introduced, yet the end of the world fhall not be then. The curfe denounced upon the earth in the laft word of the Old Teftament fhall not yet be inflicted. The millennian period, and even fome more time fhall firft come. But how much more is not faid. It is only faid, that the curse shall not be yet. The fame uncertainty of the precife time of the end of the world and of the day of judgement marks this paffage, which runs through all thofe parts of fcripture which refer to that day, "which none knoweth, nay not the angels in heaven, but God only,"

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Here it may be observed, that this paffage confirms the interpretation formerly given of the new heavens and the new earth, and of the new Jerufalem as representing not the heavenly state, but the millennian ftate of the church and of the world on this earth; fince it affures us, that the earth fhall not be burned up till after the termination of that flate which is reprefented by the new Jerufalem. The throne of God and of the

Lamb fhall be in it, and his fervants shall serve him." Men fhall then regulate their faith, worship, and obedience, by the laws of God publifhed to the world through the mediation of Chrift, as recorded in the fcriptures of the NewTeftament. The throne of God and of the Lamb fhall be the -only throne erected in or over the church of Chrift. The Christian church fhall not be model

}

led in this or that country, according to the nature of the civil government of it. It shall not, like all established churches in the prefent period, gradually affimilate itself to the civil conftitution of the 'ftate. But its conftitution and its laws fhall be uniform and unalterable, in every country of the world, and under every form of civil government. They shall be only fuch as have proceeded from the throne of God and of the Lamb. That conftitution and thefe laws fhall render her votaries good citizens, under every form of civil govern

ment.

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They shall serve God." He who serves God is the best citizen and the beft man, in every fituation and relation in which men can be placed. The citizens of the new Jerufalem fhall efteem it their glory, and feel it their happiness, to serve God and the Lamb. Here again we may obferve, that God and the Lamb, that is Chrift, are spoken of as one. It is not the thrones, but the throne of God and of the Lamb. It is not faid their fervants, but bis fervants fhall ferve him.

Verfe, 4th.-And they fhall fee his face; and his name shall be written on their foreheads.

It

It is by the face that men know each other, and it is in the face that the affections of the mind naturally exprefs themselves; hence, in the fymbolical language, to fee the face of a perfon is to know that perfon diftinctly. It shall be as impoffible for them to doubt of the existence of God, as it would be to doubt of the existence of a perfon whom they see face to face. They fhall entertain the most just apprehenfions of the nature and character of God. Their knowledge fhall be fo quick and certain, that it shall approach very near to the intuitive kind.

The man who fees the face of his friend, without any length of time or of reafoning, by mere intuition recognises his friend. But the face is not the man, it is only on it that he recognises the man. In like manner, in every work of creation, of providence, and of grace, and especially in the character and conduct of Chrift, they fhall inftantly and intuitively recognise the invifible God. In every one of these they fhall perceive features, which cannot poffibly apply to any other being but God, and which exprefs perfections peculiar to the deity. Seeing him face to face, they fhall be happy in communion with him. Pure in heart, they shall be bleffed in feeing God.

Of Chriftians in this period Jeremiah predicts the knowledge, in terms of the fame import with the words under our view, xxxi. 34. "And they

"fhall

"fhall teach no more every man his neighbour, " and every man his brother, faying, Know the "Lord for they shall all know me from the leaft "of them to the greatest of them, faith the Lord. "And his name fhall be in their foreheads." Those who openly profeffed themselves the votaries of Papal Rome are faid, chap. xiii. 16. "to "receive the mark of the beaft in their fore"heads." Having the name of God in their foreheads fignifies, that they fhall avouch God for their God, and openly profess themselves to be his people. Though that modefty and humility which ever attend true religion and real worth, fhall effectually hinder them from boafting of their godliness, yet they shall never be ashamed of their religion. They will regard it as the highest honour of the most exalted of men, to be allowed to worship the one God through the one mediator Chrift Jefus ;-as the deepest and most refined philofophy, to raise their views above all created natures, and to contemplate the great God the Creator of them all. They fhall know, and not be ashamed to acknowledge, that the nature of God is, beyond all comparison, the nobleft object to which they can direct, and on which they can employ, improve, and delight, all their intellectual and moral powers. Followers of God as dear children, the moral perfections of God shall shine

with fuch luftre in their characters, that his name fhall as it were be vifible in their foreheads.

Verfe 5th. And there fhall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the fun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they fhall reign for ever and e

ver.

In that enlightened and happy period there fhall be no ignorance nor forrow, and little need of those means which are neceffary now to communicate knowledge and comfort to mankind. The Lord God fhall give them comfort and joy. They fhall be taught of God; he will put his law within them, and write it upon their hearts. Their knowledge of God will fo greatly enlarge their intellectual powers and purify their hearts, that they shall clearly perceive every other object of knowledge which it is proper for them to know. Their fupreme affections placed on God will qualify them for relishing every other object which they poffefs, comfort them under the lofs of every object of which they are deprived, and prove at all times a fund of the most refined and exquisite joy.

"And they fhall reign for ever and ever." With these words John clofes the full explication

of