hierarchy. All that may be left on one side. I would only notice, before
I deal with the specific words of my text, the significance of the name.
It means 'the flaming' or 'burning ones,' and so the attendants of the
divine glory in the heavens, whether they be real or imaginary beings,
are represented as flashing with splendour, as full of swift energy,
like a flame of fire, as glowing with fervid love, as blazing with
enthusiasm. That is the type of the highest creatural being, which
stands closest to God. There is no ice in His presence, and the nearer
we get to Him in truth, the more we shall glow and burn. Cold religion
is a contradiction in terms, though, alas, it is a reality in
professors.

And so with that explanation, and putting aside all these other
questions, let us gather up some, at least, of the lessons as to the
essentials of worship, and try to grasp the prophecy of the heavenly
state, given us in these words.


I. The Wings of Reverence.

He covered his face, or _they_ covered _their_ faces, lest they should
see. As a man brought suddenly into the sunlight, especially if out of a
darkened chamber, by an instinctive action shades his eyes with his
hand, so these burning creatures, confronted with the still more fervid
and fiery light of the divine nature, fold one pair of their great white
pinions over their shining faces, even whilst they cry 'Holy! Holy!
Holy! is the Lord God Almighty!'

And does not that teach us the incapacity of the highest creature, with
the purest vision, to gaze undazzled into the shining light of God? I,