generate heresies; of the latter,—­the Apocalypse is so “hard to be understood” as to be unintelligible.  A revelation, and yet unintelligible!  This is very nearly a contradiction.  Such sentiments betray rebellion against the authority, and a reflection upon the wisdom and beneficence of God.  All Christians acknowledge, as Peter says of the writings of Paul, that in this book are “some things dark and hard to be understood:”  but there have been always and now are, some disciples who do not subscribe to the teaching of most expositors of this book,—­that their actual fulfilment, alone, will interpret these predictions.—­Doubtless it was in view of such discouragements that our Lord prefixed and repeated the special blessing.  And this promised blessing of the Master himself is sufficient to countervail all the discouragements and hostility of the adversaries, thrown in the way of the reader and expositor.  Moses “endured as having respect unto the recompense of the reward.”  Let us copy his example.  “He is faithful that promised.”  Let the pious reader, therefore, disregard the counsel to “omit the reading, of this book in family worship,” as we have sometimes heard; whether it be tendered by Papist, Prelate or Presbyterian, because it is directly contrary to the express command of Christ, (John v. 39,) and because by following such counsel, he would forfeit the special blessing here promised.

4.  John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:  Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

5.  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the First-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6.  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen.

Vs. 4-6.—­Here we have the customary salutation, addressed to the churches of Asia Minor.  Many other churches had been organized in other parts of the earth at this date; (A.D. 96:) but the special reason why John saluted these seven, and addressed an epistle to each, would seem to be his vicinity to them in the place of his present sojourning, and probably his personal acquaintance with them in the exercise of his ministry among them, (v. 11.) His prayer for these churches is substantially the same as that prefixed to most of Paul’s epistles.  Grace and peace are inseparable in the divine arrangement.  “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isa. lvii. 21.)