value; perhaps, by wicked deeds; and "the light, that is in us, will become darkness."4

No wonder, then, if we are directed to make it our first petition, that we, and all men, may "hallow God's name," as we ought: that so right a sense of his nature and attributes, especially his wisdom, justice, and goodness, may prevail through the world, as may banish at once both profaneness and superstition, and engage us all to fear and love him equally: that we may entertain such notions of Christianity, as will promote its honour; and allow ourselves in nothing that may bring disgrace upon it, or tempt any to blaspheme, instead of sanctifying, "that worthy name, by “which we are called:"5 but that each of us, in our stations, may, with all diligence, and all pru- ́ dence, propagate the belief of "pure religion and "undefiled before God and the Father." This is the way, and the only way possible, for us truly to honour him, and be truly good and happy: happy in ourselves, and in each other: in the present world, and that which is to come. With this petition, therefore, our blessed Lord most rationally directs us to begin. And let us all remember, that what he bids us to pray for in the first place, he will expect that we should endeavour after in the first place; and as we acknowledge "him, who "hath called us, to be holy," that we should "be holy also in all manner of conversation.”7

(4) Luke xi. 35.

(5) James ii. 7. (7) 1 Pet. i. 15.

(6) James i. 27.

LECTURE XXXI.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.

THE second petition of the Lord's Prayer, "thy "kingdom come," follows very naturally after the first,hallowed be thy name. For hallowing the name of God, that is, entertaining just notions, and being possessed with a deep sense, of the holiness of his nature, his abhorrence of sin, his justice and goodness; is the necessary preparative for submitting to, and being faithful subjects of the kingdom, for the coming of which we are directed to pray.

God, indeed, is, ever was, and cannot but be, Lord and King of the whole world, possessed of all right and all dominion over all things; as the plainest reason shows, and the conclusion of this very prayer, in conformity to the rest of Scripture, acknowledges. In this sense, therefore, we cannot pray for his kingdom, as something future, but only rejoice in its being actually present; for what can be greater joy, than to live under the government of infinite mercy, wisdom, and power! "The Lord "reigneth; let the earth rejoice-let the multitude "of isles be glad thereof.”i

But besides this natural kingdom of God, there is a moral and spiritual one, founded on the willing obedience of reasonable creatures to those laws of righteousness, which he hath given them. Now this, we have too plain evidence, is not yet come amongst men, so fully as it ought. The very first of the human race revolted from their Maker; and their descendants, as both Scripture and other history shows, grew, age after age, yet more and

(1) Psalm xcvii. 1.

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more disobedient; till at length the inhabitants of the whole earth, instead of being the happy subjects of God's rightful empire, became, by immoral lives, and idolatrous worship, most wretched slaves to the usurped dominion of the wicked one. The wisdom and goodness of God made immediate provision, through his only Son, our Lord, to oppose that kingdom of darkness, as soon as it appeared in the world; not by his absolute power-for obedience loses its value, unless it proceeds from choice-but by the rational method of instructions, promises, and warnings from heaven, superadded to what nature taught, and suited to the circumstances of every age.

These he gave at first by the Patriarchs to all men promiscuously; and whoever acknowledged his authority and obeyed his laws, was a good subject, and true member of his kingdom. But when afterwards, notwithstanding this care, the corruption of mankind was become general, he chose the posterity of his servant Abraham, and distinguished them by his especial favour; not as casting off the rest of the world; for, "in every "nation," at all times, "they that fear God, and "work righteousness, are accepted with him;"2 but that, in this people at least, the profession of faith in him, and subjection to him, might be kept alive; not merely for their own benefit, but the information of others also. With them, therefore, was the kingdom of God, in a peculiar degree, for fifteen hundred years. While they flourished in their own land, they held forth the light of truth to all the nations round them. And when they were led captive, or dispersed into other lands, they spread it yet farther; and thus were great instruments in preparing the rest of mankind for that general re-establishment of obedience to the

(2) Acts x. 35.

true God, as King and Lord of all, which our blessed Saviour came to effect.

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The Gospel dispensation therefore having this for its end, and being much more perfectly fitted to attain it, than any preceding manifestation of religion had been; the Scriptures, in a distinguished manner, calls it "the kingdom of God, "or of heaven;" both which words denote, in exactly the same view, that dominion, which in Daniel it is foretold "the God of heaven should "set up, and which should never be destroyed." 3 Our Saviour was then, after John the Baptist, only giving notice of its approach, and opening the way for setting it up, when he first directed his disciples to pray that it might come. By his death he raised it on the ruins of the Devil's usurpation, "over whom he triumphed in his "4 and now it hath been many ages in the world. But still it is by no means come, in that extent, and to that good effect, which we have reason to beg that it may, and to believe that it will. The largest part of mankind hath not, so much as in profession, entered into this kingdom; but lies overwhelmed in pagan idolatry, Jewish unbelief, or Mahometan delusion. The largest part of Christians have corrupted the doctrine of Christ with grievous errors; and those who preserve the purest faith, too generally lead such impure and wicked lives, that, though the kingdom of God hath indeed taken place amongst them, in outward appearance, yet in that sense, which will prove at last the only important one, they are still far from it. "For the kingdom of "God," saith our Saviour, "is within you;"5 and consists, as the Apostle further explains it, " in "righteousness, and peace, and joy in" the grace of "the Holy Ghost."

(3) Dan. ii. 44. (4) Col. ii. 15. (5) Luke xvii. 21. (6) Rom. xiv. 17.

Here then is great room, and great need, for praying; that the Heathen may become "the inheritance of Christ, and the uttermost parts "of the Mahometan world his possession ;"7 that the Jews," from whom, for their unbelief, the "kingdom of God hath been so long taken" away, may be restored to a share in it; as the Prophets, both of the Old and New Testament, have foretold they shall; and lastly, "that all "who profess and call themselves Christians, may "not only be led into the way of truth, but hold "the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, "and in righteousness of life."2 How little prospect soever there may be at present of such happiness as this, yet we have a sure word of prophecy" for the ground of our prayers, that the time shall come, when "the kingdoms of this "world shall be the kingdoms of our God and of "his Christ," in a degree that they have never been yet; when "all the people shall be righte"ous," and "know the Lord from the greatest "unto the least." 4

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But the kingdom of God upon earth, even in its best estate, is comparatively but short-lived and imperfect; indeed, a mere introduction to that glorious and eternal manifestation of it in heaven, which ought ever to be the object of our most ardent desires and requests. For, as the governor, and the governed, and the great fundamental laws of government, are still to be the same, in the present state of trial, and the future one of recompence, they both make up together but one kingdom of God. And therefore when we pray for the coming of it, we pray in the last place, for the arrival of that time, when the King and Judge of

(7) Psalm ii. 8.

(9) Prayer for all conditions of men. (2) Rev. xi. 15. (3) Isaiah lx. 21.

(8) Matt. xxi. 43.

(1) 2 Pet. i. 19.

(4) Jer. xxxi. 34.