warnings, and gracious invitations to return to their allegi ance before that day arrive. In some province of our empire should rebellion arise, our gracious Sovereign would neither cause, nor approve, nor assist that rebellion. But should faction increase, sedition multiply, and lawless men commit depredations throughout the land, would this confusion and these evils be justly chargeable on the Royal Person, while she prepared her throne, and made ready her power to remove them? And suppose, that in the exercise of a Sovereign's mercy to the misguided people of that province, instead of giving them over instantly to the sword, she should issue an amnesty inviting every rebel to lay down his arms before an appointed day? Should we not applaud the grace and the wisdom which would thus seek to convert the rebels into loyal subjects by an act of mercy, rather than to exterminate them at once by martial law? And while that amnesty-that day of grace-continued, however violent might be the acts of some portion of the rebels, and however severe might be the temporary trials of a part of her loyal subjects, who could, with any justice, lay these to the charge of the Royal clemency? So is it with ourselves, and with the King of heaven. This earth on which we tread is the rebellious province. We ourselves are the rebellious subjects. Our life is spared under the act of amnesty, under the day of grace. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." To-day, while it is called to-day, we are invited to lay down our arms. The Gospel is the royal proclama tion of mercy. Whosoever comes, in the appointed way, and before the appointed time, shall in no wise be cast out. If, however, confusion meanwhile exist, evils prevail, and anarchy predominate over government, in our rebellious. province, are these to be charged upon our lawful Sovereign, and not rather on our own lawless rebellion? And what is the consolation which every loyal heart experiences ?—Is it not the assurance that a day is appointed to put down evil, and to introduce order? Is it not the very declaration of the Psalmist, "The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens?" Yes, the believer fixes his eye continually on the sovereign, and overruling, power of God. And whatever may be the trials and the confusion that prevail for the present, "this is the victory that overcometh" the whole "world" of trouble and perplexity-"even our faith!" Meanwhile, we believe in the clemency of our King. accept the amnesty. We lay down the weapons of our rebellion. And we rejoice to know that "His throne is prepared in the heavens," and that "He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained." Acts xvii. 31. We Justly might the Lord have given up our rebellious race to condign punishment; but, in His mercy, He sent His Son into the world not to condemn, but to save. God declares that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He is not willing that any should perish; and He graciously extends the sceptre of mercy, that we may turn from our rebellion and live. The Apostle warmly expostulates with all who would abuse this clemency of the King of heaven; who continue in their rebellion, though mercy be proclaimed to them. "Despisest thou," he demands, "the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering: not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. But after thy hardness, and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God?" Rom. ii. 4, 5. 66 Jesus is now sitting on His Father's throne, and in due time He will be seated on His own. Rev. iii. 21. As a "Priest" at the right hand on high, He now carries on the blessed work of mediation; but ere long as a King" on His "throne," specially "prepared" for Him as the GodMan, He will appear Supreme, the Reigning Sovereign of our world. His heavenly sceptre will put "down all rule and all authority and power" (1 Cor. xv. 24) in Satan and the wicked, and introduce love and harmony, holiness and joy over the whole earth. Then our long-offered prayer will at last be answered. Christ's kingdom will come. The prepared throne of the God-Man will be set on high. The thin veil of atmosphere will no longer conceal the great Sovereign of the universe from our view. The Lord Jesus. will come forth crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. The day of grace will be past. The act of amnesty will have ceased. The sword of justice will be unsheathed. Every rebellious subject will be destroyed. Every loyal subject will be honored. And a joy inexpressible and everlasting will pervade the breasts of all the members of the Redeemed Family, when they behold their Elder Brother seated on His prepared throne. Dear Reader, have you seriously thought of that solemn day? The Lord has prepared His throne; have you prepared your heart? Not more certainly do you read these words of the Psalmist, than you shall assuredly behold this prepared throne. Are you preparing to stand before it? Is your trust based wholly on Christ? Do you renounce all sin? Have you given yourself to Jesus to be saved as a sinner through His righteousness? As He assumed your name to take the curse, do you use only His name to obtain the blessing? Do you renounce your own name and fancied merit before God—and do you plead only Christ's name and Christ's merits at His footstool? Do you see and know that you can have no righteousness of your own, and have you determined, with the Psalmist, to say, "I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only?" Since God accepted Christ's work, do you likewise accept it for your own soul? Do you give your entire consent to it? In Christ's obedience as a Surety, do you believe that, in the eye of the law, you have obeyed ?—that in His sufferings you have legally suffered ?—that in His death you have legally died ?—and that in His resurrection you have been legally acquitted? If you had obeyed the law in your own person, and suffered its penalty for your own guilt, and by the power of God had been made alive again, would you not believe that the sentence once executed would not again be enforced? —And do you now believe this-most blessedly and most certainly believe it-through such a Surety's obediencethrough such a Surety's sufferings? Oh! thus give yourself to Christ, I beseech you. Cast yourself in this manner upon "PUT ON "He His merits. Realize your oneness with Him. the Lord Jesus Christ" by this argument, and say, stood for me--He answered for me-He obeyed for meHe died for me-He rose again for me--and in the eye of the law therefore I stood in Him-I answered in HimI obeyed in Him--I died in Him-I rose again in Him.” Thus "reckon yourself to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ your Lord." Thus "yield yourself unto God, as one that is alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." Rom. vi. 11-14. Thus "let not sin reign in your mortal body," but let "grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. v. 21. Thus set your affections upon things above, not on things on the earth for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth." Col. iii. 3-5. This, this, will be a most blessed preparation for your soul to stand before the prepared throne: and unlike the men of the world, who will "call upon the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them and to hide them from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb," you will now be enabled to say, and then be enabled to realize, what a believing poet has sung : 66 : "Jesus, thy robe of righteousness |