Its Final Triumph.

is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

90. Progress and final triumph of Christ's kingdom upon earth.

Ps. 72: 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

Is. 9: 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment, and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD

of hosts will perform this.

Dan. 2: 35 The stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 44 And 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. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.-7: 13 I saw in the night visions, 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. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him.

Zec. 14: 9 The LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Mat. 13: 31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Rev. 11: 15 The seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world.

Design of-Foundation of.

are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. —20: 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. [See 440.]

91. Duration of Christ's kingdom.

Ps. 45: 6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.

Dan. 7: 14 His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Lk. 1: 33 He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

CHURCH OF GOD.

92. Design of the church of God.

Mat. 5: 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Ep. 3: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Tim. 3: 15 The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

93. Foundation of the church.

Mat. 16: 16 Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 18 Thou art Peter, and upon this rock [Christ] I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.-21: 42 Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. [Ps. 118: 22. Is. . 1 Pet. 2: 7.]

ດ

3:9 Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building

Greatly beloved-safe.

11 Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ep. 2: 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.

94. The church an object of love and of prayer.

Ps. 51: 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.-87: 2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. — 122: 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.— 137: 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Song 7: 10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. Is. 62: 6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence. 7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Ep. 5: 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. 29 No man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. [See 111, 504, 585, 672.]

95. The church safe.

Ps. 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the Tabernacles of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 125: 2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

Apostles.

Pr. 18: 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Is. 43: 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not; for I am with thee: Í will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west: 6 I will say to the north, Give up: and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.—54: 14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. [See 515—517, 585.]

96. Christ the head of the church.

Mat. 23: 8 Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Ep. 1: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. [See 76.]

CHURCH OFFICERS.

97. Apostles, or extraordinary officers, called directly by Christ.

Mat. 4: 18 Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 10: 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth.

Gal. 1: 1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the ead.)

Apostles.

98. The apostles, instructed by direct revelations.

Mat. 10: 19 When they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Gal. 1: 11 I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man: 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.-2: 8 (He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.)

99. Apostles, eye-witnesses of Christ's resurrection.

Ac. 1: 21 Of these men which have companied with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us. 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. - 13: 30 God raised him from the dead: 31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

1 Cor. 15: 8 Last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

100. Miraculous gifts and authority of the apostles.

Mat. 10: 1 When he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease. 16: 19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. 18: 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. 19 If two of you shall agree on earth, as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Jn. 20: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. Ac. 8: 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.15: 28 It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and