The City of God, Exposition of Revelation · Chapter 21 · Part 15
Of the Throne of God and of the Lamb.
And there ſhall be no more curſe, but the Throne of God and of the Lamb ſhall be in it, and his Servants ſhall ſerve him, 22.3.
A Throne or Seat, is that principal place, where Judgement is adminiſtred, and from whence it floweth, called therefore the Throne of Righteouſneſs, the Throne of Juſtice, the Throne of Judgement, and ſometime put for Dominion, and rule, 2 Sam. 7.13.16.14.9. Lam. 5.19. Becauſe exerciſed thereon, ſometime for dignity and glory; becauſe a place of chief renown and eminency, ſometime for a Kingdom it ſelf, Jer. 33.17. 1 Sam. 14.9. Becauſe the principal affairs thereof are tranſacted there; And as reſpecting God ſometime for Heaven it ſelf, which is called his Throne, Pſ. 11.4. Math. 5.33. Acts 7.49. Becauſe it is his principal place and ſeat, where his Throne of Majeſty is, and whereon Chriſt ſits with him upon his right hand, Heb. 12.3.
Holding out moſt commonly that rule and authority that is exerciſed in civil ſtates;
The Throne of God and of the Lamb here ſhoen by Viſion, diſcovered to John to be in the new Jeruſalem, or new Teſtament Church, hath an alluſion to the Throne of God, and Chriſt that was in the old Teſtament Church, and to which we ſhall have recourſe, for our better underſtanding of this myſtery.
And which Throne of Old we find to be two fold, viz. either that upon which God was ſaid more petticularly and ſpecially, viz. that which was erected in the Tabernacle, Exod. 25.17. Or upon that which he was ſaid more ordinarely to ſit, viz. that which the Judges and Kings of Iſrael ſat in Judgement upon;
The former whereof we ſhall in a more particular manner ſearch into, becauſe there much lyes in it, and much light may be gathered from thence not onelyonly for the underſtanding this Book of the Revelations; but the Prophecies relating to the latter times, whereof it was a ſpecial Type. And which we find was that Throne which God commanded Moſes to make, and to place over the Ark betwixt the Cherubins, called the Mercy Seat, or Throne of Grace, as Exod. 25.17. And thou ſhalt make a Mercy Seat above upon the Ark, where he promiſed to ſit, govern, and to give Law to Iſrael, Verſe 22. And there I will meet with thee, and will commune with thee from above the Mercy Seat, from between the Cherubins, which are upon the Ark of the Testimony; of all things which I will give thee in Commandment unto the children of Iſrael.
Which Throne was made accordingly and all things appertaining thereto, as Exod. 40. and which no ſooner was erected, and put into the Tent or Tabernacle according to appointment, but the Lord came thereon, as Exod 40.34. compared Numb. 37. Then a Cloud covered the Tent of the Congregation, and the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle, and Moſes was not able to enter into the Seat of the Congregation; becauſe the Cloud abode thereon, and the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle, which was no other than that glorious preſence that brought them up out of Aegypt, whereof we read, Exod, 13.21. And the Lord went before them by day in a Pillar of a Cloud to lead them by the way, and by night in a Pillar of fire, to give them light to go by day and night, he took not away the Pillar of the Cloud by day, nor the Pillar of fire by night from before the people, and which was no other than Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, called the Angel of Gods preſence, Iſa, 63.0. and therefore ſaid, Exod. 23.20. Behold I ſend an Angel before thee to keep thee in thy way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared: Beware of him and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your tranſgreſſions; for my name is in him, but if thou ſhalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I ſpeak, then I will be an Enemy to thy Enemies, and an Adverſary to thy Adverſaries; for my Angel ſhall go before thee, and bring thee unto the Amorites, &c. of whom Stephen speaks, Acts 7.37, 38. This is that Moſes which ſaid unto the Children of Iſrael, A Prophet ſhall the Lord your God raiſe up unto you of your Brethren like unto me, him ſhall you hear, Deut. 18.15. Acts 3.22, 23, 24, 25, 26. This is he that was in the Church in the Wilderneſs with the Angel that ſpake to him in the Mount Sina, and with our Fathers who received the lively Oracles to give unto us, to whom our Fathers would not obey but thruſt him from them: And this is that Spiritual Rock that followed them, which was Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 10.4.
The Lord Chriſt being thus upon the Throne among them, you will ſind how he acted the part of a King, Ruler, Governour, Shepherd thereon, as more fully appears by the particulars following.
Firſt, By giving Law to them as a King and Legiſlator, whereof you have the Account, Numb. 7.89. And when Moſes was gone into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to ſpeak with him (viz. with God as in the Margent) then he heard the voice of one ſpeaking him from off the Mercy Seat (or Throne) that was upon the Ark of Teſtimony from between the two Cherubims. And he ſpeak unto him, &c. and ſo he goes on in the following Chapters: And Jehovah ſpake unto Moſes ſaying, &c. Giving him all the Laws, Statutes and Judgments from his mouth, who rejected ſaith Stephen the lively Oracles to give to us.
And therefore you have Moſes ſaying to the People, Deut. 4.5, 6, 7, 8. Behold I have taught you Statutes and Judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye ſhould do ſo, keep therefore and do them, for this is your wiſdom and underſtanding in the ſight of the Nations, which ſhall hear all theſe Statutes and ſay, ſurely this great Nation is a wiſe and underſtanding people; for what Nation is there ſo great who hath God ſo nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for; and what Nation is there ſo great that hath Statutes and Judgments ſo righteous as all this Law, which I ſet before you this day, &c.
Secondly, Becauſe as a Shepherd and Guide he march before him, as appeareth, Exod. 40 36, 37, 38. And when the Cloud was taken up from over the Tabernacle, the Ch ldren of Iſrael went onward in all their Jorneys: But if the Cloud were not taken up, then the Journyed not till the day it was taken up; for the Cloud of the Lord was upon the Tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the ſight of all the houſe of Iſrael, ſo again, Numb. 9.18. At the Commandment of the Lord the Children of Iſrael Jornyed, and at the Commandment of the Lord they pitched, as Long as the Cloud abode upon the Tabernacle, they reſted in the Tents; and when the Cloud tarryed long upon the Tabernacle many days, …hen the Children of Iſrael kept the charge of the Lord and Jornyed not, &c. And therefore it is ſaid, Exod. 15.13. Thou in thy Mercy haſt led forth thy people which thou haſt redeemed, thou haſt guided them in thy ſtrength to thy holy Habitation, and again, Pſal. 78.52. But made his own people to go forth like ſheep▪ and guided them in the Wilderneſs like a flock, and he led them on ſafely, ſo that they feared not, And Deut. 32.11, 12, 13. As an Eagle ſtirreth up her Neſt, fluttereth over her Young, ſpreadeth abroad her Wings, taketh them, beareth them on her Wings; ſo the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no ſtrange God with him, he made him ride on the high places of the Earth, that he might eat the encreaſe of the fields. &c.
Thirdly, As a Captain ſaved, deefnded and protected them, as Exod. 14.19, 20. And the Angel of God which went before the Camp of Iſrael, removed and went behind them, and the Pillar of the Cloud went from before their face, and ſtood behind them, and it came between the Tents of the Aegyptians and the Camp of Iſrael, and it was a Cloud and darkneſs to them, but it gave light by night to theſe, ſo that the one came not near the other all the night: And therefore it is ſaid, Numb. 23.2…. The Lord his God is with him, and the ſhout of a King is among them, God brought them up out of Aegypt, he hath as it were the ſtrength of an Unicorn, ſurely there is no inchantment againſt Jacob, neither is there any Divination gainſt Iſrael, according to this time it ſhall be ſaid of Jacob and Iſrael, what hath God wrought?
And again, Deut. 33.24. to the end, There is none like the God of Jeſurun who rideth upon the Heaven for thy help, and in his excellency on the Skie the Eternal God is thy …efuge, and underneath are the Everlaſting Arms, and he ſhall thruſt out the Enemy from before thee, and ſhall ſay deſtroy them, Iſrael then ſhall dwell in ſafety, above the Fountain of Jaoob ſhall be upon a Land of Corn and Wine; alſo his Heavens ſhall drop down Dew. Happy art thou O Iſrael, who is like unto thee? O People ſaved by the Lord, the Shield of thy help, and who is the Sword of thy excellency, and thine Enemies ſhall be found lyers unto thee, and thou ſhalt tread upon their high places.
Fourthly, For Counſel and direction in all Caſes, and to that end was the Breaſt-plate of Judgment made, called the Ʋrim and Thummim, that the people might approach the Throne with it, and enquire of the Lord on the peoples behalf, as the matter required, Num. 27.21. And Joſhuah ſhall ſtand before Eliazar the Prieſt, who ſhall ask Councel for him after the Judgment of Urim before the Lord, at his Word ſhall they go out, and at his Word they ſhall come in, both he and all the Children of Iſrael with him, even all the Congregation, of which Breaſt-plate of Judgment you may read, Exod. 28.15.29.30. And again, Numb. 27.1. That difficult caſe of the Daughters of Zeloph…ad, was in the fifth Verſe brought before the Lord, who gave direction therein▪ as appeareth, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
And Fifthly, as a great Captain General, To fight their Battles, and to give them victory over their Enemies, whereof you have divers inſtances, Num. 10.35, 36. And it came to paſs when the Ark ſet forward, that Moſes ſaid, Riſe up Lord, & let thine Enemies be ſcattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee and when it reſted he ſaid, Return O Lord unto the many thouſands of Iſraeli…. Joſh. 5 14. Nay but as a Captain of the Lords Hoſt am I now come, and Joſhuah fell on his face to the Earth, and did worſhip him, &c. From whence Caleb and Joſhuah fetcht ſtrength for faith in that difficult hour, Numb. 14.9. ſaying to their Brethren only, Rebel ye not againſt the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the Land; for they are Bread for us, their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us, fear them not, and it is ſaid, the Glory of the Lord appeared in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and by the Ark compaſſing of Jerico, Joſhuah 6. the Walls thereof fell down, which therefore gave Moſes Cauſe in his Song, Exod. 15.3. to ſay, That the Lord was a man of War, Jehovah was his name, and in the 11. verſe, that there was none like unto him amongſt the Gods, being glorious in holineſs, fearful in praiſes, doing wonders, who doth but ſtretch out his hand, and the Earth ſwallows up his Enemies, where y that promiſe was fulfilled, Lev. 26 7, 8. And you ſhall chaſe your Enemies, and they ſhall fall before you by the Sword, and five of you ſhall chaſe a hundred, and a hundred of you ſhall put ten thouſand to flight, and your Enemies ſhall fall before you by the Sword, Deut. 32.30. And again, Num. 14.24. Behold the perple ſhall riſe up as a great Lyon, and lift up himſelf as a young Lyon, he ſhall not lye down until he eat of the prey, and drink of the Blood of the ſlain; whereby Jeruſalem became a burdenſome ſtone to all people; for all that burdened themſelves with them was cut in pieces, and the Governours of Judah became a Harth of fire among the Wood, and a Torch of fire in a Sheaf, devouring all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left.
Sixthly, As a potent Monarch to give them eaſe and reſt, Exod. 33.14. And he ſaid my preſence ſhall go with thee and give thee reſt, Joſhuah 2….43, 44, 45. And the Lord gave unto Iſrael all the Land which he ſware to give unto their Fathers, and they poſſeſſed it and dwelt therein, and the Lord gave them reſt round about according to all that he ſware unto their Fathers, and then ſtood not a man of all their Enemies before them And the Lord delivered all their Enemies into their hand, there failed not ought of any good which the Lord had ſpoken unto the houſe of Iſrael, all came to paſs.
From which ſix Conſiderations it might well be ſaid, as Jer. 8.19 Is not the Lord in Zion, is not her King in her, and by Gideon, when they would have made him King, Jug. 8.23. I will not rule over, neither ſhall my ſon rule over you, the Lord ſhall rule over you. And well might the Lord ſay to Samuel, when the people would have a King like the Nations, 1 Sam. 8.7. That they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I ſhould not Reign over them, the Lord God being their King, 12.12. And no wonder that ſuch Rebellion ſhould be reckoned as one of their greateſt ſins and iniquities, 1 Sam. 12.16, 17, 18, 19, 20. with Hoſ. 9.15.
Which ſaid Throne with the Ark and its appurtenances, golden Candleſticks, Altar, Cenſures, &c. were put into
1. The Tent, and wherein it abode, till it was put into the Temple for about five hundred years, except that time it was in the Philiſtians hands.
2. Which marcht through the Wilderneſs, incompaſſed by the whole Camp, as you may read Numb. 2. and 3. Chapter.
3. After the conqueſt of Canaan was ſet up at Shilo, Joſ. 18.1.
4. In Elies days was brought into the Camp at Eben-Ezer, and taken by the Philiſtines, 1 Sam. 5.1. The Lord for the ſin of his people giving up his glory into the enemies hand, as 7, 8. Pſal. 60. So that he forſook the Tabernacle of Shilo: the Tent which he placed among men, and delivered his ſtrength into Captivity, and his Glory into the Enemies hand; he gave his people alſo over unto the Sword, and was wrath with his Inheritance, &c.
5. Which plagued the Philiſtines, Chapter 6. ſo that they returned it back again.
6. Smote the Men of Bethſhemeſh for their ſin, in looking into the Ark of the Lord, even 50000. of them Verſe 19. Fetcht by the men of Kerjathjearim into the Houſe of Abinadab on the Hill.
7. Removed by David, with an intention to bring it to his own City, but becauſe of the diſorder in carrying it on a Cart, which ſhould have been born upon Prieſts ſhoulders; Ʋzzah was ſmitten, and ſo the Ark was left three Moneths at the Houſe of Obed Edom, 1 Chron. 13.
8. Thence to the City of David, 1 Chron. 15.29.
9. Thence in the days of Solomon into the moſt Holy place into the Temple, 1 Kings 6.6. &c.
To which Throne there is ſpecial regard in this Book of the Revelations in ſeveral reſpects; For
1. As the Lord was ſaid to ſit then upon that Throne.
So John hath a Viſion of the Lords ſitting upon this Throne, Rev. 4.2.3.
2. As that Throne was poſited in the midſt of the Camp, viz. the Levites in their 24. Courſes being about it, and the whole Congregation divided into four Brigades, under four principal Standards, viz. Judah at the Eaſt with his fellow Tribes, with an Enſign as ſuppoſed of a Lyon, becauſe Jacob likened him thereto, Gen. 49.9. And Ephraim on the Weſt with a Bullock, being alſo called the firſtling of a Bullock, Deut. 33.17. Reuben on the South, with a man as ſuppoſed in his, and Dan with an Eagle in his Standard, which with the number of the Hoſt ſurrounding the Throne, viz. 603555. which you have particularly expreſt in the ſecond and third Chapter of Numbers.
So in this Book you have the Imperial Seſſion of God and of his Church, exactly framed according to the form of that ancient Encamping of God with Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, where you have the 24 Elders ſitting in 24 Thrones round about the Throne, clothed in white Raiment, and Crowns of gold upon their Head, in alluſion to the 24 Courſes of Levites, that incompaſt the other Throne; and the four living Creatures, viz. the Lyon the Calf, the Man, and the Eagle were in like manner round about the Throne, anſwering not onelyonly the four Standards before mentioned, but Ezekiels four Cherubins, Ezek. 1.10. Diſcovering as one obſerves the various conſtitutions, frames and tempers of the Saints.
All which both Elders and living Creatures thankfully acknowledge in their new Song, to have been Redeemed out of every Kindred, Tongue, People and Nation, (beſpeaking them Saints) and that they are made unto God, Kings and Prieſts to Reign on the Earth, Rev. 5.8, 9, 10. By which it appeareth they were the Churches Repreſentatives, and therefore are theſe Redeemed ones ſaid to ſtand before the Throne in white Robes, and Palmes in their hands, and to be a great multitude, that no man could number, Rev. 7.9. And who are ſaid to be before the Throne of God, and ſerve him day and night in his Temple, and he that ſitteth on the Throne, ſhall dwell amongſt them, &c. the ſame that is ſaid, Rev. 21.3, 4. As he Tabernacled of old with his People.
3. As the Throne in the days of Solomon was put into the moſt Holy place, 1 Kings 6.6. &c. which was that Cubical ſquare of twenty Cubits every way. So was this Throne put into this Cubical ſquare of 1500. Miles ſquare, as before in the Cubical figure, page 160.
4. That as there was pitcht by the Throne both in the Tabernacle and Temple, the golden Altar, the Candleſtick, and the Sea; ſo in alluſion thereto you have, Rev. 4. ſeven Lamps of fire burning before the Throne, interpreted to be the ſeven Spirits of God, and the Sea of glaſs like Chryſtal, which in Rev. 21.1. is called, the pure River of Water of Life clear as Cryſtal, proceeding out of the Throne; And alſo golden Vials, 5.8. And golden Cenſures, with much Incenſe before the golden Altar, Rev. 8.3, 4. Interpreted to be the Prayers of all Saints, 8.4. compare▪ 5.8. And their white Garments, interpreted to be the righteouſneſs of the Saintss Rev. 19.
5. That as the unity of the Godhead and Divinity of Chriſt was manifeſtly held forth by Chriſt ſiting upon the Throne, who in all reſpects was owned to be God, though ſometimes called an Angel.
So is the ſame great and bleſſed truth, fully in diverſe reſpects made out in this Book, reſpecting Chriſt's (the Lamb) ſitting upon the Throne with the Father, as appeareth by the following inſtances.
1. It is called the Throne of God and the Lamb, Rev. 22.3. Thereby intimating that Chriſt Jeſus hath equal property and Intereſt therein, accounting it no robbery to be equal with God, Phil. 2.6.
The unity of the Godhead being made out in the next words, and his Servants ſhall ſerve him, Rev. 22.3.
2. He that ſat upon the Throne ſaid, I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, Rev. 21.5. Which is the ſame that is attributed to Chriſt, Rev. 1.11. As alſo to God himſelf, Verſe 8.
3. He that ſat upon the Throne was to look upon like a Jaſper, the very ſame that is ſpoken of Chriſt; who is repreſented to be that Saphir like glory, that Wall of Saphir, and that foundation Saphir ſtone
4. He that ſat upon the Throne had Divine adoration and worſhip given him by the Church or their Repreſentatives, the 24. Elders and four living Creatures, Rev. 4.10, 11. They alſo worſhip and adore the Lamb. Rev. 5.9, 10.
The whole Church with joynt conſent, and one voice aſcribe the like ſalvation and glory to the Lamb, as they do to God ſitting upon the Throne, Rev. 7.9, 10.
And again, in the 11 and 12. Verſes, falling upon their Faces do worſhip God in unity, ſaying, Amen, Bleſſing, and Glory, and Wiſdom, and thanksgiving, and Honour, and Power, and might be unto our God, for ever and ever, Amen
Which alſo by the whole Church in that innumerable multitude is given to the Lamb, 5.14. ſaying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb, that was ſlain to receive Power, and Riches, and Wiſdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Bleſſing.
And then every Creature in Heaven and Earth is heard, ſaying, Bleſſing, Honour, Glory and Power be unto him that ſitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.
To which the Church again Echoes by their repreſentatives, ſaying Amen, and falling down and worſhipping Him, (viz. the unity of the Godhead that liveth for ever and ever.
6. You have alſo an evidence of this great truth, out of the Mouths of the enemies themſelves, even Babylon that is to be deſtroyed, Rev 6.15 16, 17. And the Kings of the Earth, and the great men and the rich men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty men, and every Bond-man, and every Free-man, (compare Rev. 19.18) ſaid to the Mountains and Rocks, fall upon us and hide us from the Face of the him that ſits upon the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of wrath is come (by way of unity and conjunction) and who ſhall be able to ſtand.
6. That as Chriſt, God, was King, Lord, and Law-giver of old unto his Church and People, ruling and governing them upon that Throne in all things reſpecting both Eccleſiaſtical, Civil, and Military affairs.
So is he in all thoſe reſpects upon his Throne here, who after he hath as Lord of Lords, and King of Kings judged the great Whore, and ſubdued the Beaſt, Rev. 19. And deſtroy them that have deſtroyed the Earth, Rev. 11.18. Will then in a more viſible way take to himſelf his great power, and Reign, Rev. 11.17. When that voice ſhall come out of the Throne, praiſe our God all ye his Servants, and ye that fear his name both ſmall and great, and when the Eccho ſhall be with a joynt conſent with great acclamation, Alleluja, for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth, let us be glad and rejoyce, and give honour to him, Rev. 19.5, 6, 7. And when gathering round about his Throne, they ſhall fall down upon their faces and worſhip him, aſcribing Salvation, Glory, Bleſſing, Wiſdom, Power, and Might unto him, Rev. 7.9, 10, 11, 12, To the fulfilling ſuch bleſſed Prophecies, as theſe, viz. Iſai. 33.22. The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our King, he ſhall ſave us, &c. Luke 1.32, 33. And he ſhall be great, and ſhall be called the Son of the Higheſt, and the Lord God ſhall give unto him the Throne of his Father David, and he ſhall Reign over the Houſe of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdom, there ſhall be no end, Iſai. 9.6. And the Government ſhall be upon his ſhoulders, and his name ſhall be called Wonderful, Counſellour to the Mighty God, the everlaſting Father, the Prince of Peace, of the encreaſe his Government and Peace, there ſhall be no end upon the Throne of David, and upon his Kingdom to order it, and to establiſh it from hence forth even for ever, the Zeal of the Lord of Hoſt, ſhall perform this that as David of old Ruled the natural Seed, ſo will our David govern all the Spiritual Seed.
And not only ſo but the Kingdoms of this World muſt become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall Reign for ever and ever, Rev. 11.15. When the whole Univerſe will ſubmit to his Scripture, and as the deſire of Nations, that his Government be imbraced, Hag. 2.7. And when all Creatures with univerſal conſent ſhall aſcribe Bleſſing, Honour, Glory and Power, to him that ſitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever, Rev. 5.13. When all Kings …all bow before him, and all Nations ſhall ſerve him, Pſ. 72.
When at his name every knee ſhall bow, and every Tongue ſhall confeſs, that Jeſus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, Phil. 2.10.
Secondly, You have the other Throne, on which the Lord was ſaid to ſit of old, hinted at here alſo, viz. that Throne on which the Judge or Elder of old ſat, wherein the Lord was ſaid more ordinarily to ſit, and it was called the Throne of the Lord.
And not improperly,
1. Becauſe the Lords Ordinance of Magiſtracy was managed thereon,
2. Becauſe the Lords Law was to be the rule thereof,
3. Becauſe the Judgement thereon given was ſaid to be the Lords,
4. Becauſe the Lords Servants, men of truth, and ſuch as feared his name were only to be intruſted therewith,
5. Becauſe the Lords ſpecial preſence was intayled thereto; concerning which you have a particular and brief account in that moſt excellent charge that good Jehoſhaphat give his Judges, 2 Chron. 19. reſpecting the Duty, Dignity and Law of the Throne, worthy to be written in letters of gold upon every Throne of Judicature: Where he chargeth them after this manner, viz. Take heed (ſaith he) what ye do: for ye judge not for men but for the Lord, who is with you in Judgement: Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor reſpect of perſons nor taking of gifts, and he charged them ſaying, thus ſhall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully, and with a perfect heart; and what cauſe ſoever ſhall come to you of your Brethren between blood and blood between Law and Commandment, Statutes and Judgements, ye ſhall even warn them that they treſpaſs not againſt the Lord, and ſo wrath come upon you and upon your brethren, this do, and ye ſhall not treſpaſs, deal couragiouſly, and the Lord ſhall be with the good; And to which may be added that of the Apoſtle, Rom. 13. Holding out the great end of the Thrones erecting, viz. for the puniſhment of evil doers, and for the praiſe of them that do well.
And which Throne of Judgement is here alſo intended and included, and on which the Lord will ſit in this his day, to the making his Crown to flouriſh;
For the Text ſaith, when that Throne of the Lord and of the Lamb ſhall be in it, that his Servants ſhall ſerve him, viz his Saints and people ſhall be ſubſervient to him in this great miniſtration of managing the Throne, viz. they are eſpecially to aſcend the Thrones and Judgements, as Rev. 20.4. And I ſaw Thrones, and they ſat upon them, and Judgemene was given unto them, &c.
And in 4.4. And round about the Throne were twenty four Seats, (or Thrones) and upon the Seats I ſaw twenty four Elders, ſitting clothed in white Raiment, and they had on their heads Crowns of Gold, being as Rev. 5.10. Made by Christ Kings and Prieſt, viz. Royal Prieſthood, l. p. 2. 9. To Reign with and for Chriſt, and as his ſubſtitutes, in his Name, and fear, to his praiſe by his Law, through his Spirit with his preſence, are they to execute the judgement of Truth, in continual ſubjection, and ſubordination to him, and therefore are ſaid, 4.10. to caſt their Crowns at his Feet before his Throne, aſcribing the Honour, Glory and Power to him. Whereby that Sovereign Ordinance of Magiſtracy that was ordained for the bleſſing and benefit of Mankind, ſhall now be reſtored to its primitive luſter and purity; when there ſhall be (to accompliſh the word of promiſe) Judges reſtored as at firſt, and Counſellours as at the beginning, that the City may be called the City of Righteouſneſs, the faithful City, Iſa. 26. When her Officers muſt be made Peace, and Exactours, Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 60.17. When their Nobles ſhall be of themſelves, and their Governours ſhall proceed from the midſt of them, Jer. 30.21. And Princes ſhall no more oppreſs Gods people, Ezek. 45.8. Nor any oppreſſed ſhall paſs through them any more, then may we expect that the Lords Law will be magnified and made honourable, Iſa. 1.42.21.23. And the Law muſt go forth of Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jeruſalem, Mich. 4.2. Then Righteouſneſs, Truth and Peace, ſhall kiſs each other, Pſal. 45. And the people ſhall be judged with Righteouſneſs, and the poor with judgement when there ſhall be a Spirit of judgement to them that ſit in judgement; and ſtrength to them that turn the battle to the Gate, Iſa. 28.56. For the Spirit of the Lord muſt then eminently be given to Rulers and Judges, who muſt be annointed for the due execution of that great Ordinance, as the 70 of old, Numb. 11 17.27. Numb 27.18.20, 21. as the Joſhua's, Deut. 34.9. the Othniell's, Jud 3.9, 10. the Sampſons, Jud 14.6 the Samuels, 1 Sam. 3.20. the Davids, 1 Sam. 16.13, 14. when the feeble ſhall be as David, and the Davids as Angels, Zach. 12.8. When righteouſneſs ſhall run down as a mighty ſtream, and peace ſhall be extended like a River, Iſa. 66.12. And Wiſdom and Knowledge ſhall be the ſtability of theſe times, Iſa. 33.6.
And this ſhall be the ſeaſon when there ſhall be no more Curſe, as the Text ſaith, when the Throne of the Lamb ſhall thus take place, intimating that the abuſe of the Throne has brought in a Curſe which is a great truth; for righteous Rulers are not more to be eſteemed a bleſſing than evil and wicked Rulers are eſteemed a Curſe, which are given therefore as a judgment and Curſe for ſin, as well as to be a Curſe, as Lev. 26.17. Judges 2.14. Deut. 28.47, 48. 2 Kin. 17.19. Iſa. 10.5.42.24. Iſa. 3.4. Eccleſ. 10.16.4.13, 14 Iſa. 3.4.13.
Thus have we taken a view of that Throne of God and the Lamb, that is to be in new Jeruſalem the City of God: We ſhall alſo obſerve to you that Babylon hath a Throne in her alſo; but it is the Throne of the Devil, Rev. 2.10. The Throne of the Beaſt, Rev. 16. even that Seat or Throne that the Dragon gave him, Rev. 13 who reſigned to him his Power, Seat and Authority, Rev. 13.2. A throne of Violence, Miſchief, Blood and Iniquity, from whence has proceeded all manner of unrighteouſneſs, they having thereon eſtabliſhed miſchief by a Law, and becauſe it hath been in the power of their hands: therefore have they exacted it with all manner of cruelty and oppreſſion; for in her is found the Blood of the Prophets and of Saints, and of all that are ſlain upon the earth, Rev. 18.24. And therefore has the holy Spirit portraied the Beaſt, and where the Chief Rulers upon this Throne are to have their Garments all stained with Blood of a Crimſon and Scarlet Colour, and to be drunk with Blood, Blood within and Blood without, a Scarlet Whore riding upon a Crimſom Coloured Beaſt, and therefore is that cry under the Altar, How Long ere thou avenge our blood at her hand.
But the day is haſtening, when Inquiſition ſhall be made after this Blood, Pſal. 9.12. And when the Earth ſhall diſcloſe her Blood, and no more cover her ſlain, Iſa 26.21. When the Righteous Sentence ſhall go forth from the Throne, give her Blood to drink; for ſhe is worthy, Rev. 16.6. with the reaſon of it; for they have ſhed the Blood of Saints and Prophets; Fill her double in the Cup ſhe hath filled, when that Song ſhall be Sung, even the Song of Moſes the ſong of the Lamb, viz. Great and Marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty, juſt and true are thy ways thou King of Saints, who ſhall not fear thee O Lord, and glorifie thy holy Name; for thou only art Holy; for all Nations ſhall come and worſhip before thee, for thy Judgments are made manifest, And again, Allelujah Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and power unto the Lord our God; for true and Righteous are his Judgments; for he hath judged the great Whore, which did corrupt the Earth with her Fornication, and hath avenged the Flood of his Servants at her hand. And again they ſaid, Allelujah, Rev. 19.1, 2, 3.
If you deſire better information into the Idolatries, Hypocriſies, Treaſons and cruel Butcheries of the Popiſh Antichriſtian Generation (if you have forgot the Amarian Cruelties, the Bloody Iriſh and Peidmont Maſſacres, with the burning of London) read two late pieces writ, one by Dr. Stillingfleet, and an other (giving you the Hiſtory of theſe things out of their own writing,) by Mr. Foulis.