April 2

"Thou wast slain." — Revelation 5:9.

JOHN was highly favored of God: he had a vision of the glories of the heavenly world. The revelation God gave to him he has given to us. He was in the spirit, a door was opened in heaven: he beheld a throne of great magnificence; around it were four-and-twenty seats, and upon the seats four-and-twenty elders clothed in white raiment, and crowned with diadems of gold; in the midst of it was a Lamb, as it had been slain: he heard the song that was celebrated; part of which we have before us. Here is

A SACRIFICE OFFERED. "Thou wast slain." Contemplate The dignified Victim. "Thou." Creation has a voice, and speaks his glory. We see him in the splendors of the orbs of light above us; but when we look on him as shining in the firmament of the Father's love, we behold him in his highest glory, — essential Godhead and real manhood united. We might compare him to a thousand things in nature; he is the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the valley, the Plant of renown, the bright and morning Star, the Sun of righteousness, and the Light of the world.

The mode of oblation. "Thou wast slain." Here is an evident reference to the Jewish sacrifices, which typified the atonement of Christ; the priests under the law were as so many twinkling stars that disappeared at the bright shining of the Sun of righteousness. As he increased, they decreased. He was slain by the appointment of the Father, through the instrumentality of his enemies, and with his own consent. Let it be our desire to be found interested in him, that we may unite in the songs of the redeemed below, and in their anthems above.