588 An Expofition upon Chap.14, nies:'therefore we owe thanks to God for it, that we may freely and lawfully iced on fuch creatures, as Solomon in all his glory,might not touch without fin. Secondly, fuch as do ftrive and differ about things indifferent, do open and loofe the tongues of friends and ene- mies, to reproach our good, and our Gofpell, and our God. Oh that Gath and Afcal.n had never heardof the divi- lions of Ephraim and 3udah ! DIA LOGUE VII. Verf. 57. For the kingdome of God is not meats and drinks, but righteoufnejfe, peace, and joy inthe holy Ghoff. that which is both religious and Chri- flian, coming not of the Flefh,but from the Spirit, being in fpirituall, not car - nall things ; and therefore, the fit and meet matter of the Kingdome of God, which confìfleth not of this world. T t M. Interpret the words, what fignifies the [Kingdome of God ?] S i L. Amongft iundry acceptions, there be two efpecially, whereof l now make ufe.Firft,the eftate of grace where- by Chriftreigneth in our hearts by bis Spirit: this is called [Kingdom,]becaufe it is the entrance into, & the way unto the Kingdome above. Secondly, Kingdome fsgnifieth the eftate of glory and bliffe in heaven, where becaufe God (hall ful- ly reign in his Saints, and immediate- ly; not as here unperfe &, and by means of the word : therefore it is termed alto, and more chiefly the Kingdome of God. I fee nothing againft it, why the Text may not be earpounded in both thefe fenfes, without wrong to phrafe, or circumflance, or fcope. For following the fiat fenfe,putting kingdone for that grace whereby we are reconciled to God, or able to pleat's him, then the meaning is ; that finte there is no ne- ceffity of meats to this purpofe, as to bring us to Gods favour,and making us acceptable to him, s Cor. 8.8. (which teacheth, that meats nor drinks make us neither more nor ldfe acceptable unto God:) therefore there ought to be no difference about them,to the fcan- dall one of another ( efpecially if we embrace the latter -feule) our falvation is neither hindred nor furthered by meats and drinks : therefore a folly it is to contend about thefe things which (hall not be neceffary in the kingdome of heaven, as one faith; nor of any ufe in our celefliall converfation, (as Origen writeth) nor the things that mull bring us to heaven, as Chryjsf}cme (peaks, nor the caufe ofour reigning there. There is a Synecdoche in thefe terms of meats and drinks, for they are put for all other things of a middle nature ; what- footer they be, they do no whit at all belong to Gods worfhip now, or mans felicity hereafter, being fim- TIMoTmaus. WHat contains this text ? S o L. A new argument to diifwade the firong from ¡hiving about she ufe of meats, and fuch things to the ' offence of the weak. The argument is more forcible then any of the former. It is this, the kingdome of heaven Elands not in thefe indifferent things, therefore we may not with the fcandall and de- flru &ion of our brethren contend about them. In which reafon, the Apofile leemeth fomewhat clofely to infnuate unto the rebuke of the ftrong, as if they had been too eager and earneft in thefe externall matters, placing piety, and plealing of God in them, as if all our good and happineffe had depended on them; not fo (faith Paul) the kingdome conlifteth in more weighty things, as righteoufheffe,peace,and joy in theSpi- rit; and not in fuch outward indiffe- rent matters, as meats, and daies, and 4 the like, which in no whit appertain to Gods wurfhip and mans falvation. The parts of this ly. verfebe two; the one affirmative, the other negative. In this latter, it is denied, that the kingdome of God is meat and drink ; in the other lit is afftrmed,that it is in righteoufaeffe, ( peace, and joy. The holy Ghofi (who as an efficient caufe) diftinguifheth world- ly righteoufnefíe, peace, and joy, from i
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