doing it, for these must be wholly fubmitted to Him "who is wonderful in counfel "and excellent in working;" yet furely it is lawful for us, to defire in general," that "God would arife and scatter all his enė"mies," (Pfal. lxviii. 1.): and even to make mention of thofe enemies in particular, whom he hath defcribed in Scripture by fuch plain and legible characters, that we can be in no danger of mistaking them; and to plead, that what he hath purposed and spoken concerning them may be fulfilled in the moft fpeedy and effectual manner. In a word, whatever is conducive to the present glory of the Redeemer, and the profperity of his kingdom upon earth, may justly be comprehended in this petition; and it will never ceafe to be of ufe in the church, till all the Redeemer's enemies are made his footftool; and then it fhall be exchanged for that triumphant fong, (Rev. xii. 10.), "Now is come falvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, "and the power of his Christ. Alleluia! "for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give

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"honour to him; for the marriage of the "Lamb is come, and his wife hath made "herself ready," (Rev. xix. 6, 7.).

Thus have I endeavoured to give you a fhort account of the fenfe and import of this petition. Let us now proceed, in the

Second place, To confider more largely, what may reasonably be expected from us in confequence of our ufing it; or rather, indeed, what is abfolutely neceffary to prove that we are fincere when we thus pray, "Thy kingdom come."—And,

ft, It is neceffary that we should become the fubjects of this kingdom, not in name only, but in deed and in truth, otherwise we cannot wifh the profperity and advancement of it.

This King of Zion, who fways a fceptre of grace over those who cordially fubmit to him, is likewise armed with a rod of iron, to dash in pieces his obftinate enemies; and therefore, to all fuch, his coming must be most terrible; and neither their inclination nor interest will fuffer them to defire it. No man can with the increase of a power

which he knows to be oppofite to him, efpecially when the oppofition is fo great, and the difference fo irreconcileable, as that which fubfifts between the kingdom of Chrift and the kingdom of Satan; for the one must necessarily be built upon the ruins of

the other.

Let us then, my brethren, throw down the weapons of our rebellion, and yield ourselves to this gracious Sovereign; and then the increase of his power shall become the matter of our joy. Let us invite him into our hearts, and erect a throne for him there; or rather, let us befeech him to erect one for himself, to caft down every thing within us that would exalt itself against his authority, and to take the full and perpetual poffeffion of our fouls. Let us unfeignedly accept of him, in the whole extent of his office as Mediator; that standing related to him as the members of his body, we may derive from him wisdom, and righteousness, and fanctification, and every thing neceffary to our complete redemption. Let us fecure to ourfelves a title to the protection and privileges of his govern

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government, by fubmitting to the laws and constitutions of it; and then it will become eafy and natural to us, to pray for the profperity of a kingdom to which we belong, and the glory of a Sovereign, who employs all his power and authority for our good. -A

2d duty incumbent upon us, in confe quence of our ufing this petition, is to endeavour, by all the methods we can, to perfuade others likewife to become the fubjects of this kingdom.

Many, indeed, call Christ, "Lord, Lord; "but few," alas!" do the things which he fays-they profefs that they know God, "while in works they deny him,-being "abominable, and difobedient, and to every good work reprobate." And fhall not this move our pity and compaffion? Can we look around us, even within the limits of the visible church, and fee human nature expofed in every deformed and fickly shape? Can we behold multitudes of men, who are called by the name of Jefus, counteracting the moft facred obligations of confcience, and even pouring contempt upon

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the only Saviour of loft finners? Can we fee all this, I fay, and not afford our helping hand? Do we pray that the kingdom of God may come, and will we do nothing to introduce it into the hearts of others, who by nature are not lefs difposed to entertain it, than we ourselves once were? we are fincere in ufing this petition, let us fhow our fincerity, by our endeavours to obtain what we afk. Let us labour, with all our might, to awaken poor finners to a fense of their danger, that they may fly to the protection of that merciful Saviour, who hath exprefsly faid, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wife caft out," (John vi. 37.).

Various are the means which may be ufed for this purpose: I fhall mention one, which all of us may employ, and that is, a holy and exemplary life. There is grandeur and majefty in the image of God, which exacts homage to itself from every heart. There is fomething within us, which, in fpite of our degeneracy, confeffes and approves of what is right; truth in our fpeech; justice and honefty in our com