possessing a kingdom and giving laws to his subjects and commanding obedience. Although his kingdom was then small, like a little leaven, yet it had the power to leaven the whole lump. The stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands will become a great mountain and fill the whole earth. Every knee must finally bow to his scepter and every tongue confess that he is Lord to the glory of God the Father. From this concise view of the subject we conclude that the kingdom of God, or Christ's kingdom, is in a special manner the gospel dispensation which was not completely established until after the resurrection of our Lord. II. The next point of inquiry is its nature. "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world." By this we understand the Mediator's kingdom, not being of this world, supposes that its nature, its laws, and its government are all distinct from the nature, laws, and governments of this world. That the Mediator's kingdom is not of this world, but spiritual, heavenly, and divine, will fully appear, it is apprehended, from the following reasons. 1st. From the character of the King. He was not born like the kings of the earth. He was the Son of the living God and Heir of all things. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost and born of a virgin. His birth was not celebrated with the earthly pomp of princes, but by a few humble shepherds and a choir of angels. His palace was a stable and his cradle a manger. When a child he was not amused with toys, but was about his Father's business. When he was dedicated to his ministry, it was not by the appointment of kings, or the consecration of bishops, but by the baptism of his humble forerunner, and the descent of the Holy Ghost in a bodily shape like a dove, and a voice from the excellent glory, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." His companions were the despised fishermen of Galilee and the angels of heaven. He was "a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief"; yet he was the eternal Son of the eternal Father. Nature owned his voice and devils trembled at his power; but he was despised and rejected of men. When he fed the hungry multitude, they were gratified with the loaves and fishes and sought to make him a king; but he departed out of the place; for his kingdom was not of this world. When Satan, the god of this world, offered him all the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them if he would only fall down and worship him, he rebuked him with holy contempt and said, Get thee hence, Satan; for his kingdom was not of this world. The Mediator did not intermeddle with the affairs of the governments of this world; for his kingdom was not of this world. When he was solicited to command a brother to divide his earthly substance, instead of complying with the request he only gave a pointed admonition and said, "Man, who made me a judge, or a divider, over you?" When his enemies endeavored to catch him