Several discourses tending to promote peace & holiness among Christians to which are added,…

4. Coming into the World, to set up the Kingdom of God, it was sit his Form of Life should suit with the Nature of that Kingdom. John Baptist telleth them, ⟨p. 268⟩The Kingdom of God is at hand; and Christ himself, That the Kingdom of God was come, and was among them. Now what is the nature of this Kingdom of God? The Apostle telleth you, that, Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdom of God standeth not in Meat and Drink, but in Righteousness and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. There are two expositions of that place, and both equally probable; the one more general, the other more limited and restrained to the Context: More general, That Righteousness is taken for all new Obedience, and Peace for peace of Conscience, resulting from the rectitude of our Actions; and joy in the Holy Ghost, for that supernatural comfort which the Holy Ghost puts into our Hearts, by reflecting upon our Privileges in Christ, and the Hopes of the World to come. Now Christianity consists not in eating, or not eating such or such Meats, or such kind of Observances, but in solid Godliness, or in the practice of Christian Graces and Virtues. The more limited sense is, That by Righteousness is meant just dealings; by Peace, a peaceable, harmless, inoffensive sort of living; by Joy in the Holy Ghost, a delight to do good to ⟨p. 269⟩one another; to advance and build up one another in Godliness, not dividing, hating, excommunicating, censuring one another for lesser Things and mere Rituals, but pleasing our Neighbour to edification, Rom. 15. 2. and 1 Cor. 10. 31, 32, 33. Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God: give no offence, neither to Jews nor Gentiles, nor to the Church of God: even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. This meek, holy, charitable converse to the Glory of God, without offence and scandal, is that which promoteth God's Kingdom: And this would Christ teach us in his own form and course of Life, conversing in a sanctified manner with all sorts of Persons to their profit and benefit.