did not see that the kingdom coming was not of this world, but of the
higher world in the hearts of men; it is true that his faith failed him
in his imprisonment, because he heard of no martial movement on the part
of the Lord, no assertion of his sovereignty, no convincing show of his
power; but he did see plainly that righteousness was essential to the
kingdom of heaven. That he did not yet perceive that righteousness _is_
the kingdom of heaven; that he did not see that the Lord was already
initiating his kingdom by sending away sin out of the hearts of his
people, is not wonderful. The Lord's answer to his fore-runner's message
of doubt, was to send his messenger back an eye-witness of what he was
doing, so to wake or clarify in him the perception that his kingdom was
not of this world--that he dealt with other means to another end than
John had yet recognized as his mission or object; for obedient love in
the heart of the poorest he healed or persuaded, was his kingdom come.

Again, observe that, when the Pharisees came to John, he said to them,
'Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:' is not this the same
as, 'Repent unto the sending away of your sins'?

Note also, that, when the multitudes came to the prophet, and all, with
the classes most obnoxious to the rest, the publicans and the soldiers,
asked what he would have them do--thus plainly recognizing that
something was required of them--his instruction was throughout in the
same direction: they must send away their sins; and each must begin with
the fault that lay next him. The kingdom of heaven was at hand: they
must prepare the way of the Lord by beginning to do as must be done in
his kingdom.

They could not rid themselves of their sins, but they could set about
sending them away; they could quarrel with them, and proceed to turn