(Gen. xlix. 9.) Hence bis right was from his office, the position tt was fredloted he 1'bould fill. And his life and.·his conquest over Satan, sin, man, death, al verified the t.ruih of J acob'a dying prophecy. 2. The Root of David. Hence, by descent also, as Heir of him to whom God's promises of universal rule had been given. _But chiefly because he wa.s: 3. The Lamb lllain. Thus the pre.-eminent right secured by his atonement is set forth. The La.rob' is the Centre of heaven. Hence his cross claims his crown; the sufl'erings of Christ, the glory that should follow. The term "worthy" is used in reference to this right thus obtained. The cross affirms every principle of moral law: .Al all creation is for moral ends, so supremely is the cross of Christ. He is worthy 'because be was slain. IlL REvBALS THE RESULTS OONTEKPLATED BY H18 IIEDI;\TOBIAL POWE& They 8T8 four. 1. !lb Bet forth the g'l<wy of tM Son of God. · See the adoration of the Lamb, how intense, how universal, bow unceasing. All things are for him, u they are by him. All men are to" honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." And by his mediation this glory is secured. He had glory before the world was. But he has far more now, and yet. more shall be bis. He is seen amid all the confusions and calami- ties of life to be our one Hope and Stay. "Christ is all and in all," and IIO is he glorified. 2. To recure the accomplishment of man's redemption. "'l'hou hast redeemed us-:" so the heavenly choirs sing over and over again. And Christ has his redeemed. See how the Church is described: as the bride; heir; joint-heir with Christ; kings; prie11ts nnto God; his body, etc. Yes, Christ hath redeemed us. 3. To demomtra~ tke unitg of the Divine counsels and the progres.iue c/uJracter of tke Divine works. The media:- torial system is not external to, but part of the system of, the universe. It i1 essential to its moral order and bound up with all its history, Sin was an inroad upon, and an invasion, violation, and disruption of, the Divine rule. Inevitable if the gift of free-will ,vas to be granted as it was ; and hence some means for the reparation of this great disaster had to be found, and for the demonstration of the consistency of the wise, the holy, and the all-loving God. All human sin, protracted so awfully and so wearily age after age, is yet but an episode in the course of the Divine adm~istration; like as a·war ia but an episode in the history of a nation. And the mediation of Christ is the method of God for undoing the evil man's sin has wronght. 4. To ium in the glO'f'!J ef the Fatw a.nd to MW'IJJ this a.s the end and aim of all things. "That God may be all in all:" such is its chief end; as beach one of us, so for all human history, and all t,he Divine dealings with us in Chri1t our Lord. Let us by self-surrender to Christ fall in with that bleillled purpose, and so one day rejoice in its perfect fulfilment. (Adapted from no~ of eermon by late Rev. G. l)teward, of Newcastle.)-8. C. ' ·
Ver. 6.-The going, forth of tlre Holy <Jhast. "The seven Spirits of Goel whieh are sent forth," etc. In all possible ways the Church dqclares her faith in the Lord .'Jesus Christ and his redemption. By the name, Christfan; by the sacrament. of the Holy Supper; by symbols-the cross everywhere; by her literature, etc. .And all this is right; the example of it is given in Scripture, for Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the l:lible: "Him first, him last, him midst, and without end." But thi, i8 Ml all tM, e;,,th. For it is equally true that the holy an<l perfect Spirit of God is sent forth inte all the .earth-working in, upon, ·for, and around. us everywhere. The doctrine is most blesaed, and an essential part of the gospel of Christ, though it has not the prominence iii our thought or speech that "the truth as it is in Jesus" receives.. We do not. rialize as we should that the Holy Spirit is the Christ within us, and whose comiBg made lt "expedient" that tile Christ who in our nature . died for ,a upon the cross ~ should go away." Note- L 'l's:s llVIDENCE FOB T,.IIE GOING" ll'OBTH Ol!' THE SPmIT OF GoD. We see the Spirit atriving with men in the days of Noah; as yet earlier and more iluccessfully-bee&ulir the striving was with. matter, not with mind-we see him bringing order out of chaee at the Creation. "Whit'Jt~ shall I go from thy Spirit?" asks t]:ie psalmist; ~or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" David piteously pleads;" 'l'ake not. tbJ Holy Spirit from me I" His preseBce is recognized in every part of the sacred history, and in the New Testament Pentecost is toltl of, and the truths concerning hl~ ire dwelt upon still more at large. In this Book of Revelation we read once and again of his 1raciou work (d. eh. i. 4; iii; 1; iv. 5; 'If, 6. OL also conclusion of all the letten ];7,i, TUE REV:ELATION OF ST. JOIIN THE J?IVINE. (oa y. 1-lt.,