and Princes serve God, by defending the good and punisliing the bad."
Calvin observes that this sentence " does not hinder Princes from defending the kingdom of Christ ; partly by appointing external discipline, and partly by lending their protection to the Church against wicked men." Beza says mnclx the same.
Hutcheson observes, " This text is not to be understood as if Christ disallowed that they to whom He has given the sword should defend His kingdom therewith ; for if magistrates were as magistrates should be, nursing parents to the Church, and ought to kiss the Son, then certainly they may and should em- ploy their power as magistrates for removing idolatry, and set- ting up the true worship of God, and defending it against vio- lence."
[But now...my kingdom not.. .hence.'] The true meaning of this little sentence is not very clear. May it not mean, " Now, in this dispensation, my kingdom is not an earthly one, and is not of this world. A day will come by and by, after my second ad- vent, when my kingdom will be a visible one over the whole earth, and my saints shall rule over the renewed world." — This may seem fanciful to some ; but I have a strong impression that it is the true meaning. The adverb " now " is very decid- ed and emphatical.
87. — [Pilate therefore. ..Art TJiou a King f] Here Pilate returns to his question, though he puts it in a different way : " Art Thou in some sense a King, if not such a King as the Kings of this world ? Thou speakest of Thy kingdom and Thy ser- vants. Am I to understand that Thou art a King ? " We should observe the distinction in the language here, compared with that of verse thirty-three. There it was, " Art Thou the King of the Jews ?" Here it is simply, " Art Thou a King ? "
[Jesus ansicered, Thou sayest...! am a King.] This sentence is. a direct acknowledgment from our Lord's lips that He is a King; a King only over hearts, consciences, and wills, but still a real true King. " Thou sayest," is equivalent to an affirma- tion. " Thou sayest truly : I am what thou askest about. I admit that I am a King."
There can be no doubt that this " is the good confession be- fore Pontius Pilate," which St. Paul specially impresses on the attention of the timid disciple Timothy, in his pastoral epistle. (1 Tim. vi. 13.)
[To this end... horn... witness... truth.] Here our Lord informs Pilate what was the great end and purpose of His incarnation. " It is true that I am a King, but not a King after the manner of the world. I am only a King over hearts and minds. The principal work for which I came into the world, is to be a wit- ness of the truth concerning God, concerning man, and concern- ing the way of salvation. This truth has been long hidden and