one of his descendants has since proved worthy to recover it, because not one of all the race of Adam has been righteous, and "able" in this sense, as a representative of the human race, to recover for man the possession which he lost. A fact this at thought of which the Apostle might indeed well weep! at the reflection that not one of the whole human race could restore the possession which their first Father lost! "And I wept much because no man was found worthy "to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon:" (verse 4.) But in the next verse his grief is relieved, for he hears of one who possesses the right and is WORTHY to open the book:-"And one of the elders "saith unto me, Weep not; behold the Lion of the "tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed "to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof;" and then follows (ver. 6), "I beheld, and lo! in the "midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the "midst of the elders, stood A LAMB AS IT HAD BEEN "SLAIN, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are "the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. "And He came and took the book out of the right hand "of Him that sat upon the throne." What none of the whole human race were found competent to do, Christ in the character of "the Lamb" does. In His own person he claims the inheritance, asserts His right to “the possession" which He "purchased," and to which in man's nature he has for man established a new title. He took on Him human nature for this very purpose, and hence it is as "" THE LAMB," and "a Lamb as it had been SLAIN," that he is here seen "to take the book,

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and to open the seals thereof;”—a proof, I say, most plain and decisive that the book is not the book of the Revelation of the history of the Church;-that the question is not who should reveal the destinies of the Church (for this any inspired prophet would be competent to do), but the great question of WORTH-whose the righteousness that can justify the human nature, and give to man a new title to his lost inheritance.

"The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” -another title defining the subject of the book, and proving its reference to the Saviour's kingdom: for, as that kingdom, while generally the kingdom over all the earth, will be specially "the kingdom of Israel," so here the special title to it in this view is superadded to the general title by which he inherits for mankind, and the nations of the earth at large. As "Son of man" he inherits for man, or in other words as "the Lamb,” in which character "He is the propitiation for the sins,” not of one people only, but " of the whole world;" but as "Son of David" He recovers and inherits for his people Israel. At the same time, it is intimated that David's Son is also David's Lord-the "Branch of David" also "David's Root," and "the Lamb slain" the "Lion of the tribe of Judah"-to shew that he who became man is more than man, and, because more than man, "prevailing to take the book and open the seals thereof," or, as already said, to recover and take possession for him—that "in THE LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified "and glory," as well as the redeemed of every nation e righteousness and strength."

e already noticed the ascription of praise which

follows upon the taking of the book. The leaders of this song of praise, we are told in the eighth verse, are the "four Living-creatures, and the twenty-four Elders,” because, as before stated, they represent those more immediately interested in the triumph and kingdom of the Saviour. They are therefore represented as first to break forth in praise to him who not only "redeemed them to God by his blood," but made them "Kings and Priests unto God." The next persons who are represented as joining in the song of praise are the Angels; "And I beheld and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne ;"-whilst the universal chorus of all creation is represented as winding up the doxology as we read in verses 13, 14:-" And every creature "which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the "earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, "and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, "and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four "Beasts said, Amen; and the four-and-twenty Elders "fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever "and ever."

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So will it be when this prophecy is fulfilled, and this kingdom come in anticipation of which, may we all too say, "Amen," "Amen."*

* NOTE TO FIFTH EDITION.-Since this was written, I find the same view here taken of the giving of the book to Christ was suggested by Dr. Hales, who says (Chron. ii. p. 1301), And He came to the throne and took the book out of THE FATHER's right hand, in token

of inauguration or formal investiture into His universal and everlasting dominion, to whom all authority was given in heaven and earth, as "SON OF MAN," (Dan. vii. 13, 14; Matt. xxviii. 18).' Where, however, it is to be observed, that these passages refer to two different times-the latter to His Ascension; the former to His Second Advent.

Daubrez also, quoted by Dr. Todd, says on ch. v. 7, 'This is the main ceremony of our Saviour's inauguration, by which His human nature is invested with a Divine Kingdom to be worshipped accordingly.' But his scheme also requires that this be understood of the Ascension of Christ.

LECTURE TWELFTH.

THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SIX SEALS.

REVELATION, Chap. vi.-"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer. 3. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4. And there went out another horse that was red and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo, a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8. And I looked, and behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 9. And when he had opened