He executeth, and "the knowledge of His glory shall cover the earth.”

2. UNIVERSAL DOMINION will form another important feature of the glory of the Lord. This is plainly and expressly declared in many passages of Scripture. We may refer, for example, to Dan. ii. 35, where we read, that "the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." The explanation of this is given in the 44th verse: "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Refer, also, to Psalm lxxii. 8, 10, 11: "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him." As this was a Psalm for Solomon, the extent and magnificence of his kingdom might be prophetically alluded to. But this only in the way of type.-"Behold, a greater than Solomon is here." The terms in which the inspired Psalmist goes on to describe the king and the kingdom, are far too magnificent to be confined to a mortal

monarch, or to any state of things under mortal rule. We cannot attentively consider these and similar passages, without having immediately before us the King of kings in the glory of His universal dominion, sending forth His laws from the metropolitan city Jerusalem, expressly called "the city of the great King;" and surrounded by the saints of the Church of the first-born in their resurrection bodies. For that they will be admitted to be administrators, and, in this sense, sharers with Him in His kingdom, we may gather from His own promise, "He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father." (Rev. ii. 26, 27.)

It is true, that even now, in His exaltation at the right hand of God, our incarnate Saviour is King and Supreme Ruler over all the works of God. But it is the manifestation of His kingly power and glory for which we are taught to look in the intimations given of His universal dominion. We are to SEE all things put under Him; His glory is to be revealed so that all flesh may see it together. He is to be acknowledged universal King, not only by those whose faith can pierce into things unseen as yet, but so that at

His glorious name every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Hear what the Apostle John says when he had a vision of His glory: "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." (Rev. v. 13.)

God, in mercy, give us grace to prepare us for the blissful sight of this glory! We should be more in earnest to make sure of it, had we anything like an adequate impression of what it is to be with Jesus where He is, and to behold His glory. Unto them that believe even now Jesus is precious. With what ecstasy will they behold Him when He stands forth clad in His glorious apparel, crowned with many crowns, seeing of the travail of His soul and being satisfied, the object of universal admiration, the loved of every heart, the praise of every tongue! What emotions will be awakened in their breast when they hear "as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alle

:

luia for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Rev. xix. 6.) O that with that glorious throng we may fall at His feet, and be permitted to join in their glorious song, and help to crown Him Lord of all!

We

3. The glory of ESTABLISHING UPON EARTH A RULE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE shall be a portion of that glory, the knowledge of which shall fill the earth. That this will in a very remarkable manner constitute the glory and peculiar excellency of our reigning Saviour, is manifest, because, even in the most golden age of the world, this has never yet been seen. are told that there is no power but of God, and that the powers that be are ordained of God. Still, through man's wickedness, every Divine appointment has been abused; Satan has managed to usurp the thrones of the world, and the pages of history are a continual record of sin, unhappiness, and destruction. "The way of peace they have not known." Tyranny and oppression have been the characteristics of many of those that have had dominion. Imperfections have hindered the beneficial working of the wisest and best constituted governments. Schemes of real or would-be philanthropists for the amelioration and happiness of the family of man, have, one after the other, been frustrated or thwarted;

and as far as respects the attainment of the widespread and universal rule of righteousness and peace, the world still remains discontented, dissatisfied, and suffering.

How great the advantage, then, my Christian brethren, which you possess over the mere politician and the mere philanthropist; you know of One whose right the world is, and who, as the promised seed of David, the King of the Jews, is coming to claim His right, and take to Himself His great power and reign; and you know, that ruled as His kingdom will be, there will be literally and truly that for which we now pray,-the prevalence of "wealth, peace, and godliness." Yes, that which it were impossible to effect by any power or privilege ever committed to the Church will then be effected.

The curse which rested upon the earth in consequence of man's sin, will be removed; for we read, "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." (Isa. lv. 13.) Contentions among men, which have ever been so fruitful a source of lasting misery, shall cease: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against