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THE DOXOLOGY OF THE REDEEMED
WE know at present but very little of the blessedness of heaven: yet the word of God enables us to form some faint conception of it. St. John draws aside the vail, and reveals to us,
I. The assembly which he saw—
The inhabitants of heaven are composed of angels, and glorified saints—
[The angels are those who “kept their first estate,” from which others fell. The saints are spoken of under two characters, “the beasts, or living creatures,” and “the elders.” The former are supposed to represent the ministers of Christ [Note: In the peculiar qualities of the four living creatures an allusion is probably made to the talents requisite for the ministerial function. The preacher of the Gospel ought to be bold, patient, compassionate, and discerning. Rev_4:7.], and the latter, the members of the Church [Note: They are twenty-four; probably in-allusion to the twelve Patriarchs and twelve Apostles, who were the heads of the Jewish and Christian, i. e. of the universal Church.]: they altogether compose one body in and under Christ [Note: Eph_1:10.].]
Their number exceeds all computation—
[The way to heaven has always been a “strait and narrow way;” yet from the death of Abel their number has been continually increasing: their collective number is inconceivably great [Note: Dan_7:10. Rev_7:9.].]
The saints take the lead in the worship—
[They are represented as standing nearest to the throne [Note: Rev_7:11.]: they begin the song [Note: ver. 5:9, 10.], and the angels join in chorus [Note: ver. 11–13.].]
There is perfect harmony throughout the whole assembly.
II. The Object they adored—
Many deny that Christ is a proper object of worship. But he has ever been worshipped in the Church—
[Paul prayed to him, and received an answer from him [Note: 2Co_12:8-9.]: Stephen addressed him, as Christ himself had before addressed the Father [Note: Act_7:59.]: the offering of prayer to him characterizes every true Christian [Note: 1Co_1:2.].]
And He is the object of universal adoration in heaven—
[He is the person described in the text and context [Note: ver. 6, 8, 9, 12.]. The description given is applicable to him alone [Note: Joh_1:29.].]
He is expressly joined with the Father as an equal object of worship—
[The terms used are the same, and they are addressed alike to both.]
The worship they offer him is such as is proper to God only—
III. The adoration they offered Him—
The heavenly hosts do not offer blind and ignorant devotions: they proclaim the Redeemer’s worthiness of divine honour—
[Stronger expressions of adoration are no where offered to the Father: the accumulation of words expresses the fervour of their hearts [Note: To explain each word would destroy the energy of the whole.]: their view of his essential glory must convince them of his worthiness; but they most admire him in his mediatorial character: the angels, though not interested as we, gladly unite their praises.]
They all join in this unitedly, and with a loud voice—
[Those from earth, and sea, &c. are the spirits of departed saints: all seem to vie with each other without one discordant voice.]
Infer—
1. How great is the privilege of the saints!
[The saints are even now joined to this blessed assembly [Note: Heb_12:22-23.]: they have the same views of Christ’s worthiness and glory: they are engaged in offering the same praises and adorations: they are daily growing in a meetness to join the saints above. How glorious, how desirable is this privilege! Let all seek it by faith in the Lamb that was slain.]
2. How astonishing is the folly of the unregenerate!
[This blessedness is offered to all who will believe in Christ; yet the unregenerate “make light of it.” But would they think it so contemptible if they had such a vision of it as St. John had? Would they despise it if they could see the state of the damned as contrasted with it? May God convince them of their guilt and folly!]
3. How inconceivably glorious must heaven be!
[Here the felicity of the saints is often great [Note: Gen_28:17.]; but hereafter it will transcend our utmost conceptions [Note: Here, our views are dim (“by faith”) our company few, our associates polluted, our capacity small, our difficulties great, our alloy inseparable, our intermissions frequent, our declensions lamentable: but there, we shall see Christ as he is, together with innumerable hosts, each of them shining as the sun; our powers will be wonderfully enlarged; we shall serve him with perfect ease and readiness; and our bliss will be pure and unmixed, without intermission or end, yea, continually, eternally progressive.]. Let us frequently rehearse here, that we may be more fit to perform our part on the theatre of heaven.]