11. This is that _kingdom of heaven or of_ God which _is within_ us, even _righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost_. And what is righteousness, but the life of God in the soul: the mind which was in _Christ Jesus_: the image of God stampt upon the heart, now renewed after the likeness of him that created it? What is it but the love of God because he first loved us, and the love of all mankind, for his sake?
And what is this peace, the peace of God, but that calm serenity of soul, that sweet repose in the blood of _Jesus_, which leaves no doubt of our acceptance in him? Which excludes all fear, but the loving, filial fear of offending our Father which is in heaven.
This inward kingdom implies also _joy in the Holy Ghost_, who seals upon our hearts, _the redemption which is in_ Jesus, the righteousness of _Christ_, imputed to us, _for the remission of the sins that are past_: who giveth us now the _earnest of our inheritance_, of the crown which the Lord, the righteous judge will give at that day. And well may this be termed _The kingdom of heaven_; seeing it is heaven already opened in the soul; the first springing up of those rivers of pleasure which flow at God’s right-hand for evermore.
12. _Theirs is the kingdom of heaven._ Whosoever thou art, to whom God hath given to be _poor in spirit_, to feel thyself lost, thou hast a right thereto, through the gracious promise of him who cannot lie. It is purchased for thee by the blood of the Lamb. It is very nigh: thou art on the brink of heaven. Another step, and thou enterest into the kingdom, of righteousness and peace and joy. Art thou all sin? _Behold the Lamb of_ God, _who taketh away the sin of the world_. All unholy? See thy _Advocate with the Father_, Jesus Christ _the righteous_. Art thou unable to atone for the least of thy sins? _He is the propitiation for_ all thy _sins_. Now believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and all thy sins are blotted out. Art thou totally unclean in soul and body? Here is the _fountain for sin and uncleanness. Arise and wash away thy sins_: stagger no more at the promise through unbelief. Give glory to God: dare to believe! Now cry out, from the ground of thy heart,
Yes, I yield, I yield at last, Listen to thy speaking blood; Me with all my sins I cast On my atoning God!
13. *Then thou learnest of him to be _lowly of heart_. And this is the true, genuine, Christian humility, which flows from a sense of the love of God, reconciled to us in _Christ Jesus_. _Poverty of spirit_, in this meaning of the word, begins, where a sense of guilt and of the wrath of God ends; and is, a continual sense of our total dependence on him, for every good thought or word or work; of our utter inability to all good, unless he _water us every moment_: and an abhorrence of the praise of men, knowing that all praise is due unto God only. With this is joined a loving shame, a tender humiliation before God, even for the sins which we know he hath forgiven us, and for the sin which still remaineth in our hearts, although we know it is not imputed to our condemnation. Nevertheless the conviction we feel of inbred sin, is deeper and deeper every day. The more we grow in grace, the more do we see, of the desperate wickedness of our heart. The more we advance in the knowledge and love of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, (as great a mystery as this may appear, to those who know not the power of God unto salvation) the more do we discern of our alienation from God, of the enmity that is in our carnal mind, and the necessity of our being entirely renewed in righteousness and true holiness.
II. 1. It is true, he has scarce any conception of this, who now begins to know the inward kingdom of heaven. _In his prosperity_ he saith, _I shall never be moved; Thou_, Lord, _hast made my hill so strong_. Sin is so utterly bruised beneath his feet, that he can scarce believe it remaineth in him. Even temptation is silenced and speaks not again: it cannot approach, but stands afar off. He is borne aloft in the chariots of joy and love: he soars _as upon the wings of an eagle_. But our Lord well knew, that this triumphant state does not often continue long. He therefore presently subjoins, _Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted_.