A SERMON.
Revelations xiv. 13.
And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
The solemnity with which the doctrine contained in this passage is introduced, and the remarkable way in which it is confirmed, declare loudly its value and importance.
Amidst the visions of the Apocalypse, St. John had just beheld an emblematical representation of the Church of Christ, and of its Almighty Protector: a Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, with a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads: the faithful followers of their Lord in a corrupt and degenerate age; the first fruits to God and the Lamb; when his attention was directed to three angels, charged severally with the high commissions of bearing the everlasting gospel to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people: of proclaiming the utter overthrow of the mystic Babylon; and of denouncing the divine vengeance upon all her adherents. The days thus prefigured were to be days of hardship and persecution: the gospel, it is intimated, would not prevail without a conflict, nor would Babylon fall from her pre-eminence, without a hard struggle to maintain her ascendancy. Here, therefore, as we read, is the patience of the saints; much need will there be to them that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, to possess their souls in patience, and to cultivate that meek and enduring spirit, which shone forth in their crucified Redeemer. In order, then, that under these trying dispensations, there may be no want of encouragement to maintain constantly the faith of the gospel; and, if necessary, to resist even unto blood, striving against sin; the inspired Apostle immediately and abruptly proclaims, I heard a voice from heaven,—a voice therefore of truth infallible, and of authority not to be controverted,—Saying unto me. Write,—leave it as a lasting record for the instruction of all future generations:—Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: from henceforth, probably implying, that from the period of this conflict between light and darkness, the doctrine here announced should be more generally known and understood:—Yea, saith the Spirit: the declaration is sanctioned by Him, who is the Source of all inspiration; yea, they are blessed: they are removed from this world of trial, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.
In attempting to explain this passage more at large, I shall consider,
I. The persons described, and,
II. Their happiness.
It will remain for me, then, to offer some remarks, more particularly belonging to the present afflicting occasion.
I. We are to consider the persons described.
These are the dead which die in the Lord.