An Essay Tending to Promote the Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ

p. 1A SERMON Preached on the Election Day May 28th. 1707.

Thy Kingdom Come.

IT is very Obvious that the Words now read are the second Petition, in that which is commonly called, The Lords Prayer, delivered by our Lord, near the middle of that Divine Sermon He Preached in the Mount; delivered as a most Excellent Formulary, Pattern, and Platform of Prayer, unto which, all our Prayers are to be conformed, as to Matter and Manner, as appears by the p. 2Words of our Lord, in the Prologue to this Prayer, v. 9. After this Manner therefore Pray ye, i. e. consonant, and agreeable here-unto: Nor know I any inconvenience, if the very Words be used, as the case may require.

In this Prayer may be considered. (1.) The Preface, in which God is described,

1. In Relation to us, [Our Father,] an Endearing Relation, Inviting and Encouraging all his Children to make their Addresses to Him, with Confidence; That he bears like affections, & incomparably greater, than any Earthly Parents can do to their Children: And with Assurance, that they shall be heard, in all Things they call upon Him for, which are according to his Will, in the Name of His Son.

2. God is here farther described in Relation to his own Severeign Majesty, [Which art in Heaven,] admonishing us to keep our Distance when we come before Him; not to be rash with our Mouth, or let our heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in Heaven, and we are upon Earth.

(2.) As to the Matter, and Order of these Petitions, we are directed, That the things which regard the Glory of God, have the Deference and Preference, to those of our own Necessities. Hence we first Pray, for the Sanctification of the Name of God, and the Establishing of the Kingdom of his Son, &c. before other things.

p. 3[Thy Kingdom come.]

By Kingdom I understand, not that Natural and Essential Kingdom, which the Son hath in common with his Father, as he is King of Nations: But that Mediatorial, and Dispensator) Kingdom, which he hath received by Donation, and D◊putation from his Father, as King of Saints. The Administration of which Kingdom is committed to the Son, till the consummation of all things; When he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, as fully compleated, and accomplished; all the Elect gathered; all Enemies subdued; When God shall be all in all, and the Son shall Reign together with the Father▪ throughout the interminable Revolutions of Eternity, 1 Cor. 15.24.

p. 31. This Kingdom is Spiritual; Not exercised over mens natural Lives, or Estates: Our Lord when upon the Earth, would not inter-meddle with dividing Inheritances, Luk. 12, 13, 14. His Kingdom is not of this World; it is over the Hearts and Consciences of men; Casting down strong holds, silencing carnal reasonings, bringing over the affections, & bringing the Thoughts to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. 10.5. Awakning and Terrifying the Consciences of Hypocrites: but speaking Peace to the hearts of his People.

2. Eternal; It is a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor left to other People: Dan. 2.44. p. 4A Kingdom which cannot be moved, Heb. 12.28. Other Kingdoms may be shaken to their foundations; and their Kings be shaken out of their Thrones. But unto the Son, he saith, Thy Throne, O God is for ever and ever, Heb. 1.8. But this must be understood as to the Substance of it, for, as to the present form and manner of Administration, as it is now dispensed by Officers, and Ordinances; it is limited to the Time of the End, when the Son shall deliver it up to God, in like manner as he received it from God: But as to the Substance, He shall be Head of his Church for ever; an everlasting Father, and of his Kingdom there shall be no End, Luk. 1.33.

The coming of this Kingdom is,

1. Internal; it is within us, Luk. 17.21. Comes not with Observation, as earthly Monarchies doe, whose Original, Foundations, Constitutions, Growth, Declensions, Translations, lie open to the Observation, and Discourses of Learned Men. But this is the Rule of Gods Spirit in the hearts of his People, consisting in Righteousness, Peace, and Joy; the Growth and Multiplication of these blessings, from the gracious Presence of Christ.

2. External; In the powerful Administration of Gospel Ordinances; gathering Multitudes of Subjects under the Government of Christ: a visible, and glorious appearance thereof, accompanied with abundance of Peace and Prosperity, p. 5according to the Promises, Psal. 72.7. In his dayes shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of Peace, so long as the Moon endureth. Isa. 2.2, 3, 4. And it shall come to pass, in the last dayes, That the Mountain of the Lords house shall be Established in the Top of the Mountains, &c. and many other Scriptures.

p. 5The Doctrinal Observation which I shall take up from these words, may be to this purpose:

That it ought to be the great Concern of a Religious People of all Orders, faithfully to Endeavour in their several Capacities, the promoting of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In order to the Illustration of this Truth, let it be Enquired, When it may be said, That the Kingdom of CHRIST makes Advances amongst a Religious People?

Take the answer under the following Heads.

1. When the Name of God is duly Sanctified by them, and amongst them. It is easie to observe, that in this Head, I have regard to the order of the Petitions; Hallowed be thy Name: Thy Kingdom Come. When a Professing People do give unto God the Glory due to his Name, then may it be said, that the Kingdom of God is come unto them, Psal. 29, 1, 2. And this they p. 6may d◊ by their Faith, Works, and Worship: When they are sound in the faith of the Gospel. He that would build high, had need to see that the Foundation Stones be deeply & truly laid. Faith in God is a Foundation-stone; He that comes to God, must believe that He is. Now when a People do believe in God, and do believe in Jesus, the Christ of God, the Lords Christ, the Kingdom of God is come amongst them; when they acknowledge no God but He who is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; When they do embrace, profess and contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints; and what they do believe in their heart, they are ready when orderly called to it, to make confession thereof with their mouth unto Salvation. Again, When their faith blossoms forth to Love, and Love fructifies unto good Works; when Faith works by Love, and Love to God doth excite and constrain such a people to keep the Commandments of God.