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Jesus, not in the humble form, which he usually wore in the days of his humiliation; but with illuminated countenance and shining vesture, such as he was about to assume after his ascension to God's right hand.

In addition to all this, they find themselves suddenly invested with a cloud, and hear a voice issuing from the cloud, and saying, in regard to Christ: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

We conclude the present-discourse with some reflections on the glories of heaven, of which this scene of the transfiguration was only a shadow. In heaven, there will be not only Moses and Elias, but all the saints of every age. All the patriarchs, who served as lights in the midst of a benighted world; all the prophets, whom God inspired to foreshow his designs of grace to men; all the apostles of Christ, and witnesses of his gospel, who "loved not their lives unto death." There shall be a Noah, Abraham and Joshua, an Isaiah and Daniel; a St. Paul and all his fellow helpers to the kingdom of God: I beheld, said the holy seer of Patmos, and lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation unto our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. All this innumerable multitude of sanctified ones shall appear gloriously arrayed in white garments, enjoying the most blissful and honorable intercourse with angels. Jesus Christ shall there appear in full majesty not only in that glory, which he had with the Father before the foundation of the world, but with that additional splendor and elevation, which he acquired, by accomplishing the work of man's redemption. He will then sit on the "right hand of power, far above all principality, and might, and dominion, and every name, that is named; all things being put under his feet. The worshippers shall no more feel bodily fatigue, like these disciples, who fell asleep, even when their Lord was praying. The worship of heaven shall be rational, vigor

ous, and fervent. No one will feel indifferent, or languid; but each will join in it, with his whole heart. Peter, to prolong the splendid and happy scene, which he enjoyed on the mount with Christ, proposed to build three tabernacles. The saints, in much greater happiness, shall be assured of its perpetuity :they will have no fears, that their pleasures will ever cease, or be diminished. Those rivers of pleasure, which flow at God's right hand, continue forever more: The tabernacles of God shall be with men :-God himself shall be among them. Eternity will not exhaust his love to them, nor their satisfaction and delight in him. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things, which God has prepared for them that love him. God grant we may experience, throughout eternity, the inadequacy of all our present conceptions.

SERMON II.

CHRIST'S UNIVERSAL REIGN.

COR. 15: 25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

OUR blessed Saviour, both in the Old and New Testament, sustains the character of a king. I have set my king, saith God by the psalmist, on mine holy hill of Zion. Isaiah speaks in this language: Behold a king shall reign in righteousness. Jeremiah, in like manner: Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. By the prophet Daniel, it was foretold, that the God of heaven should set up a kingdom.

The kingdom of Messiah is spoken of, as preeminent. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end; upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even forever.

Agreeably to all these declarations, when our Saviour appeared in the flesh, it was in character of a king; he came to establish a kingdom. This was even rumored about to his disadvantage, as if his design had been to overthrow the civil government. When Pilate, under the influence of this gross misconception, asked Jesus, if he were a king, Jesus answered, It is, as thou sayest. I am a king; but my kingdom is not of this world; but for this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. The Gospel dispensation is denominated "the kingdom of

God." The law and the prophets, saith Christ, were until John; from that time the kingdom of God is preached, etc., the Gospel is made known. The administration of this kingdom will continue in the hands of Christ, until the great designs of infinite wisdom are accomplished; at which time, it will revert back to its original source, even to God the Father. By this authority committed to Christ, the most important objects are to be effected. The reign of Christ is not a slothful, ineffectual, and inglorious reign. He must reign, saith the Apostle, till he has put down all rule, all authority, and power; he must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet; and then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom unto God; and the Son himself shall be subject unto him, that God may be all in all. The time, when all shall be subject to Christ, will, it appears, be immediately after the general resurrection.

We will now endeavor to show what is meant by that universal subjection to Christ, foretold in the text; and in what sense it can be said, that all things shall be put under him.

The expression "all things," must be so understood as to designate rational beings only. Inanimate objects, such as the earth, the ocean, the sky, the winds and clouds, can never act in opposition to his will. They manifest his glory, but never counteract his designs. Fire and hail, snow and vapor, and stormy winds all unite in fulfilling his word. The irrational animals, as they are incapable of knowing God's will, must be, for that reason, incapable of opposing it. Besides, it is supposed, that the material heavens and earth and all the inhabitants of the earth, air and sea, man only excepted, will be consumed before that august period, of which we are speaking.

It follows then, that rational beings, such as men and angels, are exclusively meant, by the "all things," which shall be made subject to Christ.

But in what sense, it may be asked, will the whole human race, and apostate spirits ever be put in such subjection?

I answer, that this can never be said of all, in the same sense. Part of the human race will be reduced to a willing subjection.

Through the power of God's word and Spirit, they will be brought to love the kingdom of Christ, and cordially submit to his laws. All sin, whether concealed in the heart, or displayed in the life, is a species of warfare, is enmity against God. The heart, full of sensuality, is not and cannot be conformed to the law of God for whenever it yields to God, it then becomes a new heart, ceases to be prevailingly sensual, and to remain under the reigning power of sin. It is the joy and happiness of a believer's heart, that the Lord sits, as king over all the earth! that he will assuredly influence, restrain, or regulate all his creatures in whatever part of the universe, in such a manner, as is most consistent with infinite wisdom, justice and mercy.

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The Christian in the exercise of the temper, which renders him such, earnestly desires, that the Lord may reign forever, and has no inclination to alter the course of his most perfect government. The laws of Christ appear to him absolutely perfect; and it is the deliberate determination of his heart to give up himself, to be ruled by them. When a sinner turns to God, he feels and acknowledges, that he has need of Christ; and that the Gospel, which he has opposed by his disobedience and unbelief, is the only religion which can be satisfactory to an awakened conscience. In this view of the matter, he yields himself to Christ, and the word of his grace, being willing to receive salvation on any conditions, which the Gospel makes known, and to acknowledge himself, as lying entirely at the mercy of God. To use the psalmist's prophetic language, he falls under, and submits himself to Christ, as his conqueror and king. In this way, by a voluntary surrender, will many of Christ's enemies be put under his feet. And all who thus submit, and become obedient subjects, he will exalt to great honor. He that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

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It is indeed, a sorrowful reflection, that so small a proportion of mankind give any proof of being brought to these terms. is melancholy to believe, that so large a part of our degenerate race perseveringly rebel against the Prince of Peace. It is not charity, but inattention to the terms of salvation, as they are re

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