all of grace, and is to be looked for at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Our obedience is to be that of children; who, through the transforming power of love, are to be conformed to the image of God's dear Son. The knowledge of Him who hath done the will of God, is revealed to us, that we may be changed from what we were previous to his revealing himself to us in Christ Jesus.

It is as being made conformable to Jesus that we are obedient to the command, Be ye holy; for I am holy.' We are to be assimilated to our heavenly pattern; to him who hath left us an example, that we should follow his steps;''Holiness to the Lord' is conformity to Jesus.

This obedience to the second commandment-our not making images to worship, but being ourselves made after the image of Christ, in holiness and righteousness, is represented by the sapphire throne, -Comp. Eze. x. 1, with Rev. iv. 2; xxi. 19. In our heaven-assimilated affections let God be enthroned, and let him who sits upon the throne make all things new after the heavenly pattern. It was, it may be noticed, with ribands of blue, the colour of the sapphire, the second garnishment of the foundations of the heavenly city, that the engraving, 'Holiness to the Lord,' was to be bound unto the mitre of the high priest; and by having a border of blue around their garments, were the children of Israel to be reminded of the fealty they owed unto their heavenly Sovereign. The throne on the firmament, like unto the terrible crystal, is, Eze. i. 26, said to be 'as the appearance of a sapphire stone.'

III. 1 Pe. i. 17-21. 17, And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: ' &c.

We are to have a reverential regard to the Divine Majesty to his justice-which nothing less could satisfy than the precious blood of Christ. God, who is just as well as merciful, could not allow sin to pass unpunished, even when found upon his beloved Son. It is upon this most solemnizing ground of acceptance with God, that we approach him as our Father, and call upon him for those supplies of grace which we require. With a holy fear, mingled with a childlike confidence, let us trust in him that raised him (Christ) up from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.' God is in earnest with regard to our condition; let us not, in a light or trifling spirit, presume to approach him, or be called by his name. Let us worship him in spirit and in truth. Thus let us be obedient to the third commandment, having an awful sense of the Divine Majesty; approaching him with holy reverence and childlike confidence, as a just God and a Saviour,' Isa. xlv. 21.

It is thus he is spoken of, Rev. iv. 3, as 'like a jasper and a sardine stone;' the jasper expressive of his being the God of salvation; and the red sardine of his being equally a God of justice, a consuming fire.' This harmony of the Divine attributes displayed in the work of our redemption in Christ Jesus, is expressed in the third garnishment of the foundations of the heavenly city, the CHALCEDONY, a stone having a beautiful mingling of colours on a dark ground. IV. 1 Pe. i. 22-.5.

Being brought into the family of God by his Son, who, having loved us unto death, loves us for ever. Let our love be as pure, truthful, and incorruptible as that which God hath manifested towards us in the gift of his Son.

All flesh is as grass;' what is human is liable to wither and corrupt; but let us shew that we are born of the incorruptible seed of the word 'which liveth and abideth for ever."

Let our love to each other be like the covenant

whereby we are bound together in the enjoyment of grace unto the hope of glory. It is unfading, everlasting. While we rejoice in the word of the Lord [which] endureth for ever,' let us rest in his love, and abide in its manifestation. Let this be especially the case upon that blessed day, which he hath given his children, in which to meet together and enjoy a foretaste of their everlasting rest.

As becomes the children of God, let us put away all that is inconsistent with goodness and truth. 'As newborn babes,' let us desire the sincere milk of the word, that [we] may grow thereby:' that we may acquire strength to do the will of our heavenly Father, having all our confidence fixed in the Son of his love. He was 'disallowed indeed of men,' but it is by building alone upon that Living Stone, and, as a holy priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices by Jesus Christ, that our persons and services are 'acceptable to God.' Let us honour the Father by honouring Him whom he hath appointed to be both the Foundation Stone, and the Chief Corner Stone. It is as being united unto Him, that we are in truth and in love united to God, and to each other.

Thus let us honour our Father who is in heaven, by worshipping him, according to his appointment, through the Son of his love, in conjunction with the whole household of faith. This is represented, Rev. iv. 4, by its being said that, round about the throne were four and twenty seats' (or thrones). Let the royal priesthood encircle the throne of their Father in peace and in love. The more nearly they approach Him whom they love, the more closely will they come to each other; and the more they by his Spirit unite in this blessed approach unto him through his Son, the more they are the objects of the Father's delight. This blessed union in Christ, unto God and each other, is represented by the fifth stone garnishing the foundations; the SARDONYX being a stone prising the characters of two other stones, the sardius and the onyx,-Rev xxi. 20.

VI. 1 Pe. ii. 7-10.

com

Let us, as being the Israel of God, a chosen peculiar people, shew forth the virtues, the lifegeneration, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a giving power of Him who hath called...... out of darkness into his marvellous light.' Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer:" and walketh in darkness' [1 Jno. iii. 15; ii. 11]: but we have been called out of darkness into the light of salvation, that herein we might walk unto the glory of God.

We had destroyed ourselves, and become Lo-ammi and Lo-ruhamah (Ho. i. 6-9); but we were slain under the law, in order that we might be given life under the gospel: so that we, who were made not a people, are now the people of God; and we, upon whom the Lord had not mercy, have now obtained mercy.

The royal priesthood unto which we are appointed is beautifully expressed, Rev. iv. 4 (second clause), where it is said, And upon the seats (thrones) I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment. Their peaceful priesthood is expressed by their being seated, and clothed in white raiment ; and their kingly state is intimated by their being seated on thrones.

They are a royal priesthood resting under the protection of the Almighty; and he is as a wall of fire in righteousness, they are 'princes' ruling in judgaround them. Associated with the king who reigns ment.' sixth garnishment, the SARDIUS,-Rev. xxi. 20. This seems to be aptly represented by the

VII. 1 Pe. ii. 11, .2.

Let us, as looking forward to that blessed state unto which we are redeemed, feel that here we are but as strangers and pilgrims: as such, let us 'abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Let our conduct before those among whom we sojourn, be such, as to illustrate the doctrines we profess; so that those who revile us as evil doers may, by good works, which they by our example have been taught, be led to 'glorify God in the day of visitation.' Thus may we by faith obtain the victory, and turn even our temptations and trials into occasions of triumph.

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deemer is not an empty glory, but that which obtains a rich reward.

And thus the royal priesthood are said, Rev. iv. 4 (last clause), to have on their heads crowns of gold.' The CHRYSOLYTE, or golden stone, is the seventh precious stone garnishing the foundations of the heavenly city, Rev. xxi. 20.

VIII. 1 Pe. ii. 13—iii. 1–7.

Here believers are taught how, even in the most unfavourable circumstances, they may live above the world. We are to glorify God in the various relations of life, even in those in which we have the least power of regulating our own conduct, and consequently of doing good to others. We are to withhold from no one his due; and in all things we are to render ourselves unto God.

i. As subjects, under kings and governors, ver. 13-.7. ii. As servants, who may be called to follow Christ in his sufferings, by suffering wrongfully, ver. 18-25. iii. Wives, as being in subjection to their husbands, are exhorted to possess a meek and quiet spirit, 'which is in the sight of God of great price,' 'ch. iii. ver. 1-b. A word is added, in which the case of the wife is recommended to the consideration, tenderness, esteem, and devotional sympathy of the husband, ver. 7.

Thus let us be obedient to the eighth commandment: not only rulers and masters, but subjects and servants are entrusted with much for others' advantage by the great Householder. Let us be faithful in our stewardship; and in the most lowly circumstances be guided by heavenly principles.

In Rev. iv. 5, it is said, 'Out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices.' Let what we do in the several relations of life, be done as having God ruling in the heart. Let it be done with alacrity to the declaration of his praise, and in expression of his truth, represented by the lightnings, thunderings and voices, proceeding out of the throne.-Comp. Eze. i. 14, 24, .5, &c.

This heavenly mindedness, this constant engagement in the service of God, is expressed by the heavencoloured BERYL, the eighth garnishment of the heavenly city, Rev. xxi. 20. Of the wheels, in Ezekiel's vision of the glory, it is said, ch. i. ver. 16, The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a BERYL.' The body of the man clothed in linen, and girded with fine gold of Uphaz, seen by Daniel in a vision, is said to have been like the beryl, Da. x. 6.

IX. 1 Pe. iii. 8-22.

Unanimity and tenderness towards each other; a carefulness to avoid everything like a breach of the ninth commandment; a willingness to suffer for righteousness' sake; a readiness to testify to the truth, by being ever ready to give to every one a reason of the hope that is in us, with meekness and fear; patience under false accusation from others, whilst earnestly labouring for their spiritual good; following the example of Christ, who also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. These are the dispositions we are to cherish as being witnesses for

a crucified Saviour.

Let us persevere in witnessing to the truth, notwithstanding all discouragement. It was not until after Christ's sufferings and death, that the testimony of the Spirit was given in power, to apply the words which Jesus had spoken during his personal ministry. So also it was long before, when by his Spirit he preached in the days of Noah. There seemed to be little fruit of all the prophesying of Noah during 120 years, while the ark was preparing. They were 'some time disobedient,' even it would appear until Noah was shut up in the ark; but when they were themselves shut out from that only place of safety; when they felt that they were shut up, as it were, in prison, ready to have the sentence of death executed upon them; when they saw the long-threatened flood coming fast upon them, giving full evidence to the truth of all that Noah had declared, then might the Spirit of God be expected to apply with power the truth to their hearts; and then may multitudes whose bodies were destroyed by the flood, have received the salvation of their souls. So let us, as having the sentence of death in ourselves, become dead to the flesh, that our souls may be saved. Let

VOL. 11.]

Jesus is The Faithful and True Witness;' and the truth which he ministered, the living water whereby the royal priesthood are made clean, and meet to minister in the temple of the Lord, was represented by the Brazen Sea, at the door of the tabernacle. The Holy Ghost witnesseth of Jesus, and this was represented by the Seven Golden Candlesticks in the sanctuary, without the inner veil.

In Rev. iv. 5, 6, both of the veils are removed, and the sea of glass,' representing the truth of Christ, nessing of the Spirit, are all beheld in one view toand the seven lamps of fire,' representing the witgether with the mercy-seat, or throne of the Father, in the Holy of Holies. The brightness of that light, and the purity and preciousness of this truth, are expressed by the bright TOPAZ, the ninth of the precious stones garnishing May our confession of the truth, our testimony for the foundations of the New Jerusalem, Rev. xxi. 20. Christ, be like this ninth garnishment, clear and bright.

X. 1 Pe. iv. 1-11.

'Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.' Long enough have we lived to the pleasing of evil men. As not choosing their company and occupation, we may expect to suffer reproach from those who cannot understand our motives and principles of action. But let us not retaliate; they must soon give account to Him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

Let us regard the end of all things as at hand, and so be sober, and watch unto prayer.' Let us have that 'fervent charity' among ourselves, which shall keep under a multitude of sins. And let our charity be shewn, not in word only, but in deed, without grudging.' Let us each reckon ourselves stewards of the....grace of God,' which is manifold:' speaking that which God is pleased to speak through us, and ministering that which he enables us to minister; seeking in all things, not our own glory, but that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.'

Thus, by the absence of all selfishness, and by generous devotedness to God for the good of each other, each loving another as himself, let us be obedient to the tenth commandment; the principle of which is still farther developed to the end of the epistle.

In Rev. iv. 6, 7, we have a description of the living creatures, corresponding to the exhortation of the apostle. They are said to be in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne.' Their life is in that love in which the God of glory reigns. They are full of eyes before and behind,' having a due consideration of that which is past, and looking for. ward unto the things which are before. And they have each received his gift, so as that they are parts of one whole. One is characterized by the courage of the lion of the tribe of Judah; another by the patient industry of the ox, the standard of Ephraim; a third has the prudence of the man, the standard of Reuben; and a fourth the heaven-soaring spirit of the eagle, the standard of the tribe of Dan. Under these four standards were the hosts of Israel ar

ranged, Nu. ii.

The unfading life of the Living Creatures, and the good procured by the united action of their various gifts and graces, may be expressed by the gold and green of the tenth garnishment-the CHRYSOPRASUS, Rev. xxi. 20.

XI. 1 Pe. iv. 12.9.

Let us not be moved from our steadfastness, by even fiery trial;' but be prepared for it as that which is common to the saints; rejoicing to be partakers of Christ's sufferings, knowing that, when his

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glory shall be revealed,' we shall be glad also with exceeding joy. Let us account it happiness to be reproached for the name of Christ,' seeking to make it an occasion of glorifying God. Let us at the same time beware of incurring suffering by any misconduct on our part; but if as a christian any man is subjected to obloquy, let him not be ashamed, let him rather glorify God on this behalf.' Let not the Christian presume, for judgment must begin at the house of God;' and let not others presume, for if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.'

That modest and unostentatious procedure, that willingness to be hid to which the apostle exhorts, is represented by each having six wings, Rev. iv. 8; the arrangement of which is described, Is. vi. 2, with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.' Thus around and within they are full of eyes; having a due consideration of the case of others, and a watchfulness with regard to themselves. And that diligence in seeking to glorify God, whether in suffering or in well-doing, is spoken of thus, Rev. iv. 8, and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.' This inflexible zeal for the glory of God, combined with modesty and mildness, is fitly represented by the eleventh garnishment of the foundations, the JACINTH (xxi. 20), whose colour, violet and purple, may be taken to express both humility and royalty; some are of a flame colour, which may be the symbol of zeal.

XII. 1 Pet. v.

The elders, Peter addresses, not as his pretended successors of Rome would have done, but simply as an elder like one of themselves. He however describes himself as having obtained possession of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; as being 'a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.' He exhorts them, as much as in them lies, to 'feed the flock of God,' taking the oversight not as a matter of duty merely, but with

a willing mind; not for the sake of the living, but as delighting to give and to serve; not as lording it over the heirs of the kingdom, but being themselves what God would have his flock to become; looking not for a perishing renown from man, but for the crown of glory from the Chief Shepherd at his appearing. Likewise the younger are to submit themselves unto the elder; yea, all are to be subject one to another, being clothed with humility, ver. 6, 7, Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.' This confidence in the good providence of God is to be combined with sobriety and watchfulness, and that humility with the most manly virtue in resisting the enemy and in suffering affliction; and while enduring hardness ourselves, we are to have a sympathy with our brethren, in whom the same afflictions are being accomplished.

The concluding prayer is correspondent to the tenor of this epistle concerning the sufferings of Christ, ver. 10, .1, But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.'

This address to the elders, and monition to the younger; this exhortation that they live in humble service to God, and for each other, is beautifully correspondent to Rev. iv. 9-11.

And the same humility on the part of the royal priesthood is expressed by the twelfth and last stone garnishing the foundations, the AMETHYST, a stone of a violet colour, bordering upon purple, the purple expressing royalty, and the violet humility, Rev. xxi. 20.

THE SECOND EPISTLE treats of THE GLORY THAT SHOULD FOLLOW; or, the second coming of Christ, and the establishment of his kingdom in glory: first, in relation to the people of God, ch. i.; and secondly, in relation to those who are falsely called Christians, the sensual, ch. ii.; and lastly, in relation to the sceptical, upon whom the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, ch. iii.

And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The 1st, JASPER;

2nd, SAPPHIRE;

3rd, a CHALCEDONY; 4th, an EMERALD;

5th, SARDONYX;

6th, SARDIUS;

Chap. iv.

1 Ep. PETER.

ii. 1-6.

5

9th, a TOPAZ;

8-22.

10th, a CHRYSOPRASUS;

7

7th, CHRYSOLITE;

8th, BERYL;

12th, an AMETHYST.

come.

iv. 1-11.

12-9.

Ch. v.

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