PREFATORY NOTE. IF thou canst dive, bring up pearls. If thou canst not dive, collect amber. Though I fail to identify Paradisiacal "bdellium," I still may hope to search out beauties of the onyx stone." A dear saint-I speak under correction of the Judgment of the Great Day, yet think not then to have my word corrected -this dear person once pointed out to me Patience as our lesson in the Book of Revelations. Following the clue thus afforded me, I seek and hope to find Patience in this Book of awful import. Patience, at the least and along with that grace whatever treasures beside God may vouchsafe me. Bearing meanwhile in mind how "to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Now if any deign to seek Patience in my company, I pray them to remember that One high above me in the Kingdom of Heaven heads our pilgrim caravan. THE UNIV. OF APOCALYPSE. CHAPTER I. 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John: 2. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. "Things which must shortly come to pass."-At the end of 1800 years we are still repeating this "shortly," because it is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ: thus starting in fellowship of patience with that blessed John who owns all Christians as his brethren (see ver. 9). More marvellous than many marvels subsequently revealed is that initiatory marvel, the dignity of Him Who ministers to His own servants. For God Almighty it is Who gives to Jesus Christ His Co-Equal Son a Revelation for man. It reaches us through Angel and Apostle, but these are the channel, not the fountain-head, as St. Paul writes to his Corinthian converts : "What hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it ?" Wherefore are we God's creatures? To the end that He may do us good. Wherefore are we Christ's servants? To the end that He may save us. And how helped He His fallen creatures? By taking their damage upon Himself. And how took He in hand to save His servants? By sacrificing Himself for them. Did He at all need us as servants? Nay, but we needed Him. Thee we needed, Thee we need, O Only Almighty, Allmerciful Redeemer. As Thou for us who needed Thee, so grant that we may spend ourselves for any who need us; nor desire to have servants or dependents or inferiors except so far as we may do them good, requiting to them what Thou hast done to us. [Such cannot be our honest theory, unless it be likewise our honest practice... · · · ·.· We may not connect so human a virtue as patience with the blessed Angels, because exemption from sin seems to entail incapacity for certain graces. But St. John, of like passions with ourselves, may indeed have needed patience to "prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings" of that "whole world" whereof he himself avers that it lieth in wickedness. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must . . . come to pass."-Christ reveals to us these things, and by virtue of His Spirit dwelling in us, these and all things reveal to us Christ. For while this Book abounds in the terror of the Lord, through and above tumult of multitudes and their voice as of voluminous waters or of mighty thunderings sounds the dear word, "It is I; be not afraid." Teach us, O Lord, to fear Thee without terror, and to trust Thee without misgiving: to fear Thee in love, until it please Thee that we shall love Thee without fear. : "To show unto His servants."-The promise is to "His servants" only, in accordance with our Lord's own words: "If any man will do His Will, he shall know of the doctrine. . ." : he, not another. Obedience is the key of knowledge, not knowledge of obedience. Yet this showing is not the same as explaining truths or events are certified to us, and in consequence we know them; but it by no means follows that we can account for them or foresee the time or the manner of their coming to pass. Even St. Paul was content to class himself with his hearers when he wrote, "We know in part." And St. Peter attests how the prophets "inquired and searched diligently. . . searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify . . . Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister . . Seems it a small thing to minister rather than to be ministered unto? Nay for thus did the Lord Jesus, Who likewise said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." : "The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee." Things there are which "the angels desire to look into." |