again, out of the various nations where they are now scattered.

As these beafts are privileged with standing nearest the Lord, and indulged with the first view of things, it is plain that they are minifters of Christ, wno are stewards of the myfteries they faw-and as they are redeemed from among men, and fay, Thou haft made us kings and priests, and we Shall reign on the earth, they were redeemed by Chrift's blood, crowned with knowledge and loving-kindness as kings, and reigned as kings, though on the earth, under the dominion of grace; and as priests they offered fpiritual facrifices, acceptable to God by Jefus Chrift; which is confirmed in my text; for 'tis faid the four beafts, as well as the elders, had golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of faints.

It may be inquired why they are called beafts. Perhaps it is intended to exhibit them as brutal finners by nature, before they were redeemed from among the nations, tongues, and people they lay among. Every man is brutish in his knowledge, Jer. x. 14. Surely I am more brutish than any man, faith Agur, Prov. xxx. 2. That God might manifeft them, and that they might fee that they themselves are beafts, Eccl. iii. 18.

We have a further defcription of these beafts. The first beaft was like a lion, the fecond beaft like a calf, the third beaft had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle, Rev. iv. 7.

The

The terrible majesty and undaunted courage of the lion represents them as whelps of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, as Judab is called a lion's whelp, Gen. xlix. 9. and denotes the fortitude and boldness of a gofpel minifter, when strengthened with fpiritual might. The wicked flee when none pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion, Prov. xxviii. 1.—The second beast being like a calf, may denote the value of a gospel minister, and his quick growth in grace and knowledge-Ye fball go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall, Mal. iv. 2. Calf is often mentioned by Ifaiah as lying down with the Lamb of God, or with the lambs of his fold. The wolf also fhall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard fhall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together, Ifa. xi. 6. Gospel minifters are compared to oxen in fcripture; and a lively emblem they are, when they have got the Saviour's yoke on their neck, feed themfelves on the green pastures of God's word, abide by their Master's crib, and tread out the corn for others. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? or faith be it altogether for our fakes? For our fakes no doubt this is written, says Paul, 1 Cor. ix. 9.-The third beaft had a face as a man. This fhews what they really are by nature, namely men, fallen men, but now redeemed from among men; and they were men in a militant ftate, or reprefentatives of them, and not the spirits of juft men made perfect; for if C

they

they were, they must look more like angels than men, nor could they be faid to reign on the earth. -And the fourth beast was like a flying eagle; which may reprefent their heavenly mindednefs, the eagle being a very towering flyer, to which faints are often compared. They shall mount up as on eagle's wings; they shall run, and not weary; walk, and not faint, Ifa. xl. 31. This bird may denote their spiritual knowledge and penetration, the eagle being famous for ftrong and quick fight. Her eyes are faid to behold afar off, Job xxxix. 29. She is faid to be very fagacious, and can fcent her prey at a distance-Her eyes behold afar off; from thence fhe feeketh her prey; and where the flain are, there is fhe, Job xxxix. 29, 30. which may prefigure minifters, whofe fouls feed on Chrift's flesh and blood, in a fpiritual fenfe, by faith, and find it the only food that can entertain the troubled mind, or fatisfy a wounded confcience. My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed; and unless you eat my flesh, and drink my blood, you have no life in you, John vi. 53.

Thefe beafts are further defcribed, by having fix wings; perhaps in allufion to the feraphims in Ifaiah, each having fix wings; with twain he covered his face, with twain be covered his feet, and with twain he did fly, Ifa. vi. 2. The covering their faces may fhew their bafhfulness and modefty in the prefence of God, as virgin souls. Their covering their feet betokens their unworthiness and unprofitableness to God-When ye have done all

thefe

thefe things, fay ye, We are unprofitable fervants, Luke xvii. 10. Their flying denotes their delight and alacrity in the work of the Lord, in fpreading his gospel, as an angel is represented as flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlafting gospel to preach upon earth, Rev. xiv. 6. which angel is a minifter of the gospel-a man by nature, only an angel by office. Angels are not proper creatures to preach the gospel to us. They have not our infirmities about them; nor could we fit under them with any comfort. Their celeftial language would be as much above the language of Canaan, as ours is above the language of Egypt. We must have our treasure out of earthen vessels, 2 Cor. iv. 7. or elfe we should be ready to cry out, under angelic teaching, as Daniel did, All my comeliness is turned into corruption, and I retain no ftrength, Dan. x. 8.

These beafts are faid to be full of eyes within, chap. iv. 8. which may denote the divine light that fhines within them. God, who caufed the light to shine out of darkness, bath fhined into our hearts, fays Paul, 2 Cor. iv. 6. This makes a man appear full of eyes, and a world of corruptions are discovered, both in himself and others. It is in God's light we fee light; and whatsoever maketh manifeft is light. They had need be full of eyes within and without; for they have enemies on every fide, befides taking an overfight of the flock, and watching for their fouls as them that

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muft

must give an account. There must be also a watching the hand of Providence, and the hand of God in the fulfilment of the prophecies, which are daily unfolding more or lefs; and as watchmen they must give warning of approaching dangers, and obferve the rifing and declining of the gospel fun, which feems daily going down. over many prophets; befides their watchfulness as fhepherds, to obferve and detect foxes and ravenous wolves, who will not fpare the flock; nor even the chief fhepherd himself, if they had but power equal to their will, and could get at him.

When these beafts give glory, and honour, and thanks, to him that fat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever; then the four and twenty elders fall down before him that fat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and caft their crowns before the throne, Rev. iv. 9, 10.Another proof, and I think a fufficient one, that these beasts are minifters of the gofpel; because here they are reprefented as beginning the worship of God, and leading it on. Under the old difpenfation the ministering fervant blessed the facrifice, and then thofe eat that were bidden, 1 Sam. ix. 13. under the gospel, first of all, fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks, are to be made, 1 Tim. ii. 1. Thus preachers lead the worship, and the people follow after; as is reprefented here: the four beafts begin, and the elders fell down and worshipped.

John