hence, Rev. xiii. 8. he is called the Lamb flain from the foundation of the world: flain decretively, in the purpose of God, before the foundation of the world was laid; and flain typically, in all the facrifices under the law.

2. In his manifeflation, when he appeared in our nature, he is pointed out as the Lamb that was come to be a facrifice for fin, John i. 29. "Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the fins of the world:" and again, ver. 36. Behold the Lamb of God." To this purpose fays the fame beloved difciple, 1 John iii. 5. "You know that he was manifefted to take away our fins."

3. In his humiliation unto death, he is reprefented as the meek and patient Lamb, A&ts viii. 32. "He was led as a fheep to the flaughter; and like a Lamb before his fhearer, fo opened he not his mouth;" which are the words of the prophet, Ifa. liii. 7. Thus faith the Lord, by the prophet, chap. 1. 5, 6. " He was not rebellious, neither turned away back: I gave my back to the fmiter, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair : I hid not my face from fhame and fpitting."

4. In his exaltation, or in his exalted ftate, he is in fcripture reprefented as a Lamb; particularly Rev. v. 6. "And I beheld, and lo, in the midft of the throne, and in the midst of the elders, flood a Lamb as it had been flain, having seven horns and feven eyes, which are the feven fpirits of God fent forth into all the earth." This is the fcripture that our prefent text hath a reference unto; and therefore, concerning it you may observe the description given of this Lamb.

(1.) As the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne; of which more afterwards. Only, you fee, in his exalted state at the Father's right-hand, he is ftill the Lamb: change of place hath not made him change his name, or nature: he took our human nature along with him; and he is ftill the meek and lowly Lamb, though he be upon the throne.

(2.) He is defcribed by being the Lamb flain; a Lamb as it had been flain. He appears with the marks of his fufferings upon him, to fhew that he intercecds in heaven in the virtue of his fatisfaction; because he entered the holy place by his own blood, Heb. ix. 12. And

the virture of the facrifice he offered is always fresh, as if he were newly flain.

(3.) He is defcribed as a Lamb having feven horns ; pointing out the perfection of his power to execute all the will of God, and to conquer all his enemies. This

Lamb is the power of God.

(4.) He is defcribed as a Lamb having feven eyes; pointing out the perfection of his wifdom, to understand all the will of God, and to do it in the most effectual manner. As he is the power of God, so he is the wif dom of God; for he hath the Spirit of God above meafure: therefore it is faid, "The feven eyes are the seven fpirits of God;" not feven in number or in nature, but in refpect of the diverfity of the gifts and operations of that one and eternal Spirit of God. This Lamb of God then, is he that hath the Spirit of the Lord God upon him, for he hath anointed him; and he is anointed, that he may anoint. And O may the Lamb with the feven eyes, look upon this affembly, and give eyes to us to fee his glory this day, that our hearts may join issue with the heavenly company, Rev. v. 12. " Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and ftrength, and honour, and glory, and bleffing."

II. The next thing we propofed, was a word concerning the throne. Here we would confider, what for a throne it is, and why called a throne.

ft, What kind of a throne is it which the Lamb is faid to be in the midft of? We may anfwer, It is the throne of God, Rev. xxii. 1. 3. There it is called the throne of God and the Lamb. The throne of God is the throne of the Lamb, and the throne of the Lamb is the throne of God. It is the throne of grace, the throne of glory, the throne of his holinefs, and the throne of his juftice.

1. It is called the throne of divine grace, Heb. iv. 16. Let us come boldly to the throne of grace. Why fo? because we have a High-prieft there; the Lamb is in the midft of the throne. And, indeed the throne of grace is nothing else than a God in Chrift, a God reconciled in

Chrift,

Chrift, a God upon a mercy-feat, fprinkled with the

blood of Chrift.

2. It is called the throne of divine glory, Jer. xiv. 21. "Do not difgrace the throne of thy glory; remember, break not thy covenant with us." The prophet there fpeaks of the temple, and the ark in it, the fymbol of God's prefence; which was typical of Chrift, in whom the covenant of grace ftands faft: and fo it is called the throne of glory, becaufe all the glory of God fhines about that throne. As the grace of God is the glory of God, fo all the glory of God fhines in the face of Jefus Chrift. Therefore,

3. It is called a throne of divine holiness, Pfal. xlvii. 8. "God fitteth upon the throne of his holinefs." Holinefs becomes his houfe, holinefs becomes his throne, and holinefs is his throne: there is nothing there, but the holy God, the holy Lamb, the holy throne; and they that are about it, cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hofts," Ifa. vi. 3.

4. It is called the throne of his juftice, Pfal. lxxxi. 14. "Juftice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne.” And, Pfalm xcvii. 2. "Clouds and darknefs are round about him, yet righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." His glorious and holy throne of grace ftands firm upon the bafe and foundation of juftice fatisfied for the finner, and judgment execute against fin, in the blood of the Lamb that is in the midft of the throne. It is therefore no hindrance or impediment to our accefs to the throne of grace, that it is also a throne of juftice; but rather a furtherance and encouragement, because there grace reigns through righteoufnefs unto eternal life, by Jefus Chrift, Rom. v. 21. And, fince grace reigns there through juftice-fatisfying righteoufnefs, why then, God may with honour meet with finners, and there finners may with hope draw near to God. This is the throne of God and the Lamb.

2dly, Why is it called a throne? The place, in the midft whereof the Lamb is, is called a throne, on these

accounts.

1. A throne is a place of powerful and majeftic glory, honour, and dignity. Jefus Chrift, the Lamb, is fet in

the

the midst of this place, crowned with glory and honour, Heb. ii. 9. His Father crowned him King there, faying, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever," Pfal. xlv.6.

2. A throne is a place of power and authority.— Chrift, the Lamb, is fet in the midst of this throne; for, "All power in heaven and earth is given to him," Mat. xxviii. 18. All judgment is committed to him; and the government is upon his fhoulders.

3. A throne is a place of height and eminency. Christ, the Lamb, is in the midft of this place; Ifa. vi. 7. "I faw the Lord fitting upon a throne high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple." His Father hath fet him on the higheft throne; "He hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name," Phil. ii. 9.

4. A throne is a place of plenty; thence the royal bounty is communicated. Chrift, the Lamb, is in the midst of this place; hence it is faid, Col. i. 19. "It pleafed the Father that in him fhould all fulnefs dwell;" and again, "In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;" all the treasures of grace; and, "Out of his fulness we all receive, and grace for grace," John i. 16.

5. A throne is a place of beauty, as well as bounty; it is a beautiful and fplendid place. And to fee the Lamb in the midft of the throne, is to fee the King in his beauty, Ifa. xxxiii. 17. "Strength is within his holy place, and there doth beauty fhine;" there doth glory fhine.

6. In a word, a throne is a place of pleasure, peace, joy, and triumph. The Lamb is in the midft of this place having afcended up on high, and led captivity captive, Pfalm lxviii. 18. He fits triumphant upon the throne, making all his enemies his footftool. If he triumphed over them on the crofs, as it is faid, Col. ii. 15. how much more does he triumph over them on the throne, making all believers fharers of his joyful triumph!

III. The next thing I propofed was, To fhow how the Lamb comes to be upon the throne. I fhall tell you in a few words, that he bargained for the throne, he wrought for the throne, he fought for the throne, he died for the throne.

In the counsel of

1. He bargained for the throne. peace, betwixt the Father and the Son, it was promifed to Chrift, that, upon his doing and fuffering for his people, he fhould have a glorious throne, and a numerous retinue that he fhould fee his feed, and fee the travail of his foul, and be fatisfied, Ifa. liii. 10, 11. The Lamb cries out, It is a bargain that I chearfully go in to; "Lo, I come; in the volume of thy book it is written of me: I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart," Pfalm xl. 7, 8. Hence fays the Father, "I have made a covenant with my chofen," Pfal. lxxxix. 3.

2. He wrought for the throne. According to the bargain and covenant between the Father and him, bebrought in everlasting righteoufnefs, Dan. ix. 24.; he fulfilled all righteoufnefs, Mat. iii. 15. And hence he claims the crown and the throne; "I have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work thou gavest me to do: And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own felf, with the glory I had with thee before the world was," John xvii.4,5. Thus he wrought for the throne.

3. He fought for the throne. You may fee how he fought, Ifa. lxiii. 1, 2, 3. "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah: This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatnefs of his ftrength? I that speak in righteoufnefs, mighty to fave! Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel? and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat? I have trodden the wine-prefs alone, and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, and their blood fhall be fprinkled upon my garments, and I will ftain all my raiment." And on this account the Lamb fits upon a triumphant throne, having fpoiled principalities and powers; bruifed the head of the old ferpent; deftroyed the works of the devil; and came off the field like a glorious conqueror. Therefore, "The Lord faid unto our Lord, Sit thou at my right-hand," Pfalm cx. 1. In which Pfalm you read both of the bloody battle, and the glorious enthronement of the Lamb.

4. He died for the throne. Having drunk of the brook in the way, therefore did he lift up the head, Pfalm cx. 7. And, because he became obedient unto the death, even the

death