the vision of Ezekiel and those of Isaiah and St John, that, in the former vision, the Cherubim are represented with four, and in the latter, with six wings; the propriety of this distinction has been remarked by the commentators: because, in the vision of Ezekiel, they are represented as being under the throne, whereas, in those of Isaiah and St John, they were before the throne, and more immediately in the presence of God; and therefore each of them had two wings to cover his face before such transcendent brightness'.

It appears clear, therefore, that, in all these different visions, the beings represented under these different appearances are those heavenly intelligences, who are the constant attendants of the divine Majesty, and surround the throne of God. With respect, therefore, to the particular nature and character of these beings, it is most becoming the reverence with which such subjects ought to be treated, that we should not seek to be "wise above what is written," where humility is our highest wisdom; and where further knowledge is necessarily concealed from our view. Under these circumstances, therefore, we will abstain from a more elaborate consideration of those further mysteries, which many excellent writers have supposed to be concealed under these representations". It will be sufficient to allude to the uniformity, which is to be observed in all these divine representations; and to the remark, which has been made by Mede, that "the scene.

4 See Vitringa ad locum, p. 185, and Grotius, quoted by Dean Woodhouse. Compare also the commentary of Mr W. Lowth on these passages of Isaiah and Ezekiel.

5 See some of these opinions examined by Dean Woodhouse in his larger Work, and also in his Annotations ad locum.

of the Apocalypse, and of this august session of God and his Church, ο θρόνος τῆς καθέδρας, is the inner and most holy part of the temple; or, to speak more properly, it is that theatre in heaven, which was represented upon earth by the inner temple; where God was supposed to have his seat between, or among, the Cherubim. Hence, as we advance, we shall find the furniture of the temple, the golden altar of incense before the throne, the ark of the covenant, the sea or laver &c. These were originally appointed to be made after the heavenly pattern shewn to Moses in the mount." There is however one remark, which must occur to us on considering these different representations of the appearance of the divine Majesty, that there is an uniformity, and yet a difference, to be observed in them, which proves incontestably the inspiration of those prophets, by whom they are recorded: and with regard to this last vision of St John, the peculiarities which belong to it, as distinguished from those which were vouchsafed to the former prophets, are eminently suited to the place which it occupies in the divine dispensations, and are such as reality alone could have enabled him to describe.

The occupation, therefore, which constitutes the employment of these glorious beings, is in perfect conformity with the character which is here assigned to them. They are represented as singing the eternal praises of their great Creator. "They rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." Nor is the character, which is sustained in this glorious vision by the twenty-four elders, (those glorious

1 Hebr. viii. 5. See Dean Woodhouse, p. 112. Mede's Works, pp. 543, 544.

beings, who, having served God faithfully upon earth, are now admitted to the privilege of serving him eternally in his heavenly temple,) less becoming the humble adoration with which they view their great Creator; when they are represented as falling down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipping him that liveth for ever and ever; while they "cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

But the vision is not yet complete. The Lamb next appears in the midst of the throne, accompanied by an innumerable company of angels, who, upon his taking the sealed book out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne, sing the new song before the throne.

PART II. SECT. II.

The Lamb appears in the midst of the Throne.

CHAP. V.

"AND I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne 1 a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud 2 voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under 3 the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to 4 open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And 5 one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion

2 Vitringa gives the following excellent illustration of this passage: "Non ait Presbyteros Teleiкévαi, posuisse diademata, sed βεβληκέναι: quod argumento est, grave sibi veluti et molestum fuisse, Deo præsente, coronas suas gestare. Tam in iis vividus erat

suæ indignitatis et tenuitatis sensus; tam profunda in Divinam majestatem reverentia." Comment. ad locum, p. 193. He has also given some valuable illustrations of this expression from profane writers. Ib. p. 192.

of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to 6 open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And 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. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of 8 him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden 9 vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kin10 dred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the 11 earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels

round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, 12 and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 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 14 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.

There is a remarkable uniformity, in the exposition of this chapter, to be found in all the best commentators on the Apocalypse. The book, which is here represented as being seen in the right hand' of him that sat on the throne, was one of those rolls which were in use amongst the ancients; and which are spoken of in other parts of Scripture. It is described as being "sealed." Such were the pro

phecies which were delivered to Daniel concerning Christ's kingdom; which were then dark and only to

be unfolded by additional prophecy; and are therefore said to be "sealed and closed up till the time of the end3" and, in like manner, in chap. x. 4 of this book, the prophet is commanded not to write certain predictions which were uttered, but to seal them up; which evidently means, that they were not to be disclosed at that time1. It is, moreover, described as being like the roll which was given to Ezekiel, "written within and without," signifying the abundance of the matter which it contained: and by the number of the seals, seven, was probably intended to be signified the seven great periods of the Christian church, which constitute the main subject of the prophecy".

There is an awful solemnity in the whole of this description. How greatly is the sublime interest of this wonderful scene increased by the manner in which the different incidents are brought together,the proclamation of the angel,-the grief of the prophet because no Being, either in heaven or in earth, was found worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof,-and the declaration of the Elderthat. One had been found who had prevailed to open the book and to loose the seals thereof;—even the great Redeemer himself,-He who, under the name of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, was spoken of by the dying Patriarch',-who was foretold by Isaiah as "the Branch" and "the Root of Jesse ;" and is

3 Dan. xii. 9.

4 Dean Woodhouse ad locum.

5 Ezek. ii. 10. See W. Lowth ad locum.

6 "Sigilla septem, quæ in hoc volumine comparent, referenda erunt ad septem majores rerum eventus, sive mu

tationes, quas Ecclesia usque ad rerum omnium finem subiret: septem inquam, dies majores, sive intervalla Ecclesiæ Christi. Vitringa Ib. p. 200.

7 Gen. xLix. 9.

8 Isai. xi. 1-10.