第53章

ThekingdomthereforeofGodisareal，notametaphoricalkingdom；

andsotaken，notonlyintheOldTestament，buttheNew。Whenwesay，“Forthineisthekingdom，thepower，andglory，“itistobeunderstoodofGod’skingdom，byforceofourcovenant，notbytherightofGod’spower；forsuchakingdomGodalwayshath；sothatitweresuperfluoustosayinourprayer，“Thykingdomcome，“unlessitbemeantoftherestorationofthatkingdomofGodbyChristwhichbyrevoltoftheIsraeliteshadbeeninterruptedintheelectionofSaul。Norhaditbeenpropertosay，“Thekingdomofheavenisathand“；ortopray，“Thykingdomcome，“ifithadstillcontinued。

Therebesomanyotherplacesthatconfirmthisinterpretationthatitwereawonderthereisnogreaternoticetakenofit，butthatitgivestoomuchlighttoChristiankingstoseetheirrightofecclesiasticalgovernment。Thistheyhaveobserved，thatinsteadofasacerdotalkingdom，translate，akingdomofpriests：fortheymayaswelltranslatearoyalpriesthood，asitisinSt。Peter，intoapriesthoodofkings。Andwhereas，forapeculiarpeople，theyputapreciousjewel，ortreasure，amanmightaswellcallthespecialregimentorcompanyofageneralthegeneral’spreciousjewel，orhistreasure。

Inshort，thekingdomofGodisacivilkingdom，whichconsistedfirst，intheobligationofthepeopleofIsraeltothoselawswhichMosesshouldbringuntothemfromMountSinai；andwhichafterwardsthehighpriest，forthetimebeing，shoulddelivertothemfrombeforethecherubiminthesanctumsanctorum；andwhichkingdomhavingbeencastoffintheelectionofSaul，theprophetsforetold，shouldberestoredbyChrist；andtherestorationwhereofwedailyprayforwhenwesayintheLord’sPrayer，“Thykingdomcome“；andtherightwhereofweacknowledgewhenweadd，“Forthineisthekingdom，thepower，andglory，foreverandever，Amen“；andtheproclaimingwhereofwasthepreachingoftheApostles；andtowhichmenarepreparedbytheteachersoftheGospel；toembracewhichGospel(thatistosay，topromiseobediencetoGod’sgovernment)istobeinthekingdomofgrace，becauseGodhathgratisgiventosuchthepowertobethesubjects(thatis，children)ofGodhereafterwhenChristshallcomeinmajestytojudgetheworld，andactuallytogovernhisownpeople，whichiscalledthekingdomofglory。IfthekingdomofGod(calledalsothekingdomofheaven，fromthegloriousnessandadmirableheightofthatthrone)werenotakingdomwhichGodbyHislieutenantsorvicars，whodeliverHiscommandmentstothepeople，didexerciseonearth，therewouldnothavebeensomuchcontentionandwaraboutwhoitisbywhomGodspeakethtous；

neitherwouldmanypriestshavetroubledthemselveswithspiritualjurisdiction，noranykinghavedenieditthem。

OutofthisliteralinterpretationofthekingdomofGodarisethalsothetrueinterpretationofthewordholy。ForitisawordwhichinGod’skingdomanswerethtothatwhichmenintheirkingdomsusetocallpublic，ortheking’s。

Thekingofanycountryisthepublicperson，orrepresentativeofallhisownsubjects。AndGodthekingofIsraelwastheHolyOneofIsrael。Thenationwhichissubjecttooneearthlysovereignisthenationofthatsovereign，thatis，ofthepublicperson。SotheJews，whowereGod’snation，werecalledaholynation。*Forbyholyisalwaysunderstoodei