For

The Lamb, then, is he from whom, by or through whom, the grace of God doth come to us. It proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And it proceeds from him now as a donator; from him, not only as a means of conveyance, but as one that has power to give grace; power, as he is the Son of man. as the Son of man, he is the Lamb; and as he is the Lamb it cometh from him. "The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," (Matt. ix. 6,) and that before he had actually paid to God the price of our redemption. But how much more now? Wherefore Paul, in his prayer for grace and peace for saints, supplicates both God and the Lamb.

"Grace be to you from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. i. 2. 1 Cor. i. 3. Gal. i. 3.)

"Proceeding out of the throne." Formerly this river of waters is said to come from under the threshold of the house of the Lord. (Ezek. xlvii. 1.) And it is said again, "they shall go out from Jerusalem;" that is the church or house of God still. (Zech. xiv. 8.) In that they are said to come out from under the threshold, it

may be to intimate that they ran but low formerly, if compared to what they do now. Which might also be signified by this, that they "issued out ;" that which issues out ordinarily comes forth but slowly. Also the prophet saith, the first time he went through the waters they were but up to his ancles. (Ezek. xlvii. 3, 4.) But what is ancle-deep to that which followeth after? It is said also to come out from Jerusalem, where, I perceive, were no great rivers; to intimate that as long as the first priesthood, first temple, and type, were in their splendour, only the shadow of heavenly things was in use, and that then grace ran but slowly, nor would run much faster, because Jesus was For the Spirit and abundance of grace was to be given not before, but after his ascension.

not yet glorified.

Wherefore, now Jesus is ascended, now he is glorified, now grace proceeds "from the throne," not from the threshold of the house. "He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding" from or "out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb.".

The throne. That of which the mercy-seat

was a type, that which is called the throne of grace. (Exod. xxv. 17.) And it is called the throne of grace, (Heb. iv. 16,) even therefore, because it is that from or out of which proceeds this river of water of life, this overflowing grace of God.

Now it may be asked, what is the throne of grace? and I shall answer, it is the humanity of Christ. He is the throne, he is the Jacob in which God sitteth. And he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. (Isa. xxii. 22, 23.) The fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, nor can grace come to men but by Christ, nor can God rest as to our salvation but in him. But because I have spoken of this thing more particularly upon that text, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace," &c., I shall therefore here say no more.

Only, methinks, it is a glorious title that the Holy Ghost has given to the humanity of Christ, in that he calls it the throne of God; and methinks he gives it the highest preference, in that he saith, out thence proceeds a pure river of water of life: we will a little therefore speak

something to this word the Throne, the Throne of God.

1. A throne is the seat of majesty and greatness: it is not for things of an inferior quality to ascend or assume a throne. Now, then, since this river of water of life proceeds from the throne, it intimates that in grace and mercy there is great majesty; for grace, as it proceeds, has a voice from the throne. And indeed there is nothing in heaven or earth that can so awe the heart, as the grace of God. (Hosea iii. 5.) It is that which makes a man fear, it is that which makes a man tremble, it is that which makes a man bow and bend, and break to pieces. (Jer. xxxiii. 9.) Nothing has that majesty and commanding greatness in and upon the hearts of the sons of men as has the grace of God.

So that, I say, when he saith that this river of grace proceeds out of the throne of God; it is to show us what a majesty, what a commanding greatness, there is in grace. "The love of Christ constraineth us."

When Moses went up to the mount the first time to receive the law, he did exceedingly

fear and quake. Why? because of the fire and smoke, thick darkness and thunder, &c. But when he went up the second time thither, "he made haste and bowed his head towards the earth, and worshipped." But why? because it was before proclaimed, that "the Lord was merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth: keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin," &c. (Exod. xxxiv. 6—9.)

There is nothing over-mastereth the heart like grace, and so obligeth to sincere and unfeigned obedience as that. "Examine me, O Lord," said David, "and prove me, and try my reins and my heart, for thy loving-kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in thy truth." (Psal. xxvi. 2, 3.) Therefore he saith again, O Lord our God, "how excellent is thy lovingkindness" in all the earth! and that loving-kindness is marvellous, for it has that majesty, and that excellent glory in it, as to command the heart and subdue sin. And therefore grace has given to it the title of sovereignty, or of one that reigns. The throne is called, "the throne of grace," (Heb. iv. 16,) that on which it sits