Vers. 2-5.-The-ejfcctu'ol, JJrayer. A new series-another-opens upon the view·ot the holy seer. 'l'hese are"sceues in which is symbolically represented the method 'by· whic;h the Divine prpvideuce will eiecute those sovereign purposes which aril specinlly oontemplated in the redemption or the persem1tcd Clmrch in its struggle with the' \iariuus developments of evil in the ·world. Not always does evil prese.nt itself aa i,,1 antagonidtic power. lt is soft, subtle, and alluring, drawing the feet of the unwaty: believer 'into rufoous pat~s by "the baits of pleasing ilL" 'i'bis aspect comes iii.to prominence in the cout'Se'tit' ·the revelation. But, as the book is an "unfolding of tht methods of c~mquest in aU the conµitio1;1.s of danger, so now those which, relate to the J.'rogfessive triumv~ of the trut_h ·of the .pro,idential ·cbast~ments, are set in ord~r, l'he ilpace over which the sou~dmg of the-trumpets reaches 1s great; the seventh 1n eh; xi. _declaring, as in ·other places; the final triumph, and so completely rotindihif another setting forth of the one idea of the book-the triumph of Messiah, "conquer-· ing, and·to conquer." Another series of .. seven" is before us-"seven angels," havilig "seven trumpets;" but" another1mgel,. is first and intermediately pi:esent, ·having'ii ~ld:ei1 cen~er,, with the incense of which mingles "thil prayers of the saints." After.!' wards, from the same censer, coals of fire are taken and cast on the earth. $d' «·thund-ers', and 1voice~, and lightnings,and·an earthquake" follow. 'l'hey are represented to llll in vast cosmieal changes, the disturbances of the affairs of men .in answer _to' the1 cry for judgment. But th_e judgment of the Lord need not always be of ·severiiy...J certainly the end of the Lord is to be very pitiful Mercy, redemption, re£OVW;!.'; salvation, bleSlling,_ are the ~tim~t~ ends in view. 'fhlll! must all be. interpretea; 'l'he lesson ta.tight lB the certain IJunne response to humble' prayer•. ·. Here ',the· Chlll'clr fi:nds- . . ·.. , . ...·. L ENOOUBAOl!.J!IENT TO PimsmiuNG 1NTimcEss10N on· behalf· of the ungodly an~ unsubdued world. ' ·· · · ·· · " · · .. : II. A llOTlVI!. TO PATIENT I!llDUBU'CE or the ·antagonism. which evilness ~\Vity~ sttggests; · E'vil is' at enmity against righteousness,'even though it be uot"Violent In its methods. · · · , · · · · :,, ·' III; A JIELP T6 FAITf!- Faith b~s resl!8~ to the promiee of God, and beholdli _ii, fulfilment. Here the settiil.g forth ofthe Dmne response to prayer becomes the cheer~ encouragement fu perseverance.· · · · · · · ,,-. ""I IV. A S'l'IllULus TO uNWEABIED LABOUR. If the certainty of s1c1ccess is not. th« ground of faitb, it is its appropriate stimul118. Thus ill the Church in all agei. to 1!@. cheered.-R.·G~ · ,· · •· •
VenJ. 6-13.-Restricted Judgment. In wrath the Lord ever rmiembers me~y. ,Iii tbe sounding of four of the seven angels this i<lea is most promiuent. Afflictions of various kind,; are seen to rest u1JOn tl.e earth,_ but th(·y are confined in each case· to one-: thin\. lt i.; not a final overthrow', nor is it a vision of destruction. In the disturbance 'If the lll&!erial world is porlrnyL-<l tLe ·upLea,·ing in the s1,iritual, 1111d the gcn.ttct 2~ 'rflE REVELATION OF ST. JOJ:IN :'.!."'HE: ,DIVINJ!l. [en, Vlll, l-13.: