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ly, that they had no reafon to doubt but it fhould infallibly be conferred on them, he faid nevertheless, I will yet for this be enquired of by the House of Ifrael, to do it for them, Ezek. 36. 36, 37. In like manner God had Abfolutely foretold to them the coming of the Meffias, but yet the pious Jews prayed for his coming, by which they expreffed their Longing after his Appearance, their carneft Defire to fee the Salvati on of God. So in like manner the fecond coming of Chrift, which is Abfolutely foretold, promised to the Good indeed, but a Thing moft dreadful to the Wicked, likewife, I fay, the fecond coming of Christ, and the Kingdom of God, which will then come, is to be the Matter of our earnest Defire and Expectation, and in that Senfe we pray for it; as St. John, having brought the Prophecies concerning the State of the Church, as far as till Chrift's fecond coming, concludes, He which teftifieth thefe Things faith, Surely I come quickly: Amen, Even fo come, Lord Jefus, Rev. 22. 20.

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And furely we ought to express our most vehement Expectation and Defire that that Kingdom may come, when the Goodness of God will be most illuftriously displayed, when his Mercy is over all his Subjects, when God is known and feen as he is, when the End of our bleffed Lord's Mediation will be fully attained, when the eternal Laws

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Laws of Righteoufnefs and Goodness will be perfectly underflood and obeyed, when there is no Danger of Sin and Mifery for ever. If it be an Happiness so desirable, and defervedly takes up fo great a room in our Prayers, that Peace and Righteoufnefs, that Unity and Charity, that Quiet and Godliness, that the Bleffings of God upon Mankind, and the Virtues of Men may flourish in this imperfect State of Chrift's Kingdom upon Earth, with how much more Affection should we long for the coming of that Kingdom, when all these Blef fings will flow in their utmoft Perfection, and abide without Interruption, and without End? This is that Kingdom of God, fo much for the Benefit of his Servants, that in admitting them thereunto he is faid to give them a Kingdom. So faith our Saviour to his Difciples, It is your Father's good Pleafure to give you the Kingdom, Luke 12. 32: So glorious a State it is to be God's Subjects there, that they who are so are thereby made Kings themselves, and their Reward is faid to be no less than that of a Crown of Righteousness, 2 Tim. 4. 8.

But then, I beseech you, does not the Petition, even in this Senfe, teach us what manner of Perfons we ought to be who use it? To what End do we think did our Lord put this Prayer into our Mouths, but that we might be certainly admonished, that

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here we have no continuing City, but that we feek for a City, whofe Builder and Maker is God; and that as Strangers and Pilgrims, who are not yet at Home, we should abstain from fleshly Lufts, which war against the Soul, that will intercept between us and our heavenly Country, if we do not abandon them, and caft them away from us? With what Senfe can that Man pray that God's Kingdom may come, whofe Portion is in this Life, whofe Treasure is upon Earth, who is habituated to Luft and Pleasure, whofe Heart is fet upon the Wealth and Greatness of this World, and who is thereforé at Enmity with God? If Heaven were fuch a Place as the Turks dream their Paradife to be, a Scene of fenfual Pleasures, if it were a Court for Flattery and Ambition, if it were a Place of Merchandize for buying and felling, and cheating, if it would afford Opportunities for Luft and Vainglory, and Revenge, and Ambition, and Coveroufnefs, to gain those Ends which are purfued after in this World of Sin and Mifery, then with very good Sense might the Worldling, the Oppreffor, the Man that makes hafte to be rich, the Drunkard, and the Adulterer, and the Flatterer, and all the reft of this Crew, they might, I fay, then very well defire to fee the Day when this Kingdom fhould come, they would honeftly fay this Prayer, they would be very religious

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religious and devout Perfons in Appearance, and yet be the fame Wretches in reality that they are. None is fit to use this Petition but he that lives in Charity, Purity, and Holiness, that contemns the World, that is indifferent about the Good or Evil of it, in comparison to his Concern for his fpiritual and everlasting Welfare, who hath therefore cleanfed himself from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit, and is perfecting Holinefs in the Fear of God, who has reason to wish for and love the Lord's appearing at the dreadful Day, as being in a Condition to ftand before the Judge of Quick and Dead, as having a pure Confcience, as having gone thorough the Exercifes of Repentance, and as yet compleating all the Duties of it in the Courfe of an holy Life.

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When we pray, thy Kingdom come, do we not as often convince our felves of the greatest Folly, unlefs withal we make it our moft fincere Study and Care to be fit to enter into it when it does come, unless our Thoughts be raised above the Vanities and Follies of this World, and our Affections are fet upon Things above, where Chrift fitteth at the Right Hand of God? If we have not fome good Hope of entring into that Kingdom, we cannot with the leaft Sincerity pray that it may come; our Hearts must give our Tongues the Lie every time we fay this Prayer; otherwise we

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pray that the Kingdom of God may come to our own Shame and Confufion, to our final Ruin and Destruction, that the Time may come when we fhall be shut out into outer Darkness, and be for ever bereaved of all Hope to enter into the Joy of our Lord.

Let us therefore remember a Senfe of the Petition that was infifted upon before, praying that that Kingdom of God may come into our Hearts, that Kingdom which is Righteoufnels and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoft.

And then, O Lord, let thy Kingdom of Glory come; and when the Power of thy Grace hath fubdued our Wills to thine in all Things, then fhall we long for the Appearance of thine everlasting Kingdom, that when Chrift, who is our Life fhall appear, we may also appear with him in Glory.

And God grant that every Tongue and every Heart may be truly qualified to fay with the beloved Difciple, Amen, Even fo come, Lord Jefus,

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