But what do the angels think of it? They are disinterested witnesses. If the living ones are the spirits resting before the throne, they have been saved by it; and, therefore, of course they have their deep personal interest in it. But it is not so with the angels. They never fell, so they have had no need of redemption, and can only regard it as a work wrought out for others. But there is no selfishness apparent in their spirit. I often think that the great charm of the angels’ character is their complete unselfishness. So there was nothing selfish about their song, for though they were only lookers-on, or rather ministers, though they could not say, as we can, ‘Thou hast redeemed us,’ though not one of their number was saved through the redeeming blood, yet the whole vast multitude joined heart and soul in the adoration of redeeming mercy, and as soon as the hymn of the living ones was brought to a close, they all burst forth in their own song of praise, and said with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.’ But the worship did not stop even with them. St. Paul teaches us that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now, for the whole is affected by the fall; and that a time is coming when, through redeeming grace, the creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. No wonder, then, that creation itself is here represented as taking part in the joy of redemption. The whole creation is described as catching the spirit of praise. The living ones and the angels were not allowed to have a monopoly of thanksgiving, and, therefore, as soon as the angels’ hymn was ended there was a grand outburst of praise from the whole creation of God: ‘And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.’ And now, dear brethren, what shall we do? Shall we go home indifferent to the subject? Shall we, whose life depends altogether on redemption leave it as a thing uncared for? Shall there be no note of praise from us? Ye that know redeeming grace, shall there be no hymn of praise from you? Surely we must not wait till we see Him on the throne, and hear the hymn of the living ones. Those who are on earth according to this passage are to join in the chorus, so we will lose no time in doing so; and before we leave the church we will unite in the grand old hymn— ‘Come, let us join our cheerful songs With angels round the throne; Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, But all their joys are one.