by the poorest of his subjects is " unsearchable''." " Though he have nothing (of an earthly nature), he actually possesses all things'." In earthly kingdoms, a few only, and those of the higher ranks, have access to their king ; and that only for a short season, on some particular occasions. But in Christ's kingdom, every one of his subjects has access to him at all times ; yea, and has liberty to " ask whatsoever he will ;" with an abso- lute certainty, that (provided the gift will be beneficial to his soul) he shall obtain it'^. In other kingdoms, the subjects are only subjects : but in Christ's kingdom every subject is himself a king\ having a throne •", a crown", a kingdom", for his un- alienable and everlasting possession. The subjects of other kingdoms have their pleasures and their joys ; but the subjects of Christ are " full of joy and peace in believing p," yea, " of joy unspeakable and glorified"." Well might Moses say, " Happy art thou, O Israel, O people saved by the Lord, who is the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thine excellency M"]
IV. The glory of his reign —
[Truly, never did there exist among men such a kingdom as this. In this there will not be found one enemy unsubdued ; ar one subject of the realm debased, or destitute, or unholy, or unhappy. Even at present, so far as Christ really reigns in the heart, this is found a truth : but in that day, when his power will be universally operative and effectual, it will be productive of these effects in every place and in every bosom. But, as the crown and summit of all, every soul will refer to Christ as the life, the peace, the strength, the joy, the glory of his whole Church. There will be stars differing from each other in splen- dour ; but all will acknowledge him as the sun, from whence all their lustre is derived, and to whom alone all the glory must be ascribed. In the reign of Solomon, so great was the pro- sperity of the Jewish people, that " silver was common as the stones," and " of no account" in the pubhc estimation^ But that was poverty itself, in comparison of what shall be the por- tion of God's people in the millennial age : for then the very poorest amongst them shall be able to say, " All things are mine; for I am Christ's*."
That there may be trials then, as well as now, I do not deny : but they will all be made subservient to the advancement of the people's happiness : seeing, that " as their tribulations abound, their consolations also by Christ shall much more abound"."]
»> Eph. iii. 8. i 2 Cor. vi. 10.
^ John xiv. 13, 14. and xv. 7. ' Rev. i, G.
m Rev. iii. 21. "2 Tim. iv. 8. » Luke xxii. 29.
P Rom. XV. 13. q 1 Pet. i. 8. ^ pgut. xxxiii. 29.
•" 1 Kings X. 21, 27. * 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. " 2 Cor. i. 5.