The future state is unalterable. SECT. XXVII. Our Lord Jesus Christ admonishes the apostle, to discover to the churches what had been revealed to him; and solemnly declares his speedy approach, to fix the eternal state of men according to their characters and works. Rev. XXII. 10-15. REV. XXII 10. REVELATION XXII. 10. 2 511 xxvii. AND he saith AND he, that is, our Lord Jesus Christ, SECT. me, Seal from whom I received this revelation, said no the sayings of the prophecy of this unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy Rev. book: for the time of this book, so that they should not be imme- xxii is at hand. diately perused; for the time is near, in which 10 the accomplishment of these things shall begin. 11 He that is un- Yea, the time is just approaching, when the last 11 just, let him be un- seal shall be set upon the characters of men, just still: and he that and when it shall be said on the one hand, Let is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he him that is unjust, be unjust still; and let him that is righteous, let that is polluted be polluted still; for no more ophim be righteous portunities shall ever be granted for reforming still: and he that is what hath been amiss, and recovering the holy, let him be holy still. unrighteous and polluted soul to rectitude and purity. And, on the other hand, it shall be said, Let him that is righteous, be righteous still; and let him that is holy, be holy still; nothing shall ever happen to bring the virtues and graces of good men into any future danger, or under any cloud; but their righteousness and their holiness shall for ever shine; yea, shine with an increasing lustre. And, to confirm 12 come quickly; and this, Behold I come quickly; I shall be manifest my reward is with ere it be long; and my reward both of grace me, to give evely and vengeance, [is] with me; and I will recomman according as his works shall be. pense to every man according as his works shall be, whether it shall appear, on an impartial 13 I am Alpha examination, to have been good or evil. And, 13 and Omega, the Be- to confirm it further, I repeat it again, I am the ginning and the End, Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last; and what I say may be depended upon as the words of invariable fidelity; Hear them therefore with attention and regard. And, since my nature and perfections are immutable, see that the necessary change be made in yourselves, in order to 12 And behold, I the First and the Last. And he, that is, our Lord Jesus instance of the reference of a relative to a Christ.] Many following words, and remoter antecedent: a figure of speech, especially verse 12, prove that our Lord which I have taken notice of upon many is here meant. But it is a remarkable former occasions, Heb. vii. 2, note ". 512 Reflections on the unalterable nature of the future state. SECT. your obtaining that happiness of which your xxvii. sins may now render you incapable. Happy 14 Blessed are they [are] they, and they alone, who do his command- that do his com Rev. xxii. that mandments, ments, and so prepare for his important ap- they may have righ 14 pearance; that they may have the privilege [to to the tree of life, eat] of the tree of life; and they shall freely en- and may enter in ter by the gates into the glorious cityb I have de- through the gates into the city. 15 scribed, and have their perpetual abode there. 15 For without But, without, [are] the unclean, who merit no are dogs, and sorcer better a name than that of dogs, as they debase ers, and whoremoe. their rational faculties to the service of detes- gers, and murderers, and idolaters, and table lusts; and sorcerers, and fornicators, and whosoever murderers, and idolaters, who may justly be and maketh a lie. ranked together as the most abominable of sinners; and with them must be ranked too, every one who loveth and maketh a lie, who forges falsehood, and practises it, or acts in any allowed contradiction to the great eternal rule of truth and rectitude. verse IMPROVEMENT. LET us be very thankful, that the words of this prophecy are 10 not sealed from us; but that truths, in which we have so important a concern, are so plainly published and proclaimed. The time is near, when a seal will be set on the characters of men: bless 11 ed be God, he who is now unrighteous and polluted, may be purified and reformed, justified and saved. Adored be that grace, that waits so long upon sinners! But the Divine long suffering 12 towards them will have its period: yet a little while, and Jesus comes, to render to every man according to his works. May we then be fixed in a world of immutable holiness and happiness. 13 The Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, has discov. ered to us many evangelical truths in this mysterious book. He hath directed our eyes to the Lamb that was slain to redeem us to God by his blood; and hath shewed us the saints in glory, laying down their crowns in his presence and ascribing the praise of all their salvation to him; but he hath shewn us nothing that is inconsistent with the necessity of real and universal holiness. Yea, he himself proclaims them alone to be entitled to enter 14 the gates of the new Jerusalem, and to eat of the fruit of the tree of life, who do God's commandments. Let us not, therefore, deceive ourselves with vain words, nor attend to any who would b Who do his commandments, &c.] This promise to all that do his commandments, that they shall enter into the gate of the city, here described, evidently proves it to refer to that state of future happiness which all good men shall finally enjoy. Compare verse 18, 19. Every one who loveth and maketh a lie] Though idols are called lies, yet as idolaters had been mentioned before as excluded out of this New Jerusalem, I think it most natural to understand this clause in the sense given in the paraphrase. It is Christ who testifies the words of this prophecy. 513 verse sophisticate the word of God, and fixing their view only on some sECT. detached passages of it, enervate, by their unguarded interpre. xxvii, tations, its general scope and meaning. Let us, in reviewing scripture, observe what God commands and requires, and com- 15 pare it with what he forbids, that we may thereby impartially judge and try ourselves. And how free soever we may be from any of the grosser crimes here enumerated, such as fornication, murder and idolatry, let us not allow ourselves in the love and practice of any thing inconsistent with the immutable rule of righteousness and truth; as well knowing every allowed and continued indulgence of that kind, to be utterly irreconcileable with a well grounded hope of inheriting eternal life. May it please thee, O Lord, to inscribe all these laws upon our hearts; that our joy, in the hope and prospect of the promised blessedness, may rise in proportion to our acquaintance with thy unerring word, and the impartiality and diligence with which we trace the actions of our lives, and the affections of our hearts, in comparison with it, and reduce them to a holy conformity to its precepts. Our Lord Jesus Christ repeats his august titles, and gracious invitation; warns us of the dreadful doom of him who shall add to, or take from his words; and declares his purpose of coming quickly; to which St. John adds his hearty assent, and concludes with his apostolical benediction. Rev. XXII. 16, to the end. REV. XXII. 16. I Jesus have sent REVELATION XXII. 16. SECT. Rev. mine angel to tesAND now to conclude the whole; be it known to every one, who reads these xxviii. tify unto you these things inthe church. words, and let it be seriously considered by es. I am the Root him, that I Jesus the Son of God, the Alpha xxii. and the Offspring of and Omega, the First and the Last, have sent 16 bright and morning my beloved disciple and apostle John, as my David, and the Star. messenger, to testify these things to you, in the several churches into whose hands this may come. And let it also be remembered, in order to add a due weight to the testimony, that I am the Root and the Offspring of David, by whose Divine power David himself was made, though as to my human nature, I have condescended to ally myself to him, and be born from his house: I am the bright and the morning Star, who wear a glory exceeding that of the most brilliant celestial luminary, and 17 And the Spirit usher in a glorious and eternal day. and the bride say, the great substance and design of the message is, to awaken in the minds of all to whom it And 17 514 xxii. Come. And let him If any one add to them, God will severely punish him. SECT. comes, an earnest desire of those blessings Come. And let him xxviii. which from this throne of my glory I am to that heareth, say, dispense. And accordingly I do now anew pub- that is athirst, come. Rev. lish the invitation: the Spirit with which I in- And whosoever will, 17 spire my servants, and the bride, the church to let him take the wa ter of life freely: whom I am espoused, concur to say, Come; and let him, even every one that heareth, say, come. Let every one echo the invitation, and let my people, in all ages, consider it as their duty to do it. And let him that is thirsty, come; and whosoever will, let him apply to me in my appointed way, and receive of the waters of life freely behold it flows in a full current from my throne; and if any man do not receive a part or share of it, without money, and without price, the fault is only chargeable upon himself. This important testimony I commission my 18 For I testify servant to bear: and I also testify to every one unto every man that that heareth the words of the prophecy of this heareth the words of book, If any man add unto these things, God shall book, if any man add unto him, and bring upon him, the most shall add unto these terrible of those plagues which are written in things, God shall add unto him the plagues this book he will, by any designed addition that are written in to them, or corruption of them, make himself this book: 19 highly criminal, and eternally miserable. And 19 And if any if any one take any from the words of the book of man shall take away from the words of this prophecy, with a design thereby to diminish the book of this in any degree, by the omission of what is disa- prophecy, God shall greeable to him, or others whom he may desire 18 Whosoever will, let him receive, &c.] Such a declaration of free grace seems to have been wisely inserted just in the close of the sacred canon, to encourage the hope of every humble soul, that is truly desirous of the blessings of the gospel; and to guard against those suspicions of Divine goodness which some have so unhappily abetted. The word λaulavela, which we render take, does often signify receive; and the word Sugav, is as much as gratis, which implies the freedom of the gift; and I think it may probably refer to that celebrated invitation, Isa. Iv. 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, buy wine and milk without money, and without price. b If any man add to, &c.] It is true, this particularly refers to the book of the Revelation; but the parity of reason extending to other books, I doubt not the terror of the threatening does so too. God forbid we should imagine every the prophecy of this honestly mistaken criticism, where there is a question of receiving or excluding any particular verse, should affect a man's salvation, in consequence of what is here said. But I think such a passage should make men very cautious, that they may not rashly incur any censure on this ac count; though undoubtedly the terror of the threatening is planted against any designed erasement or addition. I shall conclude this note with declaring, that I have endeavoured to carry on my commentary on the sacred books with this thought in my view, and that I have neither designedly attempted to establish any thing, which did not appear to me to be a doctrine of scripture, nor drop any thing which did appear so. And whereinsoever, through human infirmity, and the want of a closer and more accurate attention, I have failed either way, I commit myself to the mercy of that Redeemer, whose word it is, and whose interest I have faithfully endeavoured to serve. And in like manner, if any one take away from them. 515 take away his part to please and favour, God will severely punish SECT: out of the book of such a sacrilege, and take away his part out of xxviii. life, and out of the Rev. holy city, and from the book of life, and out of the holy city, and the the things which are glorious things, even the invaluable blessings xxii. written in this book. which are written, and described in the pre- 19 ceding passages of this book. 20 He which tes saith, Surely I come He who testifies these important things, says, 20 tifieth these things, and leaves it as his parting warning with all quickly. Amen. E. that read them, Surely I come quickly. My ven so, come Lord soul, while I write it, replies, and let every Jesus. 21 The grace of reader reply with me from his heart, Amen, In the mean time, let the churches to whom 21 our Lord Jesus these messages are especially directed and inChrist be with you scribed, receive my most affectionate wishes, all. Amen. my most solemn benediction, which I express in this one ardent prayer: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, even all the invaluable effects of his favour, and above all, the abun dant communications of his Spirit, [be] with you all, and with all Christians, to whom these words may come, unto the end of the world. Amen. IMPROVEMENT. How sweetly and delightfully does the canon of scripture con- verse clude, leaving as it were, the music of heaven upon the attentive 16 ear. "O thou blessed Root and Offspring of David, O thou bright and morning Star, impress on all our hearts these thy gracious words, which thou hast condescended to speak from the throne of thy glory; thereby, as it were, to aid the weakness of our faith, in those which thou didst deliver, while dwelling in mortal flesh." Then did the compassionate Saviour proclaim, from an eminence in the temple, to a crowded assembly on a day of peculiar solemnity, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. (John vii. 17.) And now behold he makes the same proclamation from his celestial temple; he points, as it were, to the fountain head of happiness, to the springs of the water of life, 17 God will take away his part, &c ] Since God threatens the plagues written in this book, and the loss of a part in the holy city, as what might be the portion of those who should presume to corrupt it, and such corruption might happen in any age of the church; I think it very evident, that the VOL. 6. 66 holy city, spoken of in the preceding chapter, is a representation of the heavenly state to be enjoyed by all good men, how applicable soever it may seem to any glorious scene preceding the final judgment; and that Rev. xx. 11, &c. refers to the univer sal judgment. |