The words " kingdom of God," ordinarily signify not only that power which he possesses over all men, and over universal creation, a sense in which they frequently occur in Scripture, but, also, his providence which rules and governs the world: " In his hands," says the Prophet, are all the ends of the earth. [1] The word "ends" includes those things, also, which lie buried in the depths of the earth, and are concealed in the most hidden recesses of creation; and in this sense Mardochaeus exclaims: " O Lord, Lord, Almighty King, for all things are in thy power, and there is none that can resist thy will: thou art Lord of all, and there is none that can resist thy majesty." [2]
By " the kingdom of God" is also understood that special providence by which God protects, and watches over pious and holy men; and of this David speaks, when he says: " The Lord rules me, I shall want nothing," [3] and Isaias: "The Lord our king he will save us." [4] But, although, even in this life, the pious and holy are, as we have already observed, placed, in a special manner, under this kingly power of God; yet our Lord himself informed Pilate, that his kingdom was not of this world, [5] that is to say, had not its origin in this world, which was created, and is doomed to perish. This is the temporary tenure on which empire is held by Kings, Emperors, Commonwealths, Rulers, and all whose titles to the government of States and Provinces is founded upon the desire or election of men, on who, in the absence of legitimate title, have intruded them selves, by violent and unjust usurpation, into sovereign power Not so Christ our Lord, who, as the prophet declares, is appointed king by God, [6] and whose kingdom, as the Apostle says, is "justice:" "The kingdom of God is justice and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." [7] Christ our Lord reigns in us by the interior virtues of justice, faith, hope, and charity, which constitute us a portion, as it were, of his kingdom. Subject, in a peculiar manner, to God, we are consecrated to his worship; and, as the Apostle said, " I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me;" [8] so may we too say, "I reign, yet not I, but Christ reigneth in me."
This kingdom is called "justice," because it has for its basis the justice of Christ our Lord; and of it our Lord says in St. Luke: "The kingdom of God is within you." [9] Jesus Christ, it is true, reigns by faith in all who are within the bosom of our Holy Mother, the church; yet does he reign in a special manner over those, who animated by faith, enlivened by hope, and inflamed by charity, have yielded themselves pure and living members to God, and in whom the kingdom of God's grace is said to consist.
By the words " kingdom of God" is also meant that kingdom of his glory, of which Christ our Lord says in St. Matthew:
