IIOU'l I' 'For what am I l'1"9paring myself? Must I be doomed to die because I am not fl.11 for the bett.er life that is to be when time shall be no longer? or-and God grant it may be l!O I ~ I by virtue of my living union with the Lord Jeaus Chriat.'Who is him- self a the Life,,. destiued 'for glory, honour; and immortality with him in the Eternal? That this may be ao is why our pulpits and ·sermons are for ever re-echoing with the appeal, " pome to Christ." The Bible and experience. alike attest ·that it is through living fai~h, carrying !'16~ with it, as snch faith ever does, the surrend8J' of the will, tht heart~ ·to him, that we become vitally grafted into him, and so in hie life-the ettlrmi.l; thiJ, blessed, the glorious-do for ffer share. For he said, "Because I live, ye ahalllivil also,•-S. 0. ' ' Vera. 1-'7.-The word <>/ assurance and ~ o n . The Book of the Revelation is written for the comfort of the· Church in presence of her oppressing foes. It is d'~ed 'to l!UBtain the faithful people in well:.doing; when the severities of cruel dealing make their lot hard and almost unendurable. ,Their patience is often eeverely tried; sometimes it has yielded under heavy preBSure; Here is afforded another word of promise which is eafoulated to sustain the faint of heart. A vision is granted of" a strong angel" who brings assured promise 9f a certain and even speedy termination of the time of suffering and of struggle. "The mystery of God, acc9rding to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets," shall be "finished;" 'l'hili is the encoul'l'gement to hope; and to the Church in the early times, under the pressure of her first destructive persecutio:as, this would be a word of the utm6iit comfort. . It is the re-echo of "Behold, I come quickly." This word of consolation is of great preciousness and help to the 'lmffering Church ; for:... · • · · , • • · I. IT is GIVEl( BY THE LoBD HIMSELF. The strong angel "coming down out of h~il, arrayed with a cloud," can be none other than the Lord himself. The irur- rouMing symbols are his, and his alone. ·" The rainbow was upon his head;,.·" his face was u the 1111Il, and his feet as pillars of tire.'' It is the reflection of the Dime gloiy'in Christ. When he cries the seven thunders ·utter their voices, and bis gree.t voice was ''as a lion roa.reth." ·From the word of~suoh a ·one the·ChUl'Ch may always gather the utmost comfort. · r 0 " n IT GIVES THll PBOSPEOT AND PLEDGE 011' BELEABL The suffering Church writhes in its anguish; but a definite limit ie put to the days of sorrow. · ·" In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound." This is not indefinite ~d UJ1tertain.: "There shall be time no longer "-there shall be no .more delay~·, Relief is certain and speedy. This is aBSUred by oath, even by the voice· of the angel who "sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven, and the t ~ that are therein, and the earth, and the things that are therein, and ·the sea, and the thiriga that are therein." This oath is for truest confirmation. · · · · · · , m. The word of consolation and promise IS. GIVEN nr THE ][OIIT BOLEIDI AND JJ!8Ull.ING KANNBB. This soon in the whole vision-the peraon, attitude, message, oath~ &lld surrounding 'testimonies. · · · ·· · •' · . IV. IT 18 THE TRUEST, THE UTMOST OOOUU.GEIIENT TO HOPE,, Upon this• vision the Church should ever reflect in the time of suffering and fear. It is possible patiently to endure and hold out when a definite and usured prospect and pledge of' relief'is gihri. The words~''. declared to his ilervants the prophet.s," shall have their fulilment; .. the lil~te~•sball be" finishoo."..;:..R. G. · · · ·
, Veril. ~11;;..;..Th, littk book;'or, the sweetnesund bittemu. qi the prop'fietic oJlu. The consoJati'.on of an assured fJild ·having been given, the holy seer, and· in him the Church in all ages, becomes prepared to receive tidings th&t shall prove •b.itter" and ~ The final victory is assured. The word is " sweet as honey" in the ·mouth oflhilll who.~ives 'it, which reception is represepted by the figure of" eating the little book." It is sweet, for it is impossitile to be an agent of God for any work without s cert&in pleasurableness. But the sweetness is t.emporary. So is it a pleasant thin'tfto receive II m881!8ge from the Lord, but it may be a very·pa1nru1 thing to communicate it"txi'tneo. The reception of ••the little book," whatever ·that book ·may mean, is a''jirepuati6\l. to prophesying "again concernmg many J>l!!)ples, and na.tions, aD'd tongtt-, and kiDgB." The worda wlklh follow are· mingled worda of sadness ~ CDL :s:.'1-11.J THE. REVELATIO!l 01!' BT. JOIDT THi!l DIVINE., 187
eomfort-eomfort for the Ohuroh in her obedience; sadn!ll!B for the ungodly, rebellioua, and opposing natio1l& In the symbol ·before ua there seems to shine out from the midst of many teachings one r8!!pecting the prophetic office itself. For a. moment attention is diiected f.o the seer himself and his own states. Thus have we set forth t~. ~ oifi),e-4he honouiablenliss 'of its calling; _the painfulness qf ifa, dut¥S, Nothing ill i;aid as to the twofold character of ~. message-" the li;ttle book: "-:-i-but only the twofolil effect upon th_e seer. . Onr thouglits, then, are upon hun. ·. · L Ts:B HOLY OFFlClli, OF PBOPHBT 1B THB MOST B0N0UBABLB.AND EliLTEI), AJIONGST .lfEN. To speak for God, as his agent; to declare his m688age; .to recei~e the .Word (fom his lips, by his inspiration; to be entrusted with his Word to men-~. it a wqni of condemnation, of warning, of promise, of mercy, or hope-is a most sacred, hallowed burden. To spea.k to men in God's Na.me is h~her than to speak for kings, The "ambassador for Ohrlst" stands at' th'6 head of dt9lon:ia.tic agents. How holy, how aw(ul', how res~sible, his. ollice I The ea.Hing to 81lch office cannot but h&v•: its aweetness to the fidthful servant. · · · •· ' · · ,,. - . It OF ALJ, OFFICES THIS, WllJnif _BIGKTLY (l()](pjtJ::~iqD!H>, m-1'1111 ltOS'l':' P~J'OL; To deal with words of judgnieµt and threateni:ng; to speak o{¥in; to warn 'of ·punish- n1ent; to .have .cloee alliance with rightoousne~ amqngst men wl:10 reject it; to be blll'dened with spiritual care; tostandin antagonism to. preva.lent sentiment, and strive to raiBe men to altitudes of goodness ;-cannot put be a bµrden too heavy to be borne were the proph~t unai~ed. He is i n ~ W~<? views the call~g to the pr<?phetic oftic:e too lightly; he 1s also m error who thinb tritlingly of the pamfulnesa, of 1ia respon&l• biliti68.-R. G. . ·