on and the invitation to a view of our triumphant Saviour comes properly from Ifaias, who had fo minutely prophefied of all that related to him.

To understand how the conqueft of the world was made to the Gofpel, we must take notice that, as foon as the apoftles had received the Holy Ghoft, ten days after the afcenfion of Chrift, they immediately proceeded to execute the commiffion given them by their divine Mafter, when he told them, "Go, and teach all nations," Matt. xxviii. 19. but "to begin by Jerufalem and Judæa," Luke xxiv. 47. and Acts i. 8. They spent therefore fome time in labouring at the conversion of the Jews, of whom no fmall number embraced the Chriftian religion, though much the greater part remained obftinate in their infidelity. This work being done, the apoftles separated and difperfed themselves into different nations, to announce to them the new tidings of falvation. St. Peter retired to Antioch, where he founded a church, and having governed it for seven years, and preached over a great part of leffer Afia, he went to Rome, and there fixed his fee. St. Andrew preached to the Scythians, and afterwards in Greece and Epirus. St. Philip in higher Afia. St. Thomas preached to the Parthians, then eastwards as far as the Indies. St. Bartholomew went into Armenia, and fome part of India. St. Matthew employed his labours in Parthia, and other eaftern countries of Afia. St. Simon in Mefopotamia and Perfia. St. Jude, or Thaddee, in Mefopotamia and Arabia. St. Matthias in the countries bordering on the Cafpian fea. St. John fixed his fee at Ephefus in Afia Minor, in which country he founded feveral churches, which he governed till his death. The two St. James's, one of whom was the first bishop of Jerufalem, chiefly confined their preaching to Juda. St. Paul announced the gospel to many nations, but he was principally employed in Afia and Grecce, and finished his miffion in Rome.

At the opening of the firft feal, there appears to St. John a perfon upon a white horfe. This perfon is our Saviour, as appears from chapter xix. of the Apocalypfe, ver. 11 and 13, where St. John fays,

I faw heaven open, and there appeared a white horfe; and he that fat upon him, was called the Faithful and True--And his name is, the Word of God." The crown that is here given him, and the white colour of his fteed, fhew him victorious and triumphant. Chrift had been victorious: firft, over Satan, by overthrowing the dominion that murderous enemy had ufurped over mankind; fecondly, in purchafing, by extreme fuffering, and at the price of his blood, a perpetual peace between God and man: thirdly, in conquering death, by raising himself to life from the grave by his own power. Fraught with thefe victories, he had afcended triumphant in glory into heaven, amidst the acclamations of the heaveny choirs, finging, "Princes, lift up your gates; eternal gates, be ye lifted up, and the King of glory fhall enter in." Pfalm xxiii. 7. Being therefore exalted to all the honours of a glorious King and Conqueror, he here appears in the equipment beonging to that character, and with bow in hand fets out to profecute his conquefts, in fubduing the world co the dominion of faith by the preaching of his poftles, and his other fucceeding minifters.

Thus then opens and commences the first age of the Chriftian Church, which may take its date from the day of Pentecoft, or Whitfunday, when the apofles began to preach. And the conqueft, or converion, which followed, of so many nations to the faith, hews evidently in Chrift the exercise of that power, which was attributed to him, Apoc. v. 12.

See p.

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3. Let us alfo obferve, that, on opening the feal, one, or the first of the four living creatures, which, as we have fhewn, reprefents the prophet Ifaias, fays to St. John, Come and fee; which is fpoken, as with the voice of thunder, to mark the importance of the vifi

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of who

confine nounce

princip

on and the invitation to a view of our triumphant Saviour comes properly from Ifaias, who had fo minutely prophefied of all that related to him.

To understand how the conqueft of the world was made to the Gofpel, we must take notice that, as foon as the apostles had received the Holy Ghoft, ten days after the afcenfion of Chrift, they immediately proceeded to execute the commiffion given them by their divine Mafter, when he told them, "Go, and teach all nations," Matt. xxviii. 19. but "to begin by Jerufalem and Judæa," Luke xxiv. 47. and Acts i. 8. They spent therefore fome time in labouring at the conversion of the Jews, of whom no fmall number embraced the Chriftian religion, though much the greater part remained obftinate in their infidelity. This work being done, the apoftles separated and difperfed themselves into different nations, to announce to them the new tidings of falvation. St. Peter retired to Antioch, where he founded a church, and having governed it for seven years, and preached over a great part of leffer Afia, he went to Rome, and there fixed his fee. St. Andrew preached to the Scythians, and afterwards in Greece and Epirus. St. Philip in higher Afia, St. Thomas preached to the Parthians, then eastwards as far as the Indies. St. Bartholomew went into Armenia, and fome part of India. St. Matthew employed his labours in Parthia, and other eaftern countries of Afia. St. Simon in Mefopotamia and Perfia. St. Jude, or Thaddee, in Mefopotamia and Arabia. St. Matthias in the countries bordering on the Cafpian fea. St. John fixed his fee at Ephesus in Afia Minor, in which country he founded feveral churches, which he governed till his death. The two St. James's, one of whom was the firft bishop of Jerufalem, chiefly confined their preaching to Judea. St. Paul announced the gospel to many nations, but he was principally employed in Afia and Greece, and finished his miffion in Rome.

"

At the opening of the firft feal, there appears to St. John a perfon upon a white horfe. This perfon is our Saviour, as appears from chapter xix. of the Apocalypfe, ver. 11 and 13, where St. John fays, "I faw heaven open, and there appeared a white horfe; and he that fat upon him, was called the Faithful and True--And his name is, the Word of God." The crown that is here given him, and the white colour of his fteed, fhew him victorious and triumphant. Chrift had been victorious: firft, over Satan, by overthrowing the dominion that murderous enemy had ufurped over mankind; fecondly, in purchafing, by extreme fuffering, and at the price of his blood, a perpetual peace between God and man: thirdly, in conquering death, by raising himself to life from the grave by his own power. Fraught with thefe victories, he had afcended triumphant in glory into heaven, amidst the acclamations of the heavenly choirs, finging, "Princes, lift up your gates; eternal gates, be ye lifted up, and the King of glory fhall enter in." Pfalm xxiii. 7. Being therefore exalted to all the honours of a glorious King and Conqueror, he here appears in the equipment belonging to that character, and with bow in hand fets out to profecute his conquefts, in fubduing the world to the dominion of faith by the preaching of his apoftles, and his other fucceeding minifters.

Thus then opens and commences the first age of the Christian Church, which may take its date from the day of Pentecoft, or Whitfunday, when the apoftles began to preach. And the conqueft, or converfion, which followed, of fo many nations to the faith, fhews evidently in Chrift the exercise of that power, which was attributed to him, Apoc. v. 12. See p.

23. Let us alfo obferve, that, on opening the feal, one, or the first of the four living creatures, which, as we have fhewn, represents the prophet Ifaias, fays to St. John, Come and fee; which is fpoken, as with the voice of thunder, to mark the importance of the vifi

on and the invitation to a view of our triumphant Saviour comes properly from Ifaias, who had fo minutely prophefied of all that related to him.

To understand how the conqueft of the world was made to the Gofpel, we must take notice that, as foon as the apoftles had received the Holy Ghoft, ten days after the afcenfion of Chrift, they immediately proceeded to execute the commiffion given them by their divine Mafter, when he told them, "Go, and teach all nations," Matt. xxviii. 19. but "to begin by Jerufalem and Judæa," Luke xxiv. 47. and Acts i. 8. They spent therefore fome time in labouring at the converfion of the Jews, of whom no fmall number embraced the Chriftian religion, though much the greater part remained obftinate in their infidelity. This work being done, the apoftles separated and difperfed themselves into different nations, to announce to them the new tidings of falvation. St. Peter retired to Antioch, where he founded a church, and having governed it for seven years, and preached over a great part of leffer Afia, he went to Rome, and there fixed his fee. St. Andrew preached to the Scythians, and afterwards in Greece and Epirus. St. Philip in higher Afia. St. Thomas preached to the Parthians, then eastwards as far as the Indies. St. Bartholomew went into Armenia, and fome part of India. St. Matthew employed his labours in Parthia, and other eaftern countries of Afia. St. Simon in Mefopotamia and Perfia. St. Jude, or Thaddee, in Mefopotamia and Arabia. St. Matthias in the countries bordering on the Cafpian fea. St. John fixed his fee at Ephefus in Afia Minor, in which country he founded feveral churches, which he governed till his death. The two St. James's, one of whom was the firft bishop of Jerufalem, chiefly confined their preaching to Judea. St. Paul announced the gofpel to many nations, but he was principally employed in Afia and Greece, and finished his miffion in Rome.