Therebediverseotherplacesoutofwhichmaybedrawnthelikeconclusion。Tomenthatunderstandthesignificationofthesewords，substanceandincorporealasincorporealistakennotforsubtlebody，butfornotbody，theyimplyacontradiction：insomuchastosay，anangelorspiritisinthatsenseanincorporealsubstanceistosay，ineffect，thereisnoangelnorspiritatall。ConsideringthereforethesignificationofthewordangelintheOldTestament，andthenatureofdreamsandvisionsthathappentomenbytheordinarywayofnature，Iwasinclinedtothisopinion，thatangelswerenothingbutsupernaturalapparitionsofthefancy，raisedbythespecialandextraordinaryoperationofGod，therebytomakeHispresenceandcommandmentsknowntomankind，andchieflytoHisownpeople。ButthemanyplacesoftheNewTestament，andourSaviour’sownwords，andinsuchtextswhereinisnosuspicionofcorruptionoftheScripture，haveextortedfrommyfeeblereasonanacknowledgementandbeliefthattherebealsoangelssubstantialandpermanent。Buttobelievetheybeinnoplace，thatistosay，nowhere，thatistosay，nothing，asthey，thoughindirectly，saythatwillhavethemincorporeal，cannotbyScripturebeevinced。
Onthesignificationofthewordspiritdependeththatofthewordinspiration；whichmusteitherbetakenproperly，andthenitisnothingbuttheblowingintoamansomethinandsubtleairorwindinsuchmannerasamanfillethabladderwithhisbreath；orifspiritsbenotcorporeal，buthavetheirexistenceonlyinthefancy，itisnothingbuttheblowinginofaphantasm；whichisimpropertosay，andimpossible；forphantasmsarenot，butonlyseemtobe，somewhat。ThatwordthereforeisusedintheScripturemetaphoricallyonly：aswhereitissaidthatGodinspiredintomanthebreathoflife，*nomoreismeantthanthatGodgaveuntohimvitalmotion。ForwearenottothinkthatGodmadefirstalivingbreath，andthenblewitintoAdamafterhewasmade，whetherthatbreathwererealorseeming；butonlyasitis“thathegavehimlife，andbreath“；*2thatis，madehimalivingcreature。Andwhereitissaid“allScriptureisgivenbyinspirationfromGod，“*3speakingthereoftheScriptureoftheOldTestament，itisaneasymetaphortosignifythatGodinclinedthespiritormindofthosewriterstowritethatwhichshouldbeusefulinteaching，reproving，correcting，andinstructingmeninthewayofrighteousliving。ButwhereSt。Petersaiththat“Prophecycamenotinoldtimebythewillofman，buttheholymenofGodspakeastheyweremovedbytheHolySpirit，“*4bytheHolySpiritismeantthevoiceofGodinadreamorvisionsupernatural，whichisnotinspiration：norwhenourSaviour，breathingonHisDisciples，said，“ReceivetheHolySpirit，wasthatbreaththeSpirit，butasignofthespiritualgraceshegaveuntothem。Andthoughitbesaidofmany，andofourSaviourHimself，thathewasfulloftheHolySpirit；yetthatfullnessisnottobeunderstoodforinfusionofthesubstanceofGod，butforaccumulationofhisgifts，suchasarethegiftofsanctityoflife，oftongues，andthelike，whetherattainedsupernaturallyorbystudyandindustry；forinallcasestheyarethegiftsofGod。SolikewisewhereGodsays，“IwillpouroutmySpirituponallflesh，andyoursonsandyourdaughtersshallprophesy，youroldmenshalldreamdreams，andyouryoungmenshallseevisions，“*5wearenottounderstanditinthepropersense，asifhisSpiritwerelikewater，subjecttoeffusionorinfusion；butasifGodhadpromisedtogivethempropheticaldreamsandvisions。Fortheproperuseofthewordinfused，inspeakingofthegracesofGod，isanabuseofit；forthosegracesarevirtues，notbodiestobecarriedhitherandthither，andtobepouredintomenasintobarrels。
Inthesamemanner，totakeinspirationinthepropersense，ortosaythatgoodspiritsenteredintomentomakethemprophesy，orevilspiritsintothosethatbecamephrenetic，lunatic，orepileptic，isnottotakethewordinthesenseoftheScripture；
fortheSpiritthereistakenforthepowerofGod，workingbycausestousunknown。AsalsothewindthatistheresaidtofillthehousewhereintheApostleswereassembledonthedayofPentecost*
isnottobeunderstoodfortheHolySpirit，whichistheDeityitself；butforanexternalsignofGod’sspecialworkingontheirheartstoeffectinthemtheinternalgracesandholyvirtuesHethoughtrequisitefortheperformanceoftheirapostleship。
THEkingdomofGodinthewritingsofdivines，andspeciallyinsermonsandtreatisesofdevotion，istakenmostcommonlyforeternalfelicity，afterthislife，inthehighestheaven，whichtheyalsocallthekingdomofglory；andsometimesfortheearnestofthatfelicity，sanctification，whichtheytermthekingdomofgrace；
butneverforthemonarchy，thatistosay，thesovereignpowerofGodoveranysubjectsacquiredbytheirownconsent，whichisthepropersignificationofkingdom。
Tothecontrary，IfindthekingdomofGodtosignifyinmostplacesofScriptureakingdomproperlysonamed，constitutedbythevotesofthepeopleofIsraelinpeculiarmanner，whereintheychoseGodfortheirkingbycovenantmadewithHim，uponGod’spromisingthemthepossessionofthelandofCanaan；andbutseldommetaphorically；andthenitistakenfordominionoversinandonlyintheNewTestament，becausesuchadominionasthateverysubjectshallhaveinthekingdomofGod，andwithoutprejudicetothesovereign。
Fromtheverycreation，GodnotonlyreignedoverallmennaturallybyHismight，butalsohadpeculiarsubjects，whomHecommandedbyavoice，asonemanspeakethtoanother。InwhichmannerHereignedoverAdamandgavehimcommandmenttoabstainfromthetreeofcognizanceofgoodandevil；whichwhenheobeyednot，buttastingthereoftookuponhimtobeasGod，judgingbetweengoodandevil，notbyhisCreator’scommandment，butbyhisownsense，hispunishmentwasaprivationoftheestateofeternallife，whereinGodhadatfirstcreatedhim：andafterwardsGodpunishedhisposterityfortheirvices，allbuteightpersons，withauniversaldeluge；andintheseeightdidconsistthethenkingdomofGod。
Afterthis，itpleasedGodtospeaktoAbraham，andtomakeacovenantwithhiminthesewords，“Iwillestablishmycovenantbetweenmeandtheeandthyseedaftertheeintheirgenerationsforaneverlastingcovenant，tobeaGodtothee，andtothyseedafterthee；AndIwillgiveuntothee，andtothyseedafterthee，thelandwhereinthouartastranger，allthelandofCanaan，foraneverlastingpossession。“*InthiscovenantAbrahampromisethforhimselfandhisposteritytoobey，asGod，theLordthatspaketohim；
andGodonhispartpromisethtoAbrahamthelandofCanaanforaneverlastingpossession。Andforamemorialandatokenofthiscovenant，heordaineththesacramentofcircumcision。*2ThisisitwhichiscalledtheOldCovenant，orTestament，andcontainethacontractbetweenGodandAbraham，bywhichAbrahamobligethhimselfandhisposterityinapeculiarmannertobesubjecttoGod’spositivelaw；fortothelawmoralhewasobligedbefore，asbyanoathofallegiance。AndthoughthenameofKingbenotyetgiventoGod；norofkingdomtoAbrahamandhisseed，yetthethingisthesame；namely，aninstitutionbypactofGod’speculiarsovereigntyovertheseedofAbraham，whichintherenewingofthesamecovenantbyMosesatMountSinaiisexpresslycalledapeculiarkingdomofGodovertheJews：anditisofAbraham，notofMoses，St。Paulsaiththatheisthefatherofthefaithful；*3thatis，ofthosethatareloyalanddonotviolatetheirallegiancesworntoGod，thenbycircumcision，andafterwardsintheNewCovenantbybaptism。
ThiscovenantatthefootofMountSinaiwasrenewedbyMoseswheretheLordcommandethMosestospeaktothepeopleinthismanner，“Ifyouwillobeymyvoiceindeed，andkeepmycovenant，thenyeshallbeapeculiarpeopletome，foralltheearthismine；andyeshallbeuntomeasacerdotalkingdom，andanholynation。“*Fora“peculiarpeople，“thevulgarLatinhath，peculiumdecunctispopulis：theEnglishtranslationmadeinthebeginningofthereignofKingJameshath，a“peculiartreasureuntomeaboveallnations“；andtheGenevaFrench，“themostpreciousjewelofallnations。“Butthetruesttranslationisthefirst，becauseitisconfirmedbySt。Paulhimselfwherehesaith，*2alludingtothatplace，thatourblessedSaviour“gaveHimselfforus，thatHemightpurifyustoHimself，apeculiarthatis，anextraordinarypeople“：forthewordisintheGreekperiousios，whichisopposedcommonlytothewordepiousios：andasthissignifiethordinary，quotidian，or，asintheLord’sPrayer，ofdailyuse；sotheothersignifieththatwhichisoverplus，andstoredup，andenjoyedinaspecialmanner；whichtheLatinscallpeculium：andthismeaningoftheplaceisconfirmedbythereasonGodrenderethofit，whichfollowethimmediately，inthatHeaddeth，“Foralltheearthismine，“asifHeshouldsay，“Allthenationsoftheworldaremine；butitisnotsothatyouaremine，butinaspecialmanner：fortheyareallmine，byreasonofmypower；butyoushallbeminebyyourownconsentandcovenant，“whichisanadditiontohisordinarytitletoallnations。
Thesameisagainconfirmedinexpresswordsinthesametext，“Yeshallbetomeasacerdotalkingdom，andanholynation。“ThevulgarLatinhathit，regnumsacerdotale，towhichagreeththetranslationofthatplace，sacerdotiumregale，aregalpriesthood；*asalsotheinstitutionitself，bywhichnomanmightenterintothesanctumsanctorum，thatistosay，nomanmightenquireGod’swillimmediatelyofGodHimself，butonlythehighpriest。TheEnglishtranslationbeforementioned，followingthatofGeneva，has，“akingdomofpriests“；whichiseithermeantofthesuccessionofonehighpriestafteranother，orelseitaccordethnotwithSt。Peter，norwiththeexerciseofthehighpriesthood。FortherewasneveranybutthehighpriestonlythatwastoinformthepeopleofGod’swill；noranyconvocationofpriestseverallowedtoenterintothesanctumsanctorum。
Again，thetitleofaholynationconfirmsthesame：forholysignifiesthatwhichisGod’sbyspecial，notbygeneral，right。Alltheearth，asissaidinthetext，isGod’s；butalltheearthisnotcalledholy，butthatonlywhichissetapartforhisespecialservice，aswasthenationoftheJews。ItisthereforemanifestenoughbythisoneplacethatbythekingdomofGodisproperlymeantaCommonwealth，institutedbytheconsentofthosewhichweretobesubjecttheretofortheircivilgovernmentandtheregulatingoftheirbehaviour，notonlytowardsGodtheirking，butalsotowardsoneanotherinpointofjustice，andtowardsothernationsbothinpeaceandwar；whichproperlywasakingdomwhereinGodwasking，andthehighpriestwastobe，afterthedeathofMoses，hissoleviceroy，orlieutenant。
Buttherebemanyotherplacesthatclearlyprovethesame。AsfirstwhentheeldersofIsrael，grievedwiththecorruptionofthesonsofSamuel，demandedaking，Samuel，displeasedtherewith，prayeduntotheLord；andtheLordansweringsaiduntohim，“Hearkenuntothevoiceofthepeople，fortheyhavenotrejectedthee，buttheyhaverejectedme，thatIshouldnotreignoverthem。“*OutofwhichitisevidentthatGodHimselfwasthentheirking；andSamueldidnotcommandthepeople，butonlydeliveredtothemthatwhichGodfromtimetotimeappointedhim。
Again，whereSamuelsaithtothepeople，“WhenyesawthatNahash，kingofthechildrenofAmmon，cameagainstyou，yesaiduntome，Nay，butakingshallreignoverus；whentheLordyourGodwasyourking“：*itismanifestthatGodwastheirking，andgovernedthecivilstateoftheirCommonwealth。
AndaftertheIsraeliteshadrejectedGod，theprophetsdidforetellHisrestitution；as，“Thenthemoonshallbeconfounded，andthesunashamed，whentheLordofhostsshallreigninMountZion，andinJerusalem“；*wherehespeakethexpresslyofHisreigninZionandJerusalem；thatis，onearth。And，“AndtheLordshallreignovertheminMountZion“：*2thisMountZionisinJerusalemupontheearth。
And，“AsIlive，saiththeLordGod，surelywithamightyhand，andastretchedoutarm，andwithfurypouredout，Iwillruleoveryou“；*3and，“Iwillcauseyoutopassundertherod，andIwillbringyouintothebondofthecovenant“；*4thatis，Iwillreignoveryou，andmakeyoutostandtothatcovenantwhichyoumadewithmebyMoses，andbrokeinyourrebellionagainstmeinthedaysofSamuel，andinyourelectionofanotherking。
AndintheNewtheNewTestamenttheangelGabrielsaithofourSaviour，“Heshallbegreat，andbecalledtheSonofthemostHigh，andtheLordshallgivehimthethroneofhisfatherDavid；andheshallreignoverthehouseofJacobforever；andofhiskingdomthereshallbenoend。“*Thisisalsoakingdomuponearth，fortheclaimwhereof，asanenemytoCaesar，hewasputtodeath；thetitleofhiscrosswasJesusofNazareth，KingoftheJews；hewascrownedinscornwithacrownofthorns；andfortheproclaimingofhim，itissaidoftheDisciples“ThattheydidallofthemcontrarytothedecreesofCaesar，sayingtherewasanotherKing，oneJesus。“*2