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SERMON.
Rev. xix. 7–14.
This text has three parts: 1 The Kirk's triumph under Antichrist's persecution, in the 7th, 8th and 9th verses. 2. ⟨John's⟩ slip and fall, in worshipping the angel. 3. A new revelation wherein Christ and his members are seen triumphing; which contains a glorious description of Christ. I take not this absolutely to be the victory and triumph of the Kirk triumphant in heaven. but it is the joy of the Kirk on earth, groaning and longing for the marriage-day. In the 7th verse is contained an exhortation to be glad and rejoice with thanksgiving, with two reasons of it. For the Marriage of the Lamb is come, and his Wife hath made herself ready. Here is a question in the entry: Is there not a time to rejoice and a time to mourn? It is now rather a time for the Kirk to mourn and be sad, chap. xii.—The Kirk the poor woman with child, hard at the down-lying travailing, and has not an hour's reckoning, is chased by the Dragon to the wilderness, chap. xiv. a judgment denounced, chap. xvi. the arrows of God's wrath going through all the earth. a great din and hurlie-burlie in the Kirk; chap. xix. 7. the Kirk is brought in singing and rejoicing: Hence letthe
