Christ as God manifest in the flesh, tliat it was under the old economy to refuse to worship Jehovah as the only living and true God. In both cases it was a violation of the fundamental law of the kinodom, and of necessity worked excision fron\ God's people. But if we are to recognize Christ as Thomas did (John XX. 28), as our Lord and our God, then of course we are bound not only to worship, but to obey Him. We stand to Him in the same relation that a slave does to his master, except that our sub- jection to Him is voluntary and joyful. We belong to Him, not only as the Creator, being his creatures, but also as the Tliean- thropos, being purchased by his blood. (1 Cor. vi. li.^, 20.) His will, and not our own, must govern our conduct, and determine the use we make of our powers. All we gain, whether of knt)vvl- edge, wealth, or influence, is his. He, and not we ourselves, is the object or end of our living. It is Christ for believers to live. His glory and the advancement of his kingdom, are the only legitimate objects to which they can devote their powers or re- sources ; the only ends consistent with their relation to Christ, and the full enjoyment of the blessedness wliich membership in his kingdom secures.
The laws of the kingdom moreover require not only these duties to Christ, but that his people should be holy in heart and life. They must be poor in spirit ; meek ; merciful ; peace-makers ; long- suff*ering ; ready to forgive ; disinterested, not seeking their own ; bearing all things ; believing all things ; and hoping all things. They are forbidden to be avaricious, or covetous, or proud, or worldly minded. In one word, they are required to be like Christ, in disposition, character, and conduct.
The sjjccial law of Christ's kingdom is that its members should love one another, not only with the love of complacency and delight, but with brotherly love. A love which leads to the recog- nition of all Christians as brethren, belonging to the same family, entitled to the same privileges and blessings; and which ])rom])ts to and secures ministering to their necessities, so that there be no lack. Tins law is laid down at length by the Apostle in 2 Corintiiians viii. The law of the kingdom is, that every man should laboui to the extent of his ability to supply his own wants and the wants of those dependent on him ; for " if any would not work neither should he eat" (2 Thess. iii. 10) ; but all deficiency which labour cannot supply is to be supplied by those having the ability. " Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth tha
604 PART m. Ch. XI. — kingly office of CHRIST.
love of God in him ? " (1 John iii. 17.) In praying, therefore, that the kingdom of God may come, we pray, among other things, that all men may recognize Christ as their king, invested with divine majesty and authority, and that they should all be like Him in character and conduct.
This kingdom of Christ over all his people is exercised not only by his power in their protection and direction, but especially by his Word and Si)ii'it, thi'ough which and by whom He reigns in and rules over them.
Tliis kingdom of Christ is everlasting. That is, the relation which believers sustain to Christ on earth they will sustain to Him forever.
Chrisfs Visible Kingdom.
As religion is essentially spiritual, an inward state, the kingdom of Christ as consisting of the truly regenerated, is not a visible body, except so far as goodness renders itself visible by its outward manifestations. Nevertheless as Christ has enjoined upon his people duties which render it necessary that they should organize them- selves in an external society, it follows that there is and must be a visible kingdom of Christ in the world. Christians are required to associate for public worship, for the admission and exclusion of members, for the administration of the sacraments, for the mainte- nance and propagation of the truth. They therefore form them- selves into churches, and collectively constitute the visible kingdom of Christ on earth, consisting of all who profess the true religion, together with their children.
Nature of this Kingdom.
First, it is spiritual. That is, it is not of this world. It is not anal- ogous to the other kingdoms which existed, or do still exist among men. It has a different origin and a different end. Human king- doms are organized among men, under the providential government of God, for the promotion of the temporal well-being of society. The kingdom of Christ was organized immediately by God, for the promotion of religious objects. It is spiritual, or not of this world, uioreover, because it has no power over the lives, liberty, or prop- erty of its members ; and because all secular matters lie beyond its jurisdiction. Its prerogative is simply to declare the truth of God as revealed in his Word and to require that the truth should be professed and obeyed by all under its jurisdiction. It can decide no question of politics or science which is not decided in the Bible. The kingdom of Christ, under the present dispensation, therefore, is not