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to the souls of the just in heaven: for then there could be no propriety in the exclamation, as at some event extraordinary and unexpected in its nature and effects -In heaven God has always in a peculiar manner, dwelt with the inhabitants thereof and been their God -the apostle proceeds, " and He that sat on the throne said, behold! I make all things new." Here is an explicit declaration of the thorough change in the state of things on the earth, and of the commencement of a new and extraordinary period" and he said unto me write: for these words are true and faithful; and he said unto me, it is done, I am alpha and omega-the beginning and the end.-He who overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son."

John seems to be swallowed up with the greatness of his subject, and goes on to represent himself as "being carried by the spirit into an high mountain, and seeing the new Jerusalem," which he describes with great particularity, he adds, "I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb, are the temple of it:-and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof, (prefigured by the glory of the shechinah of old in the temple) and the nations of them who are saved, shall walk in the light of it, and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it; and the gates of it, shall not be shut at all by day, for there shall be no night there; and they shall

bring the glory and honor of the nations into it; and there shall in no wise enter into it, any thing that defileth or worketh abomination, or a lie; but they who are written in the Lamb's book of life-behold! I come quickly-I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end--the first and the last-and the spirit and the bride say come-and let him who heareth say come-and let him who is athirst comeand whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely-He who testified these things, said surely I come quickly-amen! even so come Lord Jesus!"

This magnificent description, is expressive of the personal presence of the sacred humanity of the Logos, or the Lamb, as the king and the priest of his people, residing there; of course the citizens of the new Jerusalem, will want no other king or ruler but the sacred Logos, and those who he appoints under him-they will need no other priest or teacherThey cannot want any temple, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb, are present with them and will constantly and immediately receive their continual homage and praise, without the intervention of symbols or figures, in some measure resembling, but in a more glorious manner, the presence of God with Moses in the tabernacle in the wilderness-all will be perfect security, concord and peace, there can then be no necessity for artificial defence, and perfect love will cast out all fear. The nations of the earth will be so highly blessed, by the divine influence, instructions and example, and enjoying all the effects of

righteousness and true holiness, will delight to unite in the pure, spiritual worship of the place, and in giving glory and honor to the king who ruleth in Zion.-Nothing will enter there, that is sinful or unholy, as all the inhabitants are written in the Lamb's book of life.

The whole of this account of what the highlyfavored apostle saw and heard, seems to end in a very solemn injunction to all the servants of Jesus Christ, to unite in the most constant, ardent and devout supplications and prayers for the speedy coming of this all-important event, which appears to be the great object and end of the dispensations of God's providence during six thousand years.

We are thereby taught the propriety of an entire resignation to the awful effects of the just judgments of God, against the prevailing sins of the nations of the earth, which will precede that great and dreadful day of the Lord; as well as urged to pray for it, by the example of Christ himself, who says, "behold I come quickly" of the holy spirit of God and the bride, the church, who unite in the earnest request; -and the divine apostle himself, whose ardent spirit joins his hearty assent, on a repetition, that Jesus Christ who testified these things to his churches, said, "surely or verily I come quickly"-not I shall come, but am now in the act of coming-preparing the way for it; he then concludes with this earnest ejaculation; " Amen! even so come Lord Jesus”—as if he had said, notwithstanding all this

distress and misery that must come on the ungodly, before the nations of the earth can be thoroughly purged, and the glorious kingdom of the Messiah be completely established, yet I do most sincerely pray, that thou wouldst thus come quickly, as thou bast said, that a speedy end may be put to all moral evil, and the knowledge of God cover the earth as the waters cover the seas; to which every real christian, when in the exercise of a lively faith, will also add his hearty "amen! and even so come Lord Jesus!"

INFERENCE

FROM WHAT HAS BEEN SAID.

HAVING thus, in as brief a manner as the subject would admit, taken a general view of the scripture testimony, as contained in the old and new testaments, to this essential doctrine of the christian revelation; and attended to the many uniform prophetic declarations concerning it, as the grand leading event on which all the rest depend; holding it up as the chief object of our faith and hope, we are prepared to draw the natural conclusion, that Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to day and forever, has been the great subject of all the revelations, made by God to his people from the beginning of the world; and that all the provisions for the general instruction and support of the church and people of God, during their pilgrimage in this world, have tended to the same end, as clearly appears from the nature and complection of the whole taken together. It is now pretty generally agreed, that, the very particular and express communication of things that were certainly to come to pass, supernaturally made to the beloved disciple John, when under a cruel and severe banishment to the desert island of Patmos, was made, and ordered to be written for the support and comfort of the servants of Jesus Christ, during the fiery trials

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