118 THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVIN&. [on. nL 1-2'1.
&rdia when a way like this ill opened out of it for them? AIJ grace is his, and his for Wt, if we will avail ollnl81ves of it; for he "hath uie seven,,. etc.......:-S. 0.