Attributive present, namely to indicate that the same individual that was seen in the midst of the throne, and no other, is the one in the mind of the Writer; and the Conjunction xal is used, only to tie an Attributive or Attributives of common language to a Proper Name belonging to another language-the Hieroglyphical. That this is the fact, whatever may be the rule on which it is founded, I am well persuaded: but as it is of much importance that the fact should be placed beyond all doubt, I shall lay before the reader the leading steps by which I was led to perceive it, and, consequently, to follow out the results to which it leads respecting some very interesting passages in the book now more particularly under consideration.

§ 3. Of the Lamb in the midst of the throne.

THE indispensable points in the investigation in which we are engaged are, to ascertain the principal personage or personages brought forward in the Vision; and to settle, with precision, to what person or persons the different Attributives and Proper Names, whether common or Hieroglyphical, which occur throughout the Apocalypse, are appropriated by the Amanuensis, or by any of the speakers in the Vision.

In prosecuting this enquiry it might have been

allowable to take for granted some particulars, which are admitted by all Christians; being clearly taught in other parts of the New Testament; but as the author believes the Revelation to be the first divine communication, published under the Christian dispensation-and coming too from the Prophet like unto Moses, who delivered the first written divine communication to the children of Israel, that is, believing the great christian Prophet to have, in this respect, as well as in others, been like the great Prophet of Israel, he soon became persuaded, that, if not mistaken in his opinion,-that the Apocalypse is the foundation prophecy of the New Testament record, he should be able to find the relations which the different Names and Attributives in this prophecy have to each other, from the prophecy itself, independently of the other writings of the New Testament; and, under this conviction, he thought it advisable, at least in the outset of the present enquiry (whatever use may be made of these writings afterwards), to confine himself to the information and evidence afforded by the prophecy itself. He mentions this, that the reader may acquit him of incroaching unnecessarily upon his time, in proving some facts which none might be inclined to dispute; for, to himself at least, considering the Apocalypse as the first divine Christian record, the evidence would

appear less satisfactory, were we obliged to have recourse for it to other books written subsequently:-not that the facts would be less true in themselves, but only, that, as to the Apocalypse, the argument would be less conclusive, if drawn from any other source. To proceed then

In the midst of the throne, John saw "a Lamb," Rev. v. 6.; otherwise called, in the preceding verse, "The Lion of the tribe of Judah, The Root of David." These three names, or epithets, indicate the same individual.

Who"The Root of David" is, we are plainly taught in Rev. xxii. 16.—“ I JESUS have sent my messenger to testify unto you these things.. "I am THE ROOT, and The offspring OF DAVID." -Here we have the name " JESUS" identified with "THE ROOT OF DAVID," that is, with "THE LAMB." JESUS then is the individual called, "THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH” -"THE ROOT OF DAVID"-" THE OFFSPRING "OF DAVID," and "THE LAMB in the midst of the throne."

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The Lamb, the individual who opens the sealed book (Rev. ch. vi.), that is, "The Root of David," continues" in the midst of the throne," (ch. vii. 17.) But JESUS is "The Root of David" (ch. xxii. 16.) Therefore JESUS is the individual who continues in the midst of the throne.

The Lamb is described, in Rev. v. 6., as having “which [eyes] are

seven horns, and seven eyes,

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(or symbolise) τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ Θεοῦ, The "seven spirits of God."-The individual who dictates the seven epistles to the churches in Asia, designates himself, in the Epistle sent to the church in Sardis, as, "the one having τà Tтà τὰ ἑπτὰ

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πνεύματα TVεÚμатα TOŨ Bεou, the seven spirits of God."Here we have The Lamb identified with him who commanded John to send these epistles to the churches. The Lamb, then, The Root of David, that is, JESUS, is the author of the seven Epistles; and, consequently, all the titles and descriptive epithets which are appropriated to himself, by him who speaks in these epistles, belong to him who is called "The Lamb," and who is called " Jesus, The Root of David."-Is this JESUS any other than the one called CHRIST?

In the Epistle addressed to the Church in Laodicea he styles himself," THE AMEN, o páp TUS & TIOTOS, The Faithful Witness," Rev. iii. 14; and, in ch. i. 5, the inspired Amanuensis of the Apocalypse informs us, that "JESUS CHRIST" is, "iμáρтuç i tiorós." Thus JESUS THE MESμάρτυς πιστός. SIAH is identified with JESUS THE ROOT OF DAVID, who is THE LAMB in the midst of the throne.

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Again.-JESUS CHRIST, addressing the Church in Thyatira, calls himself "THE SON OF

Gop the one having τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ ὡς φλό γα πυρὸς, καὶ οἱ πόδες αὐτοῦ ὅμοιοι χαλκολιβάνῳ, his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet like to fine brass," (Ch. ii. 18.); which is part of the description that John gives of one "like a son of man," whom he saw in the midst of the golden lamp-stands, girt with a golden girdle, "his head, even the hair, white as white wool, as snow, and oi ¿planμoi avtoũ ws φλὸξ πυρὸς, καὶ οἱ πόδες αὐτοῦ ὅμοιοι χαλκολιβάνῳ, his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet like to fine brass," (Ch. i. 14, 15). Here then we find THE SON OF GOD, in the likeness of a son of man, JESUS CHRIST,-the one who sent the Epistles to the Seven Churches, (and who has before been found identified with THE LAMB)-identified with him who was seen (in the habit of a Priest) "in the midst of the seven golden lamp-stands" (Ch. i. 13.), or, as expressed in Ch. ii. 1., “walking in the midst of the golden lamp-stands."

Thus it is evident, that the person seen in the midst of the golden lamp-stands was JESUS. CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; that he was the individual who dictated the Epistles to the Seven Churches; that he is the one called, in Hebrew, "THE AMEN," which John renders in Greek, ¿ μáρTUS & TIσTÒS, "THE FAITHful Witness;" and also called "THE ROOT OF DAVID," and “THE LAMB who is in the midst of the throne;" and, consequently, that whatever is predicated

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