1. Universal.
2. More particular and special.
First, There is a universal kingdom over all things ; over angels and devils ; over men elect and reprobate ; over beasts and living creatures ; and over inanimate things, sun, moon, and stars. This is spoken of: 1 Chron. xxix. 11, ' Thine is the kingdom, 0 Lord, and thou are exalted as head above all.' And again : Ps. ciii. 19, ' The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens ; and his kingdom ruleth over all.' There is no such monarch as God is, for largeness of empire, for absoluteness of power, and sublimity of his throne. This is not principally understood here, but is implied as a foundation and ground of faith, whereupon we may deal with God about that king- dom, which is specially intended in this request.
Secondly, More [)articularly and especially, God hath a kingdom over a certain order and estate of men. Of this especial kingdom there are two notable branches and considerations. One is that adminis- tration which belongeth to the present life, and is called ' the king- dom of grace ; ' and the other belongeth to the life to come, and is called ' the kingdom of glory.'
1. The kingdom of grace is spoken of in many places, specially that : Luke xvii. 20, 21, 'When he was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say, Lo here ! or, lo there ! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you,' or ' among you.' He speaks of a kingdom of God that
Mat. VI. 10.] the lord's prayer. 91
was already come among them ia the dispensation of his grace hy Christ. And, then, the other belongeth to the life to come, called tlie kingdom of glory : Mat. xxv. 34, ' Come, ye blessed of my Father, in- herit the kingdom prepared for yon from the foundation of the world ; ' 1 Cor. XV. 50, ' Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.'
Now, the kingdom of grace may be considered two ways, — as exter- nally administered, and as internally received.
[1.] As externally administered in the ordinances and means of grace, as the word and seals, and censures, and the like. In this sense it is said : Mat. xxi. 43, ' The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.' The gospel or means of grace administered in the visible face of the church, they are called God's kingdom upon earth, and a very great privilege they are when they are bestowed upon any people. Surely, when Christ saith, ' The kingdom of God shall be taken from you,' he doth not mean it of the inward kingdom, — that they had not, that cannot be lost, — but of the outward and external means.
[2.] As internally received ; and then by it is meant the grace of God, which rules in the hearts of the elect, and causeth their souls to submit and subject themselves unto the obedience of Christ, and unto his sceptre, and to his word and Spirit, that this is that king- dom properly which is within us. This is ' the kingdom of God which consisteth in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost,' Eom. xiv. 17. And this differeth from the kingdom of glory, not so much in nature as in degree.
Well, then, that by the kingdom of God is here meant, not his general empire over all the world, and all the things of the world, though that be not wholly excluded, but his special kingdom, which he doth administer by Christ : and that either as externally managed by ordinances and visible means of grace, or as internally received and administered in the hearts of the elect. This is that kingdom we beg that it may flourish and get ground more and more.
2. Then for the kingdom of glory, it is either begun and inchoate, or else consummate and perfect.
[1.] It is begun and inchoate upon our translation to heaven in the very moment of death, in which Christ reigns in the other world in the spirits of just men made perfect — that is, being perfectly freed from sin, and admitted into the clear and immediate vision and frui- tion of God, though our bodies abide in the grave, expecting full redemption and deliverance. That there is such a kingdom carried on many scriptures intimate : Phil. i. 23, ' I desire to depart, and to be with Christ.' As soon as the saints are loosed from the body, they are with Christ under his government : Luke xxiii. 43. ' This day shalt thou be with me in paradise.' As soon as Christ died he was in paradise, and there was the good thief with him. The scriptures do not establish any such drowsy conceit as the sleep of souls, or such an estate wherein they do not enjoy God. We read of ' the spirits of just men made perfect,' which make up the congregation which is above, of which Christ is head : Heb. xii. 23. As the spirits of the wicked are in prison, 1 Pet. iii. I'J, that is, in hell. This is the king- dom of glory begun.