ly thrones. That the loss of existence may be a torment to the fallen spirits, may be gathered from one of the Evangelists recording, “art thou come to torment?" and another," to destroy us before the time." We have here an intimation that the day of judg ment will put an end to all that shall offend throughout God's creation.

Revelation, c. i. v. 5. "Jesus Christ, who is the first begotten of the dead."

All mankind were under death, and Christ as man-He is the first begotten of the dead.-Life and death divide all mankind between them-Those that follow Christ in the regeneration, have eternal life; all others are spiritually dead.

18. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen: and have the keys of hell and of death."

It is Christ's distinction that He is alive for ever more; and having the keys of hell and death, must imply He can retain or release whom he pleases. Will remove

ii. 5. (Church of Ephesus) thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

10. (Church in Smyrna) Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11..He that overcometh shall not be hurt of

the second death."

16. (Church of Pergamos) "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden, manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the

stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it."

23. (Church of Thyatira) " And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts. 26. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. 27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron: as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers."

iii. 1. (Church in Sardis)

"I know thy

works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. 5. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

12. (Church in Philadelphia) "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

These things

iii. 14. (Church of Laodiceans) saith the beginning of the creation of God. 17. And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,

even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne."

Each of the seven churches receives threats or promises under different figures ;-privation is the peculiarity of the threats, duration of the promises. Remove thy candlestick out of its place. Kill her children with death.

As the vessels of a potter broken in shivers. ›

To eat of the tree of life.

A crown of life..

Shall not be hurt of the second death.

To eat of the hidden manna.

A white stone, and a new name written.

Clothed in white raiment.

Will not blot his name out of the book of life. Will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

A pillar in the temple of my God, and shall go no

more out.

Will write on him the name of my God, and of the city of my God, and my new name,

Gold, that thou mayest be rich.

White raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.
Sit with me on my throne.

iv. 11. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Being for God's pleasure, they must cease to be when they fail to fulfil his pleasure.

v. 10. "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth."

vi. 8.

"And I looked, and behold, a pale horse,

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and his trame that sat on him was death, and hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11. And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.".

The power of death and hell extends only to kill, though by various means. Perhaps to kill by death may mean by sin.

viil 14. "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more: neither shall the sun light on them, or any heat. 17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Even the blessed require to be led unto living fountains of waters. Where shall the wicked get the means of life?

ix: 5. "And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tor mented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 10. And their power was to hurt men five months. 11. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue is Apollyon."

A limited time of torment is spoken of-most pro bably the duration of a tyranny on earth-from which men shall desire to escape, even by death; thus under the destroyer.

xi. 5. "And if any man will hurt them, (the witnesses) fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 7. The beast out of the bottomless pit shall kill them."

Those that would hurt the witnesses must be killed; fire out of their mouth devoureth their enemies,

10. "Because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11. And after three days and an half, the spirit of life from God entered into them: and they stood upon their feet."

The spirit of life from God restores the witnesses, after the beast out of the bottomless pit hath killed them.

18. "And thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the