have had dominion over us ; but by thee only will we make mention of thy narne^" Into the name of Christ they have been baptized ; and to his service have they willingly devoted themselves ; engaging to fulfil his will, and even to lay down their lives, if need be, for his sake.]
2. As that which they are to inherit —
[All the blessings of it are theirs : and it is administered altogether for their good. The King himself has their interest in view, as much as if he had not another subject in his realm to occupy his attention. Their enemies are all restrained, and shall all, not excepting Satan himself, ere long be bruised under their feet. All the protection which they can need, and all the provision which their souls can desire, are secured to them : " they dwell on high ; their place of defence is the munition of rocks : their bread is daily given them, and their water is sure\" Nor can these be moved, any more than the kingdom itself can. Neither time nor chance can impair the blessings themselves, or rob them of the enjoyment of them. The pardon, the peace, the holiness, the glory, are theirs, not
for time only, but for eternity And this is the portion,
not of some few favoured individuals only, as Prophets and Apostles, but of every believer, however poor, however un- worthy. To the whole body of believers, without exception, it is said, " Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom'^." Hear this, ye who are poor in this world ; and survey the riches to which God has chosen you' : in respect of your earthly state, ye may be said to be " upon a dunghill : but God has taken you thence, to set you among the princes™." " Ye have received a kingdom ;" " Christ has appointed to you a kingdom, even as his Father has appointed unto him a kingdom" ;" and has ordained that " you shall sit with him upon his throne, as he sitteth on his Father's throne°:" ye may be "beggars," as it respects tem- poral possessions ; but ye are " kings p :" and respecting all of you, Jehovah himself says, " I know your poverty ; but ye are rich'i."]
Let not any, however, be so elated with their pri- vilege as to overlook,
II Their duty as connected with it —
*^ We must serve God with reverence and godly fear"—
^ Isai. xxvi. 13. ^ Isai. xxxiii. IG. ^ Luke xii. 32.
1 Jam. ii. 5. ™ 1 Sam. ii. 8. « Luke xxii. 29.
" Rev, iii. 21. p llcv. i. G. q Rev. ii, 9.