O that this glorious season might speedily begin ; that his kingdom might come, and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven ! But if we be not favoured to behold this period, let us at least make him the most acceptable return we can for his kindness, by devoting ourselves to his service, and endeavouring to bring others to the obedience of faith.
The Ji/ial step of his advancement will be, when he shall come again to judge the world, and reign over his elect for ever and ever. What he has already received is only a pledge and earnest of what he will hereafter enjoy. At a future period, fixed in the divine counsels, but known to no creature either in heaven or earth, he is to come in his own glory, and in the glory of his Father, surrounded with all the holy angels. He is then to summon the whole uni- verse before him : all, in one vast assembly, will stand at his tribunal, and be judged by him according to their works : those that were his enemies, and would not that he should reign over them, he will cast, together with the fallen angels, into the lake of fire ; but his faithful servants he will take, together with the holy angels, to dwell with him, that they may be one fold under one shepherd for evermore. His mediatorial office indeed he will then lay down, as having no more need to exercise it ; and in this sense, "he will deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, that God may be all in all." But he will not cease to reign as a king over his people ; for the prophet expressly says, that " of his kingdom there shall be no end." To all eternity therefore will he be the Head of the church ; to all eternity the one source of their joy, the one object of their adoration. As the glorified saints and angels are already singing, so will they never cease to sing, " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, and wisdom and strength, and glory and honour and blessing; therefore blessing and honour, and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."