Ver, 3.-TM praise of the Divine worka. It is most meet that all shonld praise the works of God-those works which themselves do praise him. But the Church of God is especially called upon to view the works of God in the world. There the Almighty Ruler displays his power and wisdom and goodness. There the thoughtful may learn (Jf him; for the righteousness and the truthfulness of his ways a.re a revelation of the righteouaneu and truth of his Name. L J>BAIBB 1B THE CREATURE'S BECOMING A8CBIPTI01' TO ALMIGHTY Go». His 11upremaey and government, his wisdom and power, his goodne11s and beneficence- every attribute which the human mind may be able, even dimly, to trace, it is the duty of the human heart to praise. It is little that can be offered by a creature to the Creator. His best service is his true, lowly, reverent, sincere praise. "He that offereth praise glorifieth God;" " Praise waiteth for thee, 0 God, in Zion." IL PRAISE APPROPRIATELY ASSUMES THE FOBM 011' AN INSPmITING SONG 011' l'AIT&. Faith has its one foundation in God. Whatever lifts man upward t.o God stimulates to faith in the Divine Name. Without the knowledge of God· there can be no faith in hitn; but 811 the glory of the Divine Name shines upon the human soul, that soul grows up int.o filial, obedient confidence in God. The song of praise stirs the sleepy spirit as the battle-cry the warrior. To praise God for the goodness and greatness of his works is 11ute to inspirit the faith that is in him. IlL PRAISE BEOOGNIZING THE HIGHT AND MAJESTY OF Gon .ASSURES THE HEART-OP A FllUL CONQUEST OVER THE FEEBLENESS OF EVIL. This is the subject of the song in these words: "Who shall not fear, 0 Lord, and glorify thy Name? for thou only art holy!' IV. PRAISE CALMLY ANTICIPATES THE ULTIMATE HAPPY AND PEACEFUL SUBJUSSION OJI' ALL TO THE RIGHTEOUSNEBB OJI'" TEE LORD Goo, THE AL.MIGHTY." "All the nations shall come and worship before thee." v. TliI8 PRAl8R HAS J'OB ITS SIJJIJlWT THB HOLY NAJU AND RIGHTBOus· W.4.Y o:r Goo,-R.G. Vera. 5-8.-Final juilgmfflta proclaimed. From this point commences the final delineation of the overthrow of the kingdom of evil. It .may be difficult, if not im'pOSllible, to interpret the symbolical language in detail into realistic descriptions. Probably such interpretation is misleading, But the great ideas s~nd out prominently, and Afford matter for contemplation, and, without puzzling the lowly reader, will help him to a knowledge of the "ways" and "judgments" of God, The complete vision of the destruction of" Babylon" reaches to the end of the eighteenth chapter. The portion named above is preliminary. A glance through the whole is sufficient to assure us that it represents a widespread struggle-a struggle of the utmost intensity and severity, and a final one. Within it occur the significant, prophetic words, "It is done I" Let this first glance, starting at the first words and reaching to the last, embrace the whole in a preliminary view, and we shall be instantly arrested:.... L l3y THE SEVERITY OJI' TBE JUDG.MENT THREATENED. The vision is one of jadgment, not of warfare. It is only incident.ally that the idea of war is introduced (eh. xvi. 14, 16; xvii. 14-). Judgment is the burden of the vision, The 11everity of the judgments la seen in the terms used. There are seven vials, or bowls. The first becomes "a noi- aome and grievous sore," etc. (ver. 2); the second a cause of death-" every livin' 110ul died ; ,. the third turns "the rivers and fountains of the waters" into "blood; the fourth, " men were scorched with great heat; " the fifth, " they gnawed their tonguPB for pain;" the sixth prepares the way for the coming of (antagonistic) kings (this t81)uires a 11ubsequect interpretation); the seventh brings "lightnings and vcioes &lld fl1L xv. 1-8.] TIIE REVELATION OJ' ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. 889
thunders" an<l "a great earthqnake, Buch as WAS not llinoe there were men upon the earth." Thus is set forth ideally tbe utmost painfulnellll and 11everity of judgmentB. Much of the imagery cai:ries us back to Egypt's plagues. IL We are f11rther arrested by the UNIVERSALITY Oli' THB JUDGKBBT. There ia no reference to portions of the earth, as earlier (eh. viii. 7-11). III. BY THE FINAUTY OJI' THB JUDGMENTB. "In them is finished the wrath of God." Jt is the judgment of "Babylon the great," "the great harlot that sitteth upon many: waters." "Babylon the great, the mother of .the harlots, and of the abominations of the earth," whose flesh they shall eat, and" shall burn her utterly with tire." 'l'hus by outward materialistic judgments are we to see a spiritual conquest and destruction and jndgment ideally represented. Blessed are they who are not included in" the judgment; of the great harlot" l-R. G. ,