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will. The gift which qualifies for one office, does not bring with it qualification for another office; and the qualification received, gives no power of transferring the office to another, but quite the contrary: the office being inseparable from the qualification, which is the necessary preliminary and the gift of God. God hath set in the church first Apostles, then prophets, then pastors, and teachers, &c.: and these offices require and presuppose their several qualifications. If one member be an Apostle, it does not therefore follow that he is also a prophet, the offices being distinct and the qualifications different; and as neither should intrude without warrant into the place of the other, so neither should yield his place to the other at any other bidding than that of God, who placed him there: in the sight of God the guilt is the same, the desertion of duty the same, whether we intrude forward into the place of another, or fall by allowing another to intrude himself upon ours. Let each hold fast his own stedfastness, and endeavour to fill to the utmost that place for which God hath endowed him, and in which his providence has placed him. Our error lies in supposing that we know our own qualifications better than God does, and that we could order our own course of life better than Providence orders it. Constant watchfulness, unremitting diligence, and content in the things that we have, is the attitude in which alone we can look for more. Reason and experience both teach, that if we seek for endowment it must be by increase of that whereby we may glorify God, and that unless we glorify him to the utmost with that which he hath already given, he will not, he cannot give us more. In the present life it may therefore be said to the slothful, who neglects the gift that he hath, or repines that he hath not more, "Take it from that wicked servant, and give it to him that hath ten talents: for to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to have."

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If the apostle desert his post, or allow another to intrude into his office, he shall suffer loss, and his church shall fall to disorder, schism, and heresy. If the prophet usurp more than is due, or hold his peace when God bids him speak, he shall have chastisement from the Lord; and if he return not to his place, and resume not his duty, he shall have his mouth closed, or be given over to delusion, to believe a lie, or be cast down and utterly fall. Or if any person gifted in any way by the Holy Ghost, is thereby puffed up, or grows confident, or remits in watchfulness and diligence, the last state of that man shall be worse than the first. And let every witness of manifestations, and every subject of healing, bear in mind the admonition of our Lord to one upon whom he had manifested his saving power and healing mercy: "Go and sin no more, lest some worse thing come upon thee" (John v. 14).

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CHAP. IV. 1 After these things I saw, and, behold, a door opened in the heaven; and th sitting was like in sight to a jasper and sardine stone; and a rainbow circlewise of the thr voices: and seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of creature had the face as a man; and the fourth living creature like to a flying eagle.—8 A the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to Him sitting on the throne, to I Thou hast created the all things; and through Thy will they are and were created.

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Preface to the Seals, affecting Christendom, or the Earth.
CHAP. V. 1 And I saw upon the right hand of Him sitting on the throne a
book, written within and without, sealed with seven seals.-2 And I saw
a strong angel, proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the
book, and to loose the seals of it ?-3 And no one was able, in the heaven,
neither on the earth, neither under the earth, to open the book, neither to
look on it.-4 And I wept much, that no one worthy was found to open
and to read the book, nor to look on it.-5 And one of the elders saith
to me, Weep not; behold, the Lion, he being of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven
seals of it.-6 And I saw, and, behold, in midst of the throne and of
the four living creatures, and in midst of the elders, a Lamb stood, as
slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: these are the seven spirits of
GOD, those sent forth into all the earth.-7 And he came and received the
ook out of the right hand of Him sitting on the throne.-8 And when
received the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
down before the Lamb; having each harps, and golden vials full of
rs, which are the prayers of the saints.-9 And they sing a new
aying, Worthy art thou to receive the book, and to open the seals
or thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to GOD in thy blood,
ery tribe and tongue and people and nation,-10 And hast made
GOD kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.-
I saw, and heard a voice of many angels circlewise of the throne,
Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms în their hands,-IU And
crying with a great voice, saying, The salvation to our God, the
One sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb.-11 And all the angels
stood in circle of the throne, and of the elders, and of the four
living creatures, and fell down before the throne upon their faces,
and worshipped GOD,-12 Saying, Amen: the blessing, and the glory,
and the wisdom, and the thanks, and the honour, and the power,
and the strength, to our GOD, to the ages of the ages. Amen.-
13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, These clothed in
white robes, who are they, and whence come they?-14 And I said
to him, Sir, thou knowest: and he said to me, These are those
coming out of the tribulation the great, and have washed their robes,
and have made white their robes in the blood of the Lamb.-15
Therefore they are before the throne of GoD, and serve him day
and night in his temple; and He sitting upon the throne shall
tabernacle over them.-16 They shall hunger no more, nor thirst
any more, nor shall the sun smite upon them, nor any heat;-
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed
them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and GOD
shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.

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London: printed by Ellerton and Henderson, Gough Square,

Pre CHAP. VI

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London: printed by Ellerton and Henderson, Gough Square.

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