Page images
PDF
EPUB

of these, saying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of their ungodly deeds which they have committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude. xiv. 15. This prophecy is a clear, and it is also an awful description of the day of judgment, when the Messiah shall sit upon his throne of justice to determine the final condition of mankind according to their works.

END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

BOOK V 1.

3

27

'till morn,

Wak'd by the circling hours,

She comes, the peerless bride of royal day,
In all the splendour of an orient-queen!
The bliss-bestowing hours,

Refreshed, around her move.

All hail to thee! maid of the blushing cheek,
The eye of blue, with fringed lid of gold,
And of the snowy feet,

Dispersing nightly dews! C. F. WEBB.
from whence a voice

Behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

29 Servant of God well done,

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Tim. vi. 12. Maintain, in the most strenuous manner, and with all the force thy soul can exert, the good, noble, and glorious combat of faith; lay hold on the prize of eternal life; and let none, how violently soever they may assault

thee, wrest it out of thine hands; even that life, to the hope of which thou hast been called. 34 And for the testimony of truth hast borne Universal reproach,

Christ came to bear witness to the truth; and a careful attendance to his testimony will be the best proof we can give that we love the truth, and the best method we can take to make ourselves acquainted with it. And of so great importance is the truth, that it surely deserves the attentive inquiry and the zealous patronage of the greatest and the busiest of mankind. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. John xviii. 37.

36 To stand approved in sight of God

Study to show thyself approved unto God. 2 Tim. ii. 15. Diligently endeavour, whenever thou comest to present thyself before God in any of the duties of thine office, that whatever men may judge of thee and thy services, thou mayest be approved of him as a workman who hath no cause to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, distributing with prudence, as well as fidelity, to each his proper share.

54 Of Tartarus,

The infernal regions, the place of punishment. 55 So spake the sov❜reign voice, and clouds began

On the third day in the morning there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire. Exod. xix. 16. 18.

57

88

Ethereal trumpet

nor with less dread the loud

The voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder. Exod. xix. 19.

and on his throne

To set the envier of his state,

[ocr errors]

The tenth commandment may here be applicable; Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbours. First, as forbidding a crime of an extensive nature, the crime of coveting; the crime here forbidden is coveting the property of another person, of which there are three degrees; first, a simple desire, secondly, a violent passion, and thirdly, an evil disposition breaking out into evil designs and attempts. When a man considers an object that is useful, pleasant, and alluring, of which he is deprived, and which another possesses, may say to himself, it would be better for me if I had such things, my neighbour who has them is in a happier condition than I am. This simple and almost involuntary wish, carried no farther, may deserve to fall under the name of weakness rather than crime, which reason and religion teach us, we ought to restrain and check in its rise. But, secondly, such wishes, like bad seed sowed in the mind, are apt to take root, and bring forth evil fruits. When they have been long indulged, and frequently repeated, they produce a fretful uneasiness, and are transformed into a restless passion and a continual discontent; the blessings which he enjoys, he slights and overlooks with base ingratitude; the persons who possess what he wants are the objects of his envy, and in some

degree of his aversion.

From this distempered

state of mind an easy step is made to unwarrantable actions, to the laying base projects and evil schemes, with a view to defraud others, and to obtain the things which are coveted, as far as it can be done with impunity, and without falling under the correction of human laws. JORTIN. 167 Minist'ring Spirits,

[blocks in formation]

Is it not a known and delightful truth? are they not indeed all ministering spirits, who officiate before the throne of God, and are sent out to attend on those who shall inherit salvation? and always willing to undertake the offices he shall assign them for the safety and good of his people? And, therefore, far from thinking of them in any view of comparison with him, let us humbly adore him, for the benefits which, by his authority and favour, we daily receive from these benevolent creatures. And as our obligations to him are infinitely superior to theirs, let us emulate their fidelity, vigour, and zeal, in the steadiness and cheerfulness of our obedience; till we join them in services like their own, in that world where they dwell, and to which, if we prove ourselves his faithful servants, he will ere long give them a charge safely and joyfully to convey us.

[blocks in formation]

Hosanna to the Highest ;

An Hebrew word, signifying, Save we beseech

thee.

357 Of Moloch furious king;

A king; an idol of the Ammonites.

« PreviousContinue »