all according to their works. In the words before us, this great Perfon is defigned Prince of peace. As the infallible Teacher of mankind, he preached peace to them that were afar off, and to them that were nigh as the great High-prieft over the house of God, he obtained peace to his people, by the precious blood he fhed upon the crofs and as the gracious King of Zion, he creates peace, by the fruit of the lips; i. e. by the miniftry of the gospel, he actually bestows this ineftimable bleffing upon his innumerable happy fubjects. Having obtained for his people the pardon of their fins, and grace to enable them to refift its power, he grants them reconciliation with God, whom they had offended; thus terminating the destructive war that fin had kindled between God and man. He gives them peace with their own confciences, with which they were at variance; peace with one another, among whom difcord had arifen; and peace with the whole creation, which acted in hoftility toward man, who had risen up in rebellion against God. In few words, this comprehenfive bleffing includes every thing neceffary to the felicity and comfort of his people. Would you, my brethren, experience true bleffednefs? Submit yourfelves to the mild government, and gentle administration of this peaceable Prince, and let his righteous dominion afford you ground of joy and triumph. Place your happiness not in the tranfitory, unfatisfying enjoyments of this prefent world, but in the poffeffion of that facred peace which the Lord Jefus Christ came from heaven to negotiate and establish upon earth, whereby his glory, and the best interests of men, are greatly advanced.These are the peculiar characters here affigned to the Meffiah, whofe illuftrious appearance is foretold. In every view in which he is exhibited, you behold confummate excellence, and astonishing grace, which open a variety of sources, from whence proceed the moft falutary inftructions, and the most refreshing confolations.

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Of the increase of his government and peace there fhall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to eftablish it with judgment and with juftice, from henceforth even for ever: the zeal of the LORD of hofts will perform this.

In this verse several remarkable properties of the government of the Prince of peace are mentioned, worthy of particular attention.The vaft amplitude, and growing extent, of the Meffiah's kingdom first requires to be confidered. Its increafing magnitude, and progrefs toward maturity, is beautifully reprefented in the parable, wherein it is compared to a grain of mustard-feed, which, though one of the leaft of feeds, foon becometh a large tree, fo that the birds of the air lodge in the branches thereof. When the word of the kingdom was first fown in Judea, by a few illiterate perfons, who had followed the meaneft employments, its appearance was contemptible, and its influence feemed for fome time imperceptible. This fmall feed, however, foon fprung up, through the bleffing of God, increafed exceedingly, and spread through the whole world, bringing forth much fruit to the divine glory. Falling into the good and honeft heart, prepared for its reception, it quickly became confpicuous for ftrength, beauty, and fertility, fo that all nations reforted under its fhadow. leaven mixed with meal, which communicates its influence to the whole mafs, the word of the kingdom, by its benign operation, diffufed itself through the rifing government of the Son of God: it penetrated the heart; it enlightened the understanding; it warmed the affections; it infpired with like precious faith and obedience; and fo affimilated his fubjects to one another, that they became one bread and one body; whilft, by an invifible energy, it fpread throughout cities and nations. The kingdom of Jefus Chrift commenced foon after his refurrection; and, from

Like

that

that memorable period, is continually advancing toward the perfection it shall attain at the confummation of all things. By means of fucceffive great events, in many refpects fimilar and connected with one another, it is enlarged and established; and, therefore, in fcripture, they are called the coming of Chrift's kingdom. The firft to which I refer, was, the miniftry of the apoftles, by whom its foundations were laid, and its interefts highly advanced, among the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles, fpoken of under this defcription, Matth. xvi. 28. The fecond event happened under the reign of Conftantine, when the Heathen Roman empire was overturned, and the church of God, delivered from perfecution, was permitted to enjoy external tranquillity, mentioned in the fixth chapter of the Revelation. The third fhall be accomplished by the abolition of the power of Antichrift, foretold in the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel. The fourth and last event, is, the appearance of the Lord Jefus Chrift to the final judgment, which, with peculiar propriety, is called his coming in his kingdom. By each of thefe remarkable incidents, the government of Meffiah is increased. The means employed for this purpose, were, the miraculous powers conferred upon the first Christians; the diftinguifhed abilities of many converts to Christianity; their indefatigable activity and zeal in propagating the gofpel; their eminent piety, and holy lives, whereby they vindicated their profeffion from the abfurd cavils of their adverfaries: to which I must add, the invincible fortitude and patience, with which they fuftained the most excruciating fufferings. In this manner hath the kingdom of Jefus Chrift been enlarged: and being affured that its increase shall have no end, we look forward, with hope and joy, to that happy period, when the found of the gofpel fhall be heard unto the ends of the world; when it fhall be again preached with the Holy Ghoft fent down from heaven; when myftical Babylon fhall fall, the jews be brought

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brought in, with the fulness of the Gentile nations; when the power of godlinefs fhall appear in the tempers and lives of multitudes, the love of God and man, and the practice of righteousness shall prevail through all the earth. This profperous condition of Christ's kingdom here below, fhall be fucceeded by a far more glorious ftate in heaven, when, having reached its perfection, it shall flourish through immortal ages. Come, Lord Jefus, come quickly; and fulfil all thy promises, advance thy kingdom of grace, and haften the manifestation of thy kingdom in glory.This prophecy likewife gives the ftrongeft affurance, that

Of the incrcafe of his peace there fhall be no end. Peace, in the facred writings, oft-times denotes freedom from acts of hoftility, and all manner of disturbance, accompanied with the enjoyment of the most agreeable tranquillity, inward ferenity of mind, and outward quietnefs of condition. The apostle James, inquiring into the causes from which wars and fightings proceed, determines, without hefitation, that they arife from mens lufts, which war in their members. Corrupt difpofitions are the caufes of thofe commotions that arife in the mind, and of thofe terrible convulfions by which kingdoms have been overturned, and mankind diftreffed. Thefe are the Jonahs, that raiseth the ftorm; these are the Achans, that troubleth fociety. To restore tranquillity to the mind, these runaways from God must be thrown overboard; these troublers of Ifrael must be deftroyed; then reft and quietnefs will happily fucceed. To allay thofe tumultuous paflions whereby the minds of men are agi'tated, to remove the fenfe of guilt with which they are diftreffed, to difpel thofe alarming fears of judgment by which they have been terrified, the Prince of peace publifhes the joyful tidings, that God's anger is turned away; that fin is expiated, reconciliation is made for iniquity, and everlafting righteoufnefs brought in, the effect of which is quietnefs and

affurance

afsurance for ever. This is the door by This is the door by which peace, that paffeth all understanding, enters into the heart; this is the way that leads into the kingdom of God; which confifteth in righteoufnefs and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft. With peace the Son of God bleffeth his people: he extendeth it to them in abundance, even as a river; he speaketh peace to them; he calleth them to peace; he commandeth them to live in peace; affuring them, that the God of love and peace fhall be with them. He powerfully restrains thofe unruly paffions which difturb peace with God, with their own confciences, and with their brethren: he knits together their hearts in the bond of love; he fills them with the fruits of the Spirit, and inclines them to live in unity and peace. This bleffed temper is the distinguishing badge whereby they know one another, and by which strangers know to what fociety they belong: By this fhall all men know that ye are my difciples,' faith Jefus Chrift, if ye have love one to another. To engage them with the greateft affiduity to cultivate this facred concord, the most powerful arguments are laid before them.-Great then must be the peace of Meffiah's fubjects, as we fee moft illuftriously exemplified after his afcenfion into heaven, when those who were formerly bitter enemies to one another, were of one heart and one foul. So confpicuous was the affection that reigned among Christians in primitive times, that their enemies remarked, that they loved one another. And though, in latter times, it hath been faid, that Chriftians have just religion enough to make them hate one another; yet this reproach fhall ere long be wiped away, when the spirit and power of godlinefs fhall again happily prevail. Nor fhall the peace of Christ's kingdom have an end; for when it fhall arrive at its full completion in heaven, all its innumerable fubjects fhall for ever enjoy uninterrupted tranquillity in the highest perfec

* John xiii. 35.