119 SERMON X. THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE. MATTHEW vi. 10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. GOD maintains over the universe the kingdom of his providence. He possesses a supremacy over all created things, and in the exercise of it he performs all his pleasure. He hath appointed to all nations the place of their habitation,-the revolutions of empires are the result of his will; nor is the destiny of individuals less under his control. raises up those destroyers of mankind who are the instruments of his justice, and he abases them again when this end is answered. He renders a nation prosperous and renowned, and he again reduces its glory to the dust. Individuals have their He portion assigned to them in life. They are nourished in affluence, and exist in continual happiness, -they are born in poverty, and dwell in misery ; or their lot comprises a mixed experience of enjoyment and suffering. Such things doth the Almighty, and none can resist his will, or say unto him what dost thou? All his designs advance surely and steadily to their accomplishment,-pious and impious men; good and evil angels; all must yield to his irresistible sway. But God has also established in the world the kingdom of his grace. It is a dispensation of things designed to restore the human race to holiness. It has for its object to restore in the hearts of men that dominion of God which had been destroyed in the evil hour when the tempter triumphed. Originally, the moral influence of the Creator over his creatures was concurrent with his controlling providence. But when man had lost his primitive righteousness and depravity had taken hold on his nature, he did not respect the authority of God, but stood in open rebellion against him. Affectionate obedience will, however, again be rendered, and subservience to the will of the most holy One will distinguish every man; when the "kingdom of God shall come, when his will shall be done in earth as it is in heaven." These expressions indicate the prevalence of perfect righteousness and holiness among men. And for this issue to the present disordered state of things, we are directed to pray and look. Let us for a moment reflect how happy the world would be in such a condition. The desolating contentions of nations would cease. Torrents of human blood would no longer flow to gratify the ambition or hatred of individuals or of states. Wars would cease to the ends of the earth; "swords would be beat into ploughshares, and spears into pruninghooks." There would also exist no longer those strifes which distract communities and embitter social intercourse. The vices which involve injurious treatment of others, or which are ruinous to ourselves, would be corrected; and thus the calamities of life would be to a great degree obviated. Some of the natural evils arising out of the decaying condition of our bodies would alone remain. Such are the happy consequences, in a negative view, which would follow the coming of God's kingdom, from his will being done in earth as it is in heaven. In a positive view, the happy results of this state of things are most striking. Men would worship and serve the Almighty, and feel a delight in so doing— they would love and do good to each other, and harmoniously concur in the advancement of the general happiness. These are delightful anticipations; but may we expect ever to see them realized? Whether in their full extent we shall We are directed to pray see them, we know not. for this entire prevalence of the kingdom of God, and there are many predictions which authorize us to expect this prevalence to a great extent. And these predictions cannot be fulfilled without a far wider extension of the gospel and subjection of the hearts of men to its principles, than what we now witness. You may take any of the numerous prophecies concerning the Messiah and his spiritual reign on earth. But we would direct your attention to that remarkable one contained in Daniel xi., where an account is given of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. A great image was seen, whose head was of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the body and thighs of brass, the legs iron, and the feet part of iron and part of clay. In the interpretation of the dream, the different parts of the image are referred to the several great empires which successively extended over the civilized world. In the dream there was also seen a stone cut out of the mountains without hands, which struck the feet of the image and broke it in pieces. This stone is said to have become a great mountain, and to have filled the whole earth. The meaning of this is explained in the following terms; "and in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall beat in pieces and consume all these king doms, and it shall stand forever." We have seen the empires referred to in the prophecy successively arise and flourish-we have seen them in turn subdued-and, during the continuance of the last one, that of the Romans, we have seen the God of heaven set up a kingdom in the hearts of men, which we are authorized to believe will increase in extent until the whole earth shall submit to its sway. Christ was manifested-his gospel was preached by his apostles, and then the kingdom of God was come-not, however, in its full glory. This is yet the subject of hope, and our Saviour has enjoined it upon us to make it the object of our prayers. The obvious instrument of this advancement is the preaching of the gospel-the invisible instrument, whose concurrence is necessary, is the secret operation of the Spirit of God. The one is in a great degree in our hands. The other is beyond our control; and yet, in the use of the divinely appointed means, we may expect the blessing of Him who has ordained them. As therefore we pray for the advancement of the kingdom of God, it is our duty to promote this object by our exertions. But how may our labors be instrumental in producing a result which must ultimately depend upon the power and grace of God. It is in this manner. There are two great means which we have in our hands, which, under the divine blessing, will be effectual. These are the |