Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 233, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1916 — WHERE LOVE ABIDES [ARTICLE]

WHERE LOVE ABIDES

Throne of Grace a Symbol of Mercy to the Sinners Come to Judgment.

Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help In time of need. —Hebrews 4:16. This exhortation Is the conclusion of a long argument which presents Jesus, the son of God, as the high priest of believers, and as one who makes Intercession for us. Therefore, says the writer, we may come boldly. Bot when we read the verse of the text, what stands out most prominently Is tEe throne —the throne at once brings certain attributes of God before us. It at once suggests all Ideas of majesty, sovereignty, dominion, infinitude, greatness. The throne of the almighty Is an awe-inspiring conception. . It is the throne of Judgment All nations shall be gathered before that throne and he shall separate men to the right hand and to the left With unerring.'sight he shall read the Uvea of men and judge accordingly. “Justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne." The throne of Judgment, terrifying—w’hlte and sparkling —cold and repellent It is the throne of glory, “When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all his holy angels with him, lie shall sit upon the throne of his glory.” Flashing and dazzling, coruscating and blinding, glittering and shimmering, ready to smite the diseased eye that would look with presumption up to that heavenly throne.

Throne of Holiness. It is the throne of holiness. Yes, lofty, far up there, towering above us In Its pure completeness. And we phor creatures, being ourselves blinded and dazed, and far away from him—we feel as if there were an Infinite gulf-be-tween him and us that could never be bridged. We, groping in the vapors and miasmas of the earth, and he on the throne of his holiness. —j£ l s Ljj e throne of grace, O bow-

that transforms the throne for us at once. Judgment is there, apd the glory is there, and the hotocss is there; but we see them all through a different medium when we know that it is also a throne of grace. Majesty is there, sovereignty is there, dominion is there, power is there, but they are all sheathed in the softest, tenderest, most blessed folds of love. “Grace” is a New Testament word; it is a gospel word. It is the undeserved favor and loving regard of God to man. What hope would there be for you and me if we were simply standing before a throne of Justice and Judgment, which would weigh things with divine accuracy, and Judge with divine Impartiality? What have we of merit or worthiness In us? Do you think that you would plead your own transcendent merits before that throne? Do you think that you would come with boldness and hold your head high? If you do not tremble at the thought of divine justice and judgment, it is because satan has blinded you anfi filled you with the self-conceit of imaginary righteousness. Place of All-Embracing Love. And what will you do before the throne of his holiness? Will not your own sinfulness stand out black against that purity, will not your guilt be overwhelming in the presence of that whiteness? You will want to sink away as the beasts of the night slink to their lairs when the sun rises in his splendor. I would never dare to approach the throne of judgment, and I could never stand in the presence of the throne of holiness; but when I learn that It is also the throne of grace, I know that all these glorious attributes are bathed In the love that embraces you and me with its far-reaching arms. There are two who are unfit for showing mercy; he who has never been tried; and he who, having been tempted, has proven weak and easily overcome. The untempted are often severe judges; they would offender out from the bosom of society. On the other hand, those who have sinned much are lenient and have no proper conception of the guilt of sin. Our Lord Jesus Christ who was tempted, but who came scatheless through the trial, he alone is fit for showing mercy unto sinfnl humanity. Therefore you may draw near with boldness untp his throne of grace.—Exchange.