vance in knowledge and in holy delight. Here, he prays to be delivered from unbelief, and doubt, and the fear of death; but then he shall have escaped these formidable evils:-"His sun shall no more go down, neither shall his moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be his everlasting Light, and the days of his mourning shall be ended."

DISCOURSE IX.

MATTHEW, Vi. 13.

Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

We have arrived at a period in the history of the church, in which a passage of this kind cannot fail to excite peculiar interest; because it recognises that spiritual authority which Jehovah will maintain over all the nations of the earth, and the establishment of his universal sovereignty. It might be imagined, that this doxology alludes merely to the preservation of the natural world, or to that vast superintendence which is exercised by Divine Providence over the affairs of mankind. Either, or both of these ideas may be included; yet, it is

probable that our Lord more particularly refers to that spiritual kingdom the interests of which he is now promoting in the world. This great object evidently fixed his attention, and engrossed his thoughts. It comprehended all that was dear to him, the salvation of his people, and the display of his Father's glory. Hence, when the kingdoms of the world were presented to him in the days of his temptation, he beheld their alluring splendour with indifference; and, while they passed in vision before him, he anticipated an illustrious empire, which should include them all. The nations which the prince of darkness vainly affirmed to be at his disposal, had been long granted to the Messiah; and, when he assumed our nature, he came to fulfil the conditions on which he was to receive them. He was set apart from eternity to be Head over all things for the advancement of the interests and honours of this kingdom; and the glory of his heavenly Father, his chief and ultimate object, was to be more magnificently displayed by it than by all the works of nature.

In contemplating the passage under consideration, it is proposed,

I. To notice some particulars respecting the kingdom of God.

II. To direct your attention to the energy by which its interests are to be promoted; and,

III. To show the glorious results in which this order of things will terminate in reference to the Deity.

I. We are to notice some particulars respecting the kingdom of God.

God, as the Proprietor of all things, is the Universal King. By him earthly monarchs reign, and "princes decree judgment:" and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and "he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" Taking this view of the Divine Being, all the kingdoms of the world are seen to be his: but the kingdom to which our text refers is his more peculiarly; it is governed by his laws, and exists for the special manifestation of his glory. Permit me to draw your attention to the Divine original, the universal extent, and the eternal duration of this kingdom.

1. It is Divine in its origin.

Many years had not elapsed after the disper