Thus the Christian prayer, "Thy kingdom come," when interpreted in accordance with the mind of Christ, is not a prayer for the outward pomp of a victorious Church, or for preternatural appearances in the startled heavens, but for the ever-growing realization, in ourselves and in the world, of the ideal kingdom of holiness, justice and love, those high attributes which, from their dwelling in the bosom of God, have been manifested upon earth, and constitute the eternal life of men. LECTURE V. THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF GOD. FROM the kingdom of God we pass naturally to its Ruler, and enter on a consideration of the Christian doctrine of God. In doing so we must endeavour to forget for a time the elaborate metaphysical systems which theologians have reared as a splendid sepulchre for the teaching of Christ, and have recourse to the spiritual experience of the early Christians, and the recorded utterances of Christ himself. Nor are we to confine ourselves to what we may deem distinctive of Christianity for Jesus was not one of those who preferred originality to truth, but brought forth out of his treasure things old as well as new, only imparting to ancient truth the vivifying power of his own personal thought and life. We must remember, moreover, that it is exceedingly difficult to determine how far any idea is really an advance upon everything that has gone before. It may have been anticipated by a few great thinkers, who nevertheless were unable to impress it upon the world; or the word in which it is expressed may have been used, but in a far inferior sense; or the elements of which it is composed may have been vaguely present in men's minds, and waiting only for a touch of inspiration to fuse them together, and send them forth as a clear and life-giving faith. Bearing these qualifications in mind, we may say that the fundamental and characteristic idea of Christianity on this subject is that God is our Father. This word is of course figurative, being derived from one of our human relations; but it is on that account better adapted for religious purposes, being capable at once of the deepest significance and of the utmost latitude of application, simple enough for the heart of a child, and yet transcending the highest thought of a man. The Christian idea, however, while remaining sufficiently large and vague to adapt itself to a variety of culture, nevertheless has a distinctive complexion of its own which we must endeavour to disengage and understand. |