thereof, and to open its contents: and immediately the living creatures and the elders burst forth into the song of praise. What occasion this circumstance afforded them for their song, will be more profitably noticed under a distinct head, after we have considered, as we now proceed to do,]

II. The song itself

Of the living creatures and the elders, we are told, that "every one of them had harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." There is here, beyond a doubt, a reference to the temple service. In the temple-worship harps were used in blessing and praising God": and, "when the priests went into the sanctuary to burn incense, all the people continued praying without"." Thus these worshippers, being all, as we shall see presently, made priests unto God, they had in their hands censers full of incense, through the odours of which "the prayers of the saints" ascended up with acceptance before God. Not that the glorified spirits are mediators between God and us: no, "there is but one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus;" but, as the efficacy of his intercession was typified by the incense offered by the priests, so was it further intimated in this vision, where all were executing, as it were, the priestly office, which in this very song they claimed as pertaining to them.

In the song which they sang, and which was “a new song," they celebrated the praises of that adorable Lamb, and gave him thanks for,

1. The work of redemption as wrought out by him

[Here all, without exception, to whatever nation, or kindred, or tongue, or people they belonged, traced their reconciliation with God to one common source, the atoning blood of Christ. Not one of them all presumed to claim a share in that glorious work, or to ascribe any part of it to his own strength or goodness: there was but one song amongst them all; all acknowledged equally, that they had once been slaves of sin and Satan; all confessed their obligations to Christ, for interposing for them; all referred to his blood as the price paid

2 Sam. vi. 5. Ps. cxxxvii. 2. h Luke i. 9, 10.

for their redemption; and all with one consent joined in saying, "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood."

Greatly were it to be wished that all self-justifying Pharisees would learn of them; and that those who look for acceptance, either in whole or in part, through any works of their own, would fix in their minds what song they will sing, if ever they shall be admitted to the realms of bliss. That they will not be able to join with those who are already before the throne, is evident; for not any share of the glory do they arrogate to themselves; they ascribe it all to Him who bought them with his blood and be it known to you, that not one soul shall ever be joined to that blessed assembly, who is not like-minded with them, and has not learned already to give the entire and undivided honour of his salvation to "the Lamb that was slain."]

2. The benefits of redemption as experienced by

themselves

[Wonderful was the honour to which they were exalted, all being "kings and priests unto God;" "kings" to exercise dominion over all the enemies of their salvation: and "priests," to offer spiritual sacrifices before him for ever and ever.

To a yet further extension of their privileges also they express themselves as looking forward, when they add, "And we shall reign on the earth." Some have thought, that, in the Millennium, the saints will come down from heaven, and reign on earth a thousand years. But I rather understand the expressions which refer to that period, as importing, not that the departed saints will actually rise from the dead, and reign on earth, but that, so universal will be the reign of piety at that period, that it will appear as if all the departed saints had risen to dwell on earth. This is certain, that the day is coming, when "the saints shall take the kingdom," and piety shall reign as triumphantly on the face of the globe, as hitherto impiety has reigned: and, in the prospect of this, the saints in glory may well rejoice, and consider themselves as participating in the blest event!

And all these benefits, both to themselves and to the world at large, they trace to the death of Christ as the one procuring cause: "Thou wast slain," and hast brought us thereby into this happy state. To the same blessed source also must we trace all our privileges, and all our hopes; tasting redeeming love in all, and giving the glory of them all to "the Lamb that was slain."]

But, as it does not at first sight appear how this song could arise from the occasion that called it forth, I shall proceed to mark,

III. The connexion between the two

Recall to mind what the occasion was.

The book

which was sealed with seven seals contained all the purposes of God towards his Church and people for ever and ever. And none but the Redeemer himself was found worthy to open it. But, when he took it into his hand with a view to open it, then all the redeemed burst forth into this song of praise; expressly founding their acknowledgments on this as their proper ground. Now this they might well do; because,

1. The events themselves recorded in that book, all arise out of his work of redemption

[Had not the Lord Jesus Christ given himself a sacrifice for the sins of men, there would have been no difference between our fallen race and the fallen angels: all having alike transgressed, they would all have paid the penalty of transgression, and been consigned over, the one as well as the other, to irremediable and everlasting misery. But the Lord Jesus Christ having purchased to himself a peculiar people, the purposes of God respecting them are infinitely diversified, every one of them being destined to experience trials and deliverances peculiar to himself, in order to fit him for that precise measure of glory ordained for him from all eternity. Who then should open this book but He from whom it has derived its existence, and to whom all the blessings contained in it must be traced as their proper source?]

2. They will all issue in the felicity of his redeemed

[Much indeed is spoken in that book respecting the persecutions of the saints, all of whom are said to come out of great tribulation: and can it be said that such dispensations minister to their happiness? I answer, yes; even in this present life, the trials to which they are subjected by their enemies, work for their good, inasmuch as they tend to the perfecting of their graces, and lead to a more abundant supply of heavenly consolations. And, in the world to come, the weight of glory assigned to each, is proportioned to what every individual sustained for his Lord, and to the fidelity with which he executed his Lord's commands. The book, like the cloud at the Red Sea, was dark on the one side, even darkness itself; whilst on the other side it was luminous as the noon-day sun: and in both respects it subserved the interests of Israel: so, whether the dispensations contained in that book be dark or light, they shall all tend to the security of the saints, and the completion of the deliverance ordained for them.]

3. They will all reflect glory on him as the Redeemer

[We may easily conceive of this as far as the mercies are concerned: but is it true also of the judgments? Can we imagine, that the calamities inflicted on his enemies on earth, and the infinitely heavier judgments executed on them in hell, shall bring glory to the Redeemer? Look into the book of the Revelations, and you will find, that the condemnation of the wicked, no less than the salvation of the righteous, is an occasion of triumph to the hosts of heaven, and calls forth the devoutest acknowledgments and hallelujahs to Almighty Godi.

Here then the acknowledged right of " the Lamb" to open the book, and the acclamations of his redeemed on seeing him undertake to open it, stand in the closest connexion with each other, and form one great subject, worthy of our devoutest attention.]

This book of the Church's destinies, though opened as to the seals, is yet but very indistinctly seen by any nor will it be fully known, till the events contained in it are fulfilled.

But,

1. Are there not some amongst us to whom the whole of revelation is yet a sealed book?"

66

[It is to be feared that, notwithstanding all our advantages for knowing the great truths of revelation, they are yet but very imperfectly understood by the generality. Take the work of redemption, and interrogate the great mass of Christians respecting it, and you will find, that the grossest errors obtain in relation to it. The freeness, the fulness, the excellency of the Gospel salvation are but very imperfectly seen, and very unworthily appreciated. Dear brethren, if John "wept much," because he could not gain an insight into the book of God's decrees, what reason have many of you to weep, yea, to weep even floods of tears, on account of your ignorance of the Gospel of Christ, of that which "he that runs may read," and of that on which your everlasting salvation depends. O, look to the Lamb of God to open it to you; and cease not to weep and pray, till he has revealed to you the glorious mysteries contained in it ———]

2. Are there not, however, others to whom its blessed truths have been made known?

i Rev. xix. 1-4. Recite the whole of this.

[Yes, surely, there are not a few, "the eyes of whose understanding have been opened," and who have been enabled to behold "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Who then amongst you are of that happy number, who can say, "Whereas I was once blind, I now see?" To you I say, Imitate the hosts above: give glory to your Lord and Saviour: shout forth his praises: sing without ceasing "to Him who has redeemed you to God by his blood, and made you kings and priests unto God and the Father." To you also I say, Look to it that you" reign on the earth." You are no longer "the servants either of men" or devils: "being bought with a price, you are His" who bought you, and must do his will, and seek his glory, even his only. None are you to fear, but Him: none to love, in comparison of him: none to serve, but in subordination to him. You are to be training now for heaven, and learning the song of the redeemed whilst yet on earth; that when the harps shall be put into your hands in the realms above, you may not strike the chords as novices, but as those who are well instructed in the heavenly science, and fully prepared to bear your part amongst the celestial choir.]

MMDVIII.

THE DOXOLOGY OF THE REDeemed.

Rev. v. 11-13. I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

We know at present but very little of the blessedness of heaven: yet the word of God enables us to form some faint conception of it. St. John draws aside the vail, and reveals to us,

I. The assembly which he saw

The inhabitants of heaven are composed of angels, and glorified saints