The view which the beloved apostle had of the Lord Jesus as related to the church. (Revelation 1:10-20,) makes it proper to notice something of what seems to have been highly emblematical in our Lord's appearing in the midst of the golden candlesticks. I detain the reader, therefore, in this place, to take a short notice of it. Of the Jewish church we read of one candlestick of gold, with six branches, in the tabernacle, (Exodus 25:31-32) But here we read of seven candlesticks, and the Lord Jesus in the midst. We can easily conceive concerning the one, that it was intended to prefigure the church, which until Christ came and gave light to it, like a candlestick which is a receiver only, and hath no light in itself, is as nothing. And when in the gospel church we behold seven candlesticks and the Lord Jesus in the discover that from the coming of Christ, when having finished redemption-work he returned to glory, he sent down the Holy Ghost in his seven-fold gifts to illumine the whole church of God with the revelation of his grace: so that the gracious office of the Holy Ghost in his unceasing agency is very blessedly set forth. And I do not think, that the Lord Jesus, in his high priestly office, could have been more strongly represented than by appearing thus in the midst of the candlesticks, his churches. For as it was the office of the Jewish high priest to trim the wicks and supply the oil, so Jesus, our great High Priest, supplies the whole by his blessed Spirit both to his ministers and people.