SER M. fault which the apostle cenfureth and enVI. deavoureth to correct, was the alienation of their affections, and their uncharitable judging and defpifing one another on account of their differences: Against this he useth many ftrong arguments, and a principal one. in my text, namely, that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. In difcourfing on which words, I will endeavour to fhew you,

First, What is meant by the kingdom of God.

Secondly, I will confider wherein the apostle faith it doth not confift, meats and drinks, or other things of a parallel nature. And,

Thirdly, Wherein it doth confift, righteoufness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

First, Let us confider what is meant by the kingdom of God; and this no doubt it very much concerneth us to understand, because we often meet with it in the gospel as its main fubject, and efpecially in the declarations of our Saviour himself. When he first began his public miniftry, it was by

declaring

declaring that the kingdom of God was come, SERM. or at hand; and it feemeth to be the prin- VI. cipal fcope of his parables, which are a great part of his difcourfes, to explain it, and by familiar and eafy comparisons to let men into the knowledge of it. Every one muft fee it is the gofpel ftate he intendeth, when he likeneth the kingdom of God to a fower fowing his feed on different forts of ground, meaning the different entertainments the word of God meeteth with in the world, and even among them who profefs fubjection to it; to a merchant feeking goodly pearls; to leaven; to a marriage fupper; and many other things, which tend to shew the nature and defign of chriftianity, and its wonderful efficacy to the captivating of the hearts of men to God and to religion, recovering them from their degeneracy, and engaging them in the purfuit of durable riches and righteousness, that invaluable provifion which divine mercy hath made for them, that they may be brought at laft to perfect happiness, in a thorough fubjection to God, and conformity to him, and in the enjoyment of his favour.

But the question is, why this is called the kingdom of God? In order to under

ftand

SERM. ftand this, we must observe, that God hath VI. neceffarily and effentially an univerfal and

irresistible dominion over his creatures; it is infeparable from his abfolute and infinite perfections; the fupreme Being, Almighty, and perfectly Wife, must be the fupreme governor, doing in heaven and earth whats foever pleaseth him. This kingdom is celebrated in fcripture, and men are called upon to acknowledge and praise it; indeed, it is proclaimed by univerfal nature, and the order and harmony of the works of God fhew, that a wife and powerful ruler prefideth over them, directing all their motions. All the powers and excellencies of any kind which his creatures are poffeffed of, they derive wholly from him, and hold by no other title than his free gift. As the heavens and the earth were made by his word, and their hofts by the breath of his mouth; for he spake and it was done, he commanded and it flood fast, they depend entirely on his pleasure, and in a moment he can reduce them to nothing. The appearances of nature, whether thofe more regular and uniform, which are fo various and magnificent, or those which feem to us extraordinary, ast fhaking the mountains, removing the rocks out of their places, and making the waters ftand

ftand up as an heap, are no more than the SERM. effects of his will, and the impreffion which VI. his mighty command maketh upon his works, that never do or can refift him.

But as there are many of the creatures whom he hath endued with understanding and liberty, with a capacity of knowing him and his authority, of being determined freely by rational motives, and yielding a willing obedience; over thefe he exerciseth a moral government, and this is now properly his kingdom. A ferious reflection on ourselves, will lead us to acknowledge that we are the fubjects of our creator in this refpect; we are made with a sense of right and wrong, of good and evil, and our choice of the one or the other is neceffarily and unavoidably attended with a perception of pleasure or pain, in our accufing or approving thoughts, which fhew the work of his law written in our hearts, with a fanction added to enforce our chufing the good and refusing the evil; and fince this must be attributed to a conftitution of his, it fully proveth his relation to us as our lawgiver and our king.

But fome of the reasonable creatures revolted from him; not refifting his power, to which the united strength of them all is utterly

3

SERM. utterly infufficient, but by disobeying his VI. will. The head of the rebellion drew multitudes along with him, firft in heaven, and then on earth. Among mankind, particularly, wickednefs rofe to an enormous height; for the imagination of their thoughts were evil continually; they were corrupt, and did abominable works; fcarce any did good: So that Satan, become the God of this world, and the prince of the power of the air working in the children of disobedience, set up a kingdom of superstition, idolatry, and vice, directly opposite to God's kingdom of righteousness and purity. But our merciful creator having great compaffion for the human race, and a kind intention to refcue finners from their depravity and unhappiness, not only continued their ftate of trial, and those powers of reafon and confcience which, by a due exertion, might lead them to a better course; and by the conftant care and bounty of his providence called them to repentance; he likewife fent meffengers to invite them to return to their duty; his wifdom cried, and understanding lifted up her voice, perfuading the fimple to turn at her reproofs. Particularly, the Jewish nation, diftinguished from all others by the divine favour, had prophets raifed up to in

ftruct