III. Who Is King and Head in This Kingdom of God?

The Head and King of this Kingdom is one, because there is one God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The Father reigns by the Son and Holy Ghost. Christ is the Head of this Kingdom in a particular manner. 1. Because he is God, sitting at the right hand of the Father, ruling all things in equal power and glory with the Father. 2. Because he is Mediator, or that person through whom God the Father works immediately and gives the Holy Spirit. “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father.” “And gave him to be Head over all things to the church.” (John 15:26. Eph. 1:22.)

IV. Who Are the Citizens and Subjects of This Kingdom?

The citizens of this Kingdom include, 1. The angels, who are confirmed in holiness. 2. The saints in heaven composing what is called the church triumphant. 3. The godly, or those who are converted and still living in the world, having as yet many cares and remains of corruption, composing what is called the church militant. 4. Hypocrites, who ave members merely of the visible church, without being truly converted. These are merely apparent citizens, being members of the kingdom of Christ only in name. They are called citizens of this kingdom, as the Jews were called by Christ the children of the kingdom. (Matt. 8:12.) Of these persons it is said, The first shall be last; (Matt. 20:16) that is, those who wish to be regarded as the first and yet are not, shall be last—they shall be declared as such as have no place in the kingdom of God.

V. What Are the Laws of This Kingdom?

The laws according to which this Kingdom is administered are—1. The word of God, or the doctrine of the law and the gospel. 2. The power and efficacy of the Holy Spirit working and reigning in the hearts of the elect by the word.

VI. What Benefits Does the King Bestow upon His Subjects in This Kingdom?

There is no Kingdom which does not have a regard for the well-being of its subjects. Aristotle, in writing to Alexander, says, “A kingdom is not injury or oppression, but bountifulness.” Hence the kingdom of God has in like manner benefits peculiar to itself. These are the spiritual and eternal benefits of Christ, including true faith, conversion, the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, perseverance in holiness, the Holy Spirit, glorification and eternal life. “If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” “The kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the word giveth give I unto you.” (John 8:36. Rom. 14:17. John 14:27.)

VII. Who Are the Enemies of the Kingdom of God?

The enemies of the kingdom of God are the devil and wicked men. Of the latter, some are in the church as hypocrites, who arrogate to themselves the name and title of citizens of this kingdom, whilst they are nothing more than the pretended friends of Christ. Others again are without the church, and are its open and avowed enemies, as the Turks, the Jews, the Samosatenians, the Arians, and all those who defend errors that subvert the foundation of our most holy religion.

VIII. Where Is This Kingdom Administered?

This kingdom, as it respects the beginning and gathering of it, is admin istered here upon earth, yet in such a way that it is not confined in any one particular place, island, province and nation; but is scattered over the whole world. “I will that men pray every where.” “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (1 Tim. 2:8. Matt. 18:20.) No one ever falls from, or loses his right and title in this kingdom if he continues in true faith. This kingdom is administered in heaven as it respects its complete developement. “And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” “Where I am, there shall also my servant be.” “Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” “We shall be caught up to meet the Lord, in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (John 14:3; 12:26; 17:24. 1 Thes. 4:17.)

IX. How Long Will This Kingdom Continue?

The gathering of this kingdom continues from the beginning to the end of the world, because there always were, now are, and ever shall be some members of the true church, whether few or many, who are to be gathered from the world into the kingdom of God. This kingdom will continue in its state of perfection from the glorification of the righteous to all eternity. “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;” which, as we have already observed, must be understood respecting the form of the administration of this kingdom. (1 Cor. 15:24.)

X. How This Kingdom Comes to Us?

This kingdom comes to us in four ways: 1. By the preachiny of the gospel, which reveals unto us a knowledge of the true and heavenly doctrine. 2. By conversion, when some are converted to God, who grants unto them faith and repentance. 3. By increase and developement. When the godly make progress in holiness, or when the gifts peculiar to the faithful are continually being increased in those who are converted. “He that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy let him be holy still. (Rev. 22:11.) 4. By the perfection and glorification of the church at the second coming of Christ. “Even so come Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20.)

XI. Why Should We Desire the Coming of This Kingdom?

We ought to pray that the kingdom of God may come both as to its commencement and ultimate developement, 1. On account of the glory of God, or for the sanctification and hallowing of his name; for that we may sanctify the name of God, it is necessary that he should rule us by his word and Spirit. If God does not establish his kingdom in us, and rescue us from the kingdom of the devil, we will never sanctify his name, but rather defile and cast reproach upon it, so that this second petition is necessary on account of the first. 2. On account of our comfort and salvation. God gives this kingdom to none except those who desire and pray for it, just as he gives the Holy Ghost to none but such as desire him.

From these things we may readily perceive what it is that we pray for by this petition, thy kingdom come. We desire and pray that God will by his Son, our mediator, whom he sent into the world from the very begining, 1. Preserve the ministry which he has instituted. 2. That he would collect his church by the ministry of his word, and the influence of the Holy Spirit. 3. That he would rule and govern the church thus gathered, and us his members, by his Holy Spirit, who may subdue our hearts, control and change our wills, and conform us wholly to himself. 4. That he would defend us and the whole church against all enemies and tyrants. 5. That he would cast all his and our enemies into everlasting punishment. 6. That he would at length deliver his church and us from all evils, and glorify us in eternal life.

Obj. But that which our prayers neither hasten, nor retard, is sought and prayed for in vain. The kingdom of God, or the deliverance of the church from all the evils and miseries to which it is here subject, will not take place sooner or later than God has decreed it. Therefore it is sought and prayed for in vain. Ans. We deny the major proposition; for if this were so we might reason and conclude in the same way in reference to all the benefits which God confers upon us, that they should not be sought, inasmuch as they are all comprehended in his counsel. To this it is replied as follows:

1. But God has promised other blessings, with the condition that we should ask them at his hands. Ans. So also deliverance from all evils shall at length reach and be granted only to those in that day, who desire and long for it, whilst groaning under the cross, and who pray that it may come according to the decree of God, and that not one of the elect may be excluded.

2. But we ought not to pray that God would hasten the deliverance of the church, because this would result in the loss of many of the elect who are not as yet born into the world. Ans. When we pray that God would hasten the deliverance of the church, we also pray that all those who are to be brought into the fold of Christ may speedily be brought in, so that not one may be excluded, and this we do, 1. That the church may be speedily delivered, and that all the godly may enjoy a full and perfect rest from all their labors and cares. 2. That wickedness and ungodliness of every description may be speedily brought to an end, and that all the enemies of Christ and his church may be cast into everlasting punishment. 3. That the glory of God may be speedily seen in the perfect deliverance of the church and the rejection of all her enemies. We should, therefore, desire and ask of God in our daily prayers this our deliverance, and that also of the whole church, if we ourselves would at length be delivered with the church; for those who do not desire and pray for the coming of the Lord, to them he will not come, as to his saints.

Forty-Ninth Lord’s Day

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