SERMON VII. MARK i. 15. _The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel._ THESE words naturally lead us to consider, first, The nature of true religion, here termed by our Lord, _The kingdom of God_, which, saith he, _is at hand_: and secondly, The way thereto, which he points out in those words, _Repent ye, and believe the gospel_. I. 1. We are, first, to consider, The nature of true religion, here term’d by our Lord, _The kingdom of God_. The same expression the great apostle uses in his epistle to the _Romans_, where he likewise explains his Lord’s words, saying, _The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost_. Chap. xiv. 17. 2. _The kingdom of God_, or true religion, _is not meat and drink_. It is well known, that not only the unconverted Jews, but great numbers of those who had received the faith of Christ, were notwithstanding _zealous of the law_, (_Acts_ xxi. 20.) even the ceremonial law of _Moses_. Whatsoever therefore they found written therein, either concerning meat and drink-offerings, or the distinction between clean and unclean meats, they not only observed themselves, but vehemently pressed the same, even on those _among the Gentiles_ (or Heathens) _who were turned to God_. Yea, to such a degree, that some of them taught, wheresoever they came among them, _Except ye be circumcised, and keep the law_, (the whole ritual law) _ye cannot be saved_, Acts xv. 1, 24. 3. In opposition to these, the apostle declares, both here and in many other places, that true religion does not consist in _meat_ and _drink_, or in any ritual observances: nor indeed in any outward thing whatever, in any thing exterior to the heart; the whole substance thereof lying in _righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost_.