or arms.

desire of women:" he would forbid priests to marry, and inculcate that vows of chastity were meritorious. "Nor regard any god:" he would do according to his will-that would be his god, and he would therefore magnify himself above all. "But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces:" arms or civil power shall be his chief trust and confidence; and by conjoining the civil power with spiritual authority, he will honour the God of forces This is a god whom the christian fathers knew not, for they were frequently exposed to persecution at the hands of the civil magistrate; nevertheless, he shall honour him with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things; the meaning is, that the civil power would be the main prop of the popish system, the support of which when withdrawn, would leave it to totter and fall and not be found. Thus shall he do in the most strong-holds, the nations of Europe, with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. Power was to be given him over all the nations. His dividing the land for gain has a twofold meaning: it relates to his arrogating in past ages the right and power of doing according to his will, even in the matter of setting up and pulling down kings-deposing one, to bestow his crown upon another who would give him tribute. But more particularly does it describe the whole popish system of indulgences, and other schemes, by which, in their continual efforts to make gain, they have made the house of God an house of merchandize-selling for gain the right to the inheritance in the land which is afar off. This description may also be applied to the eastern form of Antichrist; and as has been already shown, the remaining verses of

this chapter are predictive of the manner and the human instruments in the destruction of both systems of delusion and error, the true king over whom is Satan, who is the angel of the bottomless pit, and hath his name in the Hebrew tongue, Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue, Apollyon.

CHAPTER XXI.

REV. chap. xiv. ver. 1-5. "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." God's appearing in His great glory to rebuild Zion, is calculated to alarm and terrify men, for men's hearts shall fail them for fear, and for looking upon those things which are coming on the earth. Evening-time is now come in the history of the world. The ship has been in the midst of the sea, and Jesus alone on the land, and He has seen His people toiling and rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them. It

is now about the fourth watch of the night, and Jesus cometh unto his people, walking upon the sea. They now see Him in those judgments which are abroad in the earth; they imagine He is going to pass them by, and leave them alone a little longer. They are troubled, and they are now crying to Him in earnest and continual prayer, Lord, save us, we perish. His reply is immediate, for He saith to all who love His appearing, "Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid." It is to believers in this day that the apostle chiefly speaks when he says, "Ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (for they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) but ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect." (Heb. xii. 18-23.) This passage is the exact counterpart of the verses now under consideration; and the design of both is to encourage believers in these times of great trouble, by assuring them of God's merciful and gracious purpose towards them. "I looked, and, lo," it is a great sight which men are now to behold, even the restoration of all things,-"a Lamb stood on the mount Sion:"

to a man willing to do God's will, every view of Jehovah, and every event of His providence presents but the one aspect of the Divine glory; in every thing he beholds the mercy, the goodness, and the love of God towards himself in Christ. Whether in adversity or prosperity, whether in sorrow or joy, he always beholds the Lamb standing on mount Sion; for he knows that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. "And with him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads: " these are they who, during the dark night of this world's history, have lived by faith upon the earth; "and these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Heb. xi. 39, 40.) This is the general assembly of the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven; sealed when in this life by the Spirit of God until the day of redemption. "And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder." This voice is God's own voice, who now speaks from heaven on mount Sion, as He once spake on earth from mount Sinai. When He spake on earth, even Moses, with whom he conversed face to face, said, I exceedingly fear and quake; but now the same voice from mount Sion is a still small voice to every true believer, while loud, and distinct, and certain in what it proclaims. God truly is come to dwell with men, and to take men up to dwell with Him: hear Him, ye that tremble at His word, for He says unto all such-"Fear not, for I have redeemed thee." "And I heard the voice of harpers harping with