Rom. xiv. 17 — 19. The kingdom of Godis not meat and drink ; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore folloiv after the things which make for peace, and things ivherewith one may edify another.
TO have a clear view of Christian doctrines is necessary ; but to have a just apprehension of the Christian spirit and temper is no less necessary : and it is much to be regretted, that where the doctrines are well understood, the Christian temper is often grievously overlooked: nay, the very importance of the doctrines is often made a pretext for exercising tempers most repugnant to vital Christianity. People are not willing to distinguish between the essentials,
and the non-essentials, of religion. There is in every man a disposition to exalt some favourite sentiment of his own, and to press it upon others beyond what its relative importance requires ; whereas the spirit of Christianity calls rather for mutual forbearance in relation to things indifferent, and mutual concessions, in order to the preservation of peace and harmony.
The scope of the chapter before us is to mark out a line of conduct for Christians in relation to this matter : and in this view it deserves the most atten- tive consideration. To present the subject before you in all its most important bearings, we shall,
I. Shew wherein practical Christianity consists —
[The Jewish religion consisted much in the observance of rites and ceremonies, which were marked with great pre- cision, and enjoined under the severest penalties. The for- bearing the use of certain kinds of food, the keeping as sacred certain times and seasons, and the complying with certain ordinances, were commanded with all the same authority as the decalogue itself. But those things were to cease with that dispensation a: they were appointed only "till the times of reformation :" and now they are to be observed no longer b. " The kingdom of God," that is, the kingdom of Christ esta- blished in the heart, does not consist in them ; "it is not in meat and drink," but in something more substantial, more excellent, more spiritual ; namely, " in righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."
Many interpret these words as importing faith in the " righteousness "of the Lord Jesus Christ, and " peace" through the blood of his cross, and "joy in the Holy Ghost" as the fruit of our acceptance with God. But we apprehend that these words relate rather to holy and heavenly dispositions, as contrasted with the spirit that is generated by an undue attachment to rites and ceremonies. We understand by them an universal love of righteousness, as opposed to a zeal for forms ; a peaceful state of mind, as opposed to the irritation that is cherished, and the dissensions that are occasioned, by a contentious spirit ; and a joy in God, as opposed to the self- complacency which is fostered by a self-righteous compliance with prescribed forms. The scope of the whole context seems to point to this interpretation, and to direct our thoughts into the channel marked out for us by the words of Balaam to Balakc; or by those of our Lord to the self-righteous
a Heb. ix. 10. b Col. ii. 16—22. c Mic. vi. 6—8.
VOL. xv. M M