The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 214

which he is ever witnessing. "The Lord is not slaclc," etc. (4) Nor does it imply that God is working on any other plan than that which he has lain down in the book. 'l'he revealed purposell of God as indicated in Scripture, and the plans of God as unfolded in providence, ron upon precisely the same lines (Pil. L 21; lxxiv. 11). (5) Nor does the silence mean that God wi-11 ultimately let sinners escape with impunity (Rom. ii. S, 4). 2. Positively. It is intended that we should learn positive lessons from "silence in heaven." (1) We are not to expect startling providences at every tum of life. Now and then they may come, and do. But they are not the common methods of Divine working. The lightning-flash which rends the oak comes occasionally as if to reveal the re~erve forces in nature. But the light which falls so gently on the opening eyelids is new every morning. (2) We are to be guided more by what God: says than by what we see before our eyes. The book gives principles which are eternal '!.'his or that event may be but a tiny point of detail, which can only -be judged of by the larger whole. God's Word' is our only safe guide. (3) There are other sides to, and other forms of, God's working than those which startle and alarm, Over and above providential working among the nations, there is a living and life-giving Spirit, making " all things new." And it-is this silent, secret working of God's Spirit by which he will build up "the new Jerusalem." 'l'he roar of the cataract startles the ear, but it is the gentler dew which renews the face of the earth. 'fhe thunrler of the avalanche marks less advance than the silent ripening of the corn. (4) By the silence of heaven_God would test his ~ple's faith, and quicken them to more fervent prayer, There is "silence in heaven that there may be less silence among the faithful ·on earth. (5} God would thus teach us to study principles rather than to gaze · on incident. The moment of an earthqua~e is not the time for the calm and accurate stady of science; and times of intense upheaving are- not those in which we can mastel' principles; they are rather periods in which we need to put them out to use as the emergency requires. We can only study them when there- is "silence in ~ven.., (6) Certainly, another reason is that the wicked may have space for r~ntamie (cf. 2 Pet. iii. 9). 'l'he most marvellous of all the Divine attribut,ais·is his patience. · . Ill. WHAT SHOULD THIS SILENCE TEACH US? AND WHAT EFFEGT UPON US SHOULD·rr JiA VE? 1. Let us learn anew to exercise faith in the Rpiritual power which God wields by his Spirit, rather than in the material energy ·which shakes a globe. The· greatest work of God is that which is the most still. Newspapers chronicle incident; but who could write an editorial on the growth of a spirit? "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation." 2. ·Let us use Heaven's time of keeping sibmce as a time for breaking ours (Isa. lxii. 1, 6, 7). 3.. Let the ungodly make use of the space given for repentance, by turning to the Lord with full purpose of heart. Let them not wait for terrors to alarm. lce·may be shivered into fragments, but it is ice still. Better" to let the warm beams of God's love melt the icy sout 4. Let us lay to heart the certain fact, that, although judgment is delayed, come it will. We know not whtin. We know not how. But " we must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ." Vers. 1-5.-Prayer and fir6. For some time there had been" silence in heaven." During this time there was a corresponding period of calm on earth. 'l'hen the prayers of the saints were rising to heaven, fragrant with the incense which mingled -witli them, As the sequel to these prayers, and as the answer to them, the angel takes fire 'in the censer and casts it on the earth. From that point a new series of activities unfolds. On these we shall touch in: the next homily. Meanwhile we are detained by the thought of the connection between the prayers of the saints and the fire cast on the earth. As far baok as the times of the Hebrew psalmist, the Church of God used such words as these : "By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer ns, 0 God of our salvation" (Ps. lxv. 5). Our Lord himself declared," I am come to send fire on the earth" (Luke xii. 49, 50). He yearned for the conflict to take place, which mus\ inevitably come-albeit that, ere it should come, he would have to undergo a terrible baptism of suffering and of blood. So that we get revealed to us a wondrous unison of thought, as regards the Lord, and as regards his Church under the Old and New Testa.- ments- That "tsrrible things" on earth will mark the advance of Go<l}s kingd<Ym upo11 it, as the result of a Saviowr's sufferi'Tl{JS and a Church's prayers. 1 . , , 1 "We may send up prayers, aml the answer may come down· a ju.dgment; for often ii ii,  138 THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINB. [OIL VJD. 1-11.