456 vii. Rev. And saw a rainbow round the throne of God. b was set in heaven; and 3And he that sat was to look upon like a jas per, and a sardine ; stone; and there was in a rainbow round about unto an emerald. the throne, in sight like SECT. sented itself to my intellectual view; for behold, and behold, a throne and observe diligently a circumstances of so great one sat on the throne. importance; a throne was set in heaven, to reIV. 2. present that of the blessed God; and there was one sitting upon it, of a majestic form and appearance, and arrayed in robes of glory, suited 3 to the situation in which he was. And he who sate [on it was, in the form and lustre of his appearance, like a jasper and sardine stone and a rainbow, in which the bright green, appearance like the vivid, though soft and agreeable colour of an emerald, [was] especially prevalent, appeared round about the throne; expressive of that propitiousness and kindness, and of that covenant-relation to his people, which the blessed God is pleased to acknowledge in the midst of his transcendent glory. (Compare 4 Gen. ix. 16.) And, in an extensive circle, round about the throne of God [there were] the throne were four twenty four other thrones; and on the thrones I and upon the seats I saw twenty four elders sitting, as an emblem of saw four and twenty the Old Testament-church,and also of the New; elders sitting, clothed and they were clothed in a habit somewhat re- they had on their heads sembling that of the Levites, or Priests, with crowns of gold. white raiment and in token of their royal dignity, they had upon their heads golden crowns. 5 And out of the throne there came flashes of vivid lightnings and thunders, and sometimes articu- lightnings, and thunlate voices; and seven lamps of fire [were] burn- derings, and voices; ing continnally before the throne; which are the and there were seven с whose thoughts were so attentively fixed, seven 4 And round about and twenty seats: in white raiment; and 5 And out of the throne proceeded lamps b Like Jasper, &c.] I do not suppose. this refers so much to the colour of these stones, as to their lustre, and the radiancy of the light as reflected from them, when perfectly polished. The rainbow of emerald was, no doubt, to express a covenant of peace; of which the rainbow was, with Noah, an appointed token. And that lively and cheering colour seems to have been particularly mentioned, not to imply there were no other, but that the proportion of green was greater than ordinary. Compare Ezek. i. 26. c Twenty-four elders] The number seems to allude to that of the patriarchs and apostles; and they are called Eiders, as the presidency of elders was common among the Jews. And these might be considered as representatives of the church, paying homage at the throne in the name of the rest. d Seven lamps of fire, &c.] Some think these are the seven Spirits of God; that is, angels spoken of afterwards, chap. v. 6: but On twenty-four other thrones were as many elders: before the throne, 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crys tal and in the midst were four beasts full of eyes, before and be hind. 457 vii. lamps of fire, burning seven spirits of God; that is, they represent a SECT. which are the seven great variety of the Spirit's operations, and those Spirits of God. of good angels who act in subserviency to him. Rev. And before the throne [there was] correspond- IV. 5. ent to the brazen sea in Solomon's temple, 6 (1 Kings vii. 23,) a great laver, or sea, which of the throne, and was made all of pure pellucid glass, which was round about the throne clear like crystal itself. And in the middle of the space between the throne and the circle about the throne [there were] four living creatures; and to signify their intelligence, and quickness of observance, they appeared full of eyes, both before and behind. These four animals, of a 7 second beast like a extraordinary form, seem to have been incalf, and the third tended as hieroglyphical representations of the beast had a face as a angelic nature and the head of the first animan, and the fourth mal, in this marvellous, composition, [was] like beast a lion, to signify the courage and vigour with which these celestial beings execute the com 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the very but I at present doubt, whether they may not be distinguished, Lamps of fire, or or lambent flames, like those that fell upon the apostles on the day of pentecost, (Acts ii. 3.) might perhaps be emblems of the blessed Spirit of God in its various and powerful operations; especially those by which the minds of intelligent created beings are illuminated and purified. And the Spirits standing before the throne, might be distinct appearances of angelic forms; as it is certain some of them were, from the actions they afterwards performed: sounding the seven trumpets, &c. e Four living creatures] It was a most unhappy mistake in our translators, to render the word (wa, beasts; it certainly signifies any other kind of animals, that is of creatures which have animal life, as well as beasts. The word beast not only degrades the signification, but the animals here mentioned, have parts and appearances, which beasts have not, and are represented as in the highest sense rational. Dr. f Hieroglyphical representations, &c.] It is well known, the ancients (borrowing them I suppose from the Egyptians,) dealt much in hieroglyphics, by which natural and moral truths were expressed. Middleton, in his curious collection of antiquities, presents us with one so remark able, that I cannot forbear mentioning it here. It is a copy of a gem, in which a man's face, an elephant's head,a peacock, and a sceptre, are joined together. He thinks it was intended as an hieroglyphic, or emblematical representation of Socrates: as the face bears a strong resemblance to the mands He sup pictures usually given of him. To consider this appear- g Holy, 458 Who gave glory to him that sate on the throne. SECT. mands of God, and the irresistible strength with beast was like a flying vii. which they encounter and vanquish all opposi- eagle. Rev. tion. And the head of the second animal [was] IV. 7. like a calf, or young bullock, to signify the And 8 And the four beasts had each of them six not day and night, say firmness,patience, and perseverance with which they go through the labours which God has appointed them. And the third animal had a face like a man, to express, by the image of the only rational creature on this earth, the clearness of intelligence, and the strength of reason, with which, in a vastly superior degree, they are endowed. And the fourth animal was like a swift flying eagle, with its wings displayed, and with quickness in its eye and motion, to signify the sprightliness and activity, and incomparable velocity, with which these celestial spirits fly from world to world, to execute the commands 8 they receive from their Sovereign. though the heads of these four wonderful living wings about him, and creatures were different, yet they had in the rest they were full of eyes of their body, one form; and they had each of within; and they rest them six wings round about; so that their body ing, Holy, holy, holy, seemed covered with the rich plumage of them. Lord God Almighty, And within [they were] all full of eyes, to signify which was, and is, and their quick discernment of every object around is to come. them. And they rest not day nor night; but they stand in the Divine presence, saying with united voices, (as the scraphim, represented in the vision which Isaiah saw, Isa. vi. 2, 3,) Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty & who wast, and art, and art to come;" thus giving to God, in continual acts of adoration, the glory of his natural and moral perfections, and acknowledging their immutability from everlasting 9 and to everlasting. And while the living creatures are thus giving glory and honour, and thanks to him that sits upon the throne, and addressing their sublime and harmonious anthems of praise to him, who liveth for ever and ever, with unwea10 ried vigour and activity of mind, The four and twenty elders fall down twenty elders, whom I described before as them- before him that sat on selves sitting on majestic thrones, fall down in the throne, and worthe Divine presence, even before him that sitteth ship him that liveth for upon the throne, and worship him that liveth for their crowns before the ever and ever; and they cast down their crowns throne, saying, before the throne, in token of their homage to that transcendently glorious being, from whose sove 66 g Holy, holy, holy, &c.] reign 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour, and thanks, to throne, who liveth for ever and ever. him that sat on the 10 The four and ever and ever, and cast This anthem many other hymns recorded in this book, is that which Isaiah tells us he heard the are borrowed from the Old Testament. seraphim sing, and it is observable, that Reflections on the worship paid by the living creatures. O Lord, to receive vii. 459 Rev. reign grace and unparalled munificence they SECT. 11 Thou art worthy, received them; saying, at the same time, Worglory, and honour, and thy art thou, O Lord, to receive the ascription of power: for thou hast glory, and honour, and power; for thou hast, by IV. 11. created all things, and thine almighty energy, created all things, and for thy pleasure they for thy sovereign will, they are and were created; their first production, and continued existence, is owing to the riches of thy free goodness; and therefore, they are all under the strictest obligations, according to their respective natures, to subserve the purposes of thy glory. are, and were created. IMPROVEMENT. AND should not we likewise fall down with the angels and glorifi- Ver. ed spirits, and pay some homage to the Sovereign Majesty of heaven, though it be impossible for us to equal theirs? For ever adored be the Divine grace, that a door is opened in heaven; in con- 1 sequence of which, even before we enter, we are allowed to look in; and thus to confirm our faith, and to animate our devotion; which, alas! after all, is too ready to decline and languish. That it may be greatly invigorated, let us look up to the throne, and to him that sitteth thereupon; and rejoice to see that peaceful em-2, 3 blem with which the seat of his glory is surrounded, the rainbow of vivid and pleasant green: signifying, that the majestic Being who fills it, is the covenant-God of all his believing and obedient people, and that mercy and love reign triumphant, in the whole constitution of that perpetual covenant. Let us contemplate with veneration the blessed angels, the ministers of God, who do his pleasure, represented here under hieroglyphical characters, as possessed of amazing strength and courage, 6,7 resolution and patience, of the sublimest reason, and the most deep and penetrating sagacity, active and pure as flames of fire; and with these lofty ideas in our minds, let us ardently pray that the will of God may be so done on earth, as it is done in heaven. Let 4 · us also remember the elders here mentioned, the representatives of the church of the Redeemed, seated on glorious thrones, clothed in that white raiment, which is the righteousness of the saints, and adorned with crowns of glory. And let us especially consider, how the angels and the saints are employed: they rest 3 not day nor night from breathing out the most ardent devotions; they feel nothing of that weariness and languor with which we are too frequently invaded in this state of mortality, even in our best moments, and divinest frames; but they cry continually, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who art, and wast, and VOL. X. 3 M art 460 St. John saw a Book in his hand, who sate on the Throne; SECT. art to come; they give glory, and honour, and thanksgiving to vii. him that sitteth on the throne. And infinitely worthy he is to Ver. receive it: He who is the Almighty Creator, He who is the ever11 present, and ever-gracious Supporter of all! Thou art worthy, O Lord, thou alone art worthy; and though thou withholdest from us the face of thy throne, while we dwell in these tabernacles of clay, yet as we are thy creatures, thy rational creatures, we partake of thy protection and bounty; and feeble as our faculties are, and dark as the world is in which we dwell, we are able to discover thee as our Almighty Creator, our constant Preserver, our never-failing Benefactor. And as such, may we daily worship and adore thee, with our feeble voices in this state of mortality; that when we are duly prepared, we may begin a nobler song, and join in the sublimer anthems and hallelujahs above. Amen. SECT. viii. Rev. SECT. VIII. The vision of the sealed Book, and of the Lamb that was slain, who was found worthy to open it, and on that account received the ac clamation of the whole choir of angels and saints. Rev. V. 1—14. REVELATION V. 1. a REV. V. 1. right.hand of him book written within, and on the back-side, sealed with seven seals. AND, having observed the particulars men- AND I saw in the tioned above, I saw in the right hand of that sat on the throne, him who sate on the glorious throne already deV. 1. scribed, the volume of a book, or scrole, written on both sides, within and without; for though I saw only the outside, perceiving it inscribed with characters, I naturally concluded the inside was full; and, as it was rolled up, it was sealed with seven strong seals, each of which be2 longed to a distinct leaf. And I saw a mighty angel, who wore, in his appearance, the evident marks of dignity and power, proclaiming with a great voice, and saying, Who is worthy to open the mysterious book which is in the hand of God, and to loose its seals, and so to disclose a Written on both sides, within and without.] Mr. Lowman, after Grotius, hath observed, that there ought to be a stop after the word, within, (towy,) and that it should be rendered, written within, and sealed on the back-side But the learned Dr. Hammond hath very well defended the sense given in the paraphrase; observing, that it appears in the process, that the its 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? opening of every single seal brings forth some new representation; which could not be the case, if all the seals were on the back-side; for then they must all be opened, before any part of the book could be discovered, &c. And therefore it must be concluded, that each scal belonged to a distinct leaf. |