Page:Lamb in the midst of the throne.pdf/45

Rh The Lamb in the midſt of the throne hath the government upon his ſhoulders, and he is righteouſly, ordering and over-ruling theſe matters for the profitable trial of his people, and the glorious praiſe of his name in the iſſue; The wrath of man fall praise thee, and the remainder of his wrath wilt thou restrain. The Lord hath his own time and way of reſtraining his enemies, and his own time and way of reforming his church; and when the Lord ſhall appear in his glory, he will build up Zion. Sometimes he ſees fit to appear in his wrath, and then he lets out the wrath of man, the enmity of man, to the breaking down of Zion, and of his carved work: but there is another time, when he ſees fit to appear in his glory, and then to reſtrain the wrath of man, and reform his church. And ſince he is appearing in his wrath in our day, letting out the reins of man's wrath, to the ruining of reformation-work; O be ſober and humble, and depend upon him as the Lamb in the midſt of the throne, who hath the reins in his hand, to let them out, or take them in, as he pleaſes. Inſtruments are but his word, his hand, by which he does what he pleaſes, Pſal. xvii. 13, 14. 'Deliver my ſoul from the wicked, from men which are thy hand, O Lord.' Think not then the government is out of Chriſt's hand, when men are doing many ſad things, and giving many heavy blows to the work of God; no, no; men are but his hand; and it is the hand of God that juſtly and righteouſly is lying heavy upon his people. Look above men then; you have not to do with them, there is a turn of matters just as he is pleaſed to turn his hand; the Lamb is in the midſt of the throne, and in the midſt of heavy clouds hanging over Scotland; therefore look to him, that he may turn away his wrath, Pſal. ii.