COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE.

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the tree. The second part is that which he executeth there whither he is now gone, even in heaven itself, where the throne of grace is. I say, study what Christ has done, and is doing. Oh! what is he doing now? He is sprinkling his blood, with his priestly robes on, before the throne of grace. That is too little thought on by the saints of God. "We have such an High Priest, who is set down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Busy thyself, fellow Christian, about this blessed office of Christ. It is full of good, it is full of sweet, it is full of heaven, it is full of relief and succor for the tempted and dejected; wherefore, I say again, study these things, give thyself wholly to them.

6. Since God has prepared himself a lamb, a sacrifice, a priest, a throne of grace, and has bid thee come to him; come to him as there sitting-come, come boldly, as he bids thee. What better warrant canst thou have to come, than to be bid to come of God? When the good man himself bids the beggar come to his house, then he may come boldly; the consideration of the invitation doth encourage. That we have a friend at court, should also make us come boldly. Jesus, as has been showed, as sacrifice and High Priest, is there, in whom we may "have boldness and access with confidence, by the faith of him.” Again, "By him also we have access by faith unto this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Again, "We have boldness, brethren, to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus."

What can be more plain, more encouraging, more comfortable to them that would obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need?

It is a dishonor to God, disadvantage to thee, and an encouragement to Satan, when thou hangest back and seemest afraid to come boldly to the throne of grace. "Let us, there

fore, draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works."

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THE

DESIRE OF THE RIGHTEOUS GRANTED.

THE DESIRE OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS ONLY GOOD.-Prov. xi. 23.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE TEXT.

THE FEAR OF THE WICKED, IT SHALL COME UPON HIM: BUT THE DESIRE OF THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE GRANTED.-Prov. x. 24.

THIS book of the Proverbs is so called, because it containeth hard, dark, and pithy sentences of wisdom, by which is taught unto young men knowledge and discretion. Wherefore this book is not such as discloseth truths by words antecedent or subsequent to the text, so as other Scriptures generally do, but has its texts, or sentences more independent. For usually each verse standeth upon its own bottom, and presenteth by itself some singular thing to the consideration of the reader; so that I shall not need to bid my reader look back to what went before, nor yet to that which follows, for the better opening of the text; and shall therefore come immediately to the words, and search into them for what hidden treasures are contained therein.

The words, then, in the first place, present us with the general condition of the whole world; for all men are ranked under one of these conditions, the wicked or the righteous:

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