ON THE JEWISH MEATS. 391 abstainedfrom which had indeed been commended by their creation,but had been prohibitedby the law. But now Christ,the end of the law,has come, disclosingallthe ob scuritiesof the law— allthose thingswhich antiquityhad covered with the clouds of sacraments. For the illustrious Master, and the heavenly Teacher, and the ordainer of the perfectedtruth,has come, under whom at length it is rightly said: "To the pure allthings are pure; but unto them that are denled and unbelievingis nothing pure, but even theirmind and conscienceisdenled."1 Moreover,in another place: "For every creatureof God is good, and nothing to be refusedwhich is receivedwith thanksgiving; for itissanctifiedby the -Word of God and prayer."2 Again, in another place: " The Spiritexpresslysays that in the last days some shalldepart from the faith,giving heed to seducing spirits,doctrinesof demons, speakingliesin hypo crisy,having theirconscienceseared with a hot iron,for bidding to marry, and [commanding to]abstainfrom meats which God hath createdto be receivedwith thanksgivingby them which believeand thosewho know God." 3 Moreover, in anotherpassage: " Everything thatissoldin the market place eat,asking nothing."4 From thesethings it is plain that allthose thingsare returnedto their[original]blessed ness now thatthe law isfinished,and thatwe must not revert to the specialobservancesof meats,which observanceswere ordained fora certainreason,but which evangelicalliberty has now taken away, their dischargebeing given. The apostlecriesout : " The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness,and peace,and joy."5 Also else where : " Meats forthe belly,and the bellyformeats : but God shalldestroyboth itand them. |Now the body isnot for fornication,but forthe Lord ; and the Lord forthe body."6 God isnot worshipped by the bellynor by meats,which the Lord sayswillperish,and are purged by naturallaw in the draught. For he who worshipsthe Lord by meats,ismerely as one who has his bellyfor his Lord. The meat, I say, 1 Tit.i.15. 2 1 Tim.iv.4,5. 3 1 Tim.iv.1,2,3.* 1 Cor.x.25. 5 Rom. xiv.17. • 1 Cor.ri.13.