and "idolaters," who have gone into the worship of angels, and saints, and images; and "whosoever "loveth and maketh a lie,” those who love carnal and false doctrines better than the holy and humbling truths of God, and who employ themselves in framing and propagating such doctrines. The whole of this description appears particularly to refer to the enemies of the Gospel, and the corrupters of true religion; and still more especially to bear upon the idolatrous delusions and lies, with which the devil, by means of the beast and false prophet, deceived all nations. Without doubt the passage also includes all those ordinary sinners of the different characters mentioned, with which the world and the visible church, alas, too much abound!

16. I Jesus have sent 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.

The Lord Jesus here gives his own solemn attestation to the prophecies contained in this book, and assures the Apostle that he had sent his angel to testify to him the things contained in it; not on his own account only, but also on account of the churches. Christ Jesus himself is the author and giver of this prophecy. He is also the attester of it; and, in order to give weight to his testimony, he describes himself as the root and offspring of David. He is, in his divine nature, the root from which David sprang; the origin from whence he and all others were derived; the source of his being, his family, and his kingdom; and the cause and means of that salvation, which is denominated "sure mercies of David." In his human nature he was the stem of Jesse, and the offspring of David, his son, as descended from his loins. He was also the " bright and morning star," the day-spring from on high. His rising up, in his incarnation, introduced the Gospel day. His rising, in the saving in

fluences of his Spirit, introduces the day of grace and comfort. His rising in his power will put an end to the night of Antichristianism, disperse the darkness of ignorance and error, and introduce the millennial day. And his final rising, in his appearance to judge the world, will introduce the eternal day of light, purity, and joy. In the Lord Jesus all uncreated, and all created, excellencies meet and unite. He cannot, therefore, possibly deceive his Church with attestations that are in the least degree inconsistent with his goodness, truth, and faithful

ness.

17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the

water of life freely.

The Saviour here publishes the gracious invitations of the Spirit and the Church. The Holy Spirit, by the sacred word, and by his convictions and influences on the sinner's conscience, says, "Come to "Christ for salvation;" and the bride, or the whole church militant, says, "Come and share our felicity." It therefore behoves every man, that hears the invitation, to call on others to come; and, in fine, let every man throughout the world, who thirsts for salvation, come to Christ. Nay, lest any one should hesitate, as not able to determine whether his thirst be spiritual or not, it is added, "Whosoever will, let "him take the water of life freely." Let him come and take it as he would take the water from a well, which belongs in common to himself and all his neighbours. Let no one think of paying for these blessings, except as he throws away his poison to receive food, or his dross to receive gold.-The import of this invitation, as well as of many others in the sacred Scriptures, evidently shews that the Gospel is a system of religion and a scheme of salvation suited to all men; that all men need its blessings; and that all are invited to participate in them.

There need be no hesitation on the ground of qualifications; for all are here invited to share in the blessings of salvation who are willing to receive them. The only reason why men do not become partakers of the Gospel salvation, is because they "will not come to Christ that they may have life.”

18. 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 shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19. And if any man shall 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.

This is a solemn and awful threatening against every one who should presume to add to, or take away from, the words of this book. If any man, whoever he be, or whatever his character, shall presume to add any pretended visions or revelations to those contained in this book, or who shall wilfully prevert their meaning, God will add to, or inflict on him, the plagues and punishments that are threatened in it; and particularly those which are denounced against impostors and deceivers. On the other hand, if any man take away from the words of this prophecy, with a design to diminish the declaration of God, by the omission of what is disagreeable to himself, or others whom he may desire to please; if he, in any way, nullify this inspired book, or deny its divine authority, God will take away from him whatever he may have expected to receive of its blessings; and cut him off from the interest that he professed, or hoped, or seemed to have in the Lamb's book of life, and from all the great and glorious things which are promised in this prophetic book to them that overcome, and are faithful unto death. This tremendous caution undoubtedly refers primarily to the Book of Revelation, with which,

probably, more liberties have been taken than with any other part of the inspired records of Scripture. It may nevertheless be intended to be applied to the whole sacred canon of the written word. It warns every man, in the most solemn manner, to add nothing to, and take nothing from, the inspired word of Scripture. This is the sole standard of truth in respect to doctrine, experience, and duty. It shews us the state of man by nature; the mode of his recovery; the way of his acceptance with God; the evidences of his regeneration and conversion; and the rule of his duty.-Alas, how many have cause to tremble at this denunciation with which the holy canon of inspiration closes! How awful is the state of the infidel and the sceptic, who reject the whole or part of the Scripture, and assert that it is of no consequence what men believe! How tremendous is the situation of enthusiasts, and pretenders to new revelations, who suppose that they are arrived to a degree in religion in which the written word is no longer necessary for them! How great is the danger of those, whether superstitious papists, imposing churchmen, or bigoted sectaries, who wilfully pervert the sacred Scripture, in order to make it speak according to their wishes or preconceived opinions! and finally, upon what a precipice do those critics stand, who are continually proposing conjectural alterations, and adding to, or taking from, the words of Scripture without evidence! But the merciful Saviour will not condemn unintentional mistakes either in the honest writer or the sincere preacher. -In writing and compiling this Exposition, I hope nothing is designedly perverted in the attempt to explain this sacred and mysterious book. I have read it with some attention (not, indeed, with as much as I ought); I have perused a great variety of commentators, and, with the helps in my possession, I have endeavoured to give what appears to myself

the true interpretation. If I have erred through human infirmity or for want of more care and attention, I cast myself upon the mercy of the Redeemer, through whom alone I look for the remission of all my sins of every class and degree.

20. He which testifieth these things, saith, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

After the solemn threatening contained in the preceding verses, the Lord Jesus, the author and attester of this Revelation, concludes his encouragements and warnings with a promise to the Apostle and the Church that he will come again without delay. As events mature, he will speedily come in his spiritual power for the glory of his Church and the destruction of her enemies.-He will also soon come, as the Judge of quick and dead, to make the final separation between the righteous and the wicked, and to take his faithful people to himself into the everlasting mansions of holiness and joy.In answer to this gracious declaration, the Apostle exclaims, and the Church re-echoes the exclamation, "Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus." Hasten this blessed period, accomplish thy designs, fulfil thy word, and receive thy Church to its predestined inheritance of glory.

As the sacred writer had introduced the prophecy with an address to the seven churches, so he concludes it with the apostolical benediction.

21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Thus this Revelation, as well as the whole canon of Inspiration, concludes with another testimony of that doctrine which is the ground and the pillar of the truth, the Godhead of Christ. For, surely such a valedictory benediction as this never could be used but upon the admission of his essential divinity. May the inestimable blessings connected with "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of