the verfes 9th and 11th of the preceding chapter, See p. 16. three terms of praife were offered to him that fitteth on the throne; here a fourth is added, viz. power, on account of the Lamb, who has acquired all power over this world, and which is thus confeffed by every individual part of it. In the fame fense St. Paul declares, that "in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of thofe that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth," Philipp. ii. 10.

V. 14. "And the four living creatures faid: Amen. And the four and twenty ancients fell down on their faces, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever."

To the above praises and homage offered to God and the Lamb, the four living creatures, or ancient Prophets, join their affent by saying, Amen. This conclufion comes fuitably from then who had fo often proclaimed to the world the great works of the Almighty and the Lamb, and their gracious difpenfations to mankind. Then conformably to what is faid in the preceding chapter, verfe 9th and 10th, See p. 16. the four and twenty ancients clofe this awful religious fcene of homage and praife by adoring the Almighty in unity of Godhead.

Thus we have feen an auguft fcene exhibited, where God the Almighty appears, fhining in all the brightness and dignity of Divine Majefty, and round him an illuftrious choir, compofed of the ancient prophets represented by four emblematical animals, and of four and twenty ancients representing all the faints of the ages antecedent to Chriftianity. By this difpofition of the fcene, our view is removed back to the time of the clofe of the Old Law, and the commencement of the New, that is, to the birth of the Chriftian Church. The ancient faints and prophets found forth their praises, their thanks, and hymns of gratitude to God for all his bleffings received, and for the all-wife and bountiful œconomy he had exercifed over them through all paft ages. And thus they close up the period of the patriarchal and Jewish Church.

The Lamb then appears, who had just been flain for the redemption of the world. He has by his blood acquired the dominion over the whole fucceeding race of mankind; and therefore he now opens a new period by founding his own Church, the Church of the Chriftians, of which he is declared, conjointly with God, Lord and Governor. Immediately the ancient prophets and faints direct their homage to him, acknowledging they owe to him their redemption, their power and blifs, and all other bleflings. Thus they give teftimony to the Lamb, they confefs his fovereign power, and that his reign now begins, and will laft for ever. The fame is re-echoed by every part of the creation.We muft obferve, that no chriftian faints appear in this celeftial affembly: the reason is, because the fcene exhibits to us the moment in which Chriftianity commences.

The Opening of the firft Seal.

APOC. Chap. VI. v. 1. "And I faw," fays St. John, "that the Lamb had opened one of the feven feals, and I heard one of the four living creatures, as it were the voice of thunder, faying: Come and fee.

v. 2. "And I faw and behold a white horse, and he that fat on him had a bow, and there was a crown given him, and he went forth conquering that he might conquer."

Previously to the explication of the text, let us obferve, that at the opening of each feal of this myfterious book, a new fpectacle offers itfelf to St. John, which feems to reprefent, under an emblematical figure, what is written in that part of the book that is laid open on breaking the feal. And the feven figurative reprefentations, that thus follow on the opening of the feven feals, mark feven particular events, which open the feven ages, into which is divided the whole period of the Church's exiftence. This obfervation premifed,

The verfes 9th and 11th of the preceding chapter, ee p. 16. three terms of praife were offered to him hat fitteth on the throne; here a fourth is added, iz. power, on account of the Lamb, who has acquired all power over this world, and which is thus confeffed by every individual part of it. In the fame enfe St. Paul declares, that "in the name of Jefus every knee fhall bow, of thofe that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth," Philipp. ii. 10.

V. 14. "And the four living creatures faid: Amen. And the four and twenty ancients fell down on their aces, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever."

To the above praises and homage offered to God and the Lamb, the four living creatures, or ancient Prophets, join their affent by faying, Amen. This conclufion comes fuitably from then who had fo often proclaimed to the world the great works of the Almighty and the Lamb, and their gracious difpenfations to mankind. Then conformably to what is faid in the preceding chapter, verfe 9th and 10th, fee p. 16. the four and twenty ancients close this awful religious fcene of homage and praise by adoring the Almighty in unity of Godhead.

Thus we have feen an auguft fcene exhibited, where God the Almighty appears, fhining in all the brightnefs and dignity of Divine Majefty, and round him an illuftrious choir, compofed of the ancient prophets reprefented by four emblematical animals, and of four and twenty ancients representing all the Taints of the ages antecedent to Chriftianity. By this difpofition of the fcene, our view is removed back to the time of the close of the Old Law, and the commencement of the New, that is, to the birth of the Chriftian Church. The ancient faints and prophets found forth their praifes, their thanks, and hymns of gratitude to God for all his bleffings received, and for the all-wife and bountiful œconomy he had exercifed over them through all paft ages. And thus they clofe up the period of the patriarchal nd Jewish Church.

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The Lamb then appears, who had just been flain for the redemption of the world. He has by his blood acquired the dominion over the whole fucceeding race of mankind; and therefore he now opens a new period by founding his own Church, the Church of the Chriftians, of which he is declared, conjointly with God, Lord and Governor. Immediately the ancient prophets and faints direct their homage to him, acknowledging they owe to him their redemption, their power and blifs, and all other bleffings. Thus they give teftimony to the Lamb, they confefs his fovereign power, and that his reign now begins, and will laft for ever. The fame is re-echoed by every part of the creation. We muft obferve, that no chriftian faints appear in this celeftial affembly: the reafon is, because the fcene exhibits to us the moment in which Chriftianity commences.

The Opening of the firft Seal.

APOC. Chap. VI. v. 1. "And I faw," fays St. John, "that the Lamb had opened one of the seven feals, and I heard one of the four living creatures, as it were the voice of thunder, faying: Come and fee.

v. 2. "And I faw: and behold a white horse, and he that fat on him had a bow, and there was a crown given him, and he went forth conquering that he might conquer.

Previously to the explication of the text, let us obferve, that at the opening of each feal of this myfterious book, a new fpectacle offers itself to St. John, which feems to reprefent, under an emblematical figure, what is written in that part of the book that is laid open on breaking the feal. And the feven figurative reprefentations, that thus follow on the opening of the feven feals, mark feven particular events, which open the feven ages, into which is divided the whole period of the Church's existence. This obfervation premifed,

At the opening of the first seal, there appears to St. John a perfon upon a white horse. This perfon is our Saviour, as appears from chapter xix. of the Apocalypfe, ver. 11 and 13, where St. John fays,

I faw heaven open, and there appeared a white horfe; and he that fat upon him, was called the Faithful and True--And his name is, the Word of God." The crown that is here given him, and the white colour of his fteed, fhew him victorious and triumphant. Chrift had been victorious: firft, over Satan, by overthrowing the dominion that murderous enemy had ufurped over mankind; fecondly, in purchafing, by extreme fuffering, and at the price of his blood, a perpetual peace between God and man: thirdly, in conquering death, by raising himself to ife from the grave by his own power. Fraught with hefe victories, he had afcended triumphant in glory nto heaven, amidst the acclamations of the heaveny choirs, finging, "Princes, lift up your gates; eternal gates, be ye lifted up, and the King of gloy fhall enter in." Pfalm xxiii. 7. Being therefore xalted to all the honours of a glorious King and Conqueror, he here appears in the equipment beonging to that character, and with bow in hand fets out to profecute his conquefts, in fubduing the world o the dominion of faith by the preaching of his poftles, and his other fucceeding minifters.

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Thus then opens and commences the first age of he Christian Church, which may take its date from he day of Pentecoft, or Whitsunday, when the apof les began to preach. And the conqueft, or converion, which followed, of fo many nations to the faith, news evidently in Chrift the exercise of that which was attributed to him, Apoc. v. 12. 3. Let us alfo obferve, that, on opening the feal, ne, or the first of the four living creatures, which, as we have fhewn, reprefents the prophet Ifaias, fays to t. John, Come and fee; which is fpoken, as with the cice of thunder, to mark the importance of the vifi

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