THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

'THE Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord ye his angels that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word! Bless ye the Lord all ye his hosts, ye ministers of his that do his pleasure!! Bless the Lord all his works in all places of his dominion !!! Bless the Lord, O my soul !!!!' By right of creation, possession, and preservation, God's sovereignty extends throughout the infinitude of the universe. There is no angel so high as not to be his subject, the supremest in power obey his behests, listening to the primal indication of his august will. Though hosts innumerabie, they are his servants-their character onethey do his pleasure. The remotest boundaries of his universal realm are, equally with the nearest, immediately and entirely under his control; and the tiniest atom of his works, as well as the grandest aggregation, is made subservient to his glory. And man, rebel though he be, stands unabsolved from his allegiance, the monument of the clemency of his God. In view of this all-extending sovereignty, the psalmist calls for blessing to the Lord his God from the angelic hosts, from all the works of the divine Sovereign, and last, but not least, from man. We know not a finer or more philosophical division of the subject, and to the psalmist's we therefore adhere. In the order of creation, as seen from our stand-point, the angels hold precedence of nature-the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy' at nature's birth, in praise of Him who gave her being and beauty. nature was ere man. Her earth was taken to give him form, her sward was his first couch, her produce still affords him sustenance, and his lifeless remains she receives for safe keeping till the voice of our God and Saviour shall summon the delivery of the trust at his coming.

But

The angels, or heavenly intelligences, are introduced to us in Scripture, in a variety of the most notable and interesting facts and relationships, shewing that they constitute an exalted department of the grand empire of the Supreme Sovereign. 1. As to their constitution, it is not a trinity of body, soul, and spirit,' like man; but a purely spiritual nature. What such a nature is, or how it acts, we require not to know particularly in order to faith in its existence, any more than we need to ascertain how mind acts through No. 5, Vol I-May 1857.

man.

་

an animal body before we assent to the existence of mind in We believe that man is possessed of mind, not because we can exactly say how intelligence acts through a material medium, but because we have evidence of the existence of mind in man. So he who maketh his angels spirits,' has given us evidence of their existence, and on that evidence we rely. Consonant with their spiritual nature, 'they neither marry nor are given in marriage.' Deriving their being immediately from the Father of Spirits,' procreation and its adjuncts are unknown in their higher experience. The helplessness of infancy, the frailty of age, the weariness of toil, and the waste of energy they feel not. The shadow, the span, the smoke, the flower, are no emblems of their being. Unhurt by decay in any of its forms, they enjoy the power of an endless life. 2. Their number is beyond our ken or calculation. The Spirit speaks of them as hosts, armies, legions, myriads. Both prophets and apostles speak of God as the Lord of Sabaoth the Lord of hosts: the shepherds saw a multitude of the heavenly hosts on the incarnation, and Jesus told his disciples on his betrayal, that did he wish help his Father would immediately send him twelve legions of angels. 3. They are of numerous orders. There are angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim; and their ranks are further specified by the designations, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers. 4. Their strength is also revealed, both by epithet and fact. They excel in strength.' They are God's mighty angels,' or the angels of his might.' Material things are utterly impotent against their power; the subtle potency of the electric shock, in its direst examples, is feebleness compared with the far mightier, but still quieter energy with which the angels are invested. The displacing of the stone at the sepulchre of Jesus, the opening of the pri son gates that confined Peter, were no feats of arms to them. The death of the first-born in Egypt, the annihilation of the army of Sennacherib, and the scenes of the apocalypse, shew somewhat of the power of these mighty ones. 5. Their engagements embrace the immediate service and worship of God. The word angel signifies messenger. The chariots of God are thousands of angels.' They have the conduct of the chief events of the providence of God. Its highest facts have ever brought them into notice. The law was given by the disposition of angels. Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who shall inherit salvation?' There is

6

6

joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.' Into the prophetic predictions the angels desire to look.' The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels-they shall gather his elect, summon the dead, and be present at the great assize, so that men who reject the Messiah now shall be denied by him in their presence, and those who confess him before men shall be acknowledged before his Father and his holy angels. Their service is one of joy and praise. The acclaim of their anthems filled the plains of Bethlehem. Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple, and the seraphims cried one to another, Holy! holy! holy! is the Lord of hosts.' John had a similar vision, and heard the living creatures ascribe glory, and honour, and thanks to him that sat upon the throne, and saw the elders cast their erowns before the throne, saying, 'Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.' 6. The fidelity of the angels to their God and Sovereign is {strikingly evinced. They do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word-they are his ministers who 'do his pleasure.' Their own will is merged in God's-they have no question when that will is signified-cavils, objections, delays, excuses, are foreign to their obedience. Whatever the ser

vice, whether great or small, splendid or obscure, merciful or terrible, it has only to be intimated to be accomplished. A visit to poor Hagar was as speedily undertaken as one to honoured Abraham; one of vengeance on a Pharaoh as readily executed as one of 'great joy to all people;' not more willingly did the angel of the Lord cry to the shepherds, 'I bring you good tidings,' than shall the apocalyptic messenger lift his voice in the midst of heaven, exclaiming, Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth.' So taught the Messiah his disciples to pray, 'Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.' 7. The defection of those angels who kept not their first estate, furnishes an awful lesson of the absoluteness of the divine Sovereignty. God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment.' So absolutely sacred, holy, wise, true, just, per fect and good is the will of the only Potentate, that defection from it must entail punishinent. The good of the

empire, as well as the honour of the Sovereign, demands it. Reader, take warning. God spared not the angels, he spared not the old world, he burned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, making an ensample unto those who now live ungodly. Therefore, seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And you, readers, who have sought and found the same, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, see that you have grace whereby you may serve God acceptably, with reverence and Godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire.

THE WAY TO MOUNT ZION.

Concluded.

We are now fairly on the road to Mount Zion, and as the King is well acquainted with all our wants, he has kindly provided A FEAST for us. The Lord's Table is set out every seventh mile, so that we need never want, and we shall do well never to pass one without sitting down to eat and drink. Indeed, the King is displeased if we do, for he knows our weakness and constant need of refreshment, that we faint not by the way. Moreover, here we meet with numerous fellowtravellers to Zion, many of whom can tell much about the dangers and pleasures of the way, and give very wise counsel and encouragement, to which young travellers do well to take heed. The fare provided is simple and highly nutritious. In speaking of it, my guide-book says, 'My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed ;' true, we do not literally eat flesh and drink blood, but these two are set forth and symbolized by the only two articles which appear on the table --the Loaf and the Cup. Our Lord, when he first set out this table, and instituted this feast, presided himself, and taking up the Loaf, he blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to his disciples saying, Take eat, this is my body which is broken for you; likewise the Cup, saying, This Cup is the new testament in my blood, shed for many for the remission of sins, drink ye all of it; as oft as ye do this do it in remembrance of me!'

Near the table is the Treasury in which travellers deposit a portion of their worldly goods, for the benefit of those brethren who are poor. Never forget the treasury, for he that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord, and he will repay. The way to Mount Zion is by no means free from dangers,

now.

and travellers therein have many foes to encounter; but to enable them to come off more than conquerors through him who loved them, there is here an armoury in which is found a large collection of all kinds of useful arms. Let us enter and arm ourselves, for we shall most surely have some stiff brushes with the enemy before we reach the Mount. Here are the helmet, the breastplate, the girdle, the shoes, the shield, and the sword. You observe, all the armour is of the defensive kind except the sword; but that sword is a rare weapon; it is two-edged, and so sharp that it has been known, when skilfully used, to pierce even the devil, and his skin is as thick as a Rhinoceros' hide; as, however, it has no scabbard, we must take care it does not cut us; of this, however, there is no danger if we keep on in the right road, using it constantly against the King's enemies. Don't forget any of the armour; you shall need it all, and remember always face the foe, because no armour is provided for the back. Cowards who run away deserve to be shot.

Notwithstanding every precaution which the King has taken for the comfort and security of travellers in this road, you may perhaps feel some fear and anxiety, and want something which I have not specified. So, in order to meet every contingency, hard by the armoury is THE THRONE-ROOM, in which the King grants frequent audiences to his faithful subjects. The entrance to it is called the Door of Prayer, over it is written, 'Knock and it shall be opened unto you,' and a good deal more in the like encouraging strain. Now don't be afraid of knocking. Some people read the inscription very often, but never lift the knocker; such shall never have the door opened if they stand there till the last day; we would not be of that class, let us knock 'boldly,' and we shall gain admittance; when at the footstool, remember it is the Throne of Grace,' or favour, the King sits upon it, and his well-beloved and only-begotten Son stands by at the right hand to plead our cause; the holy Spirit also helps our infirmities! Oh, then, ask largely, and receive bountifully.

The way now lies over a bill, and this point is called 'THE WAY OF HOLINESS; the unclean shall not pass over it, but the redeemed shall walk there.' Great care is taken of this road, and the King is very particular about who walks therein; for this reason we do not find it thronged with passengers. Many prefer getting over the fence and walking along the fields, where they enjoy, as they say, more liberty; but no promise