his followers are made white ;*--of him that they have to buy white raiment, that they may be clothed ;t-and under him that the work has to be done, the warfare to be wrought, that pureness may be attained, and the victory be won. And, in like manner, in conformity to their calling, and the changed aspect of their spirits even in his sight, they that are holy are holy still; and while he thus marks them as his church on earth, under the same character, he will acknowledge and reward them as his own in heaven. To him that overcometh, will I give a white stone, and in the stone a new name written. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.§ He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment. Lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands. T What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.** The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his bride hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.†† The righteousness is of faith: it is the church, in earth or in heaven, that is white.And looking on all the past history of man, what body of men is to be seen, that, in the eyes of angels while they look unto our world, could be viewed from heaven itself as white, like unto those men of understanding, and others who have the same *Rev, vii. 14. + Rev. ii. 17. ¶ Rev. vii. 9. § Rev. iii, 4. † Rev. iii. 18. spirit of faith as theirs, who, as the prophet Daniel marked the time and drew their character, knew their God, and instructed many, at the time when Judaism was overthrown and Judea left desolate, and the church of Christ established on the earth,of whom the world was not worthy, who fell by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil many days, and of whom also, or of those who followed in their footsteps, maintained their character, and shared their faith and their fate, it is said they shall fall, to try them, and to purge them, and, in the one same word, to make them WHITE, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for a time appointed. Such, in its purity and truth, is the church that is Christ's. And blessed are they who read and understand and practically know the meaning of the leading symbol of the book of revelation ; and who know what, as members of his church, a peculiar people unto him, they are called to be white,-made like unto the raiment of their righteous Lord, exceeding white as snow, and themselves clothed with fine linen, white and clean, the righteousness of the saints--which no fuller on earth could whiten. But if such be its significancy, such an emblem could not by itself have been seen on earth by any heavenly spectator of a world like ours. It is as pertaining unto Christ and purchased by him, and as directed, reined, and ruled by his hand alone, that white is the word of an angel concerning any people upon earth. And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the sealsand behold a WHITE horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer. These, surely, are most fitting emblems of Christ and of his church and as whiteness is its characteristic, every word also accords with what was written concern ing HIM by Moses and the prophets, in the psalms, gospels, epistles, and, as definitely as before, in the book of Revelation, where he is manifestly spoken of. At the time when, after his resurrection, Jesus opened the understanding of his disciples that they might understand the scriptures, he said-all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me. And as he who sat on a white horse and had a bow, went forth as a conqueror, so it is written of him in the psalms, in the very words applied to him in the first chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews;-Ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness (the fine white linen of the saints); and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows (from the bow) are sharp in the hearts of the king's enemies ; whereby thy people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre, Psalm xlv. 3. The serpent, indeed, bruised his heel, but, as we learn from the first words of prophecy, that, so soon as it came to destroy, augured the destruction of sin,-he who for that end became the seed of the woman, shall bruise the serpent's head.-In the days of these kingdoms, says Daniel, shall the God of heaven set kingdom, which shall never be destroyedwhose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.-All power is given unto Christ in heaven and on earth. He will swallow up death in victory. He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet.—When the first seal was opened, he was seen going forth to conquer. And when the seventh or last angel sounded, "there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev. xi. 15.) In the sequel of the Revela opened, and behold all upon him was called forb cousness doch he judge and new s are as a flame off and crowns; and he had a 183 vesture dipped in blood, and he is calledte WORD OF GOD. And the amese ven followed him up wie es di goeth a sharp sword, that with the nations: and he stall le feic and he treadeth the wine-great wrath of Almighty God A ure and on is high a name it, co KINGS AND LOED OF LE, Het is 7-16 There is none among the kings of the ame among the principalities and powers in hea ing HIM by Moses and the prophets, in the psalms, gospels, epistles, and, as definitely as before, in the book of Revelation, where he is manifestly spoken of. At the time when, after his resurrection, Jesus opened the understanding of his disciples that they might understand the scriptures, he said-all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me. And as he who sat on a white horse and had a bow, went forth as a conqueror, so it is written of him in the psalms, in the very words applied to him in the first chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews;-Ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness (the fine white linen of the saints); and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows (from the bow) are sharp in the hearts of the king's enemies; whereby thy people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre, Psalm xlv. 3. The serpent, indeed, bruised his heel, but, as we learn from the first words of prophecy, that, so soon as it came to destroy, augured the destruction of sin,-he who for that end became the seed of the woman, shall bruise the serpent's head.-In the days of these kingdoms, says Daniel, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyedwhose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.-All power is given unto Christ in heaven and on earth. He will swallow up death in victory. He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet.-When the first seal was opened, he was seen going forth to conquer. And when the seventh or last angel sounded, "there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev. xi. 15.) In the sequel of the Revela |