ii. 16z Of the kingdom of God. S E R M. love mercy, and to walk humbly with their VI. God? j This model, however, was not fufficient to anfwer the great intentions of divine love to mankind ; and therefore he fet up ano- ther more perfect ; having at fundry times, and in divers manners, fpoken to the fathers by the prophets, he at laft fpoke to us by his fon, whom he appointed heir of all things, by whom he made the world ; who is the bright - nef of bis glory, and the exprefs image of his perfon. This kingdom put into the hands of the Mefiias, and wifely and gracioufly adminftered by him for bringing many fins to glory, hath lefs of pomp and ceremony than that of the yews, but more of fpi- rit and life, of grace and truth : It is not of this world,, as the king himfelf ex- prefily declareth, who witneffed this good confeffion before Pontius Pilate : It is not governed by the maxims of worldly policy, it doth not purfue the end of civil affo- dations, but the glory of God in the fal- vation of men, by reducing them to his obedience, that they may be raifed to the perfection of virtue in conformity to him. It is commonly called the kingdom of grace, as being a conftitution wholly owing to the free favour of God to men,, and it corn- pre-
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