104 Of Chriflian Liberty. SE R m. To proceed farther on this fubjeft, it is IV. to be obferved, that the liberty laft menti- L., oned, and principally meant in the text, the freedom of chriftians from the obligations of the ceremonial law and the Jewifh tradi- tions, fo ftrenuoufly afferted by the writers of the New Teftament; that, I fay, it reft- eth upon this principle, that chriflianity, as originally delivered by our Saviour and his apoflles, is a perfect plan of inflituted re- ligion, fufficient to all the purpofes of fuch an inftitution without any addition to it, or the mixture of any other religious opinions or rites for ever. This is the truth of the gofpel which St. Paul would have to conti- nue with the churches; and the reafon why he fo warmly oppofed the introduction of any ceremonies which Chrift had not ap- pointed in the paffage above referred to. And in another place, (Rom. xiv.) treating of the fame fubject, the Jewifh ceremonies, the impofition whereof he zealoufly refifleth, teaching that every chriflian fhould be left to his liberty in ufing or forbearing them, as prudence and charity theuld direct ; he thus defcribeth the kingdom of God, or the gofpel inflitution, that it is not meat and drink, but righteoz fnefs, and peace, and joy, in the Holy Ghoft : and addeth, for be that in
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