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preaching of his Apostles, and his other succeeding Ministers.

Thus then opens and commences the first age of the Christian Church, which may take its date from the day of Pentecost, or Whitsunday, when the Apostles began to preach. And the conquest, or conversion, which followed, of so many nations to the faith, shows evidently in Christ the exercise of that power, which was attributed to him, Apoc. v. 12. See p. 20. Let us also observe, that, on opening the seal, one, or the first of the four living creatures, which, as we have shown, represents the prophet Isaiah, says to St. John, Come and see; which is spoken, as with the voice of thunder, to mark the importance of the vision: And the invitation to a view of our triumphant Saviour, comes properly from Isaiah, who had so minutely prophesied of all that related to him.

To understand how the conquest of the world was made to the Gospel, we must take notice that, as soon as the Apostles had received the Holy Ghost, ten days after the ascension of Christ, they immediately proceeded to execute the commission given them by their Divine Master, when he told them, Go and teach all nations, Mat. xxviii. 19, but tɔ begin by Jerusalem and Judea, Luke xxiv. 47, and Act. Ap. I. 8. They spent therefore some time in labouring at the conversion of the Jews, of whom no small number embraced the Christian religion, though much the greater part remained obstinate in their infidelity. This work being done, the Apostles separated and dispersed themselves into different nations, to announce to them the new tidings of salvation. St. Peter retired to Antioch, where he founded a Church, and having governed it for seven years, and preached over a great part of lesser Asia, he went to Rome, and there fixed his see. St. Andrew preached to the Scythians, and afterwards in Greece and Epirus. St. Philip in higher Asia. St. Thomas preached to the Parthians, then eastwards as far as the Indies. St. Bartholomew went into Armenia, and some part of India. St. Matthew employed his labours in Parthia, and other eastern countries of

St.

St.

Asia. St. Simon in Mesopotamia and Persia. Jude, or Thaddee, in Mesopotamia and Arabia. Matthias in the countries bordering on the Caspian sea. St. John fixed his see at Ephesus in Asia minor, in which country he founded several Churches, which he governed till his death. The two St. James's, one of whom was the first bishop of Jerusalem, chiefly confined their preaching to Judea. St. Paul announced the gospel to many nations, but he was principally employed in Asia and Greece, and finished his mission in Rome.

By these zealous messengers of Christ, the gospel was spread throughout the world, according to that of the Royal Prophet: Their sound ha.h gone forth into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world. Psalm xviii. 5. The success of their preaching was the more wonderful, as all human considerations conspired against it. This new doctrine was entirely opposite to the received maxims of the world; it declared war against the passions of mankind; it taught selfdenial and mortification; it preached a contempt of what is generally admired; it condemned all other religions, and absolutely required a most virtuous conduct in all its professors. Moreover, its ministers, the Apostles, were not possessed of those natural endowments which might make impression upon their hearers, and conciliate their minds to a new doctrine. They were illiterate men, chosen from the lowest conditions of life, destitute of all human succour, without the advantages of education, and without human eloquence. Notwithstanding the want of these helps, they were inspired with such a spirit of zeal, and with such supernatural force of elocution, as not to be resisted. But above all, the power of performing miracles was their peculiar badge, which stamped upon their words the seal of Divine attestation. These were the means by which truth began to shine forth in a garb which it had never worn before. It now laid open to view the errors mankind had hitherto been enslaved to, it withdrew the veil of ignorance that had overshadowed human reason, it dispelled the darkness of paganism and super

day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.

V. 9. And when those living creatures gave* glory and honour, and benediction to him, that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

V. 10. The four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on the throne, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

V. 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, and honour, and power: because thou hast created all things, and for thy will they were†, and have been created.

The Almighty being seated on his throne, in the splendor of his majesty, with the marks of his supreme power, surrounded with the august choir of the ancient Saints and Prophets; these Prophets, represented by the four living creatures, are constantly employed in offering their homage to him and singing his praises. They cry out day and night, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, &c. repeating three times Holy, probably in honour of the Blessed Trinity; and for the same reason they give to God three different kinds of praise, glory, honour, and benediction, or thanksgiving. And whenever the four living creatures sing these praises, the four and twenty Ancients are ready to join their homage, by falling down before Him that sitteth on the throne, and adoring Him that liveth for ever and ever; and in token of their acknowledging all their happiness and pre-eminence to be his gift, they cast down their crowns before the throne; and thus they conclude their homage: Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, honour, and power: because thou hast created all things, and for thy will they are, and have been created ; that is, we acknowledge thy power, () Lord, because by thy Omnipotence thou hast created all things; honour is due to thee, because by thy will they are, or continue

* In the Greek, shall give, &c.—the four and twenty ancients will fall down, &c.

+In the Greek, they are.

to exist; glory is due to thee, because they were created to serve to thy glory.

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Apoc. Chap. V. v. 1. And I saw, says St. John, in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals.

The Book, which Almighty God holds in his right hand, contains the detail of his administration of the Christian Church; the length of which detail is marked by the book being written both within and without. It is sealed up, as containing the Divine Counsels impenetrable to human sagacity; and the seven seals indicate that the whole is divided into seven parts, each of which is unfolded and made known at the opening of each respective seal.

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V. 2. And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice: who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

V. 3. And no man was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it.

A strong angel cries with a loud voice, to be heard over the whole creation, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? But there is not found a creature, either in heaven, or on earth, or elsewhere, worthy to do this function, or even to look on the book, the eyes not being here permitted to view the repository of the Divine dispensations, which, the book being yet sealed up, are kept concealed from human understanding.

V. 4. And I wept much, continued St. John, because no man was found worthy to open the book,* nor to see it.

V. 5. And one of the Ancients said to me, Weep not; because the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the bonk, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

'St. John, mortified and weeping, because no one was found worthy to open the book, is told by one of the four and twenty Ancients to cease weeping; for that the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to

* The Greek text here adds, and to read it.

open the book, &c. Christ the Messiah, who is born of the tribe of Juda, and who is the root that springs from the royal race of David, is, on account of his achievements, styled the Lion of that tribe, conformably to Jacob's prophecy : Judah is a lion's whelp, Gen. xlix. 9. He, the Messiah, David's descendant, like a valiant Lion, conquered Satan, Death, and the World. He put a stop to Satan's power, by breaking down the empire of idolatry; he discharged the great functions he under-. took to perform on earth; he reconciled man to his Eternal Father; he raised himself from Death; he established his new law, notwithstanding the most obstinate opposition from the World; and he founded his Church at the expense of his blood. By these victories he is here proclaimed to have merited to open the book, that contains the account of the Divine dispensations to that Church. Accordingly,

V. 6. And I saw, says St. John: and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes; which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.

V. 7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.

We had just now seen Christ represented as a strong and valiant Lion subduing his enemies; here we see him in the humble character of a Lamb, which appears as it were slain, that is, newly sacrificed and immolated for the redemption of the world. But the Lamb is standing, that is, though he has been slain, he is resuscitated to life, and recovered all his strength and vigour : And he is seen placed in the midst of the throne, which bespeaks his divine origin and person. This Lamb has seven horns, signifying the seven particular different Powers which he exercises in the seven successive ages of the Christian Church: And to show his wisdom and vigilance, he has also seven eyes, denoting the seven Spirits of God above mentioned, Apoc. 1. 4. & iv. 5. or angels, who are always ready to execute the commands of God and the Lamb, and to carry their messages over the whole earth. The number seven here used, cor

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