Thus all the descriptions of the saints of God in the latter days describe them not by outward form, but by inward grace; the distinguishing features are always spiritual, never ecclesiastical; they refer to character, not discipline. For example: “Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed;” Isaiah, lxvi. 5. There can be no doubt as to the date of this prophecy; it plainly carries us right up to the advent. “He shall appear to your joy.” Nor can there be any doubt again as to the persons addressed in it; they are the blessed company of the saved in distinction to the miserable multitude of the lost. “He shall appear to your joy.” And now how are they described? He does not say “Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye that are correct in your ecclesiastical arrangements; ye whose ministers are possessed of Apostolical succession;” nor “ye that are in communion with the Pope of Rome;” but “ye that tremble at his word.” Whoever therefore receives in faith the promises of the bible; whoever is brought by God’s Spirit blessing those promises to believe on Jesus, whoever he be, and wherever he be, whether he be churchman, dissenter, or even Romanist, that man is safe, and the Lord Jesus “shall appear for his joy.” {53} It is just the same in the book of Revelation. In that remarkable prophecy we have repeated mention of the saints in direct contrast with the apostacy of the latter days: we have in several passages their portrait clearly drawn, as if to leave no doubt as to their character when that last peril should gather around the faith. Now this description is always of a spiritual character. The seed of the woman are those “which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ;” xii. 17. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus;” xiv. 12. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful;” xvii. 14. In all these passages there is not one word of outward form, they refer exclusively to inward life.