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Men are placed here to be formed by a proper education for another world, for another class, and other employments; but civil rulers cannot form them for these important ends, and therefore they must be under the government of one who has access to their spirits, and can manage them as he pleases. "The Lord reigneth" —

I. UPON A THRONE OF LEGISLATION. "Let the earth rejoice" —

1. That God has clearly revealed His will to us, and not left us in inextricable perplexities about our duty to Him and mankind.

2. That God's laws are suitably enforced with proper sanctions, such as become a God of infinite wisdom, almighty power, inexorable justice, untainted holiness, and unbounded goodness and grace, and such as are agreeable be the nature of reasonable creatures formed for an immortal duration. How happy is it to live under a government where virtue and religion, which in their own nature tend to our happiness, are enforced with such resistless arguments! On the other band, the penalty annexed by the Divine Lawgiver to disobedience is proportionably dreadful.

3. That the Divine laws reach the inner man, and have power upon the hearts and consciences of men.

II. BY HIS PROVIDENCE.

1. Over the kingdoms of the earth.

2. Over the Church.

3. Over all contingencies that can befall individuals.

4. Over evil spirits. He keeps the infernal lions in chains, and restrains their rage. He sees all their subtle plots and machinations against tits feeble sheep, and baffles them all.

III. UPON A THRONE OF GRACE. This is a kind of government peculiar to the human race; the upright angels do not need it, and the fallen angels are not favoured with it. This is invested in the person of immanuel (Ephesians 1:22; Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18). This is the kingdom described in such august language in Daniel 2:44, 45; Daniel 7:14; Luke 1:32, 33). To His throne of grace He invites all to come, and offers them the richest blessings. From thence He publishes peace on earth, and good will towards men. From thence He offers pardon to all that will submit to His government, and renounce their sins, those weapons of rebellion. From thence He distributes the influences of His Spirit to subdue obstinate hearts into cheerful submission, to support His subjects under every burden, and furnish them with strength for the spiritual warfare.

IV. The Lord will reign ere long UPON A THRONE OF UNIVERSAL JUDGMENT, conspicuous to the assembled universe.

1. In that day the present unequal distributions of Providence will be for ever adjusted, and regulated according to the strictest justice.

2. In that day the righteous shall be completely delivered from all sin and sorrow, and advanced to the perfection of heavenly happiness.

(S. Davies, M.A.)

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KJV: The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

WEB: Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!