THE KINGDOM OF THE MESSIAH: 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED BEFORE THE 
 
 FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF 
 SALEM AND THE VICINITY, 
 
 ON the 
 
 FIRST ANNIVERSARY, 
 
 JAN. 6, 1813. 
 
 By SAMUEL WORCESTER, D.D. 
 
 SALEM: 
 
 TRIXTED BY JOSHUA CUSHIKS. 
 

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A 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 Daniel ii. 44. 
 
 And in the days of thefe kings Jhall the God of heaven fet 
 up a kingdom which Jhall never be dejlroyed : and the 
 kingdom Jhall not be left to other people^ but it Jhall break 
 in pieces and confume all thefe kingdoms, and it Jhall 
 Jiand forever. 
 
 Jehovah, in prophetic fcrlpture, prefents himfelf to 
 men, with moft impreflive majefty. “ He declares the 
 end from the beginning, and from ancient times the 
 things that are not yet done.” He has all futurity 
 open to his view — all the kingdoms of the world at his 
 difpofal — all the events of ages under his control. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar, the renowned king of Babylon, 
 “ dreamed dreams wherewith his fpirit was troubled.’* 
 The wife men of Babylon were required both to tell 
 him what his dream was, and to fliew him the in- 
 terpretation ; and becaufe they could not, “ there 
 w’^ent forth a decree that the wife men of Babylon 
 ftiould be flain.” Daniel, however, alked for time ; 
 and to him, after earneft fupplication to God, thefecret 
 was revealed. He then obtained an audience with the 
 king, and faid, “ There is a God in heaven that reveal- 
 eth fecrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchad- 
 nezzar what lhall be in the latter days. Thy dream, 
 and the vilions of thy head upon thy bed, are thefe : — 
 Thou, O king, fa weft, and, behold, a great image. This 
 great image, whofe brightnefs was excellent, ftood be- 
 fore thee, and the form thereof was terrible. This, 
 
image’s head was of fine gold, his breaft and his arms 
 of filver, his belly and his thighs of brafs, his legs of 
 iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou 
 I'awefl; till that a ftone was cut out without hands, 
 which fmote the image upon his feet that were of iron 
 and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the 
 iron, the clay, the brafs, the filver, and the gold, bro- 
 ken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the 
 fummer threfliing-floors ; and the wind carried them 
 away, that no place was found for them : and the ftone 
 that fmote the image, became a great mountain, and 
 filled the whole earth.” 
 
 This iinage,according to the interpretation of Daniel, 
 reprefented four fucceffive empires. The head of gold 
 denoted the Babylonian empire, then exifting in its 
 glory. The breaft and arms of filver denoted the em- 
 pire of the Medes and Perfians ; the belly and thighs 
 of brafs, the empire of the Macedonians and Grecians ; 
 the legs of iron, the empire of the Romans; and the feet 
 and toes, part of iron and part of clay, the fame Ro- 
 man empire, divided into feveral kingdoms. Thus 
 far the interpretation is plain and incontrovertible. 
 
 Nor is there, indeed, any controverfy, as to what 
 was denoted by the “ ftone, which was cut out without 
 hands, and which became a great mountain, and filled 
 the wliole earth.” The interpretation of this part of 
 tlie dream is given by the prophet in the words of our 
 text. In the days of thefe kings JJjall ihs God of heaven 
 fet up a kingdom, which foall never he dejiroyed ; and the 
 kingdom Jhall not be left to other people, but it fhall break in 
 pieces and confume all thefe kingdoms, and it flmll Jland for- 
 ever, This, unqueftionably, is the kingdom of the 
 Messiah ; called in the New Teftamcnt, with parti- 
 cular reference to this very prophecy, The kingdom of 
 heaven, and the kingdom of God. 
 
 The four fuccellive temporal empires, here fymbo- 
 lizcd by the feveral parts of the great image, were af- 
 
7 
 
 tcrwards {hewn to Daniel, in a vifion recorded in the 
 fevcnth chapter, under the fymbols of four great beojis. 
 The firft, or Babylonian empire, was reprefcnted by a 
 beaft like a lion^ -joith eagles' wings ; the ferond, or Me- 
 do-Perfian empire, by a beaft like a beai\ with three ribs 
 in his mouth ; the third, or Macedonio-Grccian empire, 
 by a leopard with four wings of a fowl ; and the fourth, 
 or Roman empire, by a beaji, dreadful, and terrible, and 
 flrong exceedingly, which had great iron teeth, and which 
 devoured, and brake in pieces, and Jlamped the rcfidue with 
 his feet. This laft beaft had alfo ten horns, denoting 
 the fame divifion of the empire into fcvcral kingdoms, 
 which before was fymbolized by the ten toes of the 
 great image. Daniel “ beheld until this terrible beaft 
 was {lain, and his body was given to the burning 
 flame and in this connexion he fays, “ I faw in 
 the night vifions, and, behold, one like the Son of man 
 came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the An- 
 cient of days, and they brought him near before him. 
 And there was given him dominion, and a kingdom, 
 that all people, nations and languages fhould ferve 
 him : his dominion is an everlafting dominion, which 
 fhall not pafs away, and his kingdom that which {hall 
 not be deftroyed.'* This again is the kingdom of 
 THE Messiah ; and the terms of the defeription are ex- 
 aclly coincident with thofe of our text. 
 
 This kingdom is to be the fubject of our prefent 
 contemplation ; and only in reference to this will the 
 temporal empires be noticed. It was, indeed, for the 
 fake of opening a profpeclive view of this kingdom, 
 and marking its rife and eftablifliment in the world, 
 that the temporal empires were introduced into thefe 
 prophetic vifions. For with the Spirit of prophecy, 
 the rife and fall of earthly kingdoms, and the various 
 changes and revolutions of the wnrld, are of no ac- 
 count, excepting as they relate to that great work of 
 God, which by means of them he is carrying forward, 
 
8 
 
 for the glory of his Majefly, and the falvation of his 
 redeemed. — In contemplating the kingdom of the 
 Messiah, it may be ufeful to confider the time of its 
 rife ; — its deftined extent; — the means of its advancement 
 its duration ; — and its glory, 
 
 1. The time of its rife. — In fome fenfe, the Mefllah 
 had a kingdom from the beginning of time : for he 
 “ was fet up from everlafting, or ever the earth was ; — 
 and all things were made by him and for him.” The 
 church of his redeemed alfo commenced immediately 
 after the fall ; and in all the generations of old he had 
 a people to ferve him — a people acknowledged as his, 
 and fubjed: to his fpecial adminiftration. He was the 
 “ Hope,” and the “ Shield,” of the patriarchs of the firft 
 ages ; and the “Leader and Commander” of the ancient 
 Ifrael of God. But the prophets looked forward to a 
 time when he fhould be inaugurated in form j and, as 
 King upon the holy hill of Zion, commence a new admi- 
 niftration. This was to follow his incarnation. Ac- 
 cordingly Ifaiah prophetically fung, “Unto us n Child 
 is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government 
 lliall be upon his flioulder ; and his name fhall be call- 
 ed Wonderful, Counfellor, The mighty God, The ever- 
 lafting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increafe 
 of his government and peace there fliall be no end ; 
 upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to 
 order it, and to eftablifh it with judgment and with 
 juftice, from henceforth even forever.” It is with this 
 reign of the Messiah, the Son of David, that we arc 
 at prefent particularly concerned. 
 
 The commencement of this is marked by thefe words 
 of our text : In the days of these kings foall the God 
 of heaven fet up a kingdom. The three preceding empires, 
 the Babylonian, the Perfian, and the Grecian, having 
 fucceflively pafted away, the prophet now contemplates 
 the Homan empire in its whole duration, as denoted by 
 the legs of iron, and the feet and toes, part of iron and 
 
9 
 
 part of clay. And in the days of theft kings^ he fays, i. e* 
 of the kings belonging to this laft empire, the God 
 of heaven fet up a kingdom. Accordingly, after the Ro- 
 man empire was eftabliflied on the ruins of the Gre- 
 cian, Jefus Chrift was born, in the reign of Auguftus 
 Ccfar. In the reign of Tiberius, having been “ taken, 
 and by wicked hands crucified and flain,” he rofe from 
 the dead, afcended into heaven, and was feated at the 
 right hand of power. It was then, that “ one like the Son 
 of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to 
 the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before 
 him, and there was given him dominion and glory 
 and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages 
 fhould ferve him.” It was then, that the reign of the 
 Meffiah, as the fon of David, commenced, and what is 
 properly called the kingdom of heaven began to be 
 fet up. 
 
 I fay, began to be fet up : for it deferves to be particu- 
 larly noted, that the fetting up of this kingdom is re- 
 presented as a progreffive work, a work of time. The 
 kingdom is firft fymbolizcd by a ftone cut out with- 
 out hands ; afterwards the ftone becomes a mountain, 
 and fills the whole earth : but this is not until the great 
 image is fo completely demoliftied as to be made “ like 
 the chaff of the fummer threfhing floors.” 
 
 The great image remains, after the ftone appears. 
 Accordingly it is a remarkable facf, that the Romaa 
 empire, which was fymbolized by the legs and the 
 feet and toes of the image, and was in being when the 
 Meffiah afcended to his throne, has continued in being 
 down to the prefent time. It has indeed undergone 
 many changes ; has paffed from hand to hand ; has been 
 removed as to the feat of its power, from place to place ; 
 and, agreeably to the prophecy, has, at different times, 
 been divided into feveral kingdoms. Yet it has been 
 the fame empire ftill ; and, as if by a fpecial providence, 
 and for the exprefs purpofe of fhewing the fulfilment 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 of the prophecy, its name has been continued. — Though 
 its feat was removed from Rome to Conftantinople, 
 it was neverthelcfs called the Roman Empire. When, 
 after various revolutions, its feat was fixed in Germa- 
 ny, and its body was divided into feveral kingdoms, 
 it was ftill, and with a fort of venerable fuperftition, 
 recognized by the name of the “ Holy Roman Em- 
 pire.” And at this very day, not only is the name 
 preferved, but the iron crown and far famed infignia of 
 the ancient Roman power, are the pride and the boaft 
 of that formidable empire which holds the world in 
 terror. 
 
 In this regard, the fulfilment hitherto of the coinci- 
 dent prediction, in the feventh chapter, is not lefs re- 
 markable. The laft of the four great beafts, “ dread- 
 ful, and terrible, and ftrong exceedingly,” was to con- 
 tinue, until the “ Ancient of days” fhould appear with 
 awful judgment, “ the thrones be call down,” and 
 “ the faints poflefs the kingdom.” Accordingly that 
 beaft has continued. Though, as predicted by John 
 in the Revelation, it was at one period ‘wounded io 
 deaths its deadly •wound has been healed ; its “ little horn” 
 alfo, the fymbol of the papal power, has appeared, with 
 all its formidable charafleriftics : and, in our own 
 age, it ftill appears the fame beaft, •with his great iron 
 teeth and his ten horns ^ dreadful^ and terrible^ and Jlrong 
 exceedingly, devouring, breaking in pieces, and Jlamping the 
 refidue •with his feet. 
 
 During the continuance of the image, “ the ftone < 
 
 cut out without hands” appears, in the prophetic vi- 
 Ilon, comparatively fmall. The laft great beaft alfo, 
 during his whole exiftence, and under his various forms, 
 is reprefented “ as fpcaking great words againft the 
 Moft High, wearing out the faints of the Moft High, 
 and thinking to change times and laws.” According- 
 ly the kingdom of Chrift on earth has always hitherto 
 been of very limited extent j and, from age to age, it 
 
11 
 
 has been oppofed, countcradled, and violently aflailed, 
 by the Roman power in its fucceflive forms, pagan, 
 papal, and infidel. It is now eighteen hundred years, 
 fince the God of heaven began to fet up this kingdom ; 
 and though, from time to time, its limits have been 
 extended, and its numbers increafed ; yet even n»w it 
 comprifes but a fmall part of mankind, and is in a (late 
 of depreflion and fti uggle. — But we are, 
 
 2. To confider the dejlined extent of this kingdom. 
 
 Thou fawejUfays Daniel, until a Jlone was cut out with- 
 out hands, which /mote the image upon his feet of iron and 
 clay, and brake them to pieces ; then was the iron, the clay, 
 the brafs, the ftl-ver, and the gold, broken in pieces to- 
 gether, and became like the chaff of the fummer threfhing 
 floors ; and the wind carried them away, that no place was 
 found for them ; and the stone that smote the im- 
 age BECAME A GREAT MOUNTAIN, AND FILLED THE 
 WHOLE EARTH. 
 
 The materials of the whole image are reprefented as 
 remaining, till the lafl; period even of the feet and toes. 
 
 So in the feventh chapter, though the three firll beads 
 had “ their dominion taken away ; yet their lives (it is 
 faid) were prolonged for a feafon and a time.” The Ro- 
 man empire has, at fome periods, comprifed within its 
 limits all, or nearly all, the countries, which had been 
 comprehended in eithe'r of the three preceding empires ; 
 and fo, under the reign of the legs and feet, the brafs, 
 the filver and the gold, the materials of the other parts 
 of the image, have remained. — But the whole image is 
 to be demoliflied. The fione cut out without hands is to 
 fall upon it and grind it to powder. 
 
 The order marked in the prophecy deferves to be 
 diftincHy noted. The ftone fmites the image upon the 
 feet of iron and clay, and breaks them in pieces ; then 
 are “ the iron, the clay, the brafs, the filver and the 
 gold,^’ all the materials of the image, “ broken to piec- 
 es together,” “ made as the chaff,” and “ carried away 
 
12 
 
 by the wind then “ the ftone becomes a mountain, 
 and fills the whole earth.” When the time fliall come 
 for the utter demolition of the image, the ftone will 
 firft finite its feet, where its power now, and laftly, re- 
 fides ; and the iron and clay being broken in pieces, the 
 other materials will quickly be demolilhed. And this 
 demolition of the Roman empire is to make way for 
 the eftablifliment of the Mefliah’s kingdom in all the 
 world. 
 
 “ I beheld,” fays Daniel in the feventh chapter, “ I 
 beheld even till the beaft was flain, and his body deftroy- 
 ed, and given to the burning flame.” And, fays the ^ 
 
 interpreting angel, “ the judgment fliall fit, and they 
 lhall take away his dominion, to confume and to deftroy 
 it unto the end.” “ And” then “ the kingdom and domi- 
 nion, and the greatnefs of the kingdom under the •whole hea- 
 ven, Jhall be given to the people of the faints of the Mq/l 
 High, whofe kingdom is an everlafting kingdom, and all do- 
 minions fhall ferve and obey him." 
 
 Of this deftined extent of the Mefliah’s kingdom, the 
 fcriptures abound with predictions. “ All the ends of 
 the world fliall remember and turn unto the Lord ; 
 and all the kindreds of the nations fliall worlhip before 
 thee.” — “ All nations whom thou haft made lhall come 
 and worlhip before thee, O Lord, and lhall glorify thy 
 name.” — “ The earth fliall be full of the knowledge of 
 the Lord, as the waters cover the fea.” — “ From the 
 riling of the fun even to the going down of the fame, my 
 name fliall be great among the Gentiles ; and in every \ 
 
 place incenfe fliall be offered unto my name, and a pure 
 offering : for my name fliall be great among the Hea- 
 then,, faith the Lord of liofts.”* Let us then, 
 
 3 . Contemplate the 7iieans of extending this kingdom. 
 
 “ My kingdom,” fays Chrift, “ is not of this world.” 
 
 It is a kingdom neither eftablilhed upon worldly princi- 
 ples ; nor defigned for the attainment of worldly ob- 
 
 * I’f. xxii. 27. — Ixxxvi. 9. Ifa. xi. 9. Mai. i. il. 
 
jefts ; nor to be promoted by worldly policy or power. 
 It is a kingdom ere<fled in the hearts, and over the con- 
 fciences of men ; compofed only of voluntary, willing 
 fubjccls ; and to be advanced and extended, only by 
 means of' the truth, accompanied by the 1‘pirit of God. 
 ^he Jhne was cut out without hands. 
 
 It appears indeed, from what has before been confi- 
 dered, that, for the purpofc of giving to this kingdom 
 its deftined extent, earthly powers are to be overthrown, 
 and the great and terrible empire in particular is to be 
 broken to pieces. Chritt is often reprefented as a migh- 
 ty conqueror ; and the powers of the world, hoftile to 
 his reign, are warned that he “ will fpeak to them in 
 his wrath, and vex them in his fore dilpleafure that 
 he “ will rule them with a rod of iron, and daflr them in 
 pieces like a potter’s veflel.” This work of vengeance 
 he will accomplifh, and for the accomplilhment of it 
 he will ufe fuch inftruments and means, as are fuited to 
 the purpofe. But this work will not extend his king- 
 dom ; it ■will prepare the way for extending it : it 
 will remove obftrudiions ; it will demonftrate the truth 
 of the divine word ; it will fhew the exalted Meffiah’s 
 power ; it will imprefs the world with awe. But for 
 the aftual advancement of his kingdom, other, and ve- 
 ry different means muft be employed. 
 
 For the fetting up of this kingdom, this commiffion 
 tv^as given : “ Go ye into all the world, and 
 
 PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.” The 
 
 minifters of the Melliah accordingly went forth : and 
 “ the weapons of their warfare, though not carnal, 
 were mighty through God, to the pulling down of 
 ftrong holds.” In fpite of the inveterate prejudices of 
 the Jews, the proud philofophy of the Greeks, the vi- 
 olent oppofition of the ruling powers, and the fottifh 
 fuperftition or profligate wickednefs, every where, of 
 the people ; the power of the gofpel prevailed, “ caft- 
 ing down imaginations, and every high thing, which 
 
14 
 
 exalted itfelf againft the knowledge of God, and bring- 
 ing into captivity every thought to the obedience of 
 Chrift.” Thoufands and millions, in different lands, 
 were “turned from Satan unto God and “ tranfla- 
 ted from the power of darknefs, into the kingdom of 
 his dear Son.” 
 
 Whenever, fince, or wherever this kingdom has been 
 extended, or advanced, it has been by the fame means. 
 Miracles indeed ccafed, after fufficient atteftations of 
 this kind had been given : but the influences of the di- 
 vine Spirit have continued to accompany the divine 
 word ; and the kingdom of Chrift has been maintain- 
 ed from age to age, and occafionally enlarged, only by 
 the means comprifed in the difpenfation of the gofpel. 
 And it is by the fame means that it is to be maintain- 
 ed, and enlarged, until it be eftablifhed in all the 
 earth. — It is flill “ the commandment of the everlaft- 
 ing God, that the gofpel fhould be made known unto 
 all nations, for the obedience of faith.” “ For how 
 ftiall they believe in him of whom they have not 
 heard ? and how fhall they hear without a preacher ? 
 and how fhall they preach except they be fent ?” Ac- 
 cording to the predictions, therefore, of the latter day 
 glory, “ the Lord will give the word, and great will 
 be the company of them that publifli it “ many 
 fhall run to and fro, and knowledge fhall be incrcaf- 
 ed — “ the gofpel flialL be preached unto all that dwell 
 on the earth ; and, “ from the leaft of them unto the 
 greateft of them, all fhall know the Lord.” 
 
 4. The duration of this kingdom is to be confider- 
 cd. — It is a kingdom wJyicb Jhall never be dcjlroyed ; it 
 fhall not be left to other people ; it Jloall Jiand forever. Such 
 is the fure word of prophecy in our text. 
 
 John, in the xixth of the Revelation, fays, “ I faw hea- 
 ven opened, and, behold, a white horfe ; and he that 
 fat upon him was called Faithful and True ; and in 
 righteoufnefs he doth judge and make war. His eyes 
 
15 
 
 were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many 
 crowns. — And the armies which were in heaven fol- 
 lowed him upon white horfes, clothed in fine linen, 
 white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a fharp 
 fword, that with it he fliould fmite the nations : and 
 he fhall rule them with a rod of iron : and he treadeth 
 the wine prefs of the fiercenefs and wrath of Almighty 
 God. And he hath on his vefturc, and on his thigh, 
 a name written. King of kings, and Lord of lords. 
 And I faw an angel ftanding in the fun ; and he cried 
 with a loud voice, faying to all the fowls that fly in the 
 ‘ midfl; of heaven. Come and gather yourfelves together 
 
 unto the fupper of the great God ; that ye may eat 
 the flefli of kings, and the flefli of captains, and the flefli 
 of mighty men, and the flefli of horfes, and of them 
 that fit on them, and the flefli of all, both free and bond, 
 both fmall and great. And I faw the beaft, and the 
 kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together, 
 to make war againft him that fat on the horle, and 
 againft his army. And the beaft was taken, and with 
 him the falfc prophet that wrought miracles before 
 him, with which he deceived them that had receiv- 
 ed the mark of the beaft, and them that worftiipped his 
 image. Thefe both were caft alive into a lake of fire 
 burning with brimftone. And the remnant were flain 
 with the fword of him that fat upon the horfe ; — and 
 all the fowls were filled with their flefli.” The beaft 
 thus taken, and caft into the lake, is the fame with the 
 \ fourth beaft of Daniel, “ great and terrible, whofe body 
 ’jjas feen to he dejiroyed and given to the burning Jiame.** 
 It is the fame great power which is fymbolized, in our 
 context, by the legs and feet of the image. And this 
 whole ftupendous vifion of John is a view of that 
 “ battle of the great day of God Almighty,” in which 
 the exalted Mefliah goes forth, in terrible majefty, to 
 execute judgment, and which is to terminate in the ut- 
 ter fubverfion and ruin of the powers combined againft 
 his kingdom. 
 
16 
 
 After this, according to another vifion of the fame 
 awful fcene, proclamation is made from heaven. The 
 kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, 
 and of his Chriji ; and he shall reign forever and 
 EVER. In connexion with thefe predidions, indeed, 
 mention is made of a thoufand years, during which 
 Satan is to be bound, that he may not deceive the na- 
 tions. And it appears, that, during a thoufand years, 
 after the final overthrow of the hofiile powers, the do- 
 minion of Chrifi: on earth is to be fo complete, that, 
 as Daniel expreffes it, “ all people, nations and lan- 
 guages fliall ferve him.” — But his reign is not limited 
 to this period ; it is not limited to the duration of this 
 earth. After the vifions, already cited, and another of 
 the general and final judgment, John had a vifion of 
 “ a new heaven and a new earth ; for the firft heaven 
 and the firft earth were pafl'ed away.” This was a vi- 
 fion of the kingdom of Chrift in its confummated ftate ; 
 and in this ftate, its duration is to be endlefs. “ Of his 
 kingdom,” faid Gabriel to Mary, “ Of his kingdom 
 there lhall be no end.” 
 
 5. Thc^/«?ry of this kingdom is a fubjeft for moft de- 
 lightful contemplation. — It is a kingdom of light— of 
 holinefs — of peace — and of joy. 
 
 It is a kingdom of light. In confequence of the fall, 
 “ darknefs covers the earth, and grofs darkneft the peo- 
 ple.” Of God — of the things of their higheft concern- 
 ment as accountable and immortal beings, mankind 
 are in deplorable ignorance. Chrift is the light. 
 He is the “ Sun of Right eoufnefs, to give light to them 
 that fit in darknefs, and in the lhadow ot death, and 
 to guide our feet into the way of peace.” In thofc 
 parts of the world, upon which he has arifen, his illu- 
 minating power has been manifeft, and all who rightly 
 receive the knowledge of him, are “ children of the 
 day,” and “ walk in the light of lite.” Wherever his 
 name is made known, darknefs is diflipated j as his 
 
17 
 
 kingdom advances, light will fpread and increafc ; and 
 when it lhall be univerl’ally eftablilhed, “ the earth fliall 
 be full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as 
 the waters cover the fea.” 
 
 It is a kingdom of hoUnefs. As the Sun of Righteous- 
 ness, Chrill not only enlightens the minds, but puri- 
 fies the hearts of men ; — not only Ihews them the way 
 of truth and peace, but makes them alive to virtue 
 and to glory. As his light prevails, error, infidelity, 
 and ungodlincfs, will yield to its influence; popery, ina- 
 hometanifm, paganifm, with their hideous fuperftiti- 
 tions and corruptions, will vanifli away ; and the earth 
 will be purged from the mingled and peftilent pollu- 
 tions with which, for ages after ages, it has been im- 
 bued and covered. Among all nations, “ God, who 
 is holy, fliall be fiinclified in righteoufnefs ; in every 
 place incenfe fliall be offered unto his name, and a 
 pure offering ; — the people fliall be all righteous, and 
 the very bells of the horfes fliall be Holiness to the 
 Lord.” 
 
 It is a kingdom of peace. Prince of peace is a name 
 of the Mefliah ; and under his reign, “ the mountains 
 fliall bring peace to the people, and the little hills by 
 righteoufnefs.” “ He will make wars to ceafe unto 
 the ends of the earth ; nations fliall beat their fwords 
 into plowfliares, and their fpears into pruning hooks ; 
 — and they fhall fit every man under his vine, and un- 
 der his fig tree, and none fliall make them afraid.” — 
 “ The wolf alfo fliall take up his abode with the lamb, 
 and the leopard fliall lie down with the kid ; and the 
 calf and the young lion and the fatling fliall come to- 
 gether ; and a little child fliall lead them. — And the 
 fuckling fliall play upon the hole of the afpic, and up- 
 on the den of the bafiliflc fliall the newly weaned 
 child lay his hand. — They fliall not hurt, nor de- 
 ftroy.”* The felfifli and ferocious paffions, which for 
 
 * Ifa. xi. Lowth’s Verfion. 
 G 
 
IS 
 
 fo many ages have filled the earth with violence and 
 blood, fhall give place to univerfal good will, kindnefs, 
 and love : and “ the rig;hteous fliall flourifli and abun- 
 dance of peace, fo long as the moon endureth.” 
 
 It is a kingdom of joy. Under the univerfal influ- 
 ence of the Sun of Righteoufnefs and Prince of Peace, 
 what can there be but univerfal happinefs ! “ He fliall 
 come dowm like rain upon the mown grafs ; as fliow- 
 ers that water the earth ; all nations lhall call him blef- 
 fed ; all people fliall obtain joy and gladnefs, and for- 
 row and mourning fliall flee away.” 
 
 “ Oh feenes furpaffinp fable, and yet true I 
 “ Scenes of accomplilhed blifs ! which who can fee, 
 
 “ Though but in diftant profptiS, and not feel 
 His foul refreflied with foretafte of the joy ? 
 
 “ Rivers of gladnefs water al' the earth, 
 
 “ And clothe all climes with beauty.”*-— 
 
 This is but a faint view of the glory of the Mefliah’s 
 kingdom, as it fliall ere long appear even on this earth. 
 Who then can deferibe the glory with which it fliall ap- 
 pear, in the new earth, and the new heaven ? There its 
 light, its holinefs, its happinefs, wall immeafurably tran- 
 feend the higheft conception, which man or angel can 
 now form, and will be perpetually increafing to all 
 eternity. “ Of the increafe of his government and 
 peace, there fliall be no end.” 
 
 My brethren, “ the teftimony of Jefus is the fpirit 
 of prophecy.” The predictions which open to us thefc 
 views of his kingdom, are among the plaineft of the 
 prophetic oracles. We have gone into no doubtful 
 particulars ; and in regard to the general outline, there 
 can be no reafonable difagreement among the ferious 
 believers in revelation. “ Thefe fayings are faithful 
 ^nd true ; and the Lord God of the holy prophets fent 
 his angel, to fliew unto his fervants the things which 
 mull Ihortly be done. And he that tcftificth thefc 
 
 * COWPSR, 
 
19 
 
 things, faith, Surely I come quickly and let every 
 heart refpond, “ Even fo, come, Lord Jefus.” 
 
 The FIRST REFLECTION, whicli ofFers itfelf from our 
 fubject, is that this world belongs to Chrift. — He is the 
 Creator of it, and he made it for himfelf : — He has re- 
 deemed it with his own blood, and for his own pur- 
 pofes. As he became the Son of man for the propitia- 
 tion of the fins of the world ; fo, as the Son of man, 
 he is exalted at the right liand of Majefty in the hea- 
 vens, Lord of lords, and King of kings. From the 
 Eternal Father, the proclamation has gone forth, 
 “ Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a 
 vain thing ? — I have fet my King upon my holy hill of 
 Zion. — He fliall have the heathen for his inheritance, 
 and the uttermoft parts of the earth for his pofleflion. 
 He fiiall break them with a rod of iron ; he fhall dalh 
 them in pieces like a potter’s veffel. Be wife now, 
 therefore, O ye kings ; be inftrudted, ye judges of the 
 earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with 
 trembling. Kifs the Son, left he be angry, and ye pe- 
 rifli from the way when his wrath is kindled but a lit- 
 tle. Bleffed are all they that put their truft in him.”* 
 
 Jefus Chrift, then, is the rightful Sovee.eign. 
 The earth with its fulnefs is his ; the filver and the 
 gold are his ; kingdoms and empires, with their trea- 
 fures, their people, and their rulers, are his. The nations 
 indeed have been in rebellion againft him, and are ftill 
 in rebellion ; but he will aflert his right, and make 
 them know that “ he is Lord of all.” 
 
 2. By the figns of the times, we are warned, that 
 Chrift is now advancing in glorious majefty, to take the 
 full pofleflion of his kingdom. It is a time, by univerfal 
 acknowledgment, fuch as never was known before, 
 “ fince man was upon the earth.” — “ Diftrefs of nations 
 
 * Pf. ii. 
 
20 
 
 with perplexity ! — the fea and the waves roaring ! — 
 men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking af- 
 ter thofe things which are coming on the earth !” — A 
 battle raging, of tremendous extent, and of portentous 
 afped ! — thrones and kingdoms paffing away ! — “ the 
 foundations of the world out of courfe !” — the earth 
 and the heavens fliaking ! — All people are ftruck with 
 aftoni£hment ; but how few, alas ! rightly confider 
 and underhand ! 
 
 This amazing feene of things, my brethren, is in 
 perfect agreement with the fure word of prophecy. 
 The myftic period of “ a thoufand two hundred and 
 fixty days” is hailing to its clofe. The power of em- 
 pire is now in the feet and toes of the great image. 
 As yet indeed the power is terrible ; and is employed 
 by the advancing King of kings, as the rod of his an- 
 ger, for the punilliment of the nations which have flain 
 his fervants, and call off their allegiance to Him. But 
 the battle will continue ; “ to the end of the war defo- 
 lations are determined and ere long, the decifivc 
 blow will fall on the feet of the itnage, and the iron and 
 clay, the brafs, the filver and the gold, will be broken to 
 pieces together, and made as the chaff of the fummer threfh- 
 ing floors. 
 
 Nor are thefe the only indications of the glorious 
 Sovereign’s advance. His “ angel is now Hying in 
 the midll of heaven, having the evcrlalling gofpel to 
 preach to them that dwell on the earth, to every na- 
 tion, and kindred, and longue, and people ; and pro- 
 claiming with a loud voice, “ Fear God, and give glory 
 to him ; for the hour of his judgment is come turn from 
 your vanities, “ and worlliip him who made heaven 
 and earth, and the fea, and the fountains of waters.” 
 His fervants are roufed to unexampled exertion. His 
 enfign is lifted up ; his word is palling into all langua- 
 ges ; his heralds are going forth into all lands ; prepa- 
 rations are in forwardnefs for his name to be publilh- 
 cd to all people as their Saviour and their God. 
 
21 
 
 Tliefe figns, my brethren, arc not to be difregarded. 
 Though, according to the prophetic word, “ the wick- 
 ed do wickedly, and none of the wicked underftand” — 
 yet the wife lhall underftand.” — It is now too late in 
 the day for the feoffer’s taunting queftion. Where is 
 ihepromifeof bis coming! for all things do not continue 
 as they were from the beginning. At this very time, his 
 prediclions are far advanced in fulfilment ; his tokens 
 glitter in the view of all nations, and all men arc warn- 
 ed, that “ he will make a lliort work in the earth.’* 
 
 3. Wherever the gofpel is known, all people arc now 
 fpecially called on to acknowledge Chrift, as their Sa- 
 viour and Kino:, and to affill in extending his kinnr- 
 
 O' O O 
 
 dom. 
 
 To you, my hearers, the glad tidings of this king- 
 dom are publiflied. To you the proclamation is made, 
 that “ He who was crucified without the gate of Jerufa- 
 lem, is exalted at the right hand of power, a Prince 
 and a Saviour, to give repentance and remilTion of fins ; 
 and that unto him every knee fliould bow, and every 
 tongue confefs.” To you his overtures of amnefty 
 are tendered ; to you the call is addrelTed to accept 
 his grace, to bow to his feeptre, to acknowledge your 
 perfons with all that you have to be his, and to Ihcw 
 yourfelves the willing, the happy fubjeefs of his advanc- 
 ing and cverlafting kingdom. This call no one of you 
 can difregard, or difobey, without incurring the guilt 
 of obftinate rebellion, and the peril of pcrilliing from 
 the way under his kindled wrath. — The fame is the 
 cafe with all people, wherever his gofpel is publiflied. 
 “ And blefl'ed are they who hear, obediently, the joy- 
 ful found.” “ They fliall fee the good of his chofen** 
 — they fliall “ rejoice in the gladncfs of his nation” — 
 they fliall “ glory with his inheritance” forever. — 
 With thofe who refufe, it will be far otherwife. To 
 them the mighty Saviour, and Sovereign, fays, “ Be- 
 hold, my people fliall rejoice, but ye fliall be afliamed j 
 
22 
 
 behold, my fervants jQiall fing for joy of^heart, but ye 
 lliall cry for forrow of heart, and fhall howl for vex- 
 ation of fpirit ; and ye fliall leave your name for a 
 curfe unto my chofen.” 
 
 But, my brethren, it is not enough that you fubmit 
 as the willing fubjecls of our glorious King ; you muft 
 aflift in extending his kingdom. For what purpofe, in- 
 deed, do you give yourfelves and all that you have to 
 him ; but to be employed in his fervice, that you may 
 fliare in the glory of his triumphs, and fit down with 
 him on his throne? — Do you afk how you fhall affift? — 
 
 The anfwer is ready. — The great work is before you — * 
 
 of gi'vin^ his word to all people in their own languages y 
 and fendhtg faithful men according to his appointment y to 
 preach it to every creature under heaven. And every one 
 in this houfe, every perfon in the chriftian world, has 
 an opportunity by fhewing a friendly countenance to 
 the work, by praying for its fuccefs, and by contribu- 
 ting as ability is given for its fupport and furtherance, , 
 to do fomething for the honour of Chrifl and for his I 
 
 poflefllon of his kingdom. 
 
 * But fome do not approve of this defign — And "were 
 there not fome, and jof thofe too w'ho “ made their 
 boaft in God,” who did not approve of the firft publi- 
 cation of the gofpcl ? In what age indeed, in what 
 part of the world, have the friends of Chrift ever en- 
 gaged in a defign for the advancement of his kingdom, 
 which was not regarded with coldnefs by fome, with 
 jealoufy by others — which was not difcountenanced 
 with derifion by fome, with frowns by others — which 
 was not oppofed with infidious artifice by fome, with 
 open violence by others ? — ‘ But it is not ncceffary to propa- 
 gate the gofpel among the heathen ; they will do very well with- 
 out it /’ — For what purpofe then, did Chrift give his 
 blood — and command that his gofpel fliould be preach- 
 ed to all people ? — ‘ It is a vain attempt — the heathen will 
 not change their religion /’ — It is the word, however, of 
 eternal truth, that all the ends of the world Jhall turn 
 
23 
 
 unto the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations Jhall 
 worfldp before him. Whom lhall we believe ? Is the 
 arm of the Lord fhortened ? — is his Spirit ftraitcncd ? 
 — ‘ But the Myjtonaries ivill be fent back .^ — That is yet 
 to be known. But what if they are ? What if fomc 
 men in another part of the world, of a fimilar fpirit 
 with thofe here who hope it will be fo, ftiould under- 
 take to obftrucl the miflion t Is a large and populous 
 part of the world, for fuch a rcafon, to be blotted from 
 the map of ChrilTs dominions ? Or, if he permit one 
 attempt for evangelizing a nation to fail ; are his peo- 
 ple, whofe faith and pcrfeverance he would thus try, 
 pufiUanimoully to relinquifli the defign ? Is it fo, my 
 brethren, that we have learned Chrift ? Then let us 
 never more mention his name ! 
 
 ‘ But, if permitted to Jiay, they mujl encounter great 
 hardjhips and perils.'* — And pray how was it with the 
 Apoftles themfelves, the firft Miffionaries of the Crofs ? 
 Were they not treated as the “ filth of the world — the 
 offscouring of all things ?” Did not bonds and imprifon- 
 ments await them in every place ? Were they not in 
 perils continually, and in deaths oft ? And did not 
 their gracious Lord know it would be fo, when he fent 
 them forth ? — ‘ But they are changing the'ir fentiments* — 
 Men, we know are liable to change — are liable to defec- 
 tion. “ Neverthelefs the foundation of God ftandeth 
 fure nor will the grace of God fail of furnifiaing fia- 
 ble and faithful men for the miffionary fervice. — ‘ The 
 expenfe mufi be great — it will impoveriflj the country.'' — 
 My brethren, how many thoufands of dollars have been 
 fent from this country to India in one year ? More 
 than enough to fupport, for the fame time, a thoufand 
 miffionaries ! — And for what ? For articles more va- 
 luable than the fouls of men ? — for interefts more im- 
 portant than thofe of Chrift’s kingdom ? — Then indeed 
 the fouls of men are not worth the coft of their falva- 
 tion ! — The kingdom of Chrift is not worth the expenfe 
 of extending it !* — ‘ But the prefent is an unfavourable time ; 
 
 * It is eftimated upoa fure data, that the expenfe of the ardent 
 
 i 
 
24 
 
 for people arcloftng, rather than gaining property:— \YtW, 
 "then, let them iecure at leaft a fmall portion of what 
 they'yet have, by invefting it in that kingdom which 
 fliall endure forever— by committing it to Him who 
 will repay them with imperifliable treafures. 
 
 My brethren, thefe objeftions, when weighed in the 
 balances of the fanctuary, will be found lighter than air. 
 Men may fay what they pleafe ; the profane may taunt, 
 the pharifaical may decry, the wife may demur : but 
 it is all in vain. Chrift will advance, and take poffef- 
 hon of his kingdom. “ Every valley fliall be filled be- 
 fore him, and every mountain and hill fliall be made 
 low.” The faces of thofe who “ make a wide mouth” 
 fliall be covered with confufion ; the wifdom of the 
 wife fliall be turned into fooliflinefs ; and every op- 
 pofing power fliall be broken in pieces. ^ If you decline 
 the pleafure, the honour, the evcrlafting reward, of 
 aiding this avork ; others will be found who will not : 
 and the work will proceed, till the fliouts of falvation 
 are heard in every clime. — But you will not decline. 
 You will account it your highett joy, that you ma^y af- 
 fift in bringing your Saviour and Lord into the poflef- 
 fion of his kingdom ; and you will hail his advance 
 with the grateful welcome : 
 
 “ Come then, and, added to thy many crowns, 
 
 Receive yet one — the crown of all the earth, 
 
 “ Then who alone art worthy.” 
 
 AMEN. 
 
 fpirits, confnmed in the United States, is more than thirty 
 
 millions of dollars !— Gut if the people of thefe States can afford 
 thirty millions every year for an article, in main part, not only ab- 
 folutcly unneceffary, but Incalculably injurious; can they not af- 
 ford a few thoufands for the purpnfc of imparting the prefent con- 
 folations and the everlalling blcffings of the gofpel to their perilhing 
 fellow men ? Or might they not fpare a lew thoufands of the thirty 
 millions for this important obje« 5 l ? Or will any 
 “ Why thU ’wafie ^—Why was mt this given to the poor t (MarK 
 liv. 4. .md John xii. 5, 6.) and yet Ihew no concern refpeamg 
 the Ollier nibll enormous and ruinous expenfe ?