JESUS Christ has erected a kingdom in the name of God amongst men; it is a kingdom of light, a kingdom of love, a kingdom of truth and virtue, a kingdom of spiritual freedom and peace, a kingdom of eternal life. In how sad a state was this world before his coming: darkness covered the lands, and thick darkness the people. The Jews had fallen away from the true knowledge of God, and the heathen were sunk into idolatry, superstition, and the most disgraceful wickedness; but no sooner had the doctrines of Jesus Christ been published by the apostles, than the

clouds of ignorance were dispersed, and the yoke of miserable bondage broken; many thousand Jews and heathen were turned to the Lord their Messiah, and acknowledged a doctrine which enlightened their understanding, brought true peace to their souls, and gave to their virtue right power, end, and aim. Great was the opposition, however, and the persecution that attended this holy doctrine, which unmasked the hypocrite, condemned sin and wickedness, preached a pure holy virtue, enforced self-denial and heavenly-mindedness, and humbled the heart, in order to ennoble it; but though warred against, it gained the victory, and spread to every part of the world. Yet are many of the nations still sitting in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Yet do the Jews reject the Lord of righteousness, whom their fathers crucified. Yet do many nations follow the

lying prophet Mahomet. Yet do many obstacles oppose themselves to the spreading of Christianity among the heathen. And in Christian lands is all as it should be? How much dissension, and dispute, and oppression, and slavery! How many errors, and prejudices! How much war and enmity! How great a falling away from truth and justice! How much sin and evil even amongst Christians, among those where we should especially expect to find true doctrine and holy practice.

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Lord Almighty, who hast, through thy Son Jesus Christ, established the kingdom of grace on earth, to thee I lift up my heart this morning, and pray, "thy kingdom come." What comfort do I find under the many evils which this world presents to my view, evils caused by sin and ignorance, that I may bring to thee my complaint, and pray for the wants of all men, and lament the corruptions of the

Christian world. O when will the time come that all men shall honour thee as their father, and love each other as brethren, seeking each other's happiness. Have pity on this thy large family, and on all degenerate Christians. Let thy pure doctrine gain the dominion over error, may light dispel darkness, wisdom gain the ascendancy over folly, true piety take the place of an empty profession of faith, and holiness and heaven triumph over sin and hell. Put a stop to all bloodshedding, and give to kings thoughts of peace, and unite men together by the bands of heart-felt brotherly love. Give help, Lord; for the righteous diminish, and the holy have been taken away from the earth. All flesh have perverted their ways, as before the flood: and irreligion and unbelief, worldly-mindedness and sin, spread abroad, through high and low, like an infectious plague, and extend from ge

neration to generation: but it will not be always thus. The golden age of man shall come. The earth shall see its inhabitants improve, when thy kingdom shall come, when the pure uncorrupted doctrine of Jesus Christ shall be known in its simplicity and truth, when it shall be duly prized, truly practised.

Heavenly Father, give to all men, to all Christians, to me also, give thy holy Spirit, that we may believe in thy holy word, and through thy grace lead holy lives.

May thy kingdom come to us not only in outward possession, but with real power; not according to the letter, but in the spirit.

May thy kingdom come more especially into our heart; in my heart may it be raised. O were that heart but enlightened, cleansed, sanctified, and filled with love for truth and goodness, it would overflow with profitable words and thoughts, and