Part II. As for the Jews, tho this Kingdom of Chrift commenc'd immediately after the Fall, in that Promise, that the Seed of the Woman Should bruife the Serpent's Head; and tho it were after more plainly declar'd to Abraham, in the Promife that in his Seed fhould all the Nations of the earth be bleed yet their Knowledge, both of Chrift and his Kingdom, was fo obfcure and imperfect, that few of them believ'd or fubmitted to it; for when Chrift came, thod main Body of that great People rejected him, faying, We All not have this Man to reign over us, Luke 19. As for the Gentiles, they were profefs'd Enemies to this Kingdom, being Aliens to the Commonwealth of Ifrael, and Strangers to the Covenant of Promife, without Christ, and without God in the World, Eph. 2. 12. They had no other God but the God of this World, the Prince of the Power of the Air, the Spirit that ruleth in the Children of Disobedience. Now the end of Christ's coming being to destroy this Kingdom of Satan, and to erect his own Throne in Mens Hearts, to turn them from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God? we are here taught to with and pray for the Accomplishment hereof; that all the Kingdoms of the World may become the Kingdoms of Christ, and that all Nations may fee the Salvation of God. "Twas prophefy'd of old concerning the Jews, that they fhould look up to him whom they had pierc'd; and of the Gentiles, that they fhould come in and fubmit to his righteous Scepter, he having the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the uttermoft Parts of the Earth for his Poffeffion. Now the fulfilling of thefe Prophecies is the Coming of this Kingdom, which fignifies the Enlargement and Propagation of it, by the Acceffion of Jew and Gentile the two great Enemies of it; by whofe Submiffion he becomes a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of his People Ifrael. 2. The Coming of Chrift's Kingdom fignifies not only the fetting it up where it is not, but the Continuance and Increase of it where it is. Upon our Saviour's Coming, the Light of the Gofpel began to dawn upon the benighted World, which after hin'd out more and more to the perfect Day. Many of the Jews embrac'd his Doctrine, and the Gentiles alfo fubmitted to the Scepter of his Kingdom, at which time there were daily added to the Church fuch as fhould be faved. Now this Petition, Thy Kingdom come, directs us to pray for the farther Progrefs and Propagation of it, that the Light of his Gofpel may fhine in all the dark dark Corners of the World, that his Kingdom may be set up and spread over the face of the whole Earth, and that Christianity may not only obtain every where, but that it may be entertain'd with a due Faith and fincere Obedience, that Chrift's Kingdom may prevail over all the Powers of Darkness, and that he may reign till he hath put all Enemies under his feet. Thus we fee what the Kingdom of Chrift is, and likewife what is meant by the coming of it; from whence we learn, in the Third place, What it is we pray for, when we put up this Petition, which is for the Propagation and Profperity of Chrift's Kingdom. And tho this Petition was fram'd by our Saviour, as moft befitting the Time and State of Af fairs when he prefcrib'd it, which was at the beginning of the Gofpel; yet it ftill lies upon us as a Duty to put up the fame Petition, and will be fo till the end of the World; and that with refpect both to the Kingdom of Grace, and the Kingdom of Glory. For there are many Parts of the World, where this Kingdom of Grace, or the Gospel of Chrift is not yet come, and many things are to be pray'd for in Refpect of them. Again, even in thofe places where this Kingdom of Grace is in fome measure come, there are many things to be ask'd for the more effectual and fuccefsful Exercife of it. And then for the Kingdom of Glory, that not commencing till this World be ended, there are many things we are to beg of God, in order to our Preparation for and Reception into it. As for thofe Places and Nations, where the Kingdom of Christ is not yet fet up, of which fort there are but too many, as the large Countries under the Turk and other Heathen Emperors: for thefe we are to pray : ift, That the Kingdom of Grace may come among them: and to that end, that the Gofpel of Chrift may be made known and preach'd unto them, that being the ordinary way and means of propagating and eftablishing of Chrift's Kingdom; for Faith comes by Hearing (faith the Apostle) and Hearing by the Word of God: And the fame Apoftle ftyles the Gospel, The Power of God unto Salvation, Rom. 1. 16. And therefore we are to pray that those Inhabitants of the World, that fit in Darkness, and the Regions of the Shadow of Death, may have the Light of Divine Truths arife and fhine into their Hearts, that the Gospel may be publish'd to them, and have a free Paffage into all the Cor ners of the Earth; that they who at prefent are Slaves to the Devil, and do his Work, may be converted and baptiz'd, renouncing their old Mafter, and becoming Subjects of Chrift's Kingdom. But because there is no Hearing without a Preacher, nor any Preaching except they be fent, Rom. 10. 14, 15. we are therefore, 2dly, To pray the Lord of the Harveft, that he would fend forth Labourers into his Vineyard. 'Tis by the Ministry of the Word, that the Gofpel is to found to all the Earth, and the Word to the ends of the World: therefore we are to beg for able and faithful Paftors to be fent abroad to feed the People with Knowledge and Understanding, that the Word of God may run and be glorify'd, and the People every where may be led into the ways of Truth and Peace by the Hands of Mofes and Aaron. But because without God's Bleffing all these things will prove ineffectual (for tho Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, yet 'tis God only that gives the Increafe) we are therefore, 3dly, To pray that God would blefs the Endeavours of all that are fent upon this Errand, that his Work may profper in their Hands, and his Word in their Mouths may prevail to the pulling down the strong Holds of Sin and Satan, and the building up many in their most holy Faith; that all Men may flock into the Kingdom of Christ, and the Earth be fill'd with the Knowledge of God, as the Waters cover the Sea. These things are neceffary to be pray'd-for, that the Kingdom of Grace may come, where 'tis not yet known or profefs'd; which being agreeable to the Will of God, and here directed to by our Bleffed Saviour, must be acceptable to him: and if duly ask'd and endeavour'd for, will not fail of a Bleffing. Moreover, 2. For thofe Places where the Kingdom of Christ is already come, and his Sovereignty own'd by an outward Profeffion, we pray for a real Subjection to the Laws of it ; that all who embrace the Gofpel of Chrift, may walk worthy of it, and adorn their Profeffion by a fuitable Converfation for without this 'tis all but Mockery, and faying with the Jews, Hail King! and crucifying him. : Furthermore when we fay, Thy Kingdom come, we pray for the Continuance and Prefervation of it, that it may not be deffroy'd by Perfecution, nor corrupted by Herefy, nor undermin'd by Schifm, Hypocrify, or Profaneness; but that the pure Word of God may be protected by pious Princes, preach'd preach'd by learned and faithful Paftors, and practis'd by a willing and obedient People, who may receive the Truth not only in the Light, but the Love of it, and lead their Lives in all due Obedience and Obfervance to it. In a word, we pray that Chrift may reign in the Hearts of all his Subjects; that God would convert or confound all his Enemies, and bring down every high thing that exalts itself against the Kingdom of Chrift. All this is imply'd in this devout Petition, which we daily put up for the Coming of Chrift's Kingdom of Grace here. Then, Laftly, for his Kingdom of Glory hereafter, we pray that that may come too in its due time; that the Number of the Elect being accomplish'd, he would haften his fecond Coming, and receive his faithful Servants to that Glory which he had with his Father before the Foundation of the World. We read in Scripture of this vifible and glorious Manifeftation of Chrift's Kingdom, who will come in the Clouds of Heaven attended with his holy Angels to judge the World; at which time he will difpenfe his Mercy and Pardon to all his faithful Subjects, making them Sharers of his Joy, and Partakers of his everlasting Kingdom; and likewife glorify his Juftice in the final Doom and Destruction of all his Enemies, who refufing to fubmit to his Laws, fhall receive the juft reward of their Rebellion and Difobedience. Now tho good Men, for the fake of the Wicked, may defire the refpiting of that time, that by Repentance they may efcape the Horror and Punishment of it yet for their own fakes they have reafon to long and pray for that happy Day, when they are to enter into their Mafter's Joy, and be publickly receiv'd into his Kingdom of Glory which is fufficient to make them join with the Souls under the Ak tar, and fay, Come Lord Jefus, come quickly. : Thus we fee what we pray for in this Petition: by which we learn the Wifdom and Piety of our Church in teaching us to pray for all Fews, Turks, Infidels, and Hereticks, that God would take from them all Ignorance, Hardness of Heart, and Contempt of his Word, and fo fetch them home to his own Flock, that they may be faved among the Remnant of the true Ifraelites, and be made one Fold under one Shepherd.. Wherefore to conclude, Let us be ever mindful what we afk of God, when we fay, Thy Kingdom come: namely, that that his Kingdom may be advanc'd and enlarg'd in the World, that it may come within us by a hearty Subjection to his Will, and without us by a general Submiffion and Converfion of all his Enemies; and to these our Prayers let us add our best Endeavours, fo fhall we from true Members of Chrift's Kingdom of Grace, be in due time tranflated to his Kingdom of Glory; which God grant, &c. LUKE XI. 2. latter part. Thy Will be done, as in Heaven, fo in Earth. I HAVE spoken to the two firft Petitions in the Lord's Prayer, which relate to the Glory of God, the prime End of all things, viz. the Hallowing of his Name, and the Coming of his Kingdom. I proceed now to the third, which concerns a due Obedience to his Will; contain'd in thefe words, Thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in HeaIn which we may obferve, ven. 1. The Petition itself, Thy will be done in Earth. And, 2. The Manner or Measure of doing it; As it is in Hea ven. In treating of both which, I muft enquire, First, What is that Will of God, which we defire may be done on Earth. Secondly, How this Will of God is done in Heaven. And, Thirdly, What we pray for, when we defire that the Will of God may be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. For the First, The Will of God is diftinguifh'd into his fecret and reveal'd Will; according to that of Mofes, Secret things belong to God, but things reveal'd to us and our Children, that we may do all things reveal'd in his Law; Deut. 29. 29. 1. The Secret Will of God is his eternal Purpose of Decree about the Event of things, whereby he orders all according |