ports, Blessed are our eyes, for they see; and our ears for they hear.

Mankind are also blessed by the administration of Christ's government. The wisdom of king Solomon and the prosperity of his reign have justly excited the admiration and applause of the world. A pagan queen came from the uttermost parts of the

earth to hear the wisdom of this far famed sovereign; but behold, a greater than Solomon here. The government of Christ is perfect; for it is administered with justice, so attempered with mercy, as to promote the best interests and happiness of his subjects. A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

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shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth. The equity of his administration is accompanied with such condescension, lenity, and tenderness, that he is justly compared to a shepherd: He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. The subjects of Solomon complained that his yoke had been heavy and grievous; but the subjects of Christ unitedly testify, that his yoke is easy, and his burden light. Was Solomon wiser than all men? Jesus Christ is the Wisdom, that was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. Did Solomon receive extraordinary gifts and endowments from the Father of spir

its? In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the godhead bodily. Was the reign of Solomon peaceful and prosperous? The peace and prosperity of his kingdom were not without interruption from external enemies; and the kingdom itself was at length well nigh subverted, by the revolt of ten tribes, in judicial punishment of his idolatry. The administration of the Prince of Peace is worthy of his title and character. If the external peace of his kingdom is sometimes disturbed, he always speaketh internal peace to his people; a peace, which passeth all understanding; a peace, which no earthly prince can impart to his subjects. The conclusion of the administration of his kingdom on earth will be rendered happy and glorious by the prevalence of general harmony and peace. He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. Opposition to the church

from without will cease; and the universal knowledge and observance of the laws of Christ will cause universal tranquillity. The wolf shall lie down with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid. They shall not hurt nor destroy, in all the wide extent of Christ's empire; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Was the queen of the south, on a personal observance of the administration of Solomon, constrained to say, The one half was not told me? How much more justly may this remark be applied to the administration of Christ, whose kingdom is not of this world; whose temporal blessings bear no proportion to those, which are

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spiritual and divine; and for whose subjects are kept in reserve felicities, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man! Did the Sheban queen exclaim, Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, who stand continually before thee? How much happier, and more joyful, must be the children of Zion in their King, who, after blessing them with all spiritual blessings on earth, will bring them into his presence, where is fulness of joy, and grant them to sit with him in his throne, and to participate in his felicity and glory forever!

To sum up all therefore: Men are blessed in Christ, as by him they obtain everlasting salvation. He came into the world, to seek and save that which was lost. He suffered, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. By becoming obedient unto death he obtained eternal redemption for us. He is therefore exalted to be a Saviour, as well as a Prince, to give repentance and remission of sins. As many as receive him, in both characters, are pardoned, justified, delivered from the wrath to come, and finally raised to glory, and honour, and immortality. Such are the blessings of Christ's kingdom.

III. The extent of that kingdom remains to be considered: All nations shall call him blessed. The kingdom of Christ must be as extensive, as the ascriptions of praise to him; it includes all nations therefore, for all nations are to celebrate his praise.

The blessings of his kingdom are first received; the nations of the earth are first blessed in him; and the tribute of universal praise is then offered to him, who is the author of their felicity. The psalmist appears to allude to the memorable promise, made to Abraham, the father of the faithful: In thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed. This promise has respect "to Christ, and to the enlargement of "God's kingdom under his administration, when "there should be no more any difference between "Jew and Greek; but all kindreds, languages, and people under the whole heaven, upon their faith ' in the promised seed, should make one body, be "fellow heirs, and partakers in common of the same "Gospel salvation."* The language of the text' corresponds with the words of the promise; all nations. The scriptures elsewhere express the same truth in these words: In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. "Not that all nations and "families, viewed either as collective bodies, or indi"viduals, shall be blessed in Christ, whether they

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are believers in him, or not. Such an interpreta"tion would be contrary to the truth of fact, as "well as scripture: But the meaning is, that "in Christ, the promised seed, there is no difference "between Jew and Gentile, between one nation and "another; but, in every nation under the whole "heaven, whosoever believeth in the only begotten

* Dr. CHAUNCY's Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. Mr. Bowman to the work of the ministry, more especially among the Mohawk Indians on the western borders of New England, A. D. 1762.

"Son of God, is an heir of the promise, and shall "be savingly blessed with faithful Abraham."*

The extension of the dispensation of the Gospel from the limits of a single nation to all nations indefinitely, and the extensive propagation of the Gospel by the apostles, have already been mentioned. Great have been the triumphs of Christianity in succeeding times; and many have been the nations enlightened by divine truth, and brought to the obedience of faith. Jerusalem is no longer a city that is compact together, to which the Jewish tribes alone may go up annually to the testimony of Israel. Already is the prediction fulfilled: Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

But thou shalt see greater things than these. Many nations are yet perishing for lack of knowledge.(c) Those nations are, in due time, to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. The prophecies of scripture lead us to expect this most desirable event, with unwavering assurance. The psalmist may refer to it in the context, when he says: He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him.

* Ibid.