I King repeated the emphatic word: "Except a man take up his cross and deny himself, he cannot be my disciple." And except we are willing to make sacrifices to promote it, we cannot consistently pray: "Thy kingdom come." Our chief inquiry should not be, "When will Christ come?" but, "What is my present duty?" Christ reproved idle curiosity for all time when He said to His disciples: "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons; but ye shall receive power, and ye shall be witnesses unto me." Their duty was to bear testimony even as martyrs, relying on the promised power; not to relax their energies in service by speculations about "seasons." Zeal in extending the kingdom should be stimulated by either of the views held. If that reign of righteousness is to be expected as the result of present agencies, how earnest should they be who pray "Thy kingdom come," to promote an event the means of hastening which are already entrusted to the Church! But if the personal appearing of Christ is expected to introduce the millennial reign, and if such Advent may be very near, what an incitement to be at our post of duty, watching, waiting, working! Whether we expect the whole world to be won to the kingdom by missionary zeal or by the Advent of Christ, it is His imperative command that we make known the truth. If we relax our efforts because His appearing will at once accomplish what He designs, we are desisting from the work which He has entrusted to us, and thus we cannot be ready for His Advent. "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing; so doing our present duty, not idly dreaming of what may happen in the future. 6. The prayer also admonishes to preparedness for the final coming of the kingdom. "We pray that it may come in us, we pray that we may be found in it; for come it certainly will, but what will it profit thee, if it shall find thee at the left hand!" (Augustine). By many a mourner at the open grave the prayer is offered with solemn emphasis, “We beseech Thee, that it may please Thee, of Thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of Thine elect and to hasten Thy kingdom." Do we really desire this? Are we of the number of the elect of whom Jesus said, "They cry day and night unto God"? Suppose the kingdom should come while we are neglecting its claims and trampling on its laws! Suppose it should come while we are discussing the method and the time of it, but are neglecting to prepare for it! The premillennial Advent of our Lord may appear to many, as to good Matthew Henry, doubtful notion," but all should resolve, "I will so live that I may live with Him, come when He may, and reign where He may." The kingdom of Glory can only be enjoyed by those who have already become subjects of the kingdom of Grace. Grace is glory in the seed; glory is grace in the flower. The King gives both grace and glory; but they who reject the former are not fit for the latter. If we would a reign with Christ, we must ourselves be subject to Christ. They who breathe this prayer should be "looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness! We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in His sight." In closing this meditation, let us be encouraged by thinking of the great congregation by whom this petition has been and is presented to God. Though many never utter it at all, and many repeat it without thought, yet from what multitudes of true hearts during nearly nineteen centuries has it gone up to God, its volume and fervour still increasing to the present day! It is ascending now from every clime, in varied accents of human speech. Greenlander and Esquimaux echo it back to Bechuana and Hottentot; learned Brahmin and cultured Chinaman respond to the same litany with Caffres and Zulus; the prayer, wafted to heaven in our dear English tongue from both sides the Atlantic, is swollen by the voices of a "great multitude which no man can number, of every tribe and people and kindred and nation;" many an earnest Christian-worker breathes it, from Sunday school class and motley throng in mission-hall or gathered crowd by the wayside; it ascends from rustic conventicle and city temple, from village church half hidden by ancient yews, and from dome - crowned cathedral and venerable minster; there are babes in Christ who lisp it, and veterans of service who, with ever-increasing fervour, plead"Thy kingdom come;" there are poor saints unable to do anything for it by money, but who do very much for it by prayer; there are the sick and infirm ones no longer capable of actively promoting it, but who, from chambers of weakness and beds of pain, speed all the workers by giving this petition precedence above any personal request for health and life. And while it ascends from earth, it mingles with the same petition from angels and saints in heaven. O that we may share in this "Communion of the saints"! That God may reign in our own hearts, throughout the world, and in the latter day glory, let us ever pray, "Thy kingdom come." Bid war and faction cease, Set every captive free; Assert Thy right divine; O'er all the nations shine: Lord Jesu, come ! Then earth like heaven shall sing, With hallelujahs ring, And hail her rightful King: Lord, quickly come !"-N. H. |