Page:Lamb in the midst of the throne.pdf/7

Rh the feeder. That I may open and apply this for our benefit, I propoſe the following method.

I. Speak a little of the Lamb.

II. Of the throne.

III. How the Lamb comes to be upon the throne.

IV. What is imported in the Lamb's being in the midſt of the throne.

V. Conſider the benefit of feeding, that iſſues from the Lamb's being in the midſt of the throne.

I. We are to offer a word concerning the Lamb. This is a name frequently given to our Lord Jeſus in ſcripture; and he is ſo called, both becauſe of his immaculate whiteneſs and innocency, and becauſe of his incomparable meekneſs and patience: He is a Lamb without blemiſh, and without ſpot, 1 Pet. i. 19. and his meekneſs was matchleſs, of which more afterward: he is the Lamb of God, the worthy Lamb, the Lamb that was ſlain.

I ſhall only here mention four periods wherein is repreſented as a Lamb.

1. In his deſignation from the beginning, yea, from all eternity to be a ſacrifice to ſatisfy divine : hence, Rev. xiii. 8. he is called 'the Lamb ſlain from the foundation of the world;' ſlain deretively, in the purpoſe of God, before the foundation of the world was laid; and ſlain typically, in all the ſacrifices under the law.

2. In his manifeſtation, when he appeared in our nature, he is pointed out as the Lamb that was come to be a ſacrifice for ſin, John i. 29. 'Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the ſins of the world;' and again, ver. 36. Behold the Lamb of God. To this purpoſe ſays the ſame beloved, 1 John iii. 5. You know that he was manifeſted to take away our ſin.'