The thought has been developed in the former readings that it was the mission of Jesus the Christ to bring mankind into right apprehension and so into full possession of his God-given dominion, the Kingdom of Heaven.

Now, for a little while, let us consider this kingdom in the light of the Bible and Christian Science.

A kingdom implies two elements—the ruler and the ruled. No better understanding of a kingdom can be had, than that gained through a correct estimate of its king. To the student of Christian Science, God is Infinite Spirit, Mind, Soul, terms synonymous and interchangeable. “Life, Truth, and Love,” are not qualities of His, but are the highest terms we may use to express Him (Science and Health ). Under His supreme sway, His kingdom, spiritual and lasting, is eternal harmony, or heaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Not in some distant sphere, not as “some far-off, divine event,” but on earth, here and now, may man realize its peace and joy, and enter upon his inheritance (7). What of the Gospel, good news, of this kingdom? (8, 9, 10.)

It was the burden of the preaching of John the Baptist, as he heralded the Messiah (11). It was the keynote of Christ’s message to the world (12, 13). And finally, when he was preparing to leave the work in the hands of his disciples it was his most urgent and oft-repeated charge to them, that they should proclaim the actual presence of the kingdom of Heaven (14, 15, 16). Although this kingdom was preached as an actual and present reality, we are given to understand plainly, that it is not at all of a material nature (17, 18). Neither that it is a temporal kingdom, enduring only for a time (19, 20, 21, 22).

May we look for this kingdom here? (23.)

Are we to expect it to come unsought? (24.)

Shall we depend upon outside assistance in the search? (25.) How astonishingly near is it found to be, when rightly sought! (26.)

Our Master taught of this kingdom by parables. The sower, the leaven, the grain of mustard seed, all illustrate the growth of the kingdom of God within. The fulness of the tree is in the seed; the action is in the leaven; the power to express perfect righteousness is in the man who reflects eternal Life—God.

It is necessary to clear the way, cleanse the thought, for the establishment of this kingdom (27). Belief in matter, with all its accessories of pain and pleasure, must be discarded to make room for the pure consciousness of spirit. Are we willing to part with all we have for the pearl of great price, the Truth that the Christ is the complete saviour? This pearl is richly worth the price, though all be given, for God gives only Good in exchange (28, 29, 30, 31).

How can we grasp this Truth? (32, 33, 34, 35, 36.).

How is the way clearly set forth by Paul? (37, 38, 39.)

On a material plane, we should say that the kingdom of an earthly ruler extends to all that is governed by him. As God’s power and dominion extend over the whole universe, His authority is supreme over all, His influence is spiritual and all-pervading. It is the reign of Harmony, real and indestructible, holding absolute sway throughout (40, 41).

It is changeless as its ruler, forever shielding its subjects in perfect safety (42, 43, 44, 45). What position then, is it our right and our duty to take? The sons and daughters of God are not held in slavish subjection to a tyrannical power (46, 47, 48). The Master, even, preferred a term of nearer relationship than that of servants (49).

The only bondage is the voluntary submission mortals yield to the false claim of a supposed power. But in the spiritual version of the Lord’s Prayer, is this assurance: “Thy Truth destroyeth the claims of error.”

Thus man is found to be gloriously free—not free to do right or wrong, whichever seems to him most expedient or profitable—but free as a child of God; 'incapable of sin, sickness, or death (50, 51, 52, 53, 54). The question suggested by these statements is a common one, and it is answered by Paul’s summary of the work of redemption. Shall any presume to say that mortals may take advantage of this sense of liberty and abuse its opportunities? Paul asks (55) and himself answers in language more forcible and beautiful than we could devise (56) and Peter adds (57).

This conception of the freedom, security, and harmony of God’s Kingdom, does away with a supposed element of much mischief, fear, a belief to which every child of God should be a total stranger, and yet the most common of all false claims (58). Is it a legacy from our Father that we should so appropriate it? (59, 60.) Judging from the long list of “Fear-nots” in the Bible, it is no part of the Divine economy. Let us hear some of them (61, 62, 63, 64).

Yet we are commanded in a certain sense to fear God (65, 66, 67, 68). The Wise Man said (69, 70,) and Moses gives the best example of this allowable fear (71). This is the only justifiable fear and is the real liberty.

With all servile fear destroyed, and the people of God acting in eternal liberty of spirit, they will experience the blest atmosphere of the Kingdom of Heaven, that was proclaimed at the birth of the Saviour (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77), and, will come into something of a realization of the grand consummation referred to by Paul (78).

BIBLE REFERENCES.

1. Psalms xxii. 28.
2. Daniel iv. 3.
3. Psalms cxlv. 13.
4. 2 Peter i. 11.
5. Col. i. 12-13.
6. I Thess. ii. 12.
7. Matt. vi. 10.
8. Matt. iv. 23.
9. Mark i. 14.
10. Matt. xxiv. 14.
11. Matt. iii. 2.
12. Matt. iv. 17.
13. Mark i. 15.
14. Matt. x. 7.
15. Luke x. 9.
16. Luke x. 11.
17. John vi. 15.
18. John xviii. 36.
19. Daniel ii. 44.
20. Daniel vii. 14.
21. Luke i. 33.
22. Hebrews i. 8.
23. Matt. vi. 10.
24. Matt. vi. 33.
25. Luke xvii. 20.
26. Luke xvii. 21.
27. Matt. xiii. 45-46.
28. John iii. 27.
29. James i. 17.
30. Psalms xxix. 11.
31. John x. 28.
32. John vi. 37.
33. John xiv. 6.
34. John x. 9.
35. Eph. ii. 18.
36. John iii. 2.
37. Romans xiv. 7, 8.
38. Titus ii. 11-14.
39. Titus iii. 4, 5, 6, 7.
40. John xii. 32.
41. Heb. i. 8-9.
42. Prov. xxi. 31.
43. Prov. xviii. 10.
44. Prov. xxix. 25.
45. Job xi. 18-19.
46. Gal v. 1.
47. Romans viii. 15.
48. Romans viii. 21.
49. John xv. 15.
50. 1 John v. 18.
51. 1 John iii. 9.
52. John viii. 36.
53. John viii. 32.
54. Heb. ii. 14, 15.
55. Romans vi. 15.
56. Romans vi. 18-23.
57. 1 Peter ii. 15, 16, 17
58. Isaiah xiv. 3.
59. 2 Tim. i. 7.
60. 1 John iv. 18.
61. Luke xii. 32.
62. Isaiah xli. 13.
63. Isaiah xxxv. 4.
64. Psalms xlvi. 1-2.
65. Eccles. v. 7.
66. Eccles. xii. 13.
67. Job. xxviii. 28.
68. Psalms xix. 9.
69. Prov. i. 7.
70. Prov. viii. 13.
71. Deut. x. 12-13.
72. Luke ii. 14.
73. Romans xiv. 17.
74. Isaiah xxvi. 3.
75. John xiv. 27.
76. Psalms xxxvii. 37.
77. Phil. iv. 7.
78. Col. iii. 11.