of God. The Pharisees paid tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, and compassed sea and land to make prose- lytes, while they neglected "judgment, mercy, and faith." (Matt, xxiii. 23.) The very Jews who thirsted for Christ's blood were the Jews who feared the defile- ment of a Roman judgment hall, and made much ado about keeping the passover! Let their conduct be a beacon to Christians, as long as the world stands. That religion is worth little which does not make us say, " I esteem all Thy commandments concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way." (Ps. cxix. 128.) That Christianity is worthless which makes us com- pound for the neglect of heart religion and practical holiness, by an extravagant zeal for man-made ceremo- nies or outward forms.
The second point that we should notice in these verses, is the acGount that our Lord Jesus Christ gives of His kingdom. He says, " My kingdom is not of this world." These famous words have been so often per- verted and Avrested out of their real sense, that their true meaning has been almost buried under a heap of false interpretations. Let us make sure that we know what they mean.
Our Lord's main object in saying " My kingdom is not of this world," was to inform Pilate's mind concern- ing the true nature of His kingdom, and to correct any false impression he might have received from the Jews. He tells him that He did not come to set up a kingdom which would interfere with the Roman Government. He did not aim at establishing a temporal power, to be supported by armies and maintained by taxes. The only dominion He exercised was over men's hearts, and the only weapons that His subjects employed were spir- itual weapons. A kingdom which required neither money nor servants for its support, was one of which