It follows that the statements of Holy Scripture respecting "The Kingdom of Heaven," which are to be considered in the following pages, refer not merely to the world to come--to that which we commonly understand by the word Heaven--but to that Kingdom which has been founded here on earth; and into which, as Christians, we have been already called. And the subject becomes of infinite importance to us all, when it is understood that "The Kingdom of Heaven" is, at this present time, that Kingdom of grace in which we may obtain salvation through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He has called us all to be subjects of this Kingdom now, that, by obtaining a share in His precious merits, we may be brought into a state of present salvation; and that, by continuing in this state through His grace, we may be recognised as His subjects in that great day, when the Kingdom of Grace will have become the Kingdom of Glory Everlasting. FOOTNOTES: [1] Christ is the Greek word which corresponds with the Hebrew word Messiah, meaning "The Anointed One." Amongst the Jews three classes of men were anointed to their official duties--Prophets, Priests, and Kings. And the name "Messiah" implied that they expected the Deliverer to bear office in these ways; and especially as King, the highest of these offices. [2] In a similar passage of S. Matthew the difficult expression occurs, "The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (S. Matt. xi. 12); but the meaning seems to be the same. Our Lord was calling attention to the fact that the expected King had come and His Kingdom was open to the eager zeal of such as would seize upon it and press into it. CHAPTER II. THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM. "This is He whom Seers in old time Chanted of with one accord; Whom the voices of the Prophets Promised in their faithful word." We have seen that, in the providence of God, John the Baptist was sent to proclaim to the world that "The Kingdom of Heaven" was at hand, and to point out the King. And as soon as the Herald had raised the expectation of men by the proclamation of the coming Kingdom, our Lord began His public ministry, the great object of which was the founding of His Kingdom for the salvation of the world. And, as S. Matthew tells us, He "went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom" (S. Matt. iv. 23); or, as S. Mark relates, "After that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the Gospel" (S. Mark i. 14, 15).