The Kingdom Is the Lord's

A true Copy of Record, Examined by

SAMUEL WYLLYS, Sec'ry.

p. 4An Election Sermon.

— Thine is the KINGDOM, O LORD, and thou art exalted as HEAD above ALL.

IN the passage which has now been read, we have the devout acknowledgment of king David, who was the first magistrate, in the most respectable kingdom, which, at that time, existed. He was as remarkable for piety and religion, as for eminence and distinction, in the Jewish nation.

IT was not an inconsiderable evidence, of the fervor of his piety, that he maintained the most exalted and reverential conceptions of God, in the height of earthly magnificence, amid the splendor and pomp of a Court, which so commonly p. 6dazzle the eyes of mankind, and plunge them into scenes of voluptuousness.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR, who was at the head of the Chaldean Empire, was so intoxicated, with the splendors of royalty, that "his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened in pride," so that he did not know and consider, "That the MOST HIGH ruleth in the kingdom of men." And, fact and experience afford the most convincing evidence, that worldly distinctions and honors, through the native corruption of the human heart, have a most powerful tendency to render men unmindful of Him, by whom "kings reign and princes decree justice." But, this was very far from being exemplified in David. Although, from a shepherd, he was raised to a throne, and exalted as the head of a respectable and truly great nation, which always reverenced his authority; yet, he did not, through pride of heart, so rate his dignity and worldly consequence, as to think it beneath him, devoutly to acknowledge God, as the Supreme Ruler of the universe. He was sensible, that his elevated station and worldly magnificence, were the fruit and effect, of God's sovereign disposal. In the text, he most devoutly ascribes every thing to Him. "Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above ALL." And, in the succeeding words, "Both riches and honors come of thee—in thine p. 7hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all."

p. 7IT may be further observed, that king David was not only ready, most solemnly to acknowledge, the existence of God; but he viewed and reverenced him "as head above all." Not as the prophet Elijah sarcastically described Baal, as an idle talker, or as pursuing a journey, or as sleeping; or, in a word, as being an idle and unconcerned spectator of the world; but as being particularly concerned in the government and control of the universe.—"Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all."

THE text will naturally direct our attention, to the two following things.

I. THE nature of that kingdom, which is said, in the text, to be the LORD's.

II. IN what sense the kingdom may be said to be the LORD's, and that He is exalted as HEAD above all.

IT is hoped, that in the prosecution of what has now been proposed, such observations and remarks will be made, as will render the discourse both seasonable, and pertinent to this public anniversary.

p. 8I. IT is proposed, to attend to the nature of that kingdom, which, in the text, is said to be the LORD's.

THE inhabitants of this world, are divided into many kingdoms and governments, which, in the sacred scriptures, are called "the kingdom of men." But that kingdom which is said, in the text, to be the LORD's, has not a respect to any one of those kingdoms, in exclusion of the rest.

THE time has been, indeed, when God took upon himself the government of the Hebrews; and, in his dispensations, a very special respect was paid them. His administrations were particularly directed, to the establishment of that favorite people; yet God was, at the same time, as truly at the head of other nations, and did dispose of and superintend all their affairs, in the same manner that he did the affairs and concerns of the Jews. God had purposes to answer, relative to the Jewish nation, which he had not respecting other nations; for they were a chosen people. Although the allotments of God, to other nations, were subordinated to the advancement of the Hebrews, yet, events were alloted out to the former, in as immediate and efficient a manner as they were to the latter. The purposes of God, respecting different nations, have been different; yet God has not at the present time, nor ever had in time past, a more immediate p. 9disposal of the affairs of one nation than of another. The kingdom, which in the text is called the LORD's, is not limited by or confined to any earthly kingdom.

p. 9BUT, the kingdom which is the Lord's does, in a sense, embrace the universe; consisting of all ranks and grades of creatures, throughout all worlds. The government of God extends to all things, both animate and inanimate. All the worlds and creatures which God hath made, constitute one system. The various orders of existences, from the archangel to the most inconsiderable insect, constitute the links of a perfect chain, and are like wheels which are necessary to complete a perfect machine. They are all necessary to form a perfect system. And, as the Lord is "exalted as head above all," so all things which exist, are comprehended in his kingdom. God manages every part of the universe, in such a manner, as shall best answer the purposes which he had in view, when he brought them into being.

THE sacred scriptures teach us, thus to consider the extent of the kingdom which is the Lord's. In them, God is said to rule among the nations—to build them up or pluck them down at what instant he pleases. Famine, pestilence and the sword are p. 10said to be under his control. It is God who balances the clouds, and gives the former and the latter rain in their season. And it is further asserted, that the superintending care and disposing hand of God are concerned, even in the falling of the sparrow to the ground. The kingdom which is the Lord's, therefore, comprehends the universe. Hence, in the text, God is said to be "exalted as HEAD above ALL,"—above every thing which exists.