Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

82 THE FIRST AND THE SECOND MAN.tion to a foreign authority, or if its own subj ectssuccessfully rebel against its power, it ceases to be.In the kingdom, therefore, of which Christ speaks,the maintenance of truth corresponds to what themaintenance of power is in a material kingdom.But power in the material kingdom moves mento the natural end of society; it preserves order,administers justice, allows and assists all naturalforces to develop themselves, and it must be in itssupreme exercise one and indisputable : that is,it culminates in sovereignty. So in the spiritualkingdom truth, the corresponding power, movesmen to the supernatural end, and truth culminatesin infallibility. But where is this power seated,and how does the King O wield it ?The same who here calls Himself King anddeclares it to be the function of His royalty tobear witness to the truth, in describing elsewherethe very creation of His kingdom says to Hisapostles, u You shall receive power by the HolyGhost coming upon you," bidding them also to remainin Jerusalem " until they were endued withpower from on high."16 But a few hours beforethat scene in the hall of Pilate He had told themalso that He would send them the Spirit of Truth,who should abide with them for ever, and shouldlead them into all truth. He creates therefore thekingdom of the truth by sending down the Spiritof the Truth to dwell for ever with those to whom16 Acts i. 8; Luke xxiv. 49.