Grecian, and Roman empires, subjoins, "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Ver. 44. Again, the same prophet, in describing the vision he himself had, says, "I saw in the night vision, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Chap. 7: 13, 14. (p. 264, 308.)

Micah the prophet, predicting the birth-place of Messiah, describes him as a king, saying, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little amongst the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah, 5: 2. (p. 257.) Hence, when the wise men of the east inquired for the new-born King of the Jews, the high priest directed them to Bethlehem.

The prophet Zechariah, in prospect of Messiah's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, exclaims, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, thy King cometh unto thee. He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass." Zech. 9: 9. (p. 263.)

§ 3. The prophets further ascribe to the Messiah all the ensigns of royalty; a sceptre, a crown, a throne, and a sword; subjects over whom he was to rule, even all the creatures in heaven and on earth; yea, all the angels in heaven were to take the oath of allegiance to him. See. Psa.

2:9. 45. 103: 19. It is further evident that the Messiah was to be a king.

§ 4. From the expectation of the people, both heathen and our own people, you perceive, my dear Benjamin, that all the prophets conspired to describe him as a glorious King. No wonder, therefore, that at the birth of Jesus there was a general expectation amongst the Gentiles, as well as amongst our people, that a king should reign, as has been shown at large, (p.147.) Besides, you know, my dear Benjamin, that nothing is more common in the writings of our ancient and modern rabbins, than the word " Melech Meshiach," i. e. King Messiah. Whilst Jesus was on the earth, the people in general, and his disciples in particular, expected that he would set up a kingdom. Hence the Pharisees inquired when the kingdom of God was to come. Luke, 17:20. And when Jesus made his public entrance into Jerusalem, the people cried, "Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel, that cometh in the name of the Lord." John, 12 13. After the resurrection of Jesus his disciples said, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ?" Acts, 1: 6.

5. Jesus Christ is Messiah the King.

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He is a King invested with all regal power and prince.y authority; "King of kings and Lord of lords; the Prince of the kings of the earth." This name he has written on his vesture and on his thigh. Rev. 19: 16. The angel that announced his birth, declared him to be a King. And the angel said unto her, fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God; and behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus; and he shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him, the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke, 1: 30-33.

Jesus Christ asserted it. Even when he conversed among

`men, in the humble form of a servant, he assumed the royal character. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matt. 28: 18. Again: "As thou hast given him power over all flesh." John, 17: 2. Again he said to his disciples, "I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed unto me." Luke, 22: 29. And when accused before Pilate of being guilty of high treason for having assumed the title of king, he confessed, and denied not that he was a king." John, 18: 33-37. This passage will be considered more particularly hereafter. It is worthy of notice, my dear Benjamin, that even Pilate the heathen was overruled to give a kind of accidental testimony of this truth, and to publish it to different nations by the inscription upon the cross in three languages then most in use, viz. the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, "This is the King of the Jews," and all the remonstrances of the Jews could not prevail with him to alter it. Luke, 23: 38. John, 19:19-22.

The apostles confirmed it. On the day of Pentecost, Pe- · ter boldly tells the very murderers of Christ, saying, "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Acts, 2: 36. And again Peter and all the apostles when forbidden to speak any more in the name of Jesus, "answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior." Acts, 5: 29–31.

The apostle Paul frequently represents Christ as ad vanced "far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church." Eph. 1: 21-22. Phil. 2 : 9–11. The saints and angels in heaven celebrate the honors of King Jesus. Take the following as a specimen; and O

my dear Benjamin, may we be prepared to join the new song in heaven. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round the throne, and the beasts, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four-and-twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth for ever and ever." Rev. 5:9-14.

§ 6. I proceed now to show that Jesus Christ was perfectly qualified to be a king.

His wisdom was infinite. A king should be wise as an angel of God, to know all things appertaining to civil government, as the woman of Tekoah said David was, even to know and to be able to penetrate into the designs of his enemies, to guard against them, to provide for the safety and welfare of his subjects; and such is David's Son and antitype, the Messiah; on whom rests the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and of knowledge; and who has all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and all that wisdom by which kings reign and princes decree judgment, is from him. Isa. 11: 1, 2.

He was just and righteous: King David with his last words declared that "he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." 2 Samuel, 23: 3. This was

evidently the case with his Son and Lord, the Messiah. "Justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne, mercy and truth go continually before him." His sceptre is a sceptre of righteousness. "Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things which are God's." Matt. 22: 21. Though he permits, limits, orders, and overrules many unholy persons and actions, yet he still works like himself, most holy and righteous. "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." Psa. 145 17. It is easier to separate light from a sunbeam, than holiness from the works of God. The best of men cannot escape sin in their most holy actions, but no sin cleaveth to God, whatever he has to do with it.. He also possesses almighty power. "Though a child born, yet he is the "Mighty God." Isa. 9: 6. Besides his essential, native power and dominion over all, which belong to him as God, there is a mediatory, dispensed authority, which is peculiar to him as Mediator, as the reward and fruit of his sufferings. Phil. 2: 8. This authority extends over the whole creation. "Thou hast given him power over all flesh.” John, 17: 2. ~ All creatures, rational and irrational, animate and inanimate, angels devils, men, winds, and seas must all obey him.

All power was promised to the Messiah: "I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance." Ps. 2: 8. This was fulfilled. "All power is given me." Matt. 28: 18. His resurrection had not attained its full end and perfection, had he not been exalted to a glorious government. It was for this end that he died, that he rose again, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living. Rom. 14:9. He died to purchase it, he rose to possess it, and lives for ever to manage it. He was exalted for the honor of God and the happiness of believers; as Joseph, the type, was advanced to manage affairs for the interest of the crown and the good of the people.

Love stronger than death is another qualification pecu