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VERSE 14, "His head and hairs white like woo!, as white as snow." Signifies the innocence and purity of his nature, and his counsels. And his eyes as a flame of fire." Signifies that Jesus, looking at, or beholding men with his eyes, is calcu lated to detect, and burn up iniquity.

Verse 16, "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace." Signified that the moving, or walking forth of the spirit of Christ, in its testimony, is pure and solid like "fine brass," and that the tendency of this moving is like a furnace, to burn up combustible vanity in the minds of men. "And his voice as the sound of many waters." Signifies that the inspiration of his spirit is continually speaking in men, (as many waters moving continually roar,) whether men obey its movings and teachings or not.

Verse 16, "And out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword." Signifies the word of God, Heb. Iv, 12. "And his countenance as the sun shineth in his strength." Representing that glory which is revealed to the soul who believeth in Jesus, as it is written, 2. Cor. Iv, 6, For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give the light of the knowl edge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER II.

Verse 1, "Unto the angel of the church, &c. Meant the minister of the church: but the real meaning of "Angel," is messenger, or one who is sent on some errand. And therefore, holy beings who appeared to ancient holy men and women in divers instances were called "Angels," and therefore when men are sent of God, they are angels of God.—But the word "Angel," is not only appli ed to invisible beings, and to men, but any dis

pensation which is sent of God, is an "Angel," or messenger of God, whether it be a dispensation of blessings; or calamities. And therefore the plagues of Egypt are called, "evil Angels," in Psalm Lxxviii, 49; And a dispensation of blessings or calamities, is signified by the word Angel in many instances in this book of Revelation. Verse 17, "Hidden manna." The word of God, Matth. Iv, 4.

Verse 28, 66 And I will give him (that overcom-eth) the morning star." That is, such inward evidence of salvation, as the daystar is of the sun's. rising.

VERSE 5,

CHAPTER III..

“He that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment." Means righteousness, clothed with Christ before God.

Verse 12, "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God." Signifies to be established in a state of mind to love and enjoy the presence of God..

Verse 18, "Gold tried in the fire." Signifies, as gold represents spiritual privileges, so "gold tried in the fire" represents privileges which have been proved to be real spiritual blessings.— And anoint thine eyes with eye salve." Means that strengthening operation of the spirit of Christ which causeth the understanding to see quick in spiritual things.

CHAPTER IV.

Verse 1, "After these things I looked, and behold, a door opened in Heaven." Meant an opening into spiritual things which he had not seen before.— And the first voice which I heard, as it were of a K2

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trumpet talking with me." Meant that the moVing which he heard in the spirit of his mind, was like the gospel testimony, which is represented by the inviting sound of a trumpet. "Which said, come up thither, I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Meant that the same inviting move led his mind into such a spiritual state as to see the

vision.

Verse 2, "And immediately I was in the spirit, and behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and One sat upon the throne." By the throne, is signified the holiness of God, Ps. Xlvii, 8: Ps. Xlviii, 1.

Verse 3, "And he that sat was to look upon, like a jasper, and a sardine stone." Signified the exceeding riches of the nature of God to those who believe in, and love him, and behold him through faith. "And a rainbow round about the throne." A token of mercy.

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VERSE 4, "And round about the throne four-andtwenty seats, and upon the seats, four-and-twenty elders sitting." These elders represent the first fruits of all nations, that is, those who believe the gospel in time, as St. James shewed, James I, 18, That we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures." These elders, also, by their song, show that they represent the first fruits of all nations, chap, v, 9. "And hast redeemed us to God, &c. out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Their being "clothed in white raiment, and having crowns of gold," I hope will readily be seen to signify the righteousness, and spiritual privileges of all believers.

Verse 5, "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunderings, and voices." Signified that holiness, which is the throne, is like flashes of fire to consume iniquity, and terrible to those who live wickedly, like thunder. And as all believers are in the throne of holiness, and speak with voices of prayer, praise, and instruction, so these voices proceed out of the throne.

VERSES 6, 7, "And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne (N. B. in the midst of holiness, and round about holiness) four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second like a calf, and the third had a face as a man, and the fourth like a flying eagle." As this appearance of beasts, or living creatures, represents men, tame beasts, wild beasts, and fowls of the air, in, and round about the throne; it signifies that men who are so beastly as to live in sin and unbelief, together with all the beasts, and fowls of the air, are, notwithstanding, in the spirit of holiness by the redemption of Christ according to the divine oounsel.

Verse 8, "And full of eyes within." Signifies that they shall finally have inward, or spiritual sight. And they rest not day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Signifies that all creatures in their continual dependence upon God for every thing which they enjoy, by their receiving, and enjoying, do continually ascribe holiness to God, though many of them know it not.

Note. As this fourth chapter says nothing about the Lamb Jesus, it is obviously a representation of the state of things immediately before the coming of Christ in the flesh.

CHAPTER V.

Verse 1, "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals."

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The "book" signified a view of the dealings and purpose of God, with, and concerning men; written on the back side," signified those deal ings of God with men which had already taken place; "written within, and sealed," signified those things which God purposed should take place in future, which were not then known.

VERSE 2," And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book ? &c." Signified a dispensation of inquiry in the minds of men; which was like a messenger, or angel, with an earnest inquiry for some one to open and show what God meant to do with his

creatures.

Verse 6," And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain." Now, glory to God, here it is plainly signified that Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain, is in the midst of the throne of God, and in the midst of the elders, and four beasts, (which are the representatives of all creatures,) thereby showing that he is so united with God and all creatures as to finally reconcile them all to God. And the rest of this chapter shows that at the first move of the Lamb to take the book, and open the seals, as though all creatures knew things must now issue well: first, the four beasts and elders, the representatives of all; secondly, all the angels, or messengers, and thirdly, every creature in Heaven, in earth, in the sea, under the earth, and all that was in them} sing the praises of God and the Lamb.

There is one thing which has already been mentioned, which, if we view along with this, adds. to the beauty of this part of the vision, viz.: In chap, iv, 3, "A rainbow round about the throne,, in sight like unto an emerald," that is, a bright rainbow.

If we read Gen. IX, 8, on to 17, we shall find that after Noah came out of the ark, God made a covenant with him, and with all flesh, with every living creature, with fowl, with cattle, and every beast of the earth, which should be an "everlast-ing covenant" that he would not destroy them any more by the waters of a flood. This was, therefore, a covenant of mercy; and God told Noah that he would set his "bow in the cloud" as a tom