grace and favor on us, who have employed fome time and pains in the ftudy and explication of this book, that fome part of this blessing also may defcend to us!

8 And I heard them.

John faw these things, and And when I had heard and feen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel, which fhewed me thefe things.

9 Then faith he unto me, See thou do it not for I am thy fellow-fervant and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the fayings of this book: worfhip God.

10 And he faith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11 He that is unjuft, let him be unjust ftill: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy ftill: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous ftill: and he that is holy, let him be holy ftill.

12 And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

hujus beatitatis pars obtingat. Vitring, p. 909.

13 I am

(7) Sir

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 Bleffed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and forcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whofoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16 Jefus have fent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17 And the spirit and the bride fay, Come. And let him that heareth` say, Come. And let him that is athirft, come: And whofoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man fhall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man fhall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy

city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20 He which teftifieth these things faith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even fo, Come, Lord Jesus.

grace

21 The
be with you all.

of our Lord Jefus Chrift Amen.

St. John (ver. 8, 9.) teftifieth himself to be the person who faw and heard these things: and in his extafy falling into the fame mistake that he had committed before, (XIX. 10.) he is gently corrected in the fame manner by the angel: Who ordereth him (ver. 10.) not to feal up this prophecy, as Daniel's was, (XII. 4, 9.) for the time is at hand, fome of the particulars would very foon be accomplished, as indeed all would in their due season and order: Which he farther inforceth (ver. 11-15.) with promises and threatnings, of rewards to the righteous, and of vengeance on the wicked. It was not thought fufficient to represent the angel fpeaking in the perfon of Christ, but Chrift himself also is introduced (ver. 16.) fpeaking in his own perfon, and confirming the divine authority of this book, and attesting it to be properly his revelation. The spirit and the bride, (ver. 17.) that is, the fpiritual bride, the true church of Chrift,

there

therefore receives it, and ardently wisheth and prayeth for its completion. The book being of this importance and authority, a folemn adjuration is added by Christ himself, that no man prefume to add any thing to it, or take away any thing from it, (ver. 18, 19.) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man fhall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God fhall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book: Which ought to be seriously confidered by all vifionaries and enthufiafts on the one hand, who boast their own inventions as divine revelations; and by all sceptics and infidels on the other, who depreciate the value and authority of these predictions. He who teftifieth these things, faith, Surely I come quickly; (ver. 20.) he not only attefteth them to be true, but will alfo come speedily to accomplish them to which St. John answers, and in him the whole church, Amen; Even so, Come, Lord Jesus. He clofeth all with the ufual apoftolical benediction (ver. 21.) wishing the grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift to the churches of Afia in particular, and to all Christians in general.

general. The conclufion is truly excellent, as well as all other parts of this book: and nothing could be contrived to leave these things with a stronger impreffion upon the mind of the readers. In the whole, from first to laft, appears the majefty of the divine revealer, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the author and finisher of every good work, and of this more especially.

This, as (Sir Ifaac Newton (7) hath hinted, and as Dr. Warburton hath fully proved in fome difcourfes, which it is hoped will be printed one time or other for the benefit of the public,) is that fure word of prophecy, whereunto Christians as St. Peter faith, do well to take heed and attend. St. Peter (2 Pet. I. 16, &c.) is afferting and establishing the truth of Chrift's fecond coming in power and great glory. For we have not followed cunningly devifed fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty. One illuftrious proof of his coming in power and glory was his appearing in glory and majesty at his transfiguration. (ver. 17, 18.) For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came fuch a voice to him from

the

(7) Sir Ifaac Newton's Obferv. upon the Apoc. Chap. 1. P. 240.