from the East paid to the infant Saviour, “born King of the Jews,” we see the first sign that free and full salvation was henceforth placed within the reach of all the nations of the world without distinction. And thus it came to pass that, in after years, the Apostles addressed their converts, taken equally from amongst Jews and Gentiles, in such words as these, “God hath called you unto His Kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. ii. 12); God “hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son” (Col. i. 13).

In other words, “The Kingdom of Heaven” is a real Kingdom, though a spiritual and heavenly one. The Lord Jesus Christ is King, and all the nations of the world are called to be His subjects.

And where is “The Kingdom of Heaven”?

The answer is clear. Wherever they are who have accepted the King and been admitted as His subjects.

“The Kingdom of Heaven” is not as yet in Heaven, so far as its subjects are concerned. It is true that the King Himself has ascended His throne in Heaven. And as members of Christ we share in some degree in the exaltation of our Head, so that S. Paul does not hesitate to say of the Lord’s people here on earth, God “hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephes. ii. 6). But such words seem to apply to that part of our nature to which our hopes and affections belong. So far as our duties and difficulties are concerned, we are still surrounded with earthly temptations. We are still in a state of trial here, however much we may be looking for and longing after our home. And Heaven will not be opened to receive the subjects of “The Kingdom of Heaven” until the Great Day, when they will be welcomed with the words, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you” (S. Matt. xxv. 34).

Christ’s Kingdom “is not of this world” (S. John xviii. 36), as He declared plainly to Pilate when he questioned Him about Himself. But for the present we may consider that, practically speaking, it is in the world though not of it. For its subjects are not yet in Heaven: but are partly at rest in Paradise; partly here on earth still warring against evil.

We can now express in few words the chief points respecting the nature of that “Kingdom of Heaven” which John the Baptist, in his office as Herald, proclaimed to be “at hand.”

The Lord Jesus Christ came to found a Kingdom. He is the King of “The Kingdom of Heaven.”

All who will accept Him as their King—all the men and women and little children in the world, of every land and of every age—may be admitted as the subjects of “The Kingdom of Heaven.” For “He died for all” (2 Cor. v. 15).

And “The Kingdom of Heaven,” though it is a spiritual and heavenly Kingdom, is as yet here on earth, and will not be in Heaven, until the subjects of the King have been tried and found faithful, and the number of the elect shall be accomplished.

It follows that the statements of Holy Scripture respecting “The Kingdom of Heaven,” which are to be considered in the following pages, refer not merely to the world to come—to that which we commonly understand by the word Heaven—but to that Kingdom which has been founded here on earth; and into which, as Christians, we have been already called. And the subject becomes of infinite importance to us all, when it is understood that “The Kingdom of Heaven” is, at this present time, that Kingdom of grace in which we may obtain salvation through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He has called us all to be subjects of this Kingdom now, that, by obtaining a share in His precious merits, we may be brought into a state of present salvation; and that, by continuing in this state through His grace, we may be recognised as His subjects in that great day, when the Kingdom of Grace will have become the Kingdom of Glory Everlasting.

CHAPTER II.

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM.

We have seen that, in the providence of God, John the Baptist was sent to proclaim to the world that “The Kingdom of Heaven” was at hand, and to point out the King. And as soon as the Herald had raised the expectation of men by the proclamation of the coming Kingdom, our Lord began His public ministry, the great object of which was the founding of His Kingdom for the salvation of the world. And, as S. Matthew tells us, He “went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom” (S. Matt. iv. 23); or, as S. Mark relates, “After that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the Gospel” (S. Mark i. 14, 15).

Thus the King took up and continued the message of His Herald, only adding to John the Baptist’s preaching of repentance the call to believe the Gospel—to have faith in the good tidings which He came to tell of the Kingdom of Heaven and of God. And from this time to the end of His ministry we find that the Gospel of the Kingdom was the continual subject of His teaching. Thus S. Luke records that He declared once to a multitude which would detain Him, “I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also; for therefore am I sent” (S. Luke iv. 43). And, a few chapters after, we read, “It came to pass afterward that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God” (S. Luke viii. 1). And then, after a while, “He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God” (S. Luke ix. 1, 2). And having thus spent the years of His public ministry in publishing the good news of the Kingdom, He declared towards the end of it, as He was foretelling to His disciples the signs of His future coming to judgment,