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midst of the throne, and round about the throne were four beafts full of eyes before and behind.

7 And the first beaft was like a lion, and the second beaft like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beaft was like a flying eagle.

8 And the four beafts had each of them. fix wings about him, and they were full of eyes within; and they reft not day and night, faying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is

to come.

9 And when thofe beafts give glory, and honour, and thanks to him that fat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that fat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and caft their crowns before the throne, faying,

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

After this vifion relating to the things which are, other visions fucceed of the things which

must

must be hereafter. (ver. 1.) The fcene is laid in heaven; and the scenery is drawn in allufion to (Numb. I. II.) the incampment of the children of Ifrael in the wildernefs. God is reprefented (ver. 2, 3.) fitting on his throne, as in the tabernacle or temple, much in the fame manner as the prophet Ezekiel (L. 26, 27, 28.) hath described him. Next to the tabernacle incamped the Priefts and Levites; and next to the throne (ver. 4.) were four and twenty elders fitting, anfwering to the princes of the four and twenty courfes of the Jewish priefts; clothed in white raiment, as emblems of their purity and fanctity; and they had on their heads crowns of gold, Christ having made them (1 Pet. II. 9.) a royal priesthood, and (Rev. V. 10.) kings and priests unto God. Out of the throne proceeded (ver. 5.) lightnings, and thundrings, and voices, the usual concomitants and attendents of the divine prefence: and there were feven lamps of fire burning before the throne, answering to the golden candlestick with feven lamps, which was before the most holy place in the tabernacle. Before the throne there was alfo (ver. 6.) a fea of glass, like unto crystal, anfwering to the great molten fea or laver in the temple of Solomon: and in the midst

of

(8) Majores noftri dixerunt &c. See Aben Ezra and others

quoted

of the throne, and round about the throne, that is before and behind the throne, and on each fide of the throne, were four beasts or rather four living creatures, ((wa) reprefenting the heads of the whole congregation in the four quarters of the world, and refembling the Cherubim and Seraphim in Ezekiel's and Ifaiah's vifions, (Ezek. I. 10. X. 14. If. VI. 2, 3.) or rather refembling the four standards or enfigns of the four divifions in the camp of Ifrael, according to the (8) traditionary description of them by Jewish writers. The firft living creature was like a lion, (ver. 7.) which was the ftandard of Judah with the two other tribes in the eaftern divifion; and the fecond like a calf or ox, which was the ftandard of Ephraim with the two other tribes in the western divifion; and the third had a face as a man, which was the standard of Reuben with the two other tribes in the fouthern divifion; and the fourth was like a flying eagle, which was the ftandard of Dan with the two other tribes in the northern divifion: and this traditionary defcription agrees alfo with the four faces of the Cherub in Ezekiel's vifions. Of these living creatures and of the elders the conftant employment (ver. 8-11.) is to celebrate, in

quoted by Mr. Med. p. 4:7.

hymns

hymns of praise and thanksgiving, the great and wonderful works of creation and providence.

I

CHA P. V.

AND I faw in the right hand of him

that fat on the throne, a book written within and on the backfide, fealed with feven feals.

2 And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loofe the feals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open, and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders faith unto me, Weep not behold, the Lion of the tribe

of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven feals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and lo, in the midft of the throne, and of the four beafts, and in the midst of the elders ftood a Lamb, as it had been flain, having feven horns, and

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feven eyes, which are the feven fpirits of God fent forth into all the earth.

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that fat upon the throne.

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beafts, and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of faints.

9 And they fung a new song, faying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the feals thereof: for thou waft flain, and haft redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

IO And haft made us unto our God kings and priests: and we fhall reign on the earth.

of

II And I beheld, and I heard the voice.

many angels round about the throne, and the beafts, and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thoufands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, to receive power, and

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