"unto thee quickly, and I will fight against them with "the sword of my mouth." (ver. 16.) And, again, chap. xix. 15, on his appearing to judge the anti-Christian confederacy, and decide the last dread conflict, it is said, "out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that "with it he should smite the nations; and he shall "rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the "wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty "God." Here the meaning of the emblem is put beyond doubt and if it be asked, why then does the sword proceed from "his mouth?"-does not this show that his word is intended? I answer, even so: but the Lord has another word beside the word of His grace. His word can destroy as well as create-can condemn as well as save; and so he himself says, "The word that "I have spoken, the same shall judge you at the last day." Whoever now resisteth his word speaking in grace, will find it irresistible when it is uttered in judgment; and in reference to the one as to the other is His name 66 The WORD of God:" see chap. xix. 13. Even in Heb. iv. 12, a passage which at first view appears to present an instance of another meaning, the attentive reader will perceive that the emblem is used in the same sense. For, what is the context in which it is found? It comes in to enforce an awful warning by a dread of the consequences of neglecting it: ver. 11, "Let us labour, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest

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any man fall after the same example of unbelief; "FOR the word of God is quick and POWERFUL, and "sharper than any two-edged sword," &c.

And thus we come to the last feature of this description:" And his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." What a contrast here to his humiliation, when "His visage was so marred "more than any man, and his form more than the 66 sons of men!" Then "the Sun of Righteousness" was veiled and clouded; but here He "shines in His strength," in meridian splendour, and unveiled glory -the glory of which a glimpse was given at the transfiguration, when, as here, "His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light" (Matt. xvii. 2); and in which we are assured He will reappear in the day of His "power and coming," to which, we are told, that scene referred. (2 Pet. i. 16-18.)

Such is this vision of the Son of Man in his glory, as far as description can convey an idea of it; but no description can convey the full impression, and we are left to gather the rest from the effect on him who saw it—“ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead," says the Apostle, ver. 17. And such has ever been the effect of a view of the Saviour's glory to mortal eyes. When "the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord,”—of Him who had also "the appearance of a man," and is so proved to have been the Lord Jesus-was seen by Ezekiel, the effect was to prostrate him to the ground: (Chap. i. 28, and iii. 23.) When the same vision was vouchsafed to Daniel it is said of his companions, who saw not the vision, that a "great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves;" and Daniel himself says,

"" Therefore, I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for "my comeliness was turned in me to corruption, and "I retained no strength." (Chap. x. 6-8.) When the disciples witnessed the transfiguration, they in like manner became "heavy with sleep," and were sore afraid." (Luke, ix. 32; Mark, ix. 6.) And when the Lord Jesus in the same glory appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, he was struck with blindness, "being three days without sight, during which he "did neither eat nor drink." (Acts, ix. 9.) What, then, I ask, is the lesson we are taught? What the value to us of this vision? I answer, it presents a contrast to the Saviour's humiliation, appalling to the unbeliever, but most precious to the believer. Let the unbeliever tremble who is accustomed to reason from the humiliation of Christ against His divine glory. Let him read this description, and be awed into silence. But the believer need not fear. "And

"He laid His right hand on me" (adds the Apostle),

'saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the "last: I am He that liveth and was dead: and, be"hold, I am alive for evermore, Amen: and have the "keys of Hell (Hades) and of Death." It is in His resurrection-glory the Saviour is here seen; and in it the believer sees the prototype and the earnest of his own hope. "When he shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is;" but this is the glory of his appearing. Even so it is he shall be manifested at his coming as here seen-as seen on Mount

Tabor-as seen by Ezekiel, Daniel, and Saul; and, though all description must needs fall short of the reality, yet are these testimonies of those who were "eye-witnesses of his Majesty" most valuable to us as specimens, and therefore evidences, of our future glory; defining and substantiating that hope to us, which is comprised in the promise of being "joint-heirs with Christ." May such be its effect on our minds; and so we shall verify, as far as this portion of this wonderful book is concerned, the saying-" BLESSED is he that "reads, and they that hear the words of this pro"phecy!"

LECTURE THIRD.

EPISTLE TO EPHESUS.

REVELATION, chap. ii. 1–7. "Unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3. And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen; and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 7. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

THE history of the Church of Ephesus, as far as it is given in Scripture, is briefly this:-The city was first visited by the Apostle Paul on the occasion mentioned Acts, xviii. 19-21, when his preaching met