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to higher and better things: the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another, instead of causing offence or temptation. Let not the one party suppose that these matters were important; let not the other party give reason to suppose that liberty in these matters had any weight with them. For the kingdom of God is not meat or drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

What

1. The kingdom of God is RIGHTEOUSNESS. we seek and must attain as Christians, is a holy, pure disposition: the conformity of the whole heart to the law of God. From the moment that a man is earnest in religion, this is what he aims at and desires. He does not so soon acquire it: but he strives and prays for it; and a promise is made, that he shall not strive and pray in vain. "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." We find our Lord declaring from the first, that in this his religion consisted. The Jews had been used to look to other things: but he assures them, "Blessed are the meek, the pure in heart, the humble:" those that "hunger and thirst after righteousness."

And

so St. Paul: "In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but a new creature:"5 a heart converted from its natural course of worldliness and sinful indulgence, and following, instead, the ways of godliness, and meekness, and patience, and holiness, and charity.

3 Ezek. xxxvi. 26.

Gal. vi. 15.

Matt. v. 2-9.

Men have invented for themselves many tests, by which to judge of their own or others' religion. This is one which cannot be mistaken. "Let no man deceive you; he which doeth righteousness, is righteWhatever else we have, by whatever name we are called, if we have not righteousness, we have not the first needful evidence of any part or lot in the kingdom of God.

ous."6

2. Next, the kingdom of God is PEACE. St. Paul had been speaking of disputes and jealousies. Instead of these, he tells us that they who belong to the kingdom of God are of a quiet, kind, peaceable disposition. The spirit of the Gospel is a spirit of peace. The Gospel was ushered in with a promise of "

7

peace on earth." God declared himself ready to be reconciled to men, through Christ Jesus; and required that they should show to one another the same kindness and long-suffering which he had shown to them. And certainly there is everything in the Gospel to promote a spirit of peace among men, and to repress a spirit of discord. Discord often arises out of the affronts which one man receives from another; such as those probably met with, who differed from their neighbours about the meats they might partake of, or the days they should keep holy. But one who has the Gospel in his heart, cannot help feeling, that even if he is unjustly affronted or offended, he has himself much more offended God. If God has borne with him, ought he not to bear with his brethren? Another cause of discord striving after the same object,

61 John iii. 7.

among men, is their each labouring to get

7 Luke ii. 14.

beyond his neighbour. But this rivalry is moderated, with one who is seeking first the kingdom of God. For he is constantly looking forward to the time, when all this will avail him nothing. "The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.' "8

Another cause of difference among men, is their jealousy and envy of each other: of another's knowledge, or another's honours, or another's gains. But one who belongs to the kingdom of God, loves his neighbour as himself: and does not therefore grudge him what he knows, or what he gains; does not envy him if he is praised and honoured.

The Gospel, therefore, promotes peace, by cutting off the root from which discord springs. And that peaceable spirit which a man feels towards others, comes back upon himself: he is freed from those angry and discontented passions which destroy the comfort of the soul. What more miserable to the person who feels them, than envy, hatred, malice, and uncharitableness? Such an one's heart is in a continual storm. But such passions have no place in the kingdom of God. Therefore the kingdom of God is peace.

The last sign which Paul here mentions of the kingdom of God, is JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST. The Holy Ghost takes up his abode with those who are trusting in Christ. And in the heart where he dwelleth, there is both peace and joy. For he is "the Comforter." He soothes the heart with a hope of pardon and acceptance with God. He" bears wit

81 John ii. 17.

ness with our spirits," that we are received as children of God through Christ Jesus: and fills us with comfort like that which the apostle himself experienced, when he said, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." He also sheds joy over our hearts, by enabling us to make head against sin, our greatest enemy. Nothing except sin can be the cause of lasting sorrow to the Christian. But the aid of the Holy Spirit gives us victory over sin and hence comes joy to the heart. Not that joy which is shown in loud and noisy mirth; not perhaps that joy which can be discoursed of to another, or expressed in words; but a pure and holy joy notwithstanding: a joy arising from just confidence that our souls are committed to God, and safe in his hands; and that as long as we continue faithful, whatever befal us here is only part of a mysterious plan which is designed to lead us to everlasting glory.

Thus plainly are we told, what the kingdom of God does not consist in. Not in outward things or observances. These may be ours, and yet we may not be within the kingdom. The things really needful, are righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. These, therefore, are the things to seek. Righteousness, by the word of God, by self-inquiry, by prayer, by watchfulness, by self-denial: and peace, by following after the things that make for peace, and avoiding all those evil affections and desires by which peace is disturbed. In proportion as we advance in this

9 2 Tim. i. 12.

righteousness and peace, will be our joy in the Holy Ghost. For to advance in them, is to be triumphing over the enemies of our salvation; and this is cause of joy. It is to be proceeding towards a state of eternal holiness and happiness; and this is cause of joy. And it is the Holy Spirit who gives this victory, and leads onward in the way: therefore such joy is in the Holy Ghost. Lord, evermore give us

this joy!

LECTURE XL.

CHRISTIANS EXHORTED TO MUTUAL LOVE AND FORBEARANCE.

ROMANS XV. 1-7.

1. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The difficulty about which St. Paul was writing, belonged only to that time: whether Christians might eat what had been offered to idols in sacrifice. He leaves us a precept which is binding at all times. Let every one of us consider his neighbour's welfare, rather than his own pleasure or inclination. And as

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