"Satan will then be loosed out of his prison, and will go forth to deceive the nations, and to gather them together to battle, the number of whom will be as the sand of the sea. And with these he will compass the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire will come down from God out of heaven to devour them"." Now all this I can understand, on the supposition that there be a succession of saints for a thousand years; because I can easily conceive that hypocrites and apostates may at last arise from among them, just as they did from among the immediate converts of the Apostles: but I cannot possibly conceive, either that Satan should so prevail over saints that are brought down from heaven, as to occasion them at last to be cut off by fire from heaven; or that, though preserved faithful to their God, they should ever be subjected to such assaults from men and devils. We are told expressly, that "the sun shall not light on them, nor any heat," and that "they shall have no more sorrow, or crying, or pain:" and therefore I cannot but conclude, that they shall be with Christ in Paradise, till they shall come forth at the last day to be reunited to their bodies, and to possess both in body and soul the inheritance provided for them from the foundation of the world.] With such a view of the first resurrection, we are prepared to contemplate, II. The blessedness of those that shall have a part in it "Blessed and holy" will they all be; and that too in a pre-eminent degree above the saints of other ages: 1. Their views will be more enlarged Not [Our light far surpasses that of the prophets: insomuch that the least and meanest of the saints under the Christian dispensation excels in that respect even the Baptist himself, who was greater than all the prophets and amongst ourselves, some have far deeper and richer views of divine truth than others. But in that day, the great mystery of redemption will be exhibited in far brighter colours than it has yet been. that any fresh revelation will be vouchsafed to men; for I conceive that the canon of Scripture is closed: but there will be a more abundant measure of the Spirit poured out upon them, revealing to them the Saviour, in all "the brightness of his glory," and in "the incomprehensible wonders of his love:" "the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven-fold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound"."] 2. Their graces will be more vigorous [They will be "blessed and holy;" and blessed, because holy. This indeed will be a necessary consequence of the foregoing; for the more "any man beholds the Saviour's glory, the more will he be changed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of our God." The whole vineyard of the Lord will then be watered more abundantly; and such "showers of blessings" will be poured out upon it, that every plant in it will grow, and " be fruitful in all the fruits of righteousness, to the praise and glory of our God." We may form some idea of their state from what is recorded of the saints on the day of Pentecost: what exalted piety did they manifest towards both God and man! So will it be also in that day: "for brass they will have gold, and for iron silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron P:" and that prayer of the Apostle will in a more ample measure be answered to them; "The God of peace, that brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, will make them perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in them that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ¶."] 3. Their consolations more abundant [As their communications from God will be increased, so will their fellowship with him be more intimate and abiding. Their communion with each other also will be most profitable and endearing. Wherever they turn their eyes, they will behold a brother, or a sister, a partaker of the same faith, an heir of the same glory. If even now the communion of the saints be so sweet, that it is almost a foretaste of heaven itself, what will it be in that day, when the loveliness of each, and the disposition of all to exercise the principle of love, will be so greatly augmented? And what will the ordinances be in that day? What, but "the very gate of heaven?" Methinks, the pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit will then be a daily occurrence; and the language of earth be like that of heaven, one continued effusion of praise and thanksgiving. The descriptions given of that period in the Scriptures are precisely similar to those which are given of heaven itself; because the state of the Church then will be an emblem, and an earnest of heaven. So happy will they be in their intercourse with God, that "the sun will be no more their light by day, neither for brightness will the moon give light unto them; but the Lord n Isai. xxx. 26. P Isai. lx. 17. • 2 Cor. iii. 18. will be unto them an everlasting light, and their God their glory."] 4. Their progress more easy ["Satan will then be bound, and sealed up in the bottomless pit, so that he can have no access to harass and deceive them." Now it is well known, that this subtle enemy presents more formidable obstacles in the Christian's way than all other enemies together; as the Apostle says, "We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places." How rapid then will be the progress of those who have not this tide to stem, and at the same time are carried forward by breezes the most favourable that heaven can bestow, and amply sufficient to fill all their sails! To this subject we may well apply that beautiful description which the Prophet Amos has given of that period; "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop wine, and all the hills shall melt":" for in a spiritual, as well as temporal view, so fruitful shall be the seasons, that the blessings of heaven shall almost supersede the labours of cultivation. And all who are bending their course heavenward will fly with the celerity of "doves to their windows," and without interruption, as the clouds of heaven.] 5. Their prospects more glorious [Breathing thus, as they will do, the atmosphere of heaven, they will be ever ready to take their flight, and to wing their way to their celestial abodes. From the top of Pisgah they will view their promised inheritance: and when the Lord Jesus says, "Behold, I come quickly," the united cry of all will be, "Amen: even so, come Lord Jesus"." In a word, their whole spirit and deportment will evince the presence, and the reign, of Christ in all their souls.] APPLICATION But may not this period be anticipated? May we not at least have the commencement of it amongst ourselves? Yes, surely we may. We may assuredly enjoy the dawn of that light, which they will behold in its meridian splendour. With a view to assist you in the noble enterprise of forestalling and anticipating that blessed day, I would say, Compare Isai. lx. 19. with Rev. xxi. 23. and xxii. 5. s ver. 2, 3. * Isai. lx. 8. t Eph. vi. 12. y Rev. xxii. 7, 20. u Amos ix. 13. 1. Improve the privileges which you do enjoy [These, let me say, are equal to any that have been enjoyed since the apostolic age for the light of the Gospel shines with a splendour unknown to former ages, and is diffusing its rays to an extent which but a few years ago no human being could have contemplated. Satan indeed exerts his utmost efforts to obstruct the progress of divine truth; but he cannot succeed: he is foiled in almost every attempt; and his kingdom trembles to its centre. I need go no farther than to you, my brethren, in proof of what I have asserted. You see how the Lord Jesus Christ is extending his empire, amongst yourselves, as well as in the world at large: and therefore you have every encouragement to fight under his banners, and to expect a successful issue of your warfare. It is worthy of observation, that the saints of the millennial period have no distinction above you, except that "they shall reign a thousand years;" for over you "the second death shall have no power," any more than over them: and you, as well as they, are "priests of God and of Christ"." Improve then, I say, your privileges, and seek to attain the graces that will distinguish them they are characterized by their freedom from the pollutions of the world, and by the fidelity of their adherence to Christ". "Be ye then faithful unto death; and know assuredly that God will give you the crown of life."] 2. Look forward to a still better resurrection [We are ready to envy the millennial saints: but think how much more glorious a resurrection awaits you, than can possibly be enjoyed by embodied souls on earth! They will of necessity be subject to infirmities, even in their best estate: but in a little time you shall be as free from all infirmity as the angels around the throne of God: your souls shall be altogether perfected after the Divine image, and "your bodies be made like unto Christ's glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Then "shall you be ever with the Lord," and possess in all its fulness the complete fruition of your God. Look forward with joy to that blissful period; and in the mean time, "Comfort ye one another with these words."] z Compare ver. 6. with 1 Pet. ii. 9. b Phil. iii. 20, 21. a ver. 4. c 1 Thess. iv. 17, 18. MMDXXVIII. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. Rev. xx. 11-15. I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. WE are not to imagine that the mysterious parts of Scripture are unworthy of our most attentive perusal for though we should not succeed in our endeavours to comprehend all that is contained in them, we shall find much that is plain, intelligible, and important. The chapter before us speaks of a resurrection of all the martyred saints to reign with Christ on earth a thousand years: it informs us also that, at the expiration of that period, Satan shall be loosed from his confinement, and prevail against them, deceiving many, and destroying many. It tells us moreover, that God, determining to execute vengeance on that deceiver of the nations, and on such ministers as have been his instruments, and upon all those who have been deceived by them, will then come to judge the world in righteousness. We apprehend this reign of Christ on earth, though not improbably attended with occasional manifestations of himself as on Mount Tabor, will be chiefly figurative but, without dwelling on the points that are of difficult interpretation, and which events alone. will with certainty explain, let us attend to the in-. struction here given us respecting that in which we are all so deeply interested, the solemnities of the day of judgment. In these we may notice, |