2. It is a kingdom which was at that time to be established —
: 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. a Rom. xiv. 17. e Ezek. xliii. 10—12.
[The prophets had spoken clearly of a kingdom which was to be erected by the Messiah at an appointed period f; and it was generally understood, not only among the Jews, but among the Gentiles also, that the time was nearly arrived. What the Samaritan Woman said, " We know that the Mes- siah is coming," may be considered as the public voice at that time. Now our blessed Lord says respecting it, " The time is fulfilled ; the kingdom of God is at hand :" and he com- manded his Disciples to declare the same ; and, in the event of their message being despised, he bade them declare with increased vehemence to the very people who should reject them, " Be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto youC
This then decidedly shews, that the kingdom here spoken of was the Messiah's kingdom, even that which, in name at least, is established amongst us : in name, I say, because " all are not Israel who are of Israel," " nor is he a Jew who is one outwardly." It has before been observed that this is a spiritual kingdom ; and the subjects of it are spiritual subjects.]
This leads us to shew,
II. What we must do in order to become subjects of it—
We have no need to emigrate from one country to another in order to place ourselves under the dominion of Christ. There is a way appointed for all to have their names enrolled among his people ; and that is,
1. To repent —
[This is a duty independent of Christianity : every one that has violated the holy laws of God, ought to be deeply humbled for his iniquities. But this is an indispensable requisite for our admission into the Redeemer's kingdom. An impenitent sinner, whether his sins nave been more or less heinous, cannot possibly be numbered with his subjects. Such a man hates the laws by which they are governed ; he will not yield to the authority which they obey : he even despises the privileges which they consider as their most inestimable trea- sure : whatever therefore he may call himself, he is, in fact, an enemy, a rebel, a traitor ; and as such he will be considered
by that King to whom he has professed allegiance
In order to become " a fellow-citizen with the saints," he must himself become a saint. Till then, he is accounted " a stranger and a foreigner11" ]
f Dan. ii. 44. and vii. 13, 14. s Luke x. 9, 11.
h Eph. ii. 19.
b2