Friday after the Second Sunday — Thy kingdom come

Consider, first, that, in this second petition, we pray for thii kingdom of God. Now, we find in Holy Writ, that the kingdom of God is understood in three different ways. First, of the eternal kingdom of God in heaven. Secondly, of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, in his church upon earth. Thirdly, of the mystical kingdom of God, in our souls, according to that of our Saviour (St. Luke, xvii. 21.) The kingdom of God is within you. And in this petition, thy kingdom come, we pray for the kingdom of God, according to all these three acceptations of his kingdom. See, my soul, how ample and extensive this petition is, and hoW noble and sublime those things are, which thou art here taught to petition for. Stand astonished that a poor worm of the earth, extracted from nothing, and, which is infinitely more humbling, taken up from the dunghill of sin and corruption, should be authorized to aspire after a kingdom, even an eternal kingdom; to live and reign for endless ages, with the living God. Yet this we are here taught to pray for, with an assurance of being heard, if we pray as we ought, from him who has the disposing of this kingdom. And this is one part of the import of this petition, and contains an act of divine hope.

Consider, secondly, that as the kingdom of God is often taken in the Scriptures to signify that spiritual kingdom, which Christ came to establish upon earth, and his reign in his churchy in which he is both King and Priest for ever; so, in this petition, we are also to have an eye upon the propagation and exaltation of this kingdom of Christ, by earnestly begging that the reign of Satan and of sin may have an end; that all infidels may enlightened by the light of the gospel; that all heresies, schisms, errors, and abuses, may be rooted out; that all vices and scandals may be abolished amongst Christians; and that divine faith, hope, and charity, with all other virtues, may reign both in all die pastors of God’s church, and in all the people of God. So that here is iJso exercised an act of perfect love, both with relation to Qod, by desiring that his kingdom, his grace, and his truth, may be victorious over all the world; and with relation to ail mankind, by praying that all men may be subdued to that happy kingdom end be true and faithful subjects to this great King.

Consider, thirdly, that, as true charity should begin at home, we lire particularly to have in view, in this petition, the establishment of the kingdom of God in our own souls; by heartily desiring, and earnestly praying, that God may come to us, and take hill possession of our souls by his grace; that he may set up his throne within us, and reign without control, and without rival, in our hearts; that he may suppress all rebellions there, subdue all our passions, and make our whole interior his own, by giving us a strong and perfect love for him. O blessed kingdom of divine love 1 when wilt thou come to me? when shalt thou be established in my soul? when shall thy sacred dames consume in me all that is any ways displeasing to my God, or that dares to rebel against him?

Conclude to make it thy business to seek, in the first place, this kingdom of God, by procuring his justice in thy soul; and, as he has promised, nothing else shall be wanting to thee. God must first be King in thy soul here, if thou ever hope to arrive his eternal kingdom hereafter.