dom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." A careful comparison of the portions of the chapter, preceding this verse, proves indubitably that the kingdom of the Messiah, or the gospel kingdom, is the one contemplated by Daniel. The prevailing opinion in the time of our Lord was, that a mighty kingdom was to be set up. Hence the inquiry of the Pharisees (Luke 17: 20)" when the kingdom of God shall come." With this our Lord's mind was naturally filled, and as naturally he commended it to the affections and devotions of his disciples. Having given a distinct place to this in his first recorded discourse, he made it the subject of charge in closing his ministry on earth. That command, "Preach the gospel to every creature," bequeaths to the church the same object.

And what do we seek, but to take up the work as left by those who have gone before, and carry the Scriptures to every benighted, revolted heart; to convey the message of mercy to the lost wanderer; apply the balm of Gilead to the stricken soul; recover the rebel and bring him as an humble devotee at the feet of the God of heaven; seeking that the kingdom of grace may fully and triumphantly come to all and over all? Does our Lord commend this work? We can ask no higher warrant. We know we are right. Our work is taken altogether from the category of theories and speculations, and ranges with solemn realities which bear the impress divine.

Most comforting, blessed conclusion! If our hearts at any time hesitate, this will re-nerve them. If our brethren become affected by unbelieving apprehensions, this is the key to remove every dif ficulty and rally their energy anew. What more potent than the consideration "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" 'Tis our Father's work we do, our Father's will we obey. There are times when it is especially proper to dwell on this. One of these is, when results are reached so slowly, and then are so stinted, that the benefactions of the church seem almost as committed to the deep. Then, to refer to this starting principle" It is God's work; we are right"-settles all the discouragements and difficulties of appearances, and rallies the wasting energies. Another season is, that when the sympathizing heart contemplates the sacrifices and trials of the convert from heathenism, and reasons, Why place the unhappy creature in situations of such danger? Do we well to disturb him? Do we well to call him to the adoption of what will almost necessarily provoke suffering and entail sorrow upon his life?' With all other views and considerations, this comes in, to quiet the sympathetic questioner, 'This work is of God; it is commended to us by him who was all tenderness and love.'

Yes, its application goes beyond this. The enemy sneers and calls us enthusiasts and ranks our work with the crusades, as an effort after notoriety and excitement. He sneeringly tells us, the

clergy must have something to occupy the imaginations of their supporters, some schemes or theories about which feeling and eloquent appeals may be made, and by which they may secure their hold on the unthinking. The question is, 'Whom shall we regard, God or man? Have we God's warrant, it matters not how the world sneer; the work will prove itself to be the work of God, and it may be that passage shall find its verification in our day, "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish."

Oh, that we could feel always the full force of the divine authority under which we act. Difficulties will arise. Men of Sanballat's spirit will be found, who will, by every stratagem, and even under the pleasing guise of friendship, seek to retard the work. We need to feel accordingly, as the ancient servant of God did, "I am engaged in too great a work; I cannot come down to you." Ah, how well would it have been, had we always realized under whom we were engaged? Are we not reminded here of our failings. Has the divine authority in this matter been so fully before our minds as it should have been? Have we not too much regarded this as an affair of men? Have we not failed, as we looked up, to lose all thought of human agencies and organizations? If there is one thought which, before all others, should be present with, and press heavily on the mind, and one of especially sustaining power, it is this-our work is commended by the highest authority redeemed creatures know.

II. You will observe, that this object, commended by our Lord, is one of vast moment.

The first thing which should call out our anxiety, is our own personal interest in the precious blood of the Lamb. The concern of one's own salvation is of incalculable moment. And all the circumstances and considerations which give it importance, give character and importance to the object before us. Yes, they are multiplied as manyfold as the persons are numerous whom we seek to benefit. The field is the world, with its ten hundred millions of immortal beings, whose interests for two worlds are involved. Our arithmetic fails in its attempts to give a just estimate of one soul; how much more that multiplied into ten hundred millions. Sitting at the feet of such a Master, we expect naught but matters of most weighty character to fall from his lips.

My brethren, must we not attach something to the place which our Lord has assigned this subject? We call this our model prayer. Its order means something. It is framed on the same principle with the law of the ten commands, embracing first what relates to Deity, as first in order and importance. Here stands second in order, and in close connection with kindred petitions, this, involving our great missionary aim. And how is the glory of the Highest, that chief end of rational being, concerned in this enterprise? Its success is the setting up of rightful, divine authority in the

hearts of men. Ever since the fall, a usurper, himself the archtransgressor, has had control. The hand of the true God was everywhere, around men and on them, and with them, opening the channels of every comfort, bestowing the bounty of his goodness in divine exuberance; yet they knew him not, and of course acknowledged him not, but gave his glory to another, whose yoke they wore, and who led them "captive at his will."

This yoke should be broken; and only as it is broken, are immortal beings recovered to their true position, and is the harmony of the moral universe restored; thus only is the rightful authority of Him who should have all hearts, exalted to its true place; and will Jehovah receive that revenue of glory which is his due. To accomplish this, is an aim worthy the intelligences above, while it is that which our Lord places here in the foreground to command our hearts.

And in its results, how glorious does Jehovah appear, while man is made unspeakably blessed? Let this kingdom come, and the heralds of the cross shall have unfurled the banner of the Lamb on every high place, and streaming from a thousand centres, the light of salvation shall irradiate every dark point. Truth shall have triumphed over error, holiness over sin, joy supplanted sorrow and sadness. Lisping infancy shall bring its early sacrifice, sprightly youth join its hosannas, the strength of manhood bow itself in adoration, while old age shall bless God and depart in peace. Let it come, and then he who bled on Calvary, and whose success up to this time is in sad contrast with the merit of his sacrifice, shall see of the travail of his soul in having the harvest of a world gathered to his feet, and having every knee bow and every tongue confess he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Let the kingdom come, and then mercy shall reign over a universe of guilty, helpless and wretched immortal beings. In the case of a single sinner, how does that word, "Go in peace, your sins are forgiven you," chase away a thousand fears, dispel the deepest gloom, and ease the aching heart! how it illumines with hope, how it animates with joy! What an era, when every dejected mind shall know its blessed influence, and every bleeding bosom be staunched by its balm, and throughout the broad earth mercy, mercy shall reign! Let the kingdom come, and righteousness shall fill the earth. Too long have men groaned under the dominion of iniquity in its various forms. Unjust lording of man over his fellow, the triumph of money and rank over right and principle, corruption, falsehood and imposture have had an influence most detrimental to human interests. What can be conceived more delightful than an era of principle; when every bosom, in every department of human society, shall know none but righteous feelings; when unbending integrity shall distinguish every member; when selfishness shall give place to that love which takes every man to its bosom as a brother, and the only rivalry shall be a rivalry in virtue!

Let the kingdom come; and, as its principles are at utter variance with every malevolent feeling, there shall be no more envy, nor disquiet, nor turmoil. Our world shall be no more harassed with the iron sceptre of the despot. No Genghis Khan, not Tamerlane, nor royal, nor imperial murderers shall send their millions to an untimely grave. The spears shall be beaten into pruning hooks, and the swords into plough shares, and nations shall learn war no more. Let the kingdom come, and all are happy. The individual is happy, the family is happy, society is happy, and the world is happy. How glorious this series of results to Him who planned the scheme of mercy; who in the counsels of eternity had thoughts of mercy and purposes of peace; who has spread out his plans of good on the sacred page, and thus fulfills every promise on which the fathers trusted, and especially redeems the pledge given to the Messiah, "I will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

Compare this with any other enterprise in which men have embarked their energies and have lavished their treasures. Compare it with all those which have so yoked national prowess to the car of war, and how large and glorious it looms!-God glorified and our race happy!-it exceeds all beside.

The appeal of our enterprise is to all of the man and all of the Christian in us; the development of heart to which it leads brings it into closer union with, while it secures greater likeness to the great source of all excellence. Well did our Lord place so high in the pleas of the devotional spirit this— Thy kingdom come. Can we well rate it too highly? Do we err in regarding it as comprehensive of all good?

You will remark again,

III. This object, of such vast moment is, commended as one of common interest. What an interesting position that of our Lord in the historic picture before us! What is he? The mere philosopher, the head of some new school, propounding the theories by which he hopes to astonish the world? No. But the endeared friend, in the midst of the circle whose warmest affections cluster around him; the father in the midst of his beloved family circle, addressing them as having common interests, common duties, common aims. A common object carries them to the mercy seat; a common appellation is addressed to the glorious One to whom they look. Our Lord makes no distinctions, he marks no differences. The "our," and the "us," bring into beautiful unity before the throne all claiming to be disciples, however differing in the adventitious circumstances of the world. Thus " Thy kingdom come" is as directly and decidedly each one's, as "Our Father which art in heaven;" in other words, the coming of this kingdom is the great affair of the Christian family.

I do not see how we can draw any other conclusion. This is not our work as ministers; much as we may love it and cherish it

and labor for it, it is not ours alone. One of the mistakes into which many seem to fall is, that the responsibility here rests specifically, if not entirely, on the ministry. Their share of interest is and should be large, but it can by no means be exclusive. We cannot lose sight of the family idea in this band of Christian brotherhood. The manner in which some shake off responsibility and leave the ministry alone, indicates an entirely wrong view of the place the officer occupies. The ministry is a merciful office, growing out of the infirmities of men; it is a monitorial agency. Its duty is explanation, appeal, expostulation, counsel, reminiscence. It is the mere helper. It necessarily involves the idea of other interest in addition to its own.

But

Nor is this work, of interest only to missionaries. Devoted men, they plead to an absorbing feeling here, but we can allow them nothing of primary right beyond other members of our family. Their form of duty grows out of the necessities of the case. Yonder on our borders and beyond the ocean are the hundreds of millions among whom it is desirable this kingdom should come. how shall they hear of it? How shall they understand and feel its claims, unless some one shall be its messenger to them? The inquiry is, "who will go for us, whom shall we send?" The missionary steps out to the foreground and responds, "Here am I, send me.' Not that the missionary band have any more duty than any other member of the family circle, but they will be the agents in one form of duty required. We cannot accordingly fold our arms and talk admiringly of the devotion of this agent and say, 'Oh! the kingdom will come, the missionary is in the field.' Strictly, in the spirit of this prayer, an interest as deep and absorbing as that felt by him should be felt and cherished by every one who prays, "Our Father-hallowed be thy name-thy king

dom come."

Nor is this again, the burden of a few zealous hearts gathering in little clusters among the churches. It is a burden put on every Christian heart by our divine Teacher. We have been wrong, sadly wrong on this point. The number in our churches is small, of those who entertain a deep and lively interest here. A mere handful in each church-perhaps composed of Christian sisters and few beside-or some master spirits in a missionary association lead the way and do the work. Contributions have come from various sources, very promiscuous indeed-but they have come in many a case, as of course, or because a special call was made. As for living, heartfelt interest, such interest as sends up the prayer which moves the arm of a gracious omnipotence, where do you find it? Alas! with five of a hundred of the nominal members of the Christian household! Why must constant appeals be made? why special agencies traversing the field without cessation, if the . true feeling is cherished. Why the deficiency in the means of this Board, if the church feels right?

Far be it from me to utter one word unjustly disparaging to the