We ought therefore to go boldly to the throne of grace, with assurance and confidence. For if we were throughly persuaded that Christ doth willingly reach us his hand, who is it that would not conceive full boldness to present himself before this throne? That which I have said then is true, to wit, that men do take the virtue of Christ his Priesthood away from him, as long as they stand in doubt, and vex themselves in seeking Mediators here and there, as if Christ alone were not sufficient: upon whose intercession whosoever rests himself indeed, as the Apostle here commandeth, he may assure himself that his prayers are heard. The foundation of this assurance is, that the throne of God doth not present such a majesty as should astonish us; but it is adorned with a new title, that is to say, of grace: which always ought to be fresh in our memories, when we fly the presence of God. For it cannot be but the glory of God should swallow us up by and by with despair, if that alone ⟨p. 88⟩come into our minds: and so, his throne shall be fearful unto us indeed. The Apostle therefore to remedy this distrust, and to deliver our minds from fear and trembling, doth clothe it with grace, and gives a name unto it that might draw us by the sweetness thereof. As if he should say, since God doth hang out of his throne an ensign of grace, & of his fatherly love towards us, we have no cause to fear that his majesty should beat us back, or hinder us to go unto him. The sum is, that we call upon God boldly with full confidence, since we know that he is become favourable to us; and that we do this by the means of Christ: as it is said, Eph. 3.12. By him we have boldness and confidence by faith in him. 1For when Christ receiveth us under his guard and protection, he covereth the admirable majesty of God with favour (which without him would be fearful) to the end that nothing might appear there but grace and fatherly kindness.
We ought therefore to goe boldly to the throne of grace, with assurance and confidence. For if we were throughly perswaded that Christ doth willingly reach vs his hand, who is it that would not conceiue full boldnesse to present himselfe before this throne? That which I haue said then is true, to wit, that men doe take the vertue of Christ his Priesthood away from him, as long as they stand in doubt, and vexe themselues in seeking Mediators here and there, as if Christ alone were not sufficient: vpon whose intercession whosoeuer rests himselfe indeed, as the Apostle here commandeth, he may assure himselfe that his praiers are heard. The foundation of this assurance is, that the throne of God doth not present such a maiestie as should astonish vs; but it is adorned with a new title, that is to say, of grace: which alwaies ought to be fresh in our memories, when we flie the presence of God. For it cannot be but the glorie of God should swallowe vs vp by and by with despaire, if that alone ⟨p. 88⟩come into our mindes: and so, his throne shall be fearefull vnto vs indeede. The Apostle therefore to remedie this distrust, and to deliuer our mindes from feare and trembling, doth cloath it with grace, and giues a name vnto it that might draw vs by the sweetnes thereof. As if he should say, since God doth hang out of his throne an ensigne of grace, & of his fatherly loue towards vs, we haue no cause to feare that his maiestie should beat vs backe, or hinder vs to goe vnto him. The summe is, that we call vpon God boldly with full confidence, since we knowe that he is become fauourable to vs; and that we doe this by the meanes of Christ: as it is said, Eph. 3.12. By him we haue boldnesse and confidence by faith in him. 1For when Christ receiueth vs vnder his gard and protection, he couereth the admirable maiestie of God with fauour (which without him would be fearefull) to the end that nothing might appeare there but grace and fatherly kindnes.
- 1We ought not to fear the throne of God, for it is hanged all over with grace.VVe ought not to feare the throne of God, for it is hanged all ouer with grace.
