couch, elevated somewhat above the ground by supports, and adorned with tapestry; so that, beside the seat appropriated to the King, there are seats in the same throne, to be occupied by others, whom the King is desirous to honour. With this may be compared the curious remarks of John Baptist Tavernier, an eye-witness, regarding the seven thrones of the Great Mogul, and, in particular, that exceedingly large one, which was erected by Tamerlane.* XXXIV. 2dly, Amidst the glory to which he is advanced, he makes continual intercession for us; nor is it doubtful, that he is always heard. Solomon, after having caused his mother to sit at his right hand, assured her that none of her requests should be fruitless.f And it is far more impossible that the prayers of Christ, who sits at the right hand of the Father, can prove ineffectual; for he upholdeth all things by the word of his power, and having, in the first place, by himself purged our sins, he then sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.s The Apostle nobly inculcates this consolatory truth, in the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews.h xxxv. 3dly, From his throne of glory, he will maintain the right of his people, and powerfully and succesfully defend their cause against all their enemies. "He "rules in the midst of his enemies." i "And in mercy "shall the throne be established; and he shall sit upon "it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging, "and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness." j Vain are the detestable machinations of ungodly men, * Itiner. Part ii. lib. 2. cap. 8. ! 1 Kings ii. 20. h Verses 1, 2. * Heb. i. 3. i Ps. cx. 2. Is. xvi. 5. See also Ps. vii, 8-10. xlv. 5—7. "He and of infernal demons, against the Church. "that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord "shall have them in derision." In spite of the impotent fury of sinners, and of devils, Jesus reigns, and shall reign for ever: he shall" put down all rule, and "all authority, and power." The Church also reigns in and with Christ; and sitting together with him in heavenly places, she looks down from on high with scorn, upon the vain wrath of her adversaries; and, Superior to their rage in every form, Treads on the clouds, contemns the bursting storm; "The LORD reigneth; he is clothed with majesty; "the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he "hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that "it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of "old; thou art from everlasting. The floods have lift"ed up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their "voice," &c.m XXXVI. The consideration of this glory, by which our Lord Jesus Christ is now exalted far above all creatures, is also of great efficacy for striking TERROR into the hearts of the WICKED. Accordingly, it was announced by himself for this purpose, to the Jewish Council." "The LORD reigneth," says the Psalmist; "Clouds and darkness are round about him. - - "Fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies Celsior exsurgit pluviis, auditque ruenteis Sub pedibus nimbos, et sæva tonitrua calcat. k Ps. ii. 4. m Ps. xciii. 11 Cor. xv. 24. " Mat. xxvi. 64. comp. Is. ii. 10, 11, 19. Acts ix. 3, 4. "round about. His lightnings enlightened the world, " &c." Open your eyes then, at last, ye infatuated men, and shake off that torpor which has hitherto enchained you. This is that very Jesus, whom you have so basely neglected and contemned; whose word you have despised; whose servants you have derided, and affronted; whose subjects you have oppressed; whose grace you have wantonly rejected; and of whom you have said, "We will not have this man to reign over us." This same Jesus sits on the magnificent throne of the Divine Majesty; and, having taken possession of an eternal kingdom, holds in his hand an iron rod, with which he will consume the whole earth. How strong soever with brass and iron, how splendid soever with gold and silver, he will break it in pieces like a potter's vessel; he will beat it like dust before the wind, and reduce it to powder like the mire of the streets. Acknowledge and adore the majesty of so great a King, and be afraid out of your close places. "Serve the "LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss "the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little."r 66 XXXVII. As for us, in fine, who believe with the heart, that Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, the glory of so illustrious a King ought to generate the following sentiments in each of our breasts. 1. Holy reverence. If some faint rays of this splendour, shining, so to speak, through inconsiderable chinks, struck pious beholders with so much amazement; what profound reverence may we be expected to feel, who are in a manner surrounded with that inaccessible light in • Ps. xcvii. 1-5. 4 Gen. xxviii. 17. Luke v. 8. P Ps. ii. 11, 12. all its brightness! If, with a steady eye of faith, we behold him as clothed with that majesty, in which he appeared to John, it will be strange, if we too do not fall down at his feet, full of sacred dread. 2. An earnest concern that he who reigns so gloriously in heaven, may also reign in our hearts. O with what alacrity ought the gates of our cities, of our houses, of our souls, to be opened to him! 3. A contempt of earthly, and a desire of heavenly objects. We see in Christ our Head, “what is the hope of his calling, and what the "riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," &c. Is it right that a man who has so great rewards set before him, and who, in that Spirit of glory which is given him, has now the pledge and the first-fruits of those rewards-is it right that such a man should childishly employ himself about the paltry trifles and delusive shadows of this world? Ought we not rather, with a noble elevation of mind, to despise the unsubstantial and transitory equipage of a present world, as exhibiting nothing worthy our ambition; and to aspire and pant after that celestial prize, that unfading crown of glory, which will encircle our heads, whilst we shall sit together at the right hand of Jesus our King, in a state of everlasting rest and triumph? Ought we not also, by our prayers, to anticipate and accelerate that glorious manifestation of the reign of Christ, so often promised in the sacred oracles, and those happy times, in which, The golden age, the age of peace, returns; Each heart, with gen'rous zeal for virtue, burns; Religion pure, and love for human kind, Lift high their head, and rule in every mind.* Or, rather, to adopt the language of a sacred poettimes, in which "The mountains shall bring peace to "the people, and the little hills by righteousness;" when "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, 66 as the showers that water the earth;" when, in fine, "the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace "so long as the moon endureth."u Redeat concordia, virtus, Cumque fide pietas, alta cervice vagetur. |