a Divine posseMton. They are purchased •• unto God;• they~ made a kingdom and priest.I "unto God." . V. THB BONG RISES Il!f'1'0 A ,10Yll'UL B.BOOGNITION OP '1'llll UALTJllD ST.A.TB OP TBJI REDEEKBD. Seen: 1. In their relation.to God. 2. In their compact union as a kingdom under Divine rule. 3. In their universal priesthood holding it.s privileged and acknow- ledF approach unto God, 4. In their elevation to highest dignity in the dominion as111gned to them on earth. This last a secret comfort to the persecuted and down- trodden,. Church. In the final trium!)h, honour, and glory, the aufi'eri.ng boat of God to }ind its reward.-R. G. . Vers. 11-14.-IV&e an~ic and tmi1'8NIU chorm. Now the aong bursts out beyond the circles of the redeemed host. "The voice of many angels," even •• ten tho1l.881ld times ten thousand, and thouaanda of thousands," beara onwards the same bnrden of song, "Worthy is the Lamb," and the chorus is completed only when it ie takell -~ by "every created thing which is 1n the heaven, and on the earth, and under tlie earth, and on the sea;" and the song ascribes "the blessing, and the honour, and the :glory, and the dominion" unto" him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb," and that "for ever and ever." . "The whole creation join in one To bless the BlloCl8d Name Of hiin that sits upon the throne, And to adore the Lamb."
Tb vision la prophetic...:.ft anticipates the final ·condition, the ultimate triumph of redemption, the ultimate acknowledgment of it. It is the song from the redeemed, and declares the widespread influence of redemption. It is creation's aong. All ·creatures, ••every created thing," praises the creating and redeeming Lord. L IT IB TBll UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION OP THE BLESBINGS OP REDEJIU'TI01'. 1. The angelic host, forming a semi-chorus, exult in the gracious work of the Lamb-in which · 1Jg\lfe must be seen represented the total idea of redemption by "' the Lamb of God." An!?ehi1 who desired to" look lnto" these things, hav!! found in them matter for praise. Hi~a__ bove the incidents of the human history rises the image of him to whom all is due. 2. 'ifhe "great voice" of the many angels •• and the living creatures and the elders" is exceeded by that of "every created thing" in h_eaven, earth, and sea. even "all things that are in thetn!' 'l'his voice of the entire, the grand chorus, the holy seer heard. Jt W8II hia to discern the beneficent effect or redemption, his to catch the re-oohohig song of all things as they .praised the holy Name. It stands as the cmmterpart to •• God cursed the gronild for man's sake." All is ordered and readjusted. ".l!he disturbance by sin gives place to the harmony of all creation "in him» in whom all things are •• gathered together in one." 3. All is followed by the solemn." Amen." the reverent assent of the four living creatures-representatives of all creature-life, not excluding the Church• . IL IT I8 CBEATION'B 'l'ESTmONY TO TllB GLORY OP GOD m THE REDEMPTION OP mnr. IIL IT I8 DJ:CLAllATIVB OP THE UNlVERIIAL INTEREST IN TUE BI8TOBY OF TB.S JIBDSBllBD RAC& The angels. who rejoiced over one sinner repenting, rejoice now in the completed work of the universal redemption. They who saw " first the blade," and sang over it, now behold" the full corn 1n the ea.r,'' and offer their loudest praise to the Lord of the harvest. Herein is signified the unity of the entire creation. Subtle links bind all in one. Each part is helpful to the other. There ie mutual harmony, and then- are mutual depen3ence and relationship. The whole finds its termiwwen in a new act of adoring worship: "The four and twenty elders fell down and wor- shipped." Alia moat meet,the praise of all is paid to him ••of whom and to whom and for whom are all things." , The Ohurch below may learn: 1. The certainty of the ·final triumph of the Lamb.in his own conquering work of redemption •. 2. The identification of the work of redemp- ilea with the purposes of crea.tion. 8. "The duty of praise t.o God for this hill unspeak• able gift. 4. Tbe.aympathy of the angelio and universal life in the apiritual career of ibe redeemed.-R. G. .. . . en. v.1-14.] TBB REVELATION OB'. ST. JOilN THE DIVINE. 179