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that the external Polity of Chrift's Kingdom may be propagated, but that all the Members thereof may be fincere in their Profeffion, and anfwer their Pretence by Reality of Godliness in Heart and Life.

There is, I confefs, a third Notion concerning the coming of Chrift's Kingdom, with fome Application to this Petition which I fhall not think unmeet to infift upon a little while, because it may be fafely applied thereto, as being but little diftinct from thofe which have been already laid down.

It was foretold in the Old Teftament concerning the Kingdom of Chrift, of which we have been fpeaking, that they fhould beat their Swords into Plow-fhares, and their Spears into Pruning-books: That the Wolf fhould dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard lie down with the Kid: That they fhould not hurt nor deftroy in all God's holy Mountain, Ifaiah 2. 4. and 11. 6, 9., and 65. 25. This feems to be foretold as a thing that fhould come to pafs when the Moun tain of the Lord's Houfe fhould be established in the Top of the Mountains, and exalted above the Hills, and when the Earth should be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea, chap. 2. v. 2. and 11. v. 9. That is, when the Church of Christ fhall be univerfally fpread. The plain Meaning of the Prophiefies, I think, is:

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That the Church fhall be Catholick in Fact, as it is in Right; and that the Kingdom of the Meffias fhall flourish in univerfal Peace and Righteoufnefs, and be not only free from all Scandal and Divifion, but from all Perfecution. But now there hath not been any Age fince the first Plantation of the Chriftian Church, wherein there was not either Perfecution or Difcord; and confequently it should feem that thofe Prophecies concerning Chrift's Kingdom are not yet fulfilled, but that we are to expect the Accomplishment of them in their due Season. We may fuppofe that all the Time of the. Gofpel, from Chrift's first coming to the End of the World, the Prophet Ifaiah calls a Day, chap. 11. V. 10, 11. If then it be foretold, that in the Day of the Gospel the Church fhall flourish with univerfal Righteoufiefs and Peace, and enjoy Safety and Profperity, this Prophecy is fulfilled if it comes to pass in any Part of that Daywo Because therefore it has not yet come to pass, we have reafon to believe it will. And this will be the moft illuftrious Appearance of Chrift's Kingdom in this World of Andhout Defire that that Time may be haftened may not be unfitly expreffed by this Petition, Thy Kingdom come out con i lo nomo Touq

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This lafInterprétation is à Mixture of the two former, with fome Addition For we are to pray that the Kingdom of Chrift q may

may be spread all over the World, and that all his Subjects may be holy in Heart and Life, full of Charity to Men, and Piety to God; and then moreover, that they may be freed from all Worldly Moleftations and Perfecutions. Which, whether it be absolutely promised in the forementioned Prophefies, that it fhall come to pass in this World, or not, is yet a very fit Matter of Prayer, and not unfit to be reduced to this Petition.

To make fome Ufe of what hath been faid. We are to confider what I told you bat firft, that the Petitions of the LORD's Prayer do inftruct us in our Duty, because we pray for nothing in it but what we our selves are to contribute towards; and by praying for thofe Things which we can and are to do fomething to procure, we do more effectually engage our felves to do what in us lies towards them. Therefore,

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1. If we understand what we pray for in thefe Words, Thy Kingdom come, and are fincere in asking this Petition, we are our felves conftantly refolved to perfift in the Profeffion of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints, Jude v. 3. and in the pure Profeffion of it too, free from those Corruptions with which it is blended by some Men profeffing Chriftianity. For if we pray that the Truth of Chrift may be propagated all over the World, we must be

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guilty of great Hypocrify in fo doing, if we be not fully refolved to perfift in the Purity thereof our felves, if we are ready to forfake it, or, which is almost as bad, to make Profeffion of Doctrines, and to admit Practices that are plainly contrary to it, for the avoiding of Perfecution, or the ferving of any Worldly Intereft. The Firft Preachers of Christianity, and Planters of the Church, were infpired to hold forth the Light of the Gospel to the World, and to dispense the Laws of it all over the Earth. And with what Sense or Sincerity can they pray to God, that his Kingdom may be planted in the World, and may be effectual to this End, who obfcure the Truth with grofs and palpable Errors, who teach for the Doctrines of Chriftianity the Inventions of Men, and do make the Gofpel quite another thing than that Doctrine which Chrift first inftructed his Church withal? And therefore our making this Prayer to God, Thy Kingdom come, if in good earnest we make it, ftrictly obligeth us to renounce all thofe Corruptions which they of the Roman Communion have defaced the Beauty of Evangelical Truth withal, and all other Herefies whatsoever, and to profefs nothing for the Christian Faith, but those plain and undoubted Articles thereof, which the Church at first received from the Apostles, and which are plainly to be found in the

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Scriptures. For otherwise we pray to God to do that, which we our felves do what we can to hinder; that is, that he would propagate that Truth which Chrift delivered to his Apoftles, and they to the Church, whilst we our felves, profefs that to be the Truth of Chriftianity which is not so, but -the Devices of Men..

2. We cannot be fincere in ufing this Petition, if we do not alfo keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, Eph. 4. 3. (i. e) if we do not stick to the Communion of the Church, which is the Body of Chrift, and as much as in us lies maintain the Unity of that Body and Society which he inftituted, and this by communicating with that Part of the Church where we live, the Governours thereof being lawfully appointed, and requiring no unlawful Conditions of fuch Communion. For the Church is one Body, which hould have one Communion, and every Member of this Body hath Right to the Privileges of Church Society, in what Part of the World foever he falls, where there is Chriftian Communion; and they who in the fame Place maintain Oppofite Communions to one another, muft on the one fide or the other be guilty of breaking the Unity of Chrift's Body, and violating as plain an Inftitution of Chrift as any that is to be found in the Gofpel.

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