establishment of the kingdom of the Meffiah, to exalt them, deliver them from bondage, and fubdue the nations under them.

They had no idea of a fuffering Meffiah; although his fufferings were predicted by their Prophets. Like fome in the prefent day, THEY

SELECTED SUCH PART OF THEIR SCRIPTURES AS WERE AGREEABLE TO THEM, AND LEFT THE REST.

The Chriftian difpenfation was therefore not at all to their minds, as the kingdom of God therein revealed was of a far different nature.

We take the liberty to declare what is our faith concerning the kingdom of God.

He without whom "a fparrow falleth not "to the ground," hath not left this world

Matt. X. 29.

to blind chance; but He does rule and overrule all the, otherwife to outward appearance, uncertain events of this life, and that with a peculiar reference to his church and people '.

Our Lord, when on earth, was made " per"fect through fufferings; and it feems to be His will that His people in like manner fhould be "partakers of the fame ;" but they need not be difcouraged, inasmuch as their fufficiency is of God."

3

The kingdom of God, instead of being like the kingdoms of this world, and it being faid, "And the beginning of his kingdom

was Babel, and Erech, and Calneh in the "land of Shinar," fixes the feat of empire

in the mind, or heart, or foul, or fpirit, being all, to our apprehenfion, nearly of a fignification. "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU."

Instead of paffion, pride, and other finful tyrants reigning, he is now free: "If the

free, ye

fhall be free in

*. Son make you free,

deed'."

2

The believer in Chrift is a subject of a better kingdom, a citizen of a better city, "whofe builder and maker is God";" he is "a ftranger and a fojourner upon earth"," and his thoughts, and pursuits, and actions have taken a different turn from what they were before.

He does not now view the changes which happen in the world, as produced by mere human power; but he knows that the earth

is the Lord's ;" and that He not only ruleth in the army of heaven, but also" among "the inhabitants of the earth; and none can "ftay His hand, or fay unto Him, what "doeft Thou?" He is therefore not elated at prefent profperity, or depreffed by apparent adverfity; he commits all events to the Lord, knowing that " He doeth all things "well".".

6

John viii. 36. ↑ 1 Cor. x. 26.

? Heb. ii. 10. S Dan, iv. 35.

Pfal. xxxix. 12. ⚫ Mark vii. 37.

He

He knows the Bible to be not only the great Law book' of this kingdom, but also a history of all events which have materially affected it, and a declaration of all events which shall affect it to all eternity

He is happy in humbly endeavouring to trace out in events which have happened, the accomplishment of the words of Chrift.

For this purpose he confiders the investigation of history not fo much as an amusement, as a Chriftian duty; inasmuch as he thereby discovers the fulfilment of our Saviour's prophecies in the destruction of Jerufalem, in the perfecution and dispersion of the Jews, and in the prefent ftate of the world.

These are not with him matters of fpeculation, they are the exultations of faith, and are accompanied with the expreffion of confidence in that God, who alone can reveal "that which shall come to pass

3 92

He is also confirmed, ftrengthened and rejoiced, when truth is properly displayed, to

■ Pfal. cxix.

2 Rev. iv. I.

3 Ifa. xli. 23.

confirm

As he pays attention to what Mofes and the prophets have written, to what Chrift his Lord and Mafter hath declared, and to the exhortations of His Apoftles; he alfo pays a peculiar attention to that Book which his bleffed Saviour, after his glorification, dictated to His beloved Difciple, declaring that it was "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God

gave unto Him, to fhew unto His fervants "what must come to pafs '."

Surely it must have been a most important revelation to be worthy fuch a Revealer, and to be expreffed in fuch glorious language.

He ponders over the admonitions which it contains; he prays to be delivered from that delufion which is therein foretold to come upon the earth'; but above all, he prays that he and his may be kept from “ the mark "of the beast," knowing that whosoever

Rev. 1. 1.

2 Rev. ii.-iii.

3 Rev. xii. 9.

fhall

4