Secondly, The throne of the Redeemer is denominated a throne of grace. Hebrews iv. 16, "Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace." This trait is expressive and perfectly in character, for him who is full of grace and truth. John i. 14, "And we beheld his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Thirdly, The Redeemer sat upon this throne. This intends his resting there, dwelling there, taking up his abode there.

Fourthly, What is the language of him, that sat upon the throne? Behold, I make all things new. We know, that all things were made by him and for him. Yet how extensive the depravity, how deep, how wide-spreading the ruin ushered in by the fall. But, saith he, who sitteth upon the throne, Behold, I make all things new.

Fifthly, God will make a new heart and a new spirit.

Sixthly, All things being made new, all old things must be done away. There will be no more sorrow, no more death, neither shall there be any more pain.

Seventhly, The everlasting Father, the Son given, the Redeemer of men, having made this important, this solemn declaration, enjoins it upon the Apostle to record it, and, benignly condescending, he adds as a reason:"For these words are faithful and true."

SKETCH CXXI.

REVELATIONS xxii. 1, 2, 3.

First, AND he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb. What is this river? Psalm xlvi. 4, "There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High." Zechariah xiv. 8, "And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea in summer and in winter shall it be."

Secondly, In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life. Christ Jesus himself is this

tree, this tree of life; and of this tree, the Spirit, by the mouth of the royal prophet, thus testifieth, Psalm i. 3, "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Thirdly, The medicinal or restoring quality of this tree. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Mark iii. 15, "And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils." In consequence of which,

Fourthly, There shall be no more curse. What is a curse? It is an execration or a supplication, that vexation, pain or torment, may overtake the object of our hatred. The supreme Being hath cursed first the serpent; secondly, the earth; and thirdly, the breakers of his law. Human beings bestow curses on each other, sometimes by divine appointment, as in Deuteronomy xxvii. But, more frequently, bad men, under the influence of the spirit of the adversary, curse each other after the manner of Shimei the son of Gera, who came forth cursing still as he came, 1Samuel xvi. 5.

Fifthly, The Spirit of truth saith, there shall be no more curse; for the period hastens, when, instead of the curse, and contrasted therewith, the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it. Did the Spirit simply say, the throne of God shall be in it, or the throne of the Lamb shall be in it, we should not derive from the information such abundant felicity; but the throne of God and of the Lamb, is the union of the divine and human nature, and this union is our salvation. This throne is the seat of the King, as the head of the universe; it is the highest seat of regal power and dignity. Only in the throne, said Pharaoh, will I be greater than thou.

Sixthly, The servants of God shall serve him. Whether born in servitude, or bought, or conquered, or freely engaged, every individual of the human family is, in one or other of these points, the servant of God; and whether he is thus by birth, by purchase, by conquest, or by choice, he shall assuredly be brought into subjection.

SKETCH CXXII.

REVELATIONS xxii. 4, 5, 6.

First, AND they shall see his face. Under another dispensation this was impossible. Exodus xxxiii. 20, "And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me and live." Why, in their individual characters, they were not pure in heart. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. 1 John, iii. 2, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

Secondly, The name of God shall be upon their foreheads. Revelations iii. 12, "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." Revelations xiv. 1, "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having their Father's name written in their foreheads." In the present state, they have worn the mark of the beast in their hand, and on their foreheads. Revelations xiii. 16, " And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads." But the name which they shall receive when they are before God, is a holy name; it appertaineth to him, who is called the Holy One of Israel, and the name whereby he shall be called is, The LORD our righteousness.

Night is, literally, horizon; but it is, Romans xiii. 12, let us, therefore,

Thirdly, And there shall be no night there. that portion of time when the sun is below our figuratively, mental darkness and ignorance. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Matthew xxv. 6, "And at midnight there was a cry made, Go ye out to meet the bridegroom." Night is expressive

of adversity. Psalm xxx. 5, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Isaiah viii. 22, "And they shall look unto the earth, and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish." Psalm cvii. 10, "Such as sit in darkness and the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron." Night is descriptive of the power of the adversary. Luke xxii. 53, "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me, but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." Again, Night is emblematic of the power of sin. Colossians i. 13, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." Fourthly, And they need no candle. stand by this candle? Ministers of the 14, 15, "Ye are the light of the world. a candle and put it under a bushel." seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."

What are we to under

word. Matthew v. Neither do men light Revelations i. 20, "The

Fifthly, Neither light of the sun. Why is this? The sun was created for a sign; but when the substance is ever present, the sign will be unnecessary; the LORD God himself giveth them light.

Sixthly, And they shall reign forever and ever. In our mortal bodies sin reigneth; but in a state of beatification, Jesus Christ and his righteousness shall reign forever and ever.

Seventhly, And he said unto me, these sayings are faithful and truc. Revelations i. 1, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servant things, which must shortly come to pass; and he sent, and signified it unto his angel by his servant John." Revelations xix. 9, "And he saith they which are called unto the

unto me, Write, Blessed are marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." Thus the LORD God of the holy prophets, sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things, which must shortly be done. Blessed, forever blessed be the name of the Redeemer of men.

SKETCH CXXIII.

REVELATIONS xxii. 7, 8, 9.

THE first particular pointed out in our text, is the speedy accomplishment of the things promised, Behold, I come quickly.

Secondly, Blessed is he, who keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Thirdly, And I, John, saw these things and heard them; and when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel, that shewed me these things.

Fourthly, The admonition and testimony of the angel. See thou do it not; for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren, the prophets, and of them who keep the sayings of this book: Worship God. This corresponds with the testimony of all God's

sent servants.

Fifthly, God is the only proper object of worship. Exodus xxxiv. 14, "For thou shalt worship no other God." Yet it`appears that the Redeemer is a proper object of worship, of all adoration. Matthew ii. 11," The wise men worshipped him while he was cradled in the manger." Matthew viii. 2, " And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him." Matthew ix. 18, "Behold there came a certain ruler and worshipped him." Matthew xiv. 33,"They that were in the ship worshipped him." Matthew xv. 25, "The woman of Canaan worshipped him." Matthew xxviii. 9, "The disciples held him by the feet and worshipped him." Matthew xxxviii. 17, " And when they saw him they worshipped." In no instance do we learn, that the Redeemer rebuked these worshippers. We do not hear him say, See thou do it not. But this worship was not confined to his immediate disciples or cotemporaries. In the fifteenth chapter and fourth verse of this book of Revelations, we are thus taught, "Who shall not fear thee, O LORD, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy; for all nations shall come, and worship before thee." And Revelations v. 14, " And the four and twenty elders fell down