The Kingdom Is the Lord's

George Wyllys, Secr.

AN Election SERMON.

FOR the Kingdom is the Lord's: And He is Governour among the Nations.

THE Necessity and Importance of civil Government, to the Welfare of Mankind, and the manifold Advantages of it to humane Society, have been so often, and so well treated of upon such Occasions as this; that it is needless to add any thing to what has been said by my Reverend Fathers who have gone before me, on this Subject.

But after all that Man, that the wisest and best of Men, in the most exalted Stations can do, there Manifestly needs a superiour Wisdom, Power and Goodness, to govern the World, and order the great Affairs of Kingdoms and Nations to the best and wisest Purposes.

p. 6It will not therefore be improper or unseasonable to raise our Thoughts to the Blessed and only Potentate, and to consider something of his universal Empire and Dominion over all Nations, yea over all Creatures, and all Events; when the Heads and Rulers of our Tribes are assembled, to give Thanks to GOD for his great Goodness to this People, in the many distinguishing Privileges, which thrô his good Providence, we have been, and are yet indulged with; and to seek his Guidance and Blessing on our public Interests and Concerns; particularly, upon the important Affairs that lay before our General Assembly; especially, at such a Season as this, when our Nation and Land are involved in the Calamities of War, when Kings of the Earth are setting themselves, and Rulers and Kingdoms combining and taking counsel together against us, and not against us only, but, as it is apprehended, against the whole Protestant Interest, and the Reformed Churches in general.

'Tis just matter of Support and Comfort that GOD governs the World, that the Supreme Ordering and Disposal of all things is in the Hands of infinite Wisdom, Power, and Goodness: The LORD reigneth, let the Earth rejoyce: let the Multitude of the isles be glad thereof. Psal. 97.1. It adds Weight to the delightful Thought, that the Administration p. 7of this universal Government, is put into the Hands of CHRIST, our great Mediator, whom God hath set at his own Right hand in heavenly Places — and hath put all things under his Feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church Eph. 1.20.22.

p. 7This Psalm, wherein is our Text, is undoubtedly a Prophecy of CHRIST, there are several Passages of it expressly applied to Him in the New Testament, and there are some Passages in it, that can be applied to none else in their strictest and most proper Sense, and can belong to David, who 〈…〉 be here considered as a Type of Christ in a figurative and metaphorical Sense only. — The deep Abasement, and bitter and unparallel'd Sufferings of our Blessed Saviour, — The very kind, and manner, and circumstances of his Death, his glorious Exaltation, and the spreading and propagation of his Kingdom thrô the World, are here foretold, and some remarkable Circumstances attending them, so very minutely pointed out; and all was so exactly fulfilled in our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. as to give very convincing Evidence that this is indeed the CHRIST, the promised Saviour of the World.

What the inspired Apostle saith of Him Phil. 2 6,—10. is here foretold, and may serve as a Comment or Illustration on great p. 8Part of this Psalm: viz. That being in the form of GOD, He thought it not Robbery to be equal with GOD: But made himself of no Reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant; and was made in the likeness of Men: and being found in Fashion as a Man, be hum led himself and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Cross Wherefore GOD also hath highly exalted him, and given him a Name which is above every Name: that in the Name of JEsUS every Knee should bow, &c.

CHRIST was raised from the deepest Abasement and Sufferings, to the highest Dignity, Honour and Glory: This gives Hope to his People when in a low afflicted State, that Light will sooner or later arise to them out of Darkness, since He who once suffered for them, in their Stead, as well as for their Good, now lives and reigns above, to dispense the Blessings He died to purchase, and always has shown, and will always show, a very tender Concern for his Church and People whom He has redeemed with his own Blood. Let the Prospect look never so dark and threatning, which way soever else we turn our Eves; yet here Light arises, and we may find something to bear up our Hearts and Hopes, when we fix them upon the all-disposing Providence of GOD, especially, as it is administred by Christ our great Mediator, whom GOD has set as p. 9King upon his holy Hill of Zion, Psal. 2.6. 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 of our 〈…〉 refer directly to the Mediatorial Kingdom of CHRIST, or in a more general way 〈…〉 the supreme and 〈…〉 Providence of GOD, they are in either View full of Instruction and Encouragement, and may, I hope, suggest some Thoughts; not altogether unsuitable to our present Circumstances, and the present Occasion.

p. 9What I shall attempt in speaking to them shall be.

I. Briefly to Illustrate, and Confirm the important Truth contained in them. And then,

II. To Improve, and Apply it to the present Occasion.

The Words of our Text very plainly and strongly assert▪ GOD's supreme and universal Empire, and Dominion over all Nations, yea over all Creatures: For the Kingdom is the LORD's and He is Governor among the Nations. And what we have First to do is,

I. Briefly to Illustrate, and Confirm this Important Truth, viz That GOD is the Sovereign of the World, the supreme, absolute, and universal LORD and Ruler of the whole Creation

p. 10GOD has a Two fold Kingdom in the World — The Kingdom of his Power, or Providence: And the Kingdom of his Grace. The Time will not allow to consider these 〈…〉, they are both included in his universal Empire, and Dominion. And,