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who reigneth, on the ark of the covenant, "between the cherubims," Psalm xcix. 1. Although Christ was not then yet exalted to the kingly authority, he nevertheless then also manifested himself a king. He appeared then often as the angel of God's presence, he gave the law, went before Israel to lead them into Canaan, and appeared to Joshua, as "the Captain of the Lord's host." Yet all this was done with the encumbrance of a worldly sanctuary, and under darksome shadows of better things. But although that kingdom of the Old Testament was such an outward and material kingdom, it nevertheless included an inward and spiritual kingdom within it. They had then certainly the essential benefits of the kingdom of grace, as righteousness, peace and joy through the Holy Ghost. See only the Psalms of David, and the Song of Solomon.

2. The kingdom of grace exists particularly under the New Testament, in which the Lord God reigns over the elect Gentiles, as well as Jews, only by his Spirit with his word and sacraments, with out the encumbrance of a worldly sanctuary: this is called emphatically, "the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of God, for which Joseph of Arimathea, waited," Mark xv. 43. Therefore God sent his Son into the world to be a king, John xviii. 37, who also bore the guilt of his subjects, reconciled them to God, overcame his and their enemies, "abolished the sacrifices and oblations, broke down the middle wall of partition," and maintains "his throne no longer on the ark, but hath Jerusalem, even his church, for his throne, and is seated at the right hand of his Father, angels, and authorities and powers being made subject to him," Dan. ix. 24-27. Col. ii. 13-15. Eph. ii. 13-19. Jer. iii. 16. 1 Pet. iii. 22.

3. The kingdom of God is however not yet complete, but it will be perfected after this life in glory; which takes place indeed partly now, when the souls of the subjects, separated from the body, become forthwith happy, and are taken up into paradise, even heaven; but it will take place fully in the resurrection of the dead, and in the final judgment, when they will "inherit the kingdom," in body as well as in soul, " and be taken up into the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall be ever with the Lord," Matt. xxv. 34. 1 Thess. iv. 17. Where God will then be all in all; for they will be round about the throne, and God will reign over them immediately, and render them happy for ever with his allsufficient influence, neither will any adversaries afflict them; for "death and hell shall be cast into the lake of fire," Rev. xx. 14.

II. When the Lord Jesus teaches the children of God to pray for the coming of God's kingdom, he doth not then speak of God's

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universal kingdom, but of the kingdom of grace as far as it was still to come: and therefore he doth not mention the kingdom of grace under the Old Testament, which was then ready to vanish away: but he requireth that we should pray for the coming of the New Testament, and of glory, which drew near even then: "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," said the Baptist, Matt. fit. 2. The Saviour saith the same thing, Matt. i. 15. The prophets foretold from ancient times that it would come, according to which prophecies the believers "waited for that kingdom, with Joseph of Arimathea," Mark iv. 43.

This kingdom comes, either with respect to the church in general. or with respect to each sincere member of the church in particular. With respect to the church in general, the kingdom of God comes, (a) When the gospel of the kingdom is preached, where it was not before, and when it is published with more clearness than before. (b) When the enemies are destroyed, or restrained. (c) When eminent men are raised up, who promote the kingdom greatly. (d) When the church is improved in doctrine and life, and (e) When many submit themselves to the King in truth; for "the king's honour is in the multitude of people," Prov. iv. 28. Or, as the instructor saith, when "God preserves and increases the church, and destroys the works of the devil," &c.

If ye will rather, with many others, follow the order of time, and notice in what manner the Lord hath caused his kingdom to come from time to time in the world, observe then,

1. That the kingdom of God came, when Christ the king came into the world, preached the word among the Jews, confirmed it by his miracles, purchased the benefits of the kingdom by his obedience and sufferings, overcame death and the devil by his resurrection, arose to the throne at the right hand of the Father by his ascension into heaven, sent the Spirit of the kingdom down from his throne upon his apostles, and sent them into the world, to subdue, and gather his subjects to him: "If I by the Spirit of God cast our devils," said the King to the Jews, Matt. xii. 18, "then the kingdom of God is come unto you." When he was among them with his word and miracles, then "the kingdom of God was also within them," Luke xvii. 20, 21. He evidenced by his exaltation and the outpouring of his Spirit, that "God had made him both Lord and Christ," Acts ii. 33-36.

2. The kingdom of God came also, when the word of the kingdom was preached with power among the Gentiles, and received by many nations: When "he spake peace unto the heathen, he then

also ruled from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth," Zech. ix. 10.

3. We add also to this, that it came, when "he sent forth his armies," even the Romans, "who destroyed the Jews, and burnt up the city," as the king foretold, because "they would not have that he should reign over them, and had slain him and his people," Matt. xxii. 7. Luke xix. 37. Then "they saw him, sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven," Matt. xxvi. 64. For when the Lord punisheth and judgeth a people, he is then said " to come on the clouds," Isaiah xix. 1.

4. When Christ came in this manner with his kingdom in the world, "the kings of the earth set themselves against him," and sought by the ten wellknown heathen persecutions to root out the remembrance of his name from the earth. But God, who "had anointed his king," and had promised him, that "he would give him the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession," Psalm ii. 6, 8, did by means of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperour, destroy those tyrants and their tyranny, and he "compassed his people about with joyful songs of deliverance," and gathered also many kings of the earth to himself: for then "the dragon was cast out into the earth, and the strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ came," Rev. xii. 9, 10.

5. The kingdom of God came in an exceedingly glorious and illustrious manner in the reformation of the church; for then the gospel, which had been long obscured by the Romish additions, was clearly and powerfully explained and preached, by which means even many kings were induced to shake off the yoke of Antichrist and submit themselves to Christ. See this represented in a vision, Rev. xiv. 6.

6. These things have happened already, and we enjoy now yet the blessed fruits of them: therefore we must not pray, but praise the Lord for them. But the kingdom of God, for which we must still pray, will come when he will give more life, and a greater portion of his Spirit, when he will convert Jews and Gentiles, and subdue the Turks and Antichrist. Although we cannot determine the measure, nor the manner, nor the extent of this event, nor the time when it will happen, we nevertheless see the matter itself foretold, Rom. xi. 25-29, Rev. xvi. xviii. xix. xx.

7. But this kingdom will come perfectly in the day of judgment, when Jesus the King will cast all the ungodly into the fire of hell,

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and "conduct his subjects into the kingdom of his Father, where they will shine as the sun; and then he will deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, and God" will influence all the blessed immediately, and thus be "all in all," Matt. xiii. 41-43. xxv. 3146. 1 Cor. xv. 24-28.

When the kingdom of God comes thus with respect to the church in general, it comes then also with respect to each member in particular, and each receives his particular advantage by it, and indeed *(a) When God delivers the elect sinner out of the power of darkness, and translates him into the kingdom of his dear Son," as Paul speaks, Col. i. 13. Then "the King" comes and "rides prosperously in his majesty, because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness," in his heart, Psalm xlv. 4. But the believer doth not pray for this, because he is already delivered. (b) When God endues him with so much power and vigour, that he exerts a manly holiness, and fights valiantly against his spiritual enemies, and treads them under his feet, saying with a holy magnanimity, like Paul, 1 Cor. v. 12. "I will not be brought under the power of any." (c) He sometimes visits him with his kingly grace, shows him his love, reveals his glory, and "makes with his Father his abode" in the heart of the person who loves him, as he promiseth, John xiv. 21, 23. And he thus, "rules him by his word and Spirit, so that he submits bimself more and more to the Lord," as the catechism explains this matter, according to the scripture. (d) But finally, this kingdom comes to him, when the King glorifies him, and conducts him into his blessed kingdom, first in death, with respect to his soul, com manding "the angels to carry his soul into Abraham's bosom," that he may be with the King in Paradise," Luke xvi. 22. xxiii. 43, and afterwards in the resurrection, Psalm xvii, 15. Matt. xxv. 34.

III. So far then as the church, and the children of God do not yet enjoy the coming of God's kingdom, they are bound to pray, that it may come to them; for (1) They are the children of the King, and it is therefore natural to them to desire that their Father may be manifested as king, and rule over all. This induced the psalmist to proclaim before the Messiah, the antitype of Solomon, "Blessed be his glorious name, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory," Psalm lxxii. 19. (2) Their Father's name is hallowed and glorified, when his kingdom comes; see Prov. xiv. 28. Therefore they who pray in truth that his name may be hallowed, ought also to pray that his kingdom may come. (3) The glory of the kingdom should induce them to pray that it may come: for it is a most righteous kingdom, and the King doth no iniquity; it is a

kingdom of incredible riches; the greatest peace, contentment and happiness is enjoyed in it. (4) Believers ought certainly to love their neighbour: they do also love him: shall not that love then urge them to pray for him, that the kingdom of God may come to him also ? see how Paul did this for Agrippa, Acts xxvi. 29. David prayed thus, and desired that every citizen of Jerusalem should imitate him therein, Psalm cxxii. (5) They long much for the perfection of God's kingdom. This will surely induce them to cry, "Even so, come Lord Jesus," Rev. xxii. 20. (6) They have learnined by experience, that they are unable to effect any thing for this purpose: their numerous enemies are too powerful for them. What shall they then do but sigh with Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. xx. 12. "Ο our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us: neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee."

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APPLICATION.

But, hearers, who of you prays that the kingdom of God may come? I know that there are few, and perhaps there are none who have not learned to say this petition after others, and they will repeat this lesson day by day, as if that were praying: while many nevertheless know not what they say, and they speak without heart, and not to God, who is far from them, and a stranger to them. But who is so solicitous for the coming of this kingdom, that his soul prays for it with hearty longings.

Ye surely are not, (a) who suffer your lusts, the world, and the devil to rule over you, and who follow whatever your vile hearts suggest: doth the world, urged by the devil, propose and command aught, as honourable, pleasant and profitable, ye will by all means obey them, and will not so much as listen to the great King. Ye have indeed suffered yourselves to be overcome by those vile and evil lords, and are become their servants, 2 Peter ii. 15. For "ye walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind," Eph. ii. 2, 3. How should ye then pray for this kingdom? ye regard only the kingdom of dark

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