INTRODUCTION.

THROUGH the symbols of divine inspiration, we discern in the Apocalypse a settled and definite, although hidden and mysterious history of the world, that can be perfectly solved only by the lapse of ages, and a believing, patient, investigation on the part of feeble, short-sighted man.

The soul is filled with wonder and admiration, on perceiving the way in which the Lord is pleased to speak, by this extraordinary book, to our dark and fallen minds; to teach us, could we learn, his own great and exalted attributes, and the creatures' blindness and nothingness abstracted from himself.

Instead of thinking, as too many do, that no profitable instruction is to be gained from the volume of Revelation, given by JEHOVAH to the LORD JESUS CHRIST to show unto his church, we are disposed to believe that, as it is the last, so it is the highest lesson in the Bible, and instructs in a way as powerful and practical as any portion of the sacred volume. Indeed, when we consider what we have just glanced at-God's peculiar method of giving this book to man-if we understand no other part of the Apocalypse, we can understand this, that it is the REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST, that GOD GAVE UNTO HIM to SHOW unto his servants ;· -the extraordinary and marked manner of giving the book, through the immediate personal interposition of the

Lord Jesus Christ, which is thus expressly testified of no other book in the Bible, prepares us, even if we can enter no farther into its contents, to receive it with reverential regard and godly anticipation, believing that it must be singularly worthy of its great and beneficent Giver.

The glory of the DIVINE nature of Christ, breaks forth throughout the Apocalyptic vision; but his person and delegated authority as THE SON OF MAN, is strikingly held up to view, that we may recognise and believe in his PERSONAL ADVENT and REIGN, which form the main scope of this prophecy and the chorus of its heavenly songs.

The words, "Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein," attest sufficiently the mind of the Spirit with regard to the reverence and attention due to this particular portion of holy writ.

On opening the volume, we are perhaps disappointed that we do not at once understand its mystical pages; let us in this case return again to the introductory passage, and we shall find that it is given to Jesus to SHOW unto his SERVANTS; implying that we cannot receive its contents until they shall be opened to the understanding by the Spirit of Christ.

We should take this sacred book in hand with the simplicity of a little child that is willing to learn, and place ourselves at the feet of Jesus to be taught. We must not carry wisdom to him, but receive it from him; neither may we go with a captious spirit, but with patient teachableness and a due sense of the exalted character of HIM, by whom the volume was inspired, and whose wisdom sees fit to let obscurity rest, for a season, upon this most sublime revelation. As we enter upon the study, we may perhaps fail to calculate upon our probable

ignorance of events which solve the allegories, or of those particular characteristics with regard to them, which procure their introduction in a sacred prophecy; and we are, in consequence, either offended with the ambiguity of the text, or the choice of materials selected by the Holy Spirit.

The Apocalypse requires especial helps to open : we must search by books," as did Daniel, to solve this deep prophecy. It is not, like other scriptures, made clear to the understanding by a spiritual light thrown upon the sacred text alone; collateral aids must be put in requisition. It is connected with the opening history of the world, and requires to be illustrated and marked in its data, from the re-. cords of national events.

The Lord Jesus Christ in his mediatorial character received this divine Revelation originally from the Father, and "sent and signified it by an angel to his servant John," who communicated it in writing to the church, as if to intimate the supervenient aid that would be called for in opening to the understanding this sacred book. The disclosure will not be immediate, neither will the facilities for interpretation be alike open to all, but must be handed down from proper sources of information, and be received with simplicity of spirit into an understanding heart.

Some acquaintance with the secrets of this book seems nevertheless to have prevailed in the apostolic age, as may be collected from writers of that early period; and, doubtless an inquiry into the scriptural import or signification of the symbolic terms, under the light of God's Spirit, would have been attended with a somewhat definite conception of their meaning, and have enabled them to extract from the Apocalypse an outline of the history of the prophetic earth, even before the development of those events which constitute its fulfilment. The

symbols with their historic solution presented together, is a privilege to be enjoyed in the present day, and calculated to exalt the mind to a holy admiration of the faithfulness of God in what is past, and to establish a sober, godly, believing expectation of that which is to come.

The character of the kingdom to come, for which this world was originally created, and in which the glory of God is so eminently concerned, is but obscurely known to us, and its eternal claims upon our consideration but little regarded. It is, nevertheless, from first to last the scope of the sacred writings, and the presiding cause of all human vicissitude and existence.

The kingdom of God is in our midst, although unknown or disregarded; and we are amenable to its laws, however negligently studied and obeyed. The heirs of the kingdom are trained up amongst us; the light thereof is the TRUE LIGHT that lighteth the world, and its tribunal is that to which we must all yield our final account. Satan holds an usurped dominion upon earth, and has his willing subjects; these are the tares among the wheat. Hence the heirs of the everlasting kingdom are tried and made manifest, and the grace of God is glorified.

The invisible influences which operate on the minds of men, in the great responsible drama acting on the theatre of the world, are expressed under striking symbols in the Apocalypse. The scriptures throughout testify of the powers of light and of darkness; of the captivity of the world through sin; of redemption by Christ, and the necessity of Gospel obedience; the Apocalypse unfolds the great and eventful catastrophe.

Proportioned to our degree of faith and sensibility to the chords so finely touched by the Spirit on the prophetic harp, a deep and reverential interest must unavoidably prevail as we enter upon a