il 164 Of the Kingdom of God. S E R M. is ftrong to his purpofe. How unreafonable VI. was it for them to divide and to cenfure one another feverely about things that were re- mote from the vitals of religion ? Every one ought to be efteemed and regarded as a true fellow fubje t, whofe obedience is filch as rendereth him acceptable to the king ; as he addeth in the following, words, he that in righteoufnefs, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft, ferveth Chrift, is acceptable to God, and therefore ought to be approved of men, whatever his weak opinions may be about meats and drinks, for thefe do not affed his fincerity, which is the very life of the chriftian chara ler, and the all of true religion ; he who hath that wanteth nothing neceffary to his being a true ap- proved fubjeét of Jefus Chrift ; he who wanteth that can have nothing to recom- mend him. A parallel declaration of the fame author we have i Cor. viii. 8. But meat commendeth us not to God ; for neither if we eat, are we the better; neither if we eat not, are we the worfe. Surely the king- dom of God, or the efíence of chriftianity, muff confift in that on which our accept- ance with God dependeth, it being the main end of the gofpel to dire ì us how we may pleafe him and obtain his favour; 5 but
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