Throne of Grace

 Never did a man see Jesus Christ by the eye of faith, but he is, by that sight of him, persuaded that there is none to be compared with him. No man is converted, and made a believer, but by a revelation of Jesus Christ. A man may be awakened with a view of God's glory; he may be alarmed by a sight of sin and hell; and may be roused out of his sleep of security, by the thunders of Sinai: but he is never converted, and made a Christian, but by a revelation of Jesus Christ, as glorious in his robes of salvation. Whence then is it that all believers on him do not own his manifesting himself to them, and their seeing of him? It is in part from the weakness of their sight, the greatness of the glory of him they see, and their strong desire to see him better. But for such as have spent their days about the throne of grace, and yet never saw Jesus Christ, and the glory of God in his face as a Saviour, so as to disgrace all things in comparison with him, so as to raise desires after more of him, and so as to fill their 'hearts with love, wonder, and praise; such have been at the court, but have not seen the King on his throne. 2. Are you come to the throne of grace? What made you come? what errand did you come upon? No man comes without an errand. We need not make and seek one; we have e now at hand, if we would but use them. What wants felt you at home? and what of his fullness was taking with you? Can you say, I have a naked filthy soul, and I am ashamed to look on it; but how well would the robe of his righteousness fit and adorn it? I am empty of all good, and he is full of all grace, on purpose to fill perishing souls, and I come for a share thereof. The blessing of many ready to perish hath come upon him; and I came for his rich salvation, and would leave my poor, but eternal blessing on him. They that have no particular pressing business about their soul's salvation, may talk of the throne of grace, but do not indeed come to it.  Robert Traill