dence; but it is also employed to convey to us the different offices and perfections of God the Son, the second Person in the adorable Trinity: since by the same expression, as we find it in Isaiah, ix. 6, it is said, His NAME shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. And the angel of God, in St. Matthew, i. 23, unites in the same application of it, when he says, that a virgin shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his NAME EMMANUEL, which, being interpreted, is, God with us. Even the preaching Christ's authority and commission (or professing the Gospel), and his advancement above all principalities and powers, to the highest degree of glory, honour, majesty, and dominion, are all included under the application of his NAME: for, as our Lord asserts (Matt. vii. 22), Many will say to him in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy NAME, and in thy NAME cast out devils, and in thy NAME done many wonderful works? It is also asserted, that his followers shall be hated for his NAME's sake, and that they who forsake the choicest comforts of this life for his NAME's sake, shall inherit eternal life. And as to the last-mentioned instance, in which this one word comprises such a combination of his divine perfections; it is proved by Phil. ii. 9, that at the NAME of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under

the earth. For, as the Apostle observes to the same effect, in Eph. i. 21, he hath given him a NAME, far above all principalities, and powers, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come.

Having now, my brethren, most fully manifested to you, by express authority of Scripture, that, by calling on the NAME of God and Christ, we in every essential and solemn sense do apply ourselves immediately to the divine Persons of the Godhead, it behoves us ever to keep in mind what a serious meaning is affixed to this first petition in our blessed Master's Prayer, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. We can be no longer at a loss for reasons why the use of that holy name should have every possible veneration paid it. And if we pray for grace to cultivate such a religious impression of these truths upon our minds, as doubtless our Lord intended his true disciples should possess, we need be under no fear of ever taking his holy name in vain, when we address him in our forms of daily worship, whether in the congregation or in private.

To give you a true notion of this most necessary and useful sense of the petition, has been my present humble design: may God bless the endeavour, as a means of qualifying every supplication we make unto HIM, to the praise

and glory of his most holy NAME, and for the sake, and through the merits of his dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord. To whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed all might, majesty, and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.

LECTURE XXXVIII.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.-SECOND PETITION.

"Thy kingdom come."

LUKE, XVII. 20, 21.

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation; for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

THE

He request contained in this second petition of our Lord's Prayer is of all others the most important, both to our present and eternal welfare. In praying that GOD'S KINGDOM MAY COME, is implied a faithful desire that we may be made children of that kingdom; and as no one can offer this petition to any saving purpose, who is not sincere as to the request, so no sincerity can be expected, unless we are fully acquainted with the true sense of the petition. It may afford useful instruction to enlarge upon these words, that, by impressing your minds with the many serious articles they comprehend, the desires of the heart may accompany the sacrifice of the lips; and by thus praying with the