The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 341

that I am I wh9 shall deliver me from the body of this death?" N-0t so yonder, (4) Rest from all trying labour to benefit our fellow-men, To do good here is a trying work. The ignorance, the callousness, the ingratitude of men whom we seek to help, often distract and pain the heart. Not BO yonder. Rest 1 What a cheering word I It is the couch of the weary traveller; it is the haven for the storm-tossed mariner; it is home for the veteran who, after many a battle, has won the victory. 2. Their blessed• timrs is in thti inftuen~ of their works. "Their works do follow them." No one ac& truly done for Christ aud in his spirit will be lost. All good works springing from faith in Christ shall follow the worker into the etemal world-follow him in their blessed influence upon himself, in the hlij)py results they have produced in others, and in the gracious acknowledgment of God. The moment we appear on the other side, we shall hear the voice addressing us, " Call the labourers, and give them their hire.• We shall then :find that the smallest effort is not lost. 3. Their blessednt11 began im-diatel,y after death. "From henceforth, saith the Spirit." From the moment of death the blessedness begins. This stand11 opposed to two errors. (1) That there is an obliviousness of soul until the resurrection; and (2) that ~here are purgatorial fires which must follow death. "From henceforth.» "Not from the waking of the soul into consciousness after the sleep of centuries; not from the extinction of purgatorial :fires; but from death. "To-day shalt tliou be with me; " "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." 4. Their blusedness is 11ouched by the Spim of God. "From henceforth, saith the Spirit," Who declares this blessedness? An erring Church? Not even the highest angel. It is the Spirit. He who knows the present and the future ; he who hears the last sigh of every saint on earth, and his first note of triumph. The Spirit saith it. Let us believe it with an unquestioning faith. The Spirit saith it. Let us adore him for his revelation. This subject speaks: 1. Comfort to the bereaved. Weep not inordinately for the good that are gone. "Sorrow not as those who are without hope." Your loved ones still live: they" rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." 2. Oouragl!l to Uie faint. You disciples of the Lord, who feel the journey of life to be trying, the battle to be severe, and feel at all times depressed-take heart; yet a little while all your trials will be over. You shall " rest from your labours; and your works shall follow you." <( Go thou thy way until the end be: for thou shalt rest, aud stand in thy lo~ at the end of the days. n •I would die my death ln Christo; Breathing in his love, I'm blcst; When this frame to dust returneth, I shall ent~r into rest, In that rm,t I shall adore him. In the strains of sacred love, With the ransomed of all races Gathered in the heavena above. Aid me; Lord, to die in Christo • Oh. ill Chri~u, let me die I " (See the' Blblioal L[targy.') D.T. Vers. H-20.-TM moral seasons of humanity, "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a ~olden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle," etc. There are three moral season. unplied in this section of the Apocalyptic vision. L THB RIPENING SEASON. "And I looked [saw], and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the [a] Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle" (ver. 14). This language may be taken as an illustration of that supreme Divinity that presides over all the moral seasons of man- kind. He is glorious. He is encircled with a "cloud," dazzling and splendid, He is Auman. He is "like unto the Son of man.• Supreme Divinity is full of humanity, and humanity is full of God. He is royal. He has "upon his head a golden crown." He is " the King of kings, and Lord of lords." He is absolute. He has "in his hand a 1harp sickle." He has the power to put an end to the whole syst~m whenever h~ OIL xv. 1-8.] THE REVELA'l'ION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. 381