are the sons of the living God"
(Hosea i. 10). And this was now about to be fulfilled. And in the
homage which the Wise Men from the East paid to the infant Saviour,
"born King of the Jews," we see the first sign that free and full
salvation was henceforth placed within the reach of all the nations of
the world without distinction. And thus it came to pass that, in after
years, the Apostles addressed their converts, taken equally from
amongst Jews and Gentiles, in such words as these, "God hath called
you unto His Kingdom and glory" (1 Thess. ii. 12); God "hath
translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son" (Col. i. 13).

In other words, "The Kingdom of Heaven" is a real Kingdom, though a
spiritual and heavenly one. The Lord Jesus Christ is King, and all
the nations of the world are called to be His subjects.

And where is "The Kingdom of Heaven"?

The answer is clear. Wherever they are who have accepted the King and
been admitted as His subjects.

"The Kingdom _of_ Heaven" is not as yet _in_ Heaven, so far as its
subjects are concerned. It is true that the King Himself has ascended
His throne in Heaven. And as members of Christ we share in some degree
in the exaltation of our Head, so that S. Paul does not hesitate to
say of the Lord's people here on earth, God "hath raised us up
together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus"
(Ephes. ii. 6). But such words seem to apply to that part of our
nature to which our hopes and affections belong. So far as our duties
and difficulties are concerned, we are still surrounded with earthly
temptations. We are still in a state of trial here, however much we
may be looking for and longing after our home. And Heaven will not be
opened to receive the subjects of "The Kingdom of Heaven" until the
Great Day, when they will be welcomed with the words, "Come, ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you" (S. Matt.
xxv. 34).

Christ's Kingdom "is not of this world" (S. John xviii. 36), as He
declared plainly to Pilate when he questioned Him about Himself. But
for the present we may consider that, practically speaking, it is _in_
the world though not _of_ it. For its subjects are not yet in Heaven:
but are partly at rest in Paradise; partly here on earth still warring
against evil.

We can now express in few words the chief points respecting the nature
of that "Kingdom of Heaven" which John the Baptist, in his office as
Herald, proclaimed to b