himself if he is no more than man), neither the fpirits of just men made perfect, nor any of the faints in a militant ftate, was able to open the book ;-nor no man on earth; either faint or finner, wife or unwife, noble or ignoble, learned or illiterate; neither was any under the eartheither damned fouls, or damned devils, able to open this book, loofe its feals, or look into its

contents.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon, verfe 4. John faw the need of a mediator, a prophet, and an advocate; one to undertake as a mediator, make known the mysteries as a prophet, and plead the cause of the just as an advocate; and he faw no man in heaven, earth, or hell, that was worthy of either of these offices, or able for fuch an undertaking. He must be equal to God that does it, or he cannot tranfact with God for us; and he must be man also, or he cannot undertake for man. In fhort, he must be God's equal, and man's fellow, that takes the book. Chrift can do it, for he thought it no robbery to be equal with God, Phil. ii. 6. therefore he can tranfact with God; and as he is man's fellow, he can tranfact for man, and fympathise with him, especially as he is anointed with the oil of gladness above all his fellows, Pf. xlv. 7. who were to have fellowship with him, 1 John i. 3. by being joined to him, and made of one fpirit with him, 1 Cor. vi. 17.

And one of the elders said unto me, weep not: bebold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the Seven feals thereof, verfe 5. Here you have the terrible and powerful majefty of the Saviour fet forth by a lion, called the lion of the tribe of Judah, becaufe 'tis evident that Chrift fprang from that tribe, Heb. vii. 14. as touching his manhood; and yet this lion is the everlasting father of Judah with refpect to his Godhead; hence Judah is called a lion's whelp, that went up from the prey, Gen. xlix. 9. from being a prey to the lion of the bottomlefs pit, by faith in the lion of heaven, which is God: The lion bath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophecy? Amos iii. 8. Chrift is here called the root of David; because David derived his being from him as the God of nature and the creator of the world-all things were made by Chrift, Col. i. 16. David derived his fpiritual life from him as the God of grace-Christ is the refurrection and the life; and David expected to be glorified by him as the King of glory—thou shalt guide me with thy council, and receive me into glory. Pf. lxxiii. 24. Hence the Pfalmift fo often calls him his Lord, his King, his Redeemer, his Saviour, and the King of Glory; Lift up your beads ye gates, and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory fhall enter in, Pf. xxiv. 9. Thus Jefus as God is David's root, and as man he is David's offspring; I am the root and the offspring

of

of David, the bright and morning ftar, Revelations xxii. 16.

The lion of the tribe of Judah bath prevailed to open the book. This lion hath prevailed over the lion of the bottomlefs pit; over fin, the devil's effence; and over death, fin's firft-born; and over deftruction, the first-born of death, Job xviii. 13. he hath prevailed, and led captivity captive; spoiled principalities and powers, and made a fhew of them openly. This is the all-conquering lion that made the devil feel the rod of his ftrength when he dethroned him, and caft him out of finners hearts, deftroyed his works, and marred his kingdom; and will at last destroy him with a dreadful destruction, and crush him beneath the feet of all his faints; as fure as Mofes' rod, when turned into a ferpent, devoured all the ferpents produced by magic or infernal art.

This lion hath prevailed, not only over the world and the devil, but he hath prevailed with God alfo in behalf of his people. By his obedience, he prevailed to difarm the law of its curfe; by prayer, he prevailed with his father for us; by death, he prevailed with juftice; by his refurrection, he prevailed over death; and as a mediator, high prieft, and advocate, he must ever prevail in heaven; for all power, and all judgment, are committed to him; he is afcended far above all heavens, enthroned, glorified, and fet down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Heb. i. 3.

The

The diadem of David is removed, and the crown put on the Saviour; all other crowns must fubmit to his, for all must be abafed before him, and be obedient to him. He that humbled himfelf-he that was meek and lowly, muft now be exalted, and wear both the crown and diadem, Ezek. xxi. 26. and be proclaimed, through heaven and earth, the king of kings and lord of lords. Is this the cafe? then oh, my foul, submit thou to his fceptre; take the oath of allegiance, and kifs the hands of this wonderful, all-conquering, and terribly majestic fovereign, as thou art commanded to do, Kifs the Son, left he be angry, Pfalm ii. 12. and fay, with a loyal and a loving heart, O king, live for ever; and this of him will be neither falfehood nor flattery.

And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beafts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb, as it had been slain; having seven borns and feven eyes, which are the feven fpirits of God fent forth into all the earth. verse 6. I shall not mention the lamb here, the beafts, nor the elders, as they are included in my text, but drop a few words upon the horns and eyes. By the horns you are to understand the majestic or kingly power of Chrift; David was anointed with oil out of an born, 1 Sam. xvi. 1. hence he often fpeaks of his horn, Pf. xcii. 10. and of his horn being exalted with honour, Pf. cxii. 9. which horn fignified the kingly power and authority that God had given him; and as the Saviour was to spring

from David, he is called a bud from his horn, who was to govern Zion for ever: God hath chofen Zion, be has defired it for his habitation; there will 1 make the HORN of David to BUD. I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed; his enemies will I clothe with fhame, but upon himself shall his crown flourish. Pfalm cxxxii. 16, 17. This was fulfilled at the appearance of Chrift; Bleffed be the Lord God of Ifrael, for he bath visited and redeemed his people, and bath raised up an born of faivation for us in the boufe of his fervant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been fince the world began. Luke i. 68-70. Bleffed be his name this is fulfilled; our mighty horn of falvation is exalted, and he makes all his people kings and priests; he anonits us with his fpirit, 2 Cor. i. 21. crowns us with knowledge, Prov. xiv. 18. and with loving kindness and tender mercy, Pf. ciii. 4. and we fball reign on the earth, Rev. v. 10. because we are upheld by his hand; he has borns coming out of his hand, and there is the hiding of his power. Habb.

iii. 4.

But you will fay, why is he reprefented as having seven horns? Every horn has its fignification; ten horns are called ten kings, Rev. xvii. 12. and Jefus Chrift is a king in a feven-fold fenfe, reprefented by feven horns; he is anointed with the feven-fold gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, and on his head are many crowns, as well as many horns: First, he is King of Glory, Pfalm xxiv. 7. Secondly, King of Zion-I have fet my