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once, the character and the continuance of thofe fealed fervants of God. When that 1000 years fhall commence, their characters shall remain the fame, and their religion shall still be built upon the foundation of the prophets and apoftles, Jefus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

But the number 144,000 fhall be quite too fmall to represent the countless multitude which shall be added to the church at that glorious æra, when these faithful 144,000 fhall have finished the Christian warfare, and fhall begin to fing their triumph. Then the church fhall be represented, as in chapter vii. 9. and in verse 6th of this chapter, by "a great multitude which no man could

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number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, "and tongues." When the millennium fhall commence, fignified by the Lamb ftanding on mount Sion, thofe perfons who adhered to the word of God and to the teftimony of Jefus fhall be openly acknowledged as the true members of Chrift's church.

The millennium is defcribed at full length in chapters xx. xxi. and xxii, and its nature fhall be explained in the commentary on them.

However many have wondered after Papal and other fuperftitions, yet amid all the trials of the preceding period, not one of those chofen fervants of God hath been led into deftructive errors and fins. They are God's fealed ones, and have thereVOL. II.

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fore escaped the fpiritual hurt which hath been brought upon the western empire by fuperftition, chap. vii. 2, 3. Their names are written in the book of life of the Lamb. They are therefore excepted from the number of thofe who worship the Beast, chap. xiii. 8. They are the elect of God, and therefore it is impoffible to deceive them to their final deftruction, Matth. xxiv. 24.

This period fhall be introduced by an unfettled and fluctuating state of the empire, and of fome of the kingdoms in it, and by a great war, or rather a decifive battle. These are expreffed by "the

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voice of many waters and the voice of a great "thunder." When it is introduced, thefe fealed ones fhall praise God in the affembly of the true church of Chrift, which is represented here as in chap. iv. 6,—10. by the four (wa) living creatures and the 24 elders. The fong which they fhall fing is recorded at full length in chap. xix. 5,—7. to which this paffage is only an introduction. It Alleluia, for the Lord God Omnipotent

is

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reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give "honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is

come, and his bride hath made herfelf ready.' This is indeed a new fong. A fong which Christians have never yet been able to fing, and never fhall fing, until that period fhall come which is predicted in this chapter. The import of that fong and the grounds on which it is ftiled new,

fhall

fhall be illuftrated in the commentary on chap. xix. 5.-7. This fong none fhall be able to learn but true Chriftians. When the meaning of that fong is explained, it will appear, that they only can fully understand its import; that they only will rejoice on account of thofe events to which it refers; and that they only can fing praife, with that inward devotion and gratitude of heart, which are neceffary to the praife of that God, who is only worshipped when worshipped in fpirit and in

truth.

At that period, as well as at the present time, none but true Chriftians rightly know, and are properly affected by, fpiritual things. 1 Cor. ii. 14. 15.

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"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God; for they are foolish"nefs unto him; neither can he know them, be"cause they are fpiritually difcerned. But he "that is fpiritual difcerneth all things, yet he him"felf is difcerned of no man."

The character of thefe true fervants of God, is marked by five particular qualities, for which they are eminently diftinguished.

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ft," They were not defiled with women; for they are virgins." For obvious reasons, idolatry and fuperftition, are expreffed in the fymbolical language, by fornication and adultery, both in the old and new teftament, and particularly in this book. These fervants of God have always been

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been diftinguished, by keeping clear of idolatry and fuperftition. They worshipped and ferved God only. They worshipped the one God only, through Chrift Jefus, the one Mediator between God and man. They regarded not, as doctrines of God, the commandments of men; nor did they make void the law of God by human traditions. They dared not to live in the neglect of any means of worship which God had instituted, nor to ob. ferve any which had not the ftamp of divine authority.

2d, "They follow the Lamb whitherfoever he "goeth." Whether Chrift goeth to the wilderness, or to mount Zion, they follow him. Worldly fame, preferments, and emoluments, never make them model their religion and their characters to the times and the fashions. Fully convinced that the religion, which they have learned from Christ, is the best the world ever faw or ever fhall fee, they have no inclination to change it. They follow Chrift through good and through bad report. Though they prudently fhun danger; yet when called to it, in the course of providence, they willingly part with property, liberty, fame, and even life itself, rather than deny Chrift and Christianity.

3d, "They were redeemed from among men, "being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” They were rescued by the providence and the grace of God, from among those votaries of idola

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try and fuperftition, among whom they lived in the world. Like the firft fruits in the Jewish church, they are confecrated and holy unto the Lord, and the earneft of the plentiful harvest in its season. As certainly as they have been holy to the Lord, fo certainly fhall the great multitudes of Chriftians at the millennium appear, as the full harvest in its season,

4th," In their mouth was found no guile." They are Ifraelites indeed, in whom is no guile. They are fincere and upright towards God, and they pay a facred regard to truth and fidelity towards men. As citizens of Zion they speak the

truth in their heart. And

5th, "They are without fault before the throne "of God.". However, much their characters have been misunderstood or mifreprefented by men; however, they have been traduced as fanatics, hy. pocrites, or those who turn the world upfide down; and however many of them have been condemned as heretics in the courts of men; they fhall be declared faultlefs, when they fhall ftand before the throne of God. God will not condemn them, Having trufted in the merits of Christ, and not in those of any faint, nor in indulgences and pardons obtained for money, from those persons, who cannot forgive fins; having had their hearts and lives purified, not by fuperftitious luftrations, but by that grace of God, which, bringing

when he judgeth.

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