From this throne he published at mount Sinai his law, which is holy, just, and good—a law which demands perfect obedience, which requires that justice be done for every offence. From this throne God has repeatedly manifested his determination to satisfy the honour of his law, in the meantime asserting, "Cursed is every one, that continueth not in all things, that are written in the book of the law, to do them." His own sentence is: "The soul that sinneth it shall die;" and it is only because there are designs of mercy to be fulfilled, that he suspends the execution of it; when the Lord shall come, and sit on the throne of his glory lifted up in the heavens; and every man shall give an account of his own works.

3. But it is on a throne of grace more especially that the believer sees God in the gospel, and to which he approaches by faith. The gospel reveals him ready to dispense grace and mercy to sinners. This is indeed an object worthy of his being represented on a throne of majesty and dignity in this above all his other works the glory of God is displayed. It is the highest act of sovereignty, of which in our present state, we can suppose God to be in the exercise. It is by this in an especial manner he is said to reign. "Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Through the transgression of Adam sin obtained a ruling power; its dominion was established over all the posterity of Adam, enforcing a "law in

their members, warring against the law" of the renewed "mind, and bringing them into captivity to the law of sin which is in their members." And this reign of sin would have continued unbroken through all eternity, had not the grace of God interposed, and set up another kingdom; that by an act of sovereign power-and nothing less can save a single soul-the redemption of man might be effected. In this grace reigns, and the exercise of this sovereign power is the delivery of those who have been the slaves of Satan. In the exercise of this power it shall reign to eternal life; nothing can dethrone the grace of God; but this throne shall be lifted up for ever, and gather subjects to itself, as long as the world lasts. Oh that captives, and slaves to sin and the law, would seek to share in the blessings of this reign; and believers themselves would give and own a free and large subjection to it.

II. How is this throne the place of our sanctuary? Because it is a throne of mercy; it has its foundation in mercy, and is reared as a house of mercy, for the display of divine grace. Its plan was formed from all eternity, contrived in the council of heaven, for the security and refuge of God's people. "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was." It is a great consolation to a returning penitent to hear of such a retreat, the foundations of which have been laid so low, and the summit of which reaches to heaven. "A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary." Thus pre

pared it becomes the dwelling-place of the redeemed of the Lord-where God would have them to enjoy the blessedness of his presence, and with open face "beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, to be changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord." And who are they for whom this privilege is designed but the "vessels of mercy afore prepared unto glory."

The throne of grace is the place of our sanctuary, because to it believers resort for the discovery and display of divine grace. It is the free grace of God, and that alone, which meets the desires of an awakened conscience. It is on this only it can rest in peace. Where then does God appear in this character, but on his throne-when he reveals himself in Christ reconciling the world to himself-or rather, when he shows his power and mercy in bringing the sinner through Christ to a sense of his love, and the enjoyment of his Holy Spirit-when he is known as a God of love; and that for the display of this attribute all his other perfections unite and co-operate, to make it effectual in raising up a monument of his power and goodness by the recovery of a soul that was lost. It is by the preaching of the gospel that the wonders of his sanctuary break in upon the mind. The proclamation of love issues from the throne, the sinner hears, believes, and lives. It is henceforth a reign of grace, which flows in powerful efficacy from the throne, on which it is displayed, into the hearts of those who attend it.

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We call on you, my brethren, to be faithful and constant in waiting upon God, if only for this purpose, that you may have clearer and more lively apprehensions of the wondrous works of God. Believers should desire and long for heaven, to see the spring-head and fountain of that stream of grace, which flowed in upon them even in their low estate in such rich abundance.

This glorious high throne is the place of our sanctuary, because there are passed all the acts of grace, by which the subjects of this kingdom are enriched. The servant of God waits at a throne of grace to receive them as free gifts. Every blessing that religion has in store is an act of grace. Every distinction which its worshipper enjoys is an act of grace. Power went out from God at first to restore the wandering soul, and by that power it was drawn to the contemplation of the God of salvation. All that the soul has yet received was an act of grace, and all the soul has yet to hope for is still to be expected as an act of grace. It is this consideration brings the soul into a waiting posture. The very blessing I seek at this moment, I seek as an act of grace, not as a claim or demand on God; nor as that which my seeking obliges him to bestow, but that for which I wait upon him, to give me of his own sovereign will. Thus, to know the grace of God in truth, is the foundation of all religious experience; and it is a knowledge which increases as we advance. The nearer a true christian draws to heaven, he is more and more emptied of self, that he may be

the more filled with the riches of the grace of God in Christ. And after the fulness of these riches poured on the believer, when he comes to receive a crown of glory, he will receive it still more humbly than he has done any former act of grace here on earth. The presence of this throne dispels all merit or self-righteous pretensions, on the part of man: there can be none before the throne of God in heaven, and there is none before the throne of grace here on earth.

Till you have really come to God in a way of free grace, you are not in the place of his sanctuary. It is not enough to be christians in nameit is not enough to have a place among the people of God-it is not enough to have escaped the pollutions of the world-unless you be in the sanctuary. We do not call you to come and look upon it, and admire its glories-we do not call you to be mere spectators and attendants upon this throne-but to make it your sanctuary. Are you then yet brought to submit to its authority? The grace of God requires that submission and obedience, which the human heart is not very ready to pay. It is not as to a God of grace the natural man desires to draw near to God. How is it with you? Have you ever been brought to see that if you are saved it must be by grace? Throwing aside all those weapons, by which you have opposed the doctrine and the influence of divine grace in its genuine character, do you cast yourself unarmed before his throne, and say: Lord, here I am, a convinced condemned rebel