The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-02
THE KINGDOM OF TRUTH.

THE KINGDOM OF Truth.
When PLATE had conducted JESUS into
the palace, he said unto him, care you the
King of the Jews2" PLATE. no doubt, had
some knowledge of the Messianic hopes of
the Jews. The common expectation was that
the MESSIAH would come to rule as tenn
poral prince, and deliver his people from the
| hated authority of the Gentiles and make
them again an independent and powerful
nation. JESUS claimed to be the Messiah of
the prophets, and yet disclaimed any mere
worldly or temporal authority, and hence
failed to meet the expectations of his coun-
trymen, and to gain the adherence of their
rulers. If he answered affirmatively, PLATE
might understand him as confessing himself
to be king, either in the Roman sense or in
accordance with the prevailing Messianic ex-
pectation of the Jews. In either case he
would subject himself to condemnation. If
he should answer "No,' then he would have
denied what he had really claimed, and con-
fessed to the high-priest and council. They,
however, had condemned themselves either
of falsehood or hypocrisy in making their
confession the ground of their charge, since
their own hope was for political Messiah.
JESUS therefore asked PLATE in what sense
he used the phrase "Kine of the Jews" prob
ably not for information, but that he might
have occasion to explain to PLATE the true
Messianic idea and the real character of his
claim to be the CHRIST, the Son of COP and
Saviour of the world. PLATE contemptuous-
ly replied to his question, 81, the Roman
governor, am not Jew Jam 1 [emphaticl
a Jew?), but your own nation and high priest
have delivered you unto me on this charge.
What have you done?" JESUS might have
given to this question the answer which he
sent to John the Baptist in prison. when he
sent to inquire whether JESUS was the Com
ing One, or must they look for another: 81
have given sight to the blind, made the deaf
hear, caused the lame to walk, healed the 1
sick, restored to life the dead, and have pro-
claimed glad -tidings to the poor" But he
said, "My kingdom is not of this world; it is
not political government; it has not yet any
outward form of COVER ment; it is not to be
established or maintained by violence or
mere physical force. If it were political
kingdom like the kingdoms of this world
that l might not be delivered to the Jews.
That I am pesceably delivered up to you
without any violence or forcible opposi-
ton whatever, is evidence that my kingly
claim is in no sense political or worldly, and
that am wholly guiltless of any offense
against Caesar or the administration of his
government of the jews" Plate said in re-
Spouse, perhaps with a shade of humor in his
accent, if not in his words, "Then you are
kingl' JESUS answered, 'Truly, am king;
to this 1 was born and for this have entered
the world that might testify to the truth. /
am the king of those who know and obey the
truth"
The kingdom of CHRIST, while it is in the
world, is yet not of the world, being of heav-
emily origin, and of spiritual power and prov
idential purpose. 1t is above the world,
and to reign over it. JEsCs was born and
endowed with faculty to reveal and enforce
spiritual truth. His kingdom is a Kingdom
of Truth. He rules by the power of the
truth he reveals. His authority insures free
dom. Eye shall know the truth and the
truth shall make you free" (Chapter viii. 32).
The freedom enjoyed in the Kingdom of
Truth is the liberty of the children of GoD
(Romans viii. ~. All who receive in their
hearts the truth as it is in JESUS, and submit
the conduct and experience of their lives to
its gracious influence are truly the children
of COP, fellow-citizens with the saints, and
of the household of Cop (Ephesians ii. 1917,
having been delivered from the power of ig-
norance tdarknessl and translated into the
kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians i. 13).
The Kingdom of Truth thus becomes the
"Republic of GoD." The truth which is
specially revealed in the life and teachings of
JESUS is that respecting Divine and human
relations, and the duties and experiences
growing out of these. The human soul is the
immortal child of GoD. Love is the law of
the Divine government over all souls and in
all worlds. The true life is in the souls con-
scious fellowship with the Divine life and
love. All souls must be brought to the knowl-
edge and experience of the truth as it is in
JESUS, which we believe to be the Divinely
revealed "final destination of mankind" and
whom accomplished, its restoration to holt
ness and happiness through the love of GoD
revealed in the LORD JESUS CHRIST by the
Holy Spirit of Truth.
The kingdoms of this world may all be-
come the kingdom of our LORD and yet main
tain their separate political existence, ruling
their subjects and maintaining relations with
each other, in righteousness and peace. Our
Heavenly King, the King of kings, and Lord
of lords, is the Prince of Peace,
"who rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
| And wonders of His love-"
''Nor GUILTY"
When JESUS had spoken concerning his king