I speak not of the kingdom of his power and providence, but
of the dispensation of grace in Christ. The evangelical gospel state is
compared to a kingdom; as Mat. iii. 2, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ And
so Christ himself. It may be called so with very good reason, for in this
kingdom there is a monarch, Jesus Christ, to whom all power and authority is
given. God the Father calls him ‘my king’ Ps. ii. 6, ‘I have set my king upon
my holy hill.’ And this king hath his throne in the consciences of men, where
thoughts are brought into captivity to him: 2 Cor. x. 5. And he hath his royal scepter,
Ps. cx. 3, which is called ‘the rod of his strength.’ And he hath subjects, and
they are called the saints: Rev. xv. 3, ‘king of the saints.’ And he hath his
laws and constitutions; we read of ‘the law of faith,’ and ‘the law of
liberty.’ And in this kingdom there are privileges, and royal immunities; there
is freedom from the curse of the law, and from the power of sin, and from the
destructive influence of Satan and the world. And here are punishments and
rewards both for body and soul; there is hell and heaven. Now, because all these
things do so fitly suit, therefore is the gospel called a kingdom. It will not
be amiss to insist upon some of these.”
-Thomas Manton Puritan Minister 1620–1677
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