Page:Lamb in the midst of the throne.pdf/3

Rh Whatever relation ſome think this may have to the church of Chriſt on earth, after they have eſcaped the Antichriſtian bloody perſecution; or, as others, to the martyrs in heaven, that have ſuffered unto death for the Lord Jesus Chriſt, yet it may be ſaid of all the militant ſaints, who, through much trouble, enter into the kingdom of heaven, and therein are conformed to their ſuffering head, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and bear about ''in their body the dying of the Lord Jeſus. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all''. It may be ſaid of all the ſaints, theſe are they that have come from trouble to reſt, from bondage to liberty, from death to life, and have waſhed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The perfection of this purity they have in heaven; but even here on earth they are waſhed in the blood of Chriſt, and clothed with the white robe of his imputed and imparted righteouſneſs.

Ver. 15th, 'Therefore are they before the throne of God, and ſerve him day and night in his temple; and he that ſitteth on the throne ſhall dwell among them.' This ſeems to be a further deſcription of the happineſs of the ſaints both militant and triumphant: as they are happy,

1. In their ſtate, being 'waſhed, juſtified, and ſanctified, in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of their God.'

2. They are happy in their ſtation, being always before the throne of God. The glorified ſaints in heaven are always in that preſence where there is fulneſs of joy; and the ſanctified ones upon earth have this bleſſing alſo beſtowed upon then, they are ſaid to ſit with him in heavenly places; and it is their daily work to come boldly to the throne of grace. Again.