suredly possess in full reality: the words "are true and faithful:" write them then, and let my Church receive the record of them, and rest upon their verity; all shall be made good.'

never fail.

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Christian brethren, how sweet to you is the truth, that what your God and Saviour speaks, you may take with firm persuasion that it shall My people," it is written, "shall never be ashamed.' Their hope, built on eternal promises, shall never betray them. And though that hope is fixed on things not seen as yet," yet all shall be realized to believing souls. Their expectation, warranted by the word of the living God, cannot perish.

Believer, look heavenward, and bless God that the word which tells you of your portion there is a true and faithful word. So amid the sundry and manifold changes of the world you shall have a settled peace. You shall look above and beyond these regions of uncertainty and of disappointment, and descrying, with faith's strong and illumined eye, "the land that is very far off," it shall be your triumph to say, "there is my home, a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." And especially, ye sorrowing children of God, who now are oftentimes in heaviness through your manifold tribulations, rejoice in the assurance that yet a little while and God shall wipe away the tears from off all faces, and you shall reckon the sufferings of this present time, not worthy to be compared with the glory revealed in you. O, think much on this: it is no vain imagina

tion. Your hope depends on the faithfulness of One who cannot lie.

But let us go a little further with our text. We shall find still more upon this point. "And He said unto me, it is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."

Here you mark the strong expression used to signify to us the security of the believer in Christ, as regards his future blessedness. "It is done," saith the Lord. And so St. John is to write, and tell the Church. The portion of the saints is prepared. All their happiness is secured. Their joy and glory are as certain to them as though they even now were entering upon their inheritance. In the will and purpose

of their God and their Redeemer all is made sure. Jesus says, "it is done : " and his counsel shall stand, his people shall be glorified.

But then, what is there in the word of Jesus to give us all this confidence? Is there any thing in Himself, his own being and nature, to guarantee the safety of the hope that reposes on his declarations ? Hear his own words, as though designed to answer this inquiry; "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,' the first and the last, existing before all time, continuing to exist when time shall be no more: eternal and divine. Here then we have in fact an assertion of the Godhead of Jesus. The terms are just such as in the Old Testament we often meet with, and they are there used to denote the everlasting existence of Jehovah. "Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel, and

his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts. I am the first, and I am the last, and beside me there is no God." So in the very opening of this book of Revelation, you hear almost the same words uttered by the Lord Jesus, and connected directly with a most solemn declaration of his Deity, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Then what are we to understand by the language in our text? Does not the Saviour seem to say to his servant John, 'Write, as I have bidden thee; write, and tell my Church of all her bliss to come; the words are true which promise her such felicity; the thing in effect is done; and here is the ground of her safety, that I, her Lord and Saviour, I who promise her these glorious joys, I am the eternal and unchangeable God, and from first to last the whole matter of my people's salvation has been my care, and I, by the hand of my almighty power, will bring that salvation to all its predicted and most blessed consummation.'

Thus the safety of the believer's hope, and the certainty that it will be fulfilled, lies in this, that He, who is the author of that hope, is none other than the eternal Son of God, who, being Himself divine and everlasting, has, from the beginning, made the salvation of the Church his charge, and will never cease his care of that Church, until He shall have brought every member of it safe to glory.

Humble Christian, pause awhile, and reflect on the wondrousness of this great truth. Who

is it that has taken thy soul into his care? And what is it that makes thee sure of the glory and joy which are before thee? Is it not this, that He who saves thee, and promises to glorify thee hereafter for ever, is Himself very and eternal God, and from everlasting even until now has been, and henceforward even to the end shall be, his people's faithful friend, and almighty protector; "Jesus, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." And so then He speaks in our text. It is as though He would satisfy thee how sure is thy hope. He tells thee who He is, that thou mayest know how safe thou art.

I am

Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, eternal in my nature, divine in my existence, always and unchangeably the same, ever thy Redeemer; and when I affirm of thy salvation, yea of thy eternal glory, that it is done, I give thee this for the ground of thy confidence, that I, thy Saviour, am, and have been from eternity past, and shall be through eternity to come, one with God in all his attributes, and one with Him in all his purposes and acts for thy salvation. From everlasting to everlasting I am God.'

Beloved brethren, clasp again the promise of his faithfulness, and bless his holy name for the full assurance of hope which He thus emboldens you to entertain. The Lord increase your

faith!

But there yet remains another, and a most precious portion of our text to be considered. How does it close? The Saviour is still speaking: "I will give unto him that is athirst of the

fountain of the water of life freely." How beautifully do words such as these strike upon the ear after what has gone before.

St. John has had a vision of the glory and bliss prepared for the people of God. He has heard the certainty of their hope declared from the lips of "the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Therefore, for all who know themselves to be of the number of God's people, here is indeed " everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace.'

But then, how many are there that will, as they hear such things, be ready to say, Alas, this happiness it is not mine: too long have I neglected these concerns: Jesus, and his great salvation, I have despised: I have lived in folly, and earthliness, and sin: I can have no claim to share in the joys of the children of God: would that I could repent! would that I might return unto the Lord! O that he would look upon me, and be merciful unto me, and change my heart, and forgive my sins, and make me a new creature, and save my soul from the power of evil, and cleanse me, and sanctify me, and make me his own!'

Brethren, do any of you speak thus ? Is this indeed your heart's desire? Do you sigh for deliverance from the sin you have too long loved? Do you, from your souls, seek after God and holiness? Are you truly hungering thus, and thirsting after righteousness? Then here is the Saviour's word to you: "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the