s. The Son of God became the Son of Man, that in Him the words
of the Psalmist might be fulfilled, "I will give Thee the heathen for
Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy
possession" (Ps. ii. 8); and those other words (which are quoted by
S. Paul in the Epistle to the Hebrews), "Thou hast put all things
under His feet" (Ps. viii. 6).

"But we see not yet all things put under Him" (Heb. ii. 8). Although
He "gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works" (Tit. ii.
14), the perversity of man has spoilt the perfection of His work, and
hindered the results of His self-sacrifice. Eighteen hundred years
have passed, and still His rule is imperfect; and not one third of the
human race, whom He redeemed unto Himself with His own blood, accept
Him as their King. But in His perfect foreknowledge, this hindering of
His work of love for the salvation of man was present from the first;
and was foretold by Him in part in His parables. And it pleased Him to
entrust to His faithful people the task of removing and overcoming by
their prayers and exertions the obstacles which opposed His rule.

When the Pharisees once asked "When the Kingdom of God should come, He
answered them and said, The Kingdom of God cometh not with
observation; neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! for
behold the Kingdom of God is among[32] you" (S. Luke xvii. 20, 21).
His Kingdom was already being set up amongst them, though they knew it
not; and ever since those days it has been spreading amongst men. But
He knew how strongly the great enemy of God and man would oppose the
extension of His Kingdom; and how powerful the perversity of man would
be to hinder it; and when His disciples asked to be taught to pray,
these were the words He bade them pray, "Thy Kingdom come" (S. Matt.
vi. 10).

It follows, therefore, that it is a matter of great importance that we
understand clearly the meaning of these words. We cannot suppose for a
moment that our Lord meant that the Kingdom of God is not _come_ at
all in this present time. Because many passages, which have been
already quoted, have assured us that His Kingdom was founded long ago
amongst men. Moreover, He expressly directed His disciples to assure
those to whom they preached, whether they hearkened or not--"The
Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you" (S. Luke x. 9, 11).

What then is the meaning of the