opinions of this world,-for they will drown you in perdition; but be ye ready to enter into that kingdom which will be eternal, and which will be set up when Christ shall leave his mediatorial seat and take his throne of the kingdom of his Father, and shall reign on the throne of David forever. To this time we are looking, for this we are waiting, and for this time we long and pray. "Thy kingdom come:" what is this but praying for Christ to come? Surely, every man who thus prays, virtually says, "Come, Lord Jesus;" and we fear that many who are in the habit of saying these words, do not understand the import of the prayer. What kingdom is this we ask to come? The gospel? No. Why not? Because the gospel has already come. It was first preached to Abraham, and then to the Jews,--afterwards to the Gentiles, and then in all the world, as a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. Now are we praying for a kingdom to come, which, as soon as it comes and is proclaimed among all nations, hath an end? This cannot be: pray for a kingdom to come, which has been in the earth certainly four thousand years,-how foolish! What do we mean by praying "thy kingdom come?" We must mean, if we have any meaning, that which the Holy Spirit inspired, the kingdom which Daniel speaks

of, (vii. 14.) "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." If it is this kingdom, it is an everlasting one, it is an universal one,-"all people, nations and languages, should serve him." It is "under the whole heaven." It shall not pass away. Then it must be in the new heavens and the new earth; for these heavens and earth will pass away. It must be after the great burning day; for Peter shows plainly that then the heavens shall pass away, the earth and the works therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter iii. 10: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up."

We see, by these passages, that the kingdom for which we pray cannot be the kingdom with "tares," &c., or the wicked, in it; for "thy will" is to be done in it as in heaven. It cannot be the kingdom before Christ puts all enemies under his feet, for all dominions are to serve and obey him. It cannot be the kingdom given up to the Father; for it is given to the Son of man. It cannot be before it is presented to the Father;

because it is an everlasting kingdom, and will never pass away from the seed of David he is to set on the throne of his Father David forever and ever. It cannot be the kingdom which our English brethren describe, with the carnal Jew and wicked heathen in it; for under the whole heaven it is given to the saints of the Most High. It will never be destroyed nor given to another people. But Christ and the saints will possess it, joint heirs forever.

But can you make these things to harmonize, says the objector? We will try. In the first place, we must remember that Christ reigns now in his kingdom of grace: for grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord;" and this is the kingdom which is given up to God the Father, and this at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. See 1 Corinthians xv. 23, 24: "But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Then

cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. Also, Ephesians v. 27: "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." And Jude, 24: "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless be

vid: he is to set on the throne of nis raine

David forever and ever. It cannot be the kingdom which our English brethren de scribe, with the carnal Jew and wicked heathen in it; for under the whole heaver it is given to the saints of the Most High It will never be destroyed nor given to ano ther people. But Christ and the saints wil possess it, joint heirs forever.

But can you make these things to harmon ize, says the objector? We will try. In the first place, we must remember that Chris reigns now in his kingdom of grace: fo grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord;" and this is the kingdom which is given up to God the Father, and this at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. See 1 Corinthians xv. 23, 24: "But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. Also, Ephesians v. 27: "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." And Jude, 24 "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless be