prone to indulge on subjects of divine truth, even where certainty may be attained? If symbols of things in heaven above were indeed given to man on earth, he could never arrive at any adequate conception of the objects signified, but must for ever wander in the mazes of fancy, or rest in ideal conclusions; a state into which the Word of God was never designed to lead us. The scenic transactions in the giving of the book, before the opening of the volume, seem not only to be descriptive of a general truth with regard to the revelation of the Most High, which can never be opened to man, but through the sacrificial merits of "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," and which is calculated to awaken the praises of the creation of God; they seem from their place and connection to have a particular application, and to be prophetic of what should take place with regard to the perfect opening of the book, "in the hand of him that sat on the throne"-that the insufficiency of created mind to effect the sacred work of unfolding the mysterious volume should be so displayed, as that the Lamb in his mediatorial character might be duly magnified. St. John saw enough of the book in the hand of the King of Glory to be filled with admiration; his apprehension of it manifested that it was something adapted to the compass of his finite mind, worthy of him that held it; he knew that it was not presented to his view in mockery, yet how was he to attain to the revelation of its contents? He beheld it in the hands of infinite Deity-who then was worthy to take and to open the book? It was not only in the hand of the Most High, but SEALED with a SEAL, which none might open to him and why? Because of sin! No man was found worthy to take and to open the book, neither to look thereon. The evangelist wept much; his soul had no comfort, until enabled to look to the sacrificial merits of Lamb as it had been seven eyes, perfect in He had prevailed to Christ, represented by the slain, with seven horns and power and in intelligence. open the book, and to show unto his servants the sacred contents of the desired volume. Thus was presented a prophetic exhibition of the difficulties which the church should hereafter experience in the unfolding of the seven-sealed mystery. An intense desire is created, ere the hope of a perfect understanding is given; and whilst we study the outward structure of the word of the Revelation, are not our souls kindled with increasing desire after a just and perfect apprehension of its full and precise meaning, so difficult to attain? Two thousand years have nearly rolled away, since the sacred volume, held up to the view of the evangelist, was communicated in writing to the church of God, and we are still looking and longing, and seeking for the understanding of it. Let us praise the Lord that the Lamb hath prevailed to open the book, and let us urge upon him, in earnest prayer, the fulfilment of his promise, "to shew it unto his servants;" "for the time is at hand." The prophetic view with regard to the chapter, appears to be this: The book written WITHIN, shows that it has a hidden sense, upon which every eye shall not look. WITHOUT, or on the "back side," that it has an external character open to every eye. "SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS," manifests the sacredness of that which is hidden, as under a covenant engagement not to be violated, designed for a peculiar people, the servants of God, and "given in the hands of a Mediator." Something so singularly holy marked the book, in "the right hand of him that sat on the throne,' that human eye might not irreverently scan even that part of it open to observation counted worthy to open the book, NEITHER TO LOOK THEREON." This, observe, was before the acknowledged interference of the Lamb. The proclamation of the strong angel seems prophetically to manifest the insufficiency of the highest powers of man, to whom the volume is especially held forth to open the book, until the mediatorial character of Christ should be rightly apprehended with reference thereto; for "prophecy," as the apostle observes, "is a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in our hearts." In fulfilment of the prediction with regard to the difficulty that should attend the unfolding of the Apocalyptic volume, learned writers have given it as their opinion, that the Revelation of St. John is a book, "so wrapt and involved in figure and allegories, so dark and obscure, that nothing, or at least nothing clear and certain is to be collected from it; so learned a man as Scaliger is noted for saying that Calvin was wise, because he wrote no comment on the Revelation. A celebrated wit and divine of our own church hath not scrupled to assert, that that book either finds a man mad, or makes him so. Whitby, although a useful commentator on the other books of the New Testament, would not yet adventure upon the Revelation:-‘Ï confess I do not,' says he, 'for want of wisdom, that is, because I neither have sufficient reading nor judgment to discern the intendment of the prophecies contained in that book.' Voltaire is pleased to say, that Sir Isaac Newton wrote his Commentary upon the Revelation to console mankind for the great superiority that he had over them in other respects. It is undeniably certain, that even the most learned men have miscarried in nothing more x 2 Pet. 1. 12. than in their comments and explanation of this book."y Here then, is "the strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?' May we learn from a right apprehension of this chapter the sacred character of this prophetic book, and seek earnestly for that understanding of it which the Lord Jesus Christ alone is appointed to give! Vitringa writes, "To attempt, or at least to succeed in, the interpretation of prophecy, is not the province of all. None of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.' Who is wise and he shall understand these things, prudent and he shall know them?'a 'Who hath an ear to hear, let him hear.'" "The observation therefore which Bacon, Lord Verulam, has elsewhere correctly and wisely applied to the parables,—viz. that they have a double use, inasmuch as they serve to conceal and cover, and at the same time to illustrate and enlighten,— I am justified in transferring to the prophecies. For they are purposely written in such a manner, that it will be by no means strange, if those, who bring not with them to the intrepretation thereof a proper state of mind, together with due diligence, attention, perseverance and the habit of weighing and comparing Scripture with Scripture, do, though seeing, yet not perceive, and though hearing, yet not understand; neither should it be wondered at, if those who enter upon prophecy with a profane spirit, and a heart under the influence of pride and prejudice, should stumble and fall into error, and collect out of it matter for offence. Thus Hosea says'The ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk d y Bishop Newton's Dissertations on the Prophecies, p. 494. c Lib. de Sap. Vet. e in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein.' -This very thing is set forth by Isaiah-And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot for it is sealed: and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not learned,'' The former instance exhibits those doctors who have employed their whole lives in the study of divinity, and who yet, on account of their prejudices, have been incapable of interpreting prophecy; being, as it were, destitute of a key or instrument to unlock it. The latter represents that portion of the common people, who have never exercised themselves in reading and meditating upon sacred writ, and are in the habit of expecting the interpretation of it from the learned. To neither of these would the book be intelligible; and therefore the prophetical writings are continually fulfilling the secret counsel of God; according to which that tremendous sentence that reading they should not understand-is declared against those who love not the truth, or are careless and indifferent concerning it, or are proud and arrogant in spirit. Thus he gives light to the Israelites; whilst the Egyptians he covers with darkness. "Prophecy, in whatever style and phraseology delivered, employs intelligible language: intelligible, that is to say, to persons endued with ordinary faculties. For the Spirit who uttered that word, proposed to explain in language something certain and defined, (not surely any thing vague and uncertain,) and to explain it for the use of men who form in this world the Church of God. Therefore he employed (as he needs must have done, unless we |