SERMON XVII.

THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM OF CHRIST.

John xviii. 36.

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world.

MY devout hearers! as long as Jesus, our Lord, lived on the earth, the erroneous opinion was constantly entertained by his disciples, that he would establish an earthly kingdom, and that they would rule in it together with him. This supposition, according to their Jewish prejudices, was so intimately interwoven with their hope of a deliverer of Israel, that neither the lowliness and unassuming humility of our Saviour’s life, nor the nature of his doctrines and precepts, could entirely divest them of it. Jesus bore this weakness also of his chosen witnesses with patience. He knew that hereafter they would have quite different notions of the object of his mission, and that the trust they reposed in him would purify them from all hopes of an earthly sovereignty, which they still so much cherished. 328And especially the event, of which they were witnesses soon after his resurrection, must have this effect. By his removal from the earth their thoughts and hopes must now at once receive another direction. Other and higher expectations must arise, since he whom they honoured as their Master had quitted the earth.

A similar effect must the remembrance of the ascension of our Saviour produce in us all. And since the dominion of Jesus is still in various ways assimilated to an earthly dominion, I will endeavour on this Festival to skew how little there is in common between them. The words of the text afford the best guide on this occasion. They contain the answer, which our Saviour gave to his judge Pilate, when he had questioned him, if he were the King of the Jews. Jesus replied, that he certainly was the head of a kingdom, but that this kingdom was of quite another nature and quality from that of earthly empires. “My kingdom is not of this world;” and he immediately adds a proof, which might convince the Roman governor, that he had never aimed at obtaining an earthly sovereignty: “If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from hence.” Of what kind is it then? What power, what dominion, what government is it, which was allotted to Jesus Christ by the will of God? and which he 329has also acquired, and possesses, and will maintain even to the end of the world? How does he reign? And who are his subjects and members of his kingdom? And to what laws are they subject under his sceptre? And what may they expect and hope of him and through him? These are certainly very important questions for us who own the name of Jesus! Let us turn our attention to them to-day, and if we, in the first place, shall have formed a just idea of the nature of the kingdom of Christ, let us, secondly, take to heart the instructions as well as the consolations to be derived from it.

First: When Jesus our Saviour speaks of a kingdom, of which he is the supreme head and ruler, every one at once understands, that he possesses a befitting power and government, and that he must have subjects, who are governed by his authority. But when he immediately adds, that this kingdom is not of this world, that therefore it has no resemblance to worldly dignity and sovereignty; we learn, that we have here to understand only a spiritual power and government. In a spiritual sense we may justly ascribe a kingdom to him, who rules even over souls, who by the benefits which he conferred, the knowledge which he communicated, the sentiments which he inspired, the hopes which he awakened and fulfilled, has erected a throne in the heart itself. Has he acquired gratitude, willing obedience, and unlimited confidence; are his laws 330executed, not from compulsion and fear, but from conviction and experience that they are wise, kind, and benevolent laws; and are there countless numbers who belong to him, who are inwardly ruled by him, who live to his honour and according to his will, and suffer and die in reliance on him? O then he has undoubtedly a kingdom; and such an inward and spiritual kingdom has Jesus established. How has he established it? The kingdoms of this world are usually founded by force of arms, the servants of those who aspire to them fight for this end; not so the kingdom of Jesus; that is founded only by a spiritual power, by the force of truth, justice, and love. Jesus taught to know, to love, and to worship God the Father of men; he proclaimed mercy and forgiveness, and assured us of the providence of God, of his assistance to do what is right, of his never-forsaking love; he “brought life and immortality to light,” he “went about doing good,” he called sinners to repentance; he delivered us from the most terrible enemies of human peace and happiness, from ignorance, superstition, the dominion of sinful appetites, the sting of conscience, and the fear of death. He came, not to rule as a worldly prince, but “to seek and to save that which was lost.” And that he did in humility, in meekness, in self-denial, in abasement. It was not for him “to be ministered unto, but to minister,” and to sacrifice his life itself in these most 331beneficent services. He gave himself willingly up to the atoning death, through which, by the. decree of God, men should be blessed with heavenly and eternal felicity. And thus he founded his kingdom by good deeds, and by shedding his blood on the cross. Nor is it his purpose that it should ever be extended but by the force of truth and by the preaching of faith in him. For this reason he chose inconsiderable, mean, and poor men to be his Apostles. They were constrained to go abroad in the world through persecution and distress, and to preach him, the Crucified, and by this preaching to win hearts, and collect subjects for him out of all nations of the globe. The arms, which they were to use, were not fleshly, but spiritual, namely, a demonstration of the truth on the consciences of men, a power of God, before which all human power must bend, the voice of his word, the working of his Spirit. Now as the kingdom of Christ was not of this world in respect to the means by which it was founded, so also it differs entirely from the kingdoms of this world in its inward properties, Here is no external sway and government, here no pomp and splendour strikes the eye, here are no bounds confined by space and time, here are no worldly claims and contentions, here are no laws influencing only the outward actions, no earthly rewards, no corporeal punishments. This kingdom comes not with exterior features, not 332with audible noise, not with visible signs—it is in you, says our Redeemer, it is in the invisible region of your thoughts, your inclinations, your sentiments. Where faith, where godliness, where love, where peace and joy in the Holy Ghost operate, there is the kingdom of Christ; renew thine heart and live according to the instruction of Jesus, repent and believe the Gospel, and thou becomest a subject of this kingdom. The laws, which are there in force, regard not this or that outward work, they require purity of heart, pious dispositions, and an unstained conscience; the good things which are there offered and enjoyed, are spiritual good things, forgiveness of sins, peace of mind, hope in God, which never disappoints; the protection to be expected from it is not a protection against bodily enemies; it is a safeguard against that which is injurious to the internal welfare of our immortal soul. The whole design of this supremacy of Jesus is not that we should enjoy temporal prosperity in this world, possess riches, acquire earthly honours, and indulge our sensual desires. No, devout friends 1 there is a higher purpose, a nobler aim, namely, that it should go well with our souls, that we may become reformed servants of God, men willing and active in the practice of all which is right and good, and as such worthy to attain a better world. Of this description is the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 333It is not of this world, neither in its origin, nor in its laws, nor in its object, nor in its happiness. It is a kingdom of truth, of righteousness, of love, and blessedness.

On that very account it has nothing to do with the kingdoms of the world; it is not in the least detrimental to their institutions and rights: is no obstacle to them, it contends not with them, it never injures them; it rather consolidates them, since it makes good and faithful subjects, who are willingly obedient to temporal authority for conscience sake, and gladly promote all its just designs by integrity in their vocation and by prayer. But if such is the nature of the kingdom of Christ, my devout hearers, then is the empire of our Saviour partly far more glorious, partly far more extensive, and partly far more lasting, than any empire of this world. It is in the first place more glorious. For what sovereignty can be compared in dignity and excellence with that which extends even over the souls of men? In that not merely external order and tranquillity, but internal improvement and everlasting happiness are considered: it is more glorious, for it is founded on truth and grace alone, and has the same laws, the same object with the all-wise government of God himself. It is, secondly, more extensive than a kingdom of this world. This is always limited to a certain people, and to a very small part of the globe. Not so the kingdom of 334Christ; that is not confined to a particular nation, or a particular country; but in every nation, he that will fear God and do righteously may become a subject of it. No earthly distinctions exclude from it. All may be happy under His sceptre, who is exalted to be Lord over all. The light of the Gospel can illumine all regions of the earth will its beneficial beams; it is also certainly destined by God to be diffused more widely and to shine more unobstructedly, as a guide to human souls on the way to heaven.

What a countless number of those, who, as subjects of the kingdom of Christ, have already come to God and to salvation, and of those who shall still come till the end of time! St. John saw them in the spirit; “a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands.” Yet the kingdom of Christ is, thirdly, also more lasting than any kingdom of this world. The empires of this world cease after a certain period, however mighty they may be; and if they nominally continue to exist, yet death, which removes both kings and subjects, puts an end to the subjection of the one and the dominion of the other. But the spiritual kingdom of Christ endures from generation to generation, the truth which he taught, the merit which he won, remains, 335and lasts for ever. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but not his words. Death has no power over him and his government; for he lives, and they that are his shall also live. Death cannot separate them from him: “of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

Let us now contemplate, in the second place, some of the instructions and consolations, which the fact, that the kingdom of Jesus has this spiritual quality, points to our notice.

The first instruction, my devout hearers, to which we will attend, is this: if the kingdom of Christ is not of this world, it can never be enlarged by those means, by which earthly empires acquire strength and increase. Here no power, no wealth, no bodily Constraint can have the smallest influence. Here nothing can be forcibly effected by orders, threats, or penalties. In the kingdom of Christ, as we have seen, the necessary qualifications are faith, piety, and regard to the truth. But these depend not on worldly power and human artifice. Faith admits of no compulsion; force of arms will not make way for truth, nor procure its admission into the soul. As often, therefore, as men have sought to extend the kingdom of Christ by persecution and violence, they have confounded it with a worldly kingdom, they have not known or would not know its real nature. Men have been more studious to found or to preserve an earthly sovereignty, than to gain subjects for God and Jesus. To teach, to admonish, 336to bring the word of God near to the understanding and the heart, that is the only thing, except a good example, which men can and ought to do for the propagation of the true religion. Where is worldly sway and command, there is an earthly kingdom of God, not the gentle, secret, spiritual dominion of Jesus. As the latter cannot be spread abroad by worldly power, so neither can it be assaulted and destroyed by force and violence. And that is a very great consolation for all sincere Christians. The trial has been made; men have attacked and sought to subvert Christ’s kingdom with temporal weapons, as if it were an earthly supremacy; authorities have raised up their powers against it; imprisonment and torture, fire and sword have opposed the dominion of Jesus. But with what little success! As convictions and sentiments cannot be imparted by force, so neither can they be taken away by force. No threats, no torments, can stop the truth in its progress. What is visible cannot reach what is invisible, and therefore cannot injure it. The kingdom of Christ lies in a territory, into which no human power can penetrate. Thus experience has also shewn that all the persecutions, which Christians have suffered, have not occasioned the least detriment to the kingdom of the Redeemer. Not only has this kingdom remained immoveably firm, but it has internally strengthened itself under all the afflictions which 337the eternal church has undergone. The blood of so many thousand martyrs has not extinguished the light of faith and the flame of love towards Jesus, but has rather made it brighter and stronger. From hence we learn how secure; we may be, should it please Providence again to try and to purify the congregation of the Lord by persecutions and by sorrows, and should all the mighty of the earth unite to extirpate Christianity. For this they are far too weak. We shall have nothing to fear from all their aggressions. Not thus will Christ’s throne be shaken, not thus will it be subverted. Then only will it be shaken, when a teacher appears upon earth, who brings from heaven yet more salutary truth to men, than Jesus; a benefactor, who will do still more for them than he did; a succourer, who will labour for the salvation and happiness of sinners, with more entire devotedness and with greater love, than he laboured. Then might they who inquire after truth, and thirst after righteousness, turn to him, who rules with more wisdom and goodness, and in whose kingdom more peace of mind, more trust in God, more incitement to do good, more blessedness is to be found. But as that never can and never will happen, O, then, we need never apprehend, that men who can do nothing against God, will ever destroy a kingdom which he has founded.

But I pass on to a second lesson of instruction to 338be drawn from this truth. Christ’s kingdom is not of this world; we then, as subjects of it, have not to expect worldly felicity. That is, we cannot promise ourselves, that we shall be freed from temporal evil and inconvenience, because we are Christians, or that we shall attain to earthly honour, earthly riches, or earthly prosperity. Affliction and need are so far from a proof that a man is not a good subject of Christ, that the Redeemer has distinctly warned his first disciples, that they must be prepared to endure them under his government. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Good days, such as the world desires, he has not promised. He himself had none: how can we demand them? I do not mean to say by this, that an upright Christian cannot also be prosperous in what relates to the body; but merely, that he ought not to consider and desire this well-being as a blessing of the kingdom of Christ, and that it must not surprise him, if he is obliged to go through many sorrows and troubles.

To strive after temporal happiness alone in the way of piety and virtue, to seek earthly felicity in this path, is to lower the kingdom of Christ to a kingdom of this world. Christ promises and gives his subjects other and better gifts. He promises and gives them a glad consciousness of the grace of God, a serene contented heart, a pure unstained 339conscience, a soul full of philanthropy, full of patience, full of resignation to all the decrees of Providence, full of hope in a superior everlasting happiness in heaven. Are you blest with these good things? Then you will bear the want of all worldly prosperity without envy and without pain, nor will you think or say, on account of any sufferings which you may have to sustain, that as servants of your Redeemer you are not blessed, infinitely blessed. You will not, like the disciples, ask. with worldly-minded views, “Lord, what shall we have if we follow thee, adhere to thee, and submit ourselves to thy laws?” For you possess the most inestimable good,—an honest heart, and the assurance that nothing can separate you from the love. of your God, and from the bliss to which he has called you. But lastly, my brethren, the kingdom of Christ is not of this world. It rests, therefore, on the obedience and fidelity which we have to shew as subjects of this kingdom, and not on eye-service, not on bodily exercises, not on outward works. All this has its value in the governments of the world, where the wisest ruler cannot see the heart, cannot search the thoughts. But in the kingdom of Jesus all should be mind and life; here the heart itself, not this or that work, is required. Here, therefore, no name is valued, no church communion, no forms of devotion, no worship of the lips, no cry of ‘Lord, Lord,’ no baptism and Lord’s supper, no penance, 340prayers, and fasting. All this is worthless if thy heart is not concerned. Let not this be thought a hard saying, for the Scripture declares it, and the nature of the spiritual kingdom of Jesus confirms it. Nothing avails, it is expressly said, but a new creature in Christ Jesus. But what is that, a new creature? It is a heart cleansed by a change of disposition, and sanctified by faith. That first makes us good subjects of our exalted Mediator; that gives to all our adorations and good works their true Christian worth.

May we, then, make a particular application of all these considerations; that we may try ourselves with impartiality, whether we belong to those who can sincerely rejoice and confide in the quality and advantages of the glorious kingdom of our blessed Redeemer. Let every one of us take those resolutions before God, to which he shall be instigated by this examination. I will only add this single representation: How must they who do not wilfully rebel against him, whom God has made both Lord and Saviour, how must they be impelled to do homage to him, with their whole soul, and to devote themselves entirely to his service, when they are mindful what a sacred right he has acquired to their love, their obedience, and their eternal gratitude, by his sufferings and his death! Has he not purchased us at an immense price to be his property? Can we think of his sorrows and his 341death on the cross, can we, especially, celebrate the solemn and affecting memorial of his love in the Lord’s supper, and not form this resolution? Yes, I will live unto him who died for me, I will take his instructions for my law, his Spirit for my guide, his conduct in life for my pattern. I will be so minded as he was; neither sin, nor my own corrupt will, nor the estimation and example of men, nor the world and its pleasures shall henceforth have dominion over me. He alone, to whom I entirely belong, shall live and reign in me. Let us keep this holy festival with these thoughts and resolutions. Let thanksgiving and joy fill our souls, that our Saviour has not established a kingdom of this world, that we, as redeemed by him, are subjects of a better and more lasting kingdom; and let our most zealous diligence be exerted, that we may not forfeit the blessedness of this kingdom. An apostle thus warned the first Christians, and with this admonition I will conclude: “Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” Amen.