31; Jude 14; 1 John iii. 2.) The glorious Being seen by John, as sitting on a throne, is the same who was seen by Isaiah, (vi. 1;) and precisely in the same attitude; but called by different names.  By Isaiah he is denominated “the Lord of Hosts,”—­by John, “the Lord God Almighty.”  The context proves,—­especially ch. v. 1; that John in vision contemplated God in the person of the Father; whereas we are assured, in John xii. 41, that Isaiah saw him in the person of the Son.  Thus we may understand our Lord’s words addressed to Philip, (John xiv. 9.) “He that hath seen me hath seen the father.”  (See Heb. i. 8; Col. i. 15.)

Led by the “four animals,”—­the ministry of reconciliation; the “four and twenty elders,” representing all the redeemed of mankind, “fall down before him that sat on the throne” in prostrate adoration of that glorious Being whose “eternal power and Godhead” are demonstrated in the volume of creation.  We are thus taught that motives to acceptable worship of God are primarily to be found in the perfections of his nature as our beneficent Creator,—­perfections possessed by him in essential character, independently of all his works of creation and redemption.  His “worthiness” of worship is inherent in himself, but outwardly manifested to intelligent creatures by the work of creation, of which he is the first Cause and the last End,—­the efficient and final Cause.  This doctrine, understood by the intellect and unbraced in the heart, would greatly tend to “hide pride from man.” (Job xxxiii. 17.) Aside from the doctrine of the “cross,” which is still counted “foolishness” by our modern self-styled “philosophers, psychologists and freethinkers;” there is enough here revealed of this eternal One to humble the “proud looks and haughty hearts” of these “enemies of the King.”  Without repentance, “he that made them will not have mercy on them; and he that formed them will show them no favour;” for notwithstanding their pride of superior intellect, he whose judgment is according to truth, has pronounced them a “people of no understanding.”  (Isa. xxvii. 11.) It is no disparagement to those in places of highest earthly dignity, as David; nor to the wisest of all men, as Solomon:  to “cast their crowns before the throne” of this only universal Monarch; saying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created;” “and let the whole earth be filled with his glory.” (Ps. lxxii. 19.)

CHAPTER VI.

1.  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.