2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no sealed or made safe and secure." One hundred and forty-four thousand. See chap. 7: 4. Their Father's name written in their foreheads. Holiness to the Lord was visible in their countenance, conduct, life, conversation. They were Christ-like in appearance. 2 A voice from heaven. From the heaven on earth. They were singing, shouting, and praising God and the Lamb. They were all on the wing for glory. The dragon was now dead, and the time of their deliverance from spiritual bondage at hand. Many waters. Loud, solemn, terri fying to her enemies. The waters, in general, in this book, mean nations and multitudes of people, who, no doubt, had now renounced idolatry and embraced Christianity. Of great thunder. Shouts of victory through the blood of the Lamb. Harpers harping. Singing praises to God and the Lamb, because of their great deliverance. They had now passed through the Red Sea, and were safe on the other side Jordan, and within sight of Pisgah. 3 They sung a new song. That is, redeeming grace and dying love. They were sure that neither, ⚫ Part of this chapter has reference to about the year of our Lord 76, when peace was established throughout the world, and when all the commotions and disasters throughout the world had nearly come to an end. At this period the church of Christ had been collected together from the different parts of the world into which it was scattered by the war between the Jews and Romans. Mount Sion, spiritually, derived its name from Mount Zion literally, i. e. the upper city of Jerusalem, which was called by this name. The city itself was built on two hills, and one was higher and more direct than the other; the highest hill was called mount Zion, and the lowest hill was called Acra. The former contained the strongest and most elegant buildings of the two. There were three towers in the upper city, Phasaelus, Hippicus, and Mariamne, which were so strong that they never could be destroyed by an engine. See Josephus, War, book 6, 8: 4. St. John compares the church to Mount Zion because her faith, holiness, strength, and stability, exceeded that of the Jews much more than the upper city of Jerusalem did that of the lower. See Heb. 12:22; Matt. 5:14. And our Savior standing on mount Zion is a figurative mode of expression, to show that he is the head of the church; his divinity was in heaven and his humanity on the earth at this man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Jordan's streams Nor death's cold flood, Should fright them from the shore. See chap. 5:9. The redeemed of the Lord had now returned to Zion with songs of deliverance, and everlasting joy was on their heads, and sorrow and sighing had for ever fled away. No man could learn that song. None but the redeemed of the Lord, children of the spiritual and heavenly kingdom, can sing redeeming grace and dying love. The formalist may try to imitate it, but it will prove a failure in the end. Neither the choir nor the chorister can do it, unless they sing with the spirit and undertanding also.* 4 Were not defiled with women. With idolatrous nations and heathenish practices. Women, in this book, frequently represent nations, fallen and corrupt churches. See verse 8, chap. 2:20. These hundred and forty-four thousand Christians were not corrupted by the world, the flesh, nor the devil; for they are virgins. Pure, unspotted, holy, they walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, were Israelites in whom is no guile. They were without fault before God, v. 5. Pure in his eyes, though vile in the eyes of the world. "That which is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination in his sight." What man, therefore, will be so presumptuous as to condemn what God justifies. Shall we say these Christians were impure, when God himself declares them to be without fault? Virgin is a title applied to the Jewish church, and here St. John applies it to the Christian church. Isa. 27: 22.† Being the first fruits unto God and None could learn to sing this song but those who had found redemption in the blood of the Lamb, even the forgiveness of all their sins. This song never can be learned by art, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy; nor can it be sung by note, nor by nature; the tune cannot be played on any other instrument but the harp of salvation. + This text by no means prohibits marriage, which is honorable in all, minister and member; but second marriages were not allowed to ministers in the days of the apostles, and long after their decease. St. Paul would not allow Timothy to take a widow in the church list but those who had been the wife of one husband only. See 1 Tim. 5: 9, 11. And that this is the sense in which the primitive fathers of the church have understood the above texts of scripture is very evident from Mr. Whiston's note on Josephus, Antiq. book 18, 6:6; and note, says he, that Tertullian owns this law against second marriages Lamb withersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Larnb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile : for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, the Lamb. They were the first fruits of the Apostle's labors in the ministry, and were converted to God at the day of Pentecost. This was only a particular out-pouring of the Spirit; but now there is going to be a general out-pouring of it, to prepare the church and the ministers for the conversion of the whole world. The time is at hand, when the wolf, the fierce, ferocious, persecuting heathen king shall lie down with the lamb; be so humble, so teachable, as to sit at the feet of the most poor and despised follower of Jesus. It is a most painful thing to the pious Christian to hear so much said about the conversion of the world, and see so very little done to accomplish it. Some ministers try to make the people believe that money is the one thing needful. But how did the twelve poor fishermen of Galilee convert the world? Surely not by money; for they had neither silver nor gold. But they had the Lord with them, confirming their word by signs and wonders following. we may soon have 5 For this verse, see verse 4, under virgins. 6 Another angel. Missionary messenger of the church, an apostle, either St. John or St. Paul, who were general missionaries to the church and the world. The ministers of the Seven Churches of Asia were stationed there for a season. But the commission of our Savior to the twelve apostles was to preach the of the clergy had been once, at least, executed in his time. And Jerome, speaking of the ill reputation of marrying twice, says that no such person could be chosen into the clergy in his days; which Augustine testifies also; and for Epiphanius, rather earlier, is clear and full to the same purpose, and says that law obtained over the whole catholic church in his days. having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that gospel to every creature, and this before Jerusalem was destroyed. St. Paul was not put to death as yet by Nero, and was attending to his mission. The preaching alluded to here took place before Babylon fell, v. 8. And judgement had now begun at the house of God, as predicted by St. Peter. Chap. 4:17. See v. 7. Then followed the downfal of spiritual Babylon; her ruin, destruction, and final overthrow.* Having the everlasting gospel. The glad tidings of salvation through Christ, to a perishing world, viz. that in him all the nations of the earth shall be made happy. Indeed, there is salvation in no other. For "there is no other name given under heaven, among men, whereby we can be saved, but the name of Jesus." Any other gospel is not of God, but of man. And if you believe man in preference to God, you are sure to be lost. Therefore, poor sinner, go direct to Jesus, in faith and prayer, and he will pardon all your sins. For, without this blessing you cannot be saved. top. To preach. Proclaim on the house To preach, does not mean to read other men's sermons, talk fluently, eloquently, scream aloud as some do, shout or to be silent in the meeting as others. Oh no! But it means, "To raise your voice like a trumpet, and show the people their transgressions, and the house of Israel their sins," (all of them;) and then point them directly to Jesus for a free, a full, and a present salvation-a salvation from all sin. If you do this, sinners will be converted; if not, a soul will never be converted to God under your ministry. Peter, the fisherman, without money, learning, influence, the bishop's hands, or the bishop's parchment, converted thousands. Have you ever converted one soul during the whole of your ministry? Poor anatoth, what will become of you in the day of judgment? What an awful account will you then render of your stewardship? Mr. Hill has very accurately pointed out the different modes of preaching in the following order: Bold manner-The man who When Christ sent out his apostles to preach, he told them to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; and to qualify them, he endued them with power from on high to speak sixteen different languages, that every nation might hear the gospel preached in their own tongue. And this apostle must have been qualified in the same manner, or else he could not preach the gospel to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, throughout the world. These qualifications have never been found in any other minister of the gospel at least since the second century. And though there have been instances of ministers who have acquired different languages, yet it was through study and long application, and not through a supernatural power, without any study or application to them. But if these ministers have learned to preach the gospel in different languages, yet they have not extended their labors so far as personally to preach the gospel to every nation, &c. dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory preaches what he feels without fear or diffidence. Self-confident-A man who goes by nobody's judgment but his own. Rash-A preacher who says what comes uppermost without any consideration. Rambling-A man that says all that pops in his mind without any connexion. Stiff-One who pins himself down to think and speak by rule, without any deviation. Powerful-The man who preaches from the bottom of his heart the truths of the gospel, with energy to the conscience of his hearers. Finical-Minces out fine words with nothing in them. Sober-The man who lulls you fast asleep. Elegant-The man who employs all his brains upon dressing words, without even aiming at the heart. Conceited-Vainly aims at every thing, and says nothing. Affectionate-The happy man who feels for souls tenderly, preaches Christ affectionately, and yearns over souls in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Dogmatic-A man who goes by his own brains, right or wrong. Peevish-One who pricks into every body's thoughts, and thinks no one right but himself. Fanciful-One who instead of being led by wisdom, runs into a thousand visionary whimsies and conceits. Self-important-Thinks nobody like himself. Genteel-The vain fool that is fond of dressing up words without meaning. To every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. That is, to every individual on the habitable globe, to every son and daughter of Adam. Wherever you find a sinner, preach Jesus to him as his Savior. Our Lord's last command, after his crucifixion, (and he has not given a new one since,) was, "go ye, therefore, into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and lo! (says he,) I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Tell them I have died for all, rose for all, and plead for all, and I will finally judge all at the last day, the righteous and the wicked. Therefore preach the gospel to every man, that every man in the day of eternity may be without excuse. 7 Fear God. Who, after he hath killed, hath power to send both soul and body to hell. I say unto you, fear him, and not man, who can only kill the body, but cannot touch the soul. And give glory to him. Adore, fear, reverence, serve, and obey him, and not a poor, ignorant, superstitious priest, or a heathen idolater. The hour of his judgment is come. The time has now come to judge the dead nation, who is neither fit to live nor fit to die, and also for |