giving tree, and come unto the
God-lit city. And equally clear it is that any who insist on doing so
may remain outside unwashed. Each one is free to do as he wills.

And once again comes the emphatic, solemn announcement of the accuracy
and dependability of this message of John's Revelation: "_I, Jesus_,
have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the Churches."
It is distinctively a Church message, and comes with all the direct
authority of our Lord Jesus Himself. And He patiently reminds us of His
authority,--I am both root and offspring of David, both before him and
after him. I am the bright, the morning star, that rises while it is yet
night and brings in the new day.

And again the spirit of winsome pleading breaks out to those unwashed
ones who insist on staying outside the gate. Both the Spirit and the
whole company of washed ones say "come." And let him that heareth that
sweet word pass it out to those farther away until the last man hears
and feels. And let them know that anybody at all who is thirsty may come
freely and drink of the river of the water of life.

And yet once again comes the peculiar certifying of the contents of this
Revelation message, and a solemn warning against any interfering with
its meaning. Jesus says,--I hereby certify unto every man that hears the
words of the prophecy of this book: if any man add to them, making them
mean something else than I intend, God shall add unto him the plagues
that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away, or
lessen the meaning, God shall take away his part from the tree of life
and out of the holy city. It comes as a very solemn warning.

And yet once more comes the emphatic assurance both of the reliability
of the book itself, and of the certainty of its great central
message,--"He who testifieth these things saith, '_yea, I come
quickly_.'"

And John fervently adds, "Amen; come, Lord Jesus." And so says every
heart in tune with His heart who is coming.

FOOTNOTES:

[166] Habakkuk ii. 3.

[167] Acts ii. 44-47; iv. 32-34.

[168] Mark iv. 26-29. Matthew xiii. 31-32.

[169] Matthew xiii. 33.

[170] Matthew xiii. 3-9, 18-23.

[171] Matthew xiii. 24-30.

[172] Matthew xiii. 47-50.

[173] Matthew xiii. 44.

[174] Matthew xiii. 45-46.

[175] Matthew xxi. 31.

[176] Matthew xx. 1-16.

[177] Luke xix. 11-27.

[178] Matthew xx. 25-28.

[179] Psalm xviii. 44; lxvi. 3; lxxxi. 15; note marginal readings.