Vere. s;..,.11.-God'w Word. "And the voioe:whlch I hl!Rrd from heaven," etc. The "little book," or roll, here might 11!3 fairly tak~n to .illo.itra.te God's r6'kmpfftlt nu., cii: the gcspe,L The following thoughts are suggest.ed. ·.. _ .:. , . . L ~ ~OSPBL IS BBOUGD,T TO MAN FROM BEAVEN, "The VQlc(l which r heard from hltaven.11pake unto me again, and said, Go, and take,the. li_ttle book.'' ~emptive truih is-a special revela.tfon .t,o Ill&I), Hnt by God'fwm heaven. Men could Q.tlV~ ]1ave reached the: redemf,twe cdea by tb:e study of na.tuJ:e or by philosophic research, or, l!Y.1!1'8 the human mind to traverse through the whole ,w.orld of na.tura.l ·science and.to sesreh into every part, it would never di&cover -this "little book." The way in whieh aliena'6d humanity can be . brought into a loving sympathy with God tram1cends human dis· covary. · "Ear hath i;iot heai-d, eye bath not seen." 'Divine messengers brought thia "little book., to mao, and Christ embodied it. ·• .. · · · U; Tws ~8PEL IS ;ro BE ,APPROPIUA'J;B:D BY MA,:S:.'..;. ",And he said, Take it, arid eat it up." The object of. the -gospel is not, merely to ettlighten the mitul, t;b' s~ulate inquiry, or ,to excite emotions, but to be appropriat~ .as food, to satisfy tli,e · hunger and to invigorate the faculties of the soul. " The Word IJ/-IISt become flesh," ,it must course through every vein, beat in every. pulse, and strengthen every fib~ of Olli:. ceing. It iB the bread of life.that came down from heaven, the.fruit of. the tree of life•.. 'l'he ~ t of this •• little' book" niust become ·the inspiring· and the .regnant spirit otour bemg. ' '' .: ,: ;,; ".L'c"•!<l · Ill.' 'l'HlB OOBPEL RAS. A TWoirotD l!iFFEoT 'ON H.ut. "It shall, make· tlty /belly bitter, but it shAll be in thy mouth sweet as honey."· It is both sweet amfbit111!1', · In its disclosures of infinite love and promises of"future blessedneas it is ind~ " ~ " but .in it& convictions of sin, repf(>Ofs, and denunciations it: is indeed "bitter." · lt ~to, duces in the soul sorrow and joys, sighs a.nd songs, and its bitten:iesa will remain as long as one particle of depravity continues in the .p.eart. The experience of a_ Ch~tly mo.n is a. very mixed experience dui:-ing his life on earth; yonder it is all sweetne811,_ ,:·. · IV; 'fHlB GOSPEL, ·Al'PBOPBliTBD, QUALIFIFJi ~AN FOR Hlll Jll881pN, '' And he 11,id unto me, ·Thou must prophesy again before may peopl~ and natio~ and .tongw!II, and kings/' Prophesying~ ,or indoctrinating· men with Divine ideas, is the grand mission of every man~ but this misaion can only be realized after the :teacher him88li has appropriated the ~ine Word:-· When he J:ias· it in h~110t merel;, il8 an idea 01 a tn~, wt ,aa .a n_ving power,,then he will be able to· .. Jlli>phfist" 'With. ~ . to. •.~ea~:"&Dd nationi, ai:uftongues, and kinga."~D. T. · · · . ·· .:' · ?88 THE Rf:VELATION. QF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. [on, x1. :1-,,,19.
EXPOSITION.