much as in you lies live peaceably with all men To maintain Peace is part of Peace-making for this is to make that Peace which is begun and which we find settled in our hands to continue and flourish in a word to preserve it and according to the old saying Non minor est vertus c. It is as great a Vertue to preserve the good thing which we have purchas'd as to purchase it and while we behave our selves inoffensively unblameably and keep a Conscience void of offence toward God and Man we take the readiest way to live peaceably It 's granted that the most inoffensive Actions nay even Acts of Duty and Devotion may stir up the wrath and fury of cholerick and prejudiced men as we see the Apostles by preaching the Gospel and attempting to reclaim men from their Vices and telling them their Duty rais'd all the World against themselves but this is not our fault as long as we give no just occasion to men to quarrel with us or give no just offence while we are ready to do good offices do by others as we would have others do by us and in our Discourses and Behaviour observe the rules of Modesty Decency Sobriety and Charity if after all men will speak ill of us and be angry because we will not run out with them into excess of riot as it seems those did St. Peter speaks of 1 Pet. IV. 4. We have discharged a good Conscience and may comfort our selves with this That we have given no just occasion to break the Peace 3. And here comes in the stricter signification of the word such as from a sense of Christian Love and Charity endeavour to reconcile disagreeing Persons and Neighbours and their fellow Christians that are at variance And concerning this peace-making St. Paul gives this grave and serious Admonition 1 Cor. VI. 5 6. I speak to your shame Is it so that there is not a wise man among you no not one that is able to judge between his Brethren But Brother goes to Law with Brother And this must needs be his meaning in that other Exhortation Rom. XIV 9. where he bids us follow after the things which make for Peace And indeed where there is true Christian Compassion a man will not only be ready to run to make up differences when he is entreated but of his own accord and before he be entreated especially where either Friendship and a long Acquaintance or some near Relation gives the Invitation It was barbarous language of Cain Gen. IV. 9. Am I my Brother's keeper Such a word must not drop from the Hearts and Mouths of those who are adjured by Bowels of Mercy not to look every one on his own things but every man also on the things of his Neighbours as all Christians are Phil. II. 4. The common laws of humane societies require this Peace-making much more the Laws of Christianity and since we are bound to love our Neighbours as our selves how is it possible to obey that Law without endeavouring to soder and join the clashing and dis-jointed Members of Christ's mystical body in doing so we love our Neighbours as our selves even in endeavouring to keep others from disagreeing as we would keep our selves from being at variance with others How good and how pleasant a thing is it for Brethren to dwell together in Unity it is like the precious ointment that ran down from Aaron's head into his Beard and so on to the skirts of his cloathing saith the Royal Psalmist Psal. CXXXIII 1 2. As Christians we are all Brethren and then it must be our Duty to see the Beauty Order and Harmony of that brotherly society preserved which is impossible to be done without actual and personal endeavours of reconciling those who are at difference and this argument Moses made use of when he saw two Israelites striving together and would have set at one Why do you wrong one to another seeing ye are Brethren Act. VII 26. 4. Such as endeavour to make others like themselves and do instill this Christian Principle of reconciling Persons that quarrel and live in Enmity into others This is still making Peace when we labour to make others enamour'd with this duty of Peace-making which is done either by Exhortation or Entreaty or Representing to others the Nobleness Excellency and Profitableness of this peaceable and peace-making Temper It 's natural for men to endeavour to make others of the same Temper and Principles with ourselves which is the reason that men of all Persuasions do what they can to make Proselytes A truly good man cannot forbear saying with St. Paul I wish that all men were even as my self 1 Cor. VII 7. I mean with respect to the good things the Grace of God hath infused into him And as no man can be sincerely good without endeavouring to unite and reconcile his disagreeing Neighbours so that Goodness will farther prompt him to bespeak those of his Acquaintance in St. Paul's language Brethren be followers together of me and mark them that walk so as you have us for ensamples Philip. III. 17. And from hence it will be an easie matter to give a just answer to the Objection I proposed at first whether all Peace-makers are indifferently concerned in the blessedness of the Text It 's plain from hence that not every one that makes Peace either by force or of necessity or for profit and interest or being tired with a long and tedious War Not every one of these comes into the number of those blessed men All the four Qualifications I have mentioned are requisite to entitle a man to this happiness making Peace with God and our Consciences living peaceably and from a sense of Christian Love and Charity endeavouring to reconcile disagreeing Neighbours and instilling this reconciling Principle into others And having thus laid down the true Characters of these Peace-makers whereby you may examine your selves let 's go on and II. Enquire into the reasons of the supposition or that which is implied here that those who have an aversion from this Peace-making cannot be blessed or happy The reasons are 1. Selfishness is plainly predominant in such persons and that 's no good character of bliss so far from it that the Apostle reckons it among the Plagues of the last days 1 Tim. III. 1 2. This know also that in the last days perillous times shall come for men shall be lovers of themselves It 's true to love our selves is a natural principle but to love our selves so as not to be concerned for the good of others is a sinfull self-love which renders us contemptible to God and despicable to rational men He that matters not whether his Neighbours fight or agree whether they live in love or wrath and sees a fire kindled in their Breasts a fire lighted by the Flames of Hell a fire which breaks forth and threatens to lay their Consciences wast and doth not offer his helping hand to quench it
flows and when their Souls are sick Physick is administred to them from the Clouds They are wash'd they are justify'd they are sanctify'd and shall at last be glorify'd To such power is given to tread on Serpents and upon all the powers of darkness For their sakes God spares whole Nations To go no farther than our own All sober men believe we are ripe for God to put in the Sickle of Vengeance The Atheism Prosaneness and Hypocrisie the dull Formality we are sunk into under the greatest encouragements together with other crying Sins which are among us are enough to make a rational man wonder that the Viols of the wrath of God are not yet poured out upon us but it 's for the Children of God's sake who are among us that we are spared thus long for their sakes it is that God brings the strangest things about and though they are try'd often by affliction yet the Fire that proves them doth only cleanse not crush the Frame To protect them God sends his own Guard a Troop of Angels to surround their persons and habitations and if so the blessedness of such must infinitely exceed the happiness of those who are called Children of God upon the account either of their Creation or Power and Authority But to come closer to the words the Peace-makers are in a very special manner the Children of God if you consider them either with respect to this life or with regard to that to come for to both these states as I have told you often does the recompences mentioned in these Beatitudes relate As to this present life 1. They are Children of God because they are like him They express his Nature in their own For God is the God of Peace Philip. IV. 9. His Divine Essence is the true Pattern of Peace and Order The ever-blessed Trinity is the grand Exemplar of Concord and Unity It 's God that makes Peace within thy Borders saith David Psal. CXLVII 14. He speaks Peace to his people Ps. LXXXV 8. He creates Peace Isa. LVII 19. And calls to Peace 1 Cor. VII 15. And is the Author of Peace 1 Cor. XIV 33. And is the Lord of Peace 2 Thess. III. 16. The peaceable and such as are of a peaceable Temper resemble this God of Peace He lives in them There is a great similitude betwixt that inexhausted Spring and these little Rivulets a great Conformity betwixt these Copies and that Original The features and lineaments of Peace that appear upon their Souls discover that they are the Children of God 2. They are the adopted Children of God in Christ Jesus Christ is the true natural and only begotten Son of God The peaceable and such as are of a peace-making Temper tread in the Steps of Christ imitate his peaceable Nature and upon that Account are admitted to the Honour of his Filiation and Son-ship The Spirit of Peace which dwelt in Christ Jesus dwells in them Col. III. 15. Christ is the Prince of Peace so he is call'd Isa. IX 6. Nay he is our Peace who made both one and pull'd down the middle Wall of Partition between us having abolish'd in his Flesh the Enmity even the Law of Commandments contain'd in Ordinances making in himself of twain one new Man so making Peace Eph. II. 14 15. And he came and preach'd Peace to them that were a far off and to them who are nigh vers 17. He is the great Peace-maker who made Peace betwixt Heaven and Earth which makes the Angels sing at his Nativity Glory be to God on high and on Earth Peace Luk. II. 14 Nor doth Christ's Saying Matth. X. 34. Think not that I am come to send Peace upon Earth I am not come to send Peace but a Sword I am come to set a Man at variance against his Father and the Daughter against the Mother c. I say this Oracle doth not at all invalidate or weaken the Character or Title given him which is Prince of Peace for in so saying he only describes the natural Events and Consequences of his Gospel 1. When a Man is truly converted to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ there is immediately infused into him a mighty hatred and indignation against sin and vice where-ever he meets with it though it be in a Father or Mother or Brethren or Sisters To find it in such Relations doth not make him like it the better nor can all their persuasions make him have any good opinion of it and therefore if the Father be carnal and wicked he will hate his Son for being so holy and precise and keeping such a stir about Religion or if the Father be good and the Son naught the Son will be either secretly or openly angry with his Father for having so strait-lac'd a Conscience Hence arise quarrels and dissensions which are not the natural Effects of the Gospel but of Men's vitious humours which hate to be controll'd by the Gospel and hither must be referr'd the Persecutions that befell the Primitive Believers when they would not offer incense to the Heathen Gods whereupon they were imprison'd harrass'd persecuted with Fire and Sword The Son rose against his Father if he were a Christian and the Daughter did her best to throw the believing Mother into the Fire and the nearest Relations became mortal Enemies one to another not that Christianity made the Christians hate their Heathen Relations but it made the Heathen Relations hate their Christian Kindred 2. This Christ speaks with relation to those Carnal and Hypocritical Professours of his Religion who in After-ages pusht on by Pride and by the Devil under a pretence of Zeal for his Honour and Glory would kill butcher burn massacre thousands of their Brethren who retain'd the Substantials of Christianity only differ'd from them in things which Carnality and Pomp and Superstition and Ambition to regulate the Church by the Court of Princes should add to the ancient Faith deliver'd unto the Saints and of this we have seen very sad instances But still these are only accidental Effects of Men's Pride and Passions not the natural Products of the Design and Tendency of the Gospel so that notwithstanding all these quarrels and dissensions ill Men raise about the Gospel Christ is still the Prince of Peace and the Peaceable and such as are of a peace-making Temper are upon that account his Brethren for he is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. II. 11. and therefore the Children of God As to the Life to come These Peace-makers shall be and shall be treated like darling Children of God This St. John assures us of 1 John III. 2. Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when we shall appear we shall be like him Like him How Like him in Eternal Glory and Honour and Splendour They were like Christ in their peace-making Temper here and they shall be like him in a glorious Immortality Their
Molinos and their Opponents and were it not for fear of Fire and Prisons and the Inquisition some of these would break out into open War against their Adversaries and Competitors Nay 4. There is no Christian Church that hath been more guilty of breaking the Peace of Christendom than the Church of Rome and because several Churches would not satisfie or gratifie her Ambition would not put their Necks under her Yoke nor believe the falsest and idlest thing in the World her Supremacy and Infallibility she hath boldly separated her self from their Communion this was the reason why she separated from the Eastern Churches and by this insolence she hath forced the Protestant Churches from her Communion and not he that is forced away but he that forces is the Schismatick And indeed that which justifies the Protestant Churches separation from her or breaking Peace and Communion with her is 1. Because she would impose that upon the Consciences of Men which Christ and his Apostles never imposed 2. Because she hath turned the Spiritual Worship of the Gospel into carnal and mechanical Devotion and introduced innumerable Superstitions which have no foundation in the Word of God and would have them believ'd as firmly as the Gospel it self 3. Because she hath brought in a Worship which with all the favourable Interpretations imaginable cannot be excused from Idolatry even the Worship of dead Men and Women of the Bread in the Eucharist of Images and Pictures and Reliques c. contrary to the Design of the Gospel 4. Because though she hath been often entreated admonished and exhorted to reform these Abuses for some hundred Years together yet she is obstinate and instead of reforming hath harden'd her self in them and thinks to hector Men by her Power and Authority into a Belief of that which cannot be defended with solid Arguments 5. Because rejecting the Supreme Authority of the Scriptures which are the sole Rule of Faith she hath made her pretended Head and such Councils as he shall call or approve of the sole Dictators and Expositors of the Doctrine of Christ requiring blind Obedience to their Decisions contrary not only to the Word of God but to the Sense of all true Antiquity So that there can be no peace I mean no Peace of Communion with Rome for though we are commanded to live peaceably with all Men yet we are withall to have a due regard to Truth Eph. IV. 15. Nor must Peace be bought at so dear a Rate as to comply with Men in their Sins and Errours which is the Reason why Peace and Holiness are join'd together in that known Exhortation of the Apostle Follow peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. XII 14. Indeed an external Peace we are to maintain with all Mankind but this differs much from Peace of Communion in Divine Worship and Sacraments The Divisions among Protestant Churches are to be deplored so much the more because the Points they differ in are inconsiderable and might easily be composed if Men had but peaceable Tempers and were resolved to lay aside Interest and carnal Respects and Punctilio's of Honour and Credit c. for they all agree in Fundamentals all are satisfied that the Church of Rome hath notoriously deviated from the simplicity of the Gospel and the matters in difference are things in which Salvation is not concerned And upon that account their labours deserve great Commendations who heretofore and very lately have endeavour'd to reconcile the Protestant Churches into a perfect Union A blessed Work Blessed are the Peace-makers that endeavour to make Peace among the jarring Members of Christ's Body and though they may fail of Success yet they shall not lose their Reward In the mean while those who widen or heighten these differences and incite the respective Parties to hatred and wrath and animosities one against another to be sure are no Children of the God of Peace and had need at least before they die make publick Satisfaction for the dreadfull Effects their Heats and Passions do produce But as this Peace among Protestant Churches is very much to be wish'd and pray'd for so I despair to see so glorious a Work take effect except the differing Parties would resolve to stand to the Rules following 1. That the respective Parties which agree in the chief Points of Religion do not make any of those Points they differ in fundamental as if the Fortune of Religion depended upon it or as if those different Points were so many different Religions 2. That the differing Parties do not damn one another for those differences there being nothing that hath done Religion more hurt than Men's damning one another for things which Christ and his Apostles have affixed no Damnation to 3. That notwithstanding the little differences that are among them they make one Church and endeavour after the Welfare and Prosperity of it and join together in publick Prayer and in the Sacrament of the Eucharist which is the Badge and Symbol of Fraternity and Amity 4. That one Party be not presently jealous and suspicious of the other as if the opinion which one Party espouses were embraced or maintain'd in a Humour or for worldly Ends but that they charitably believe it 's Conscience that puts them upon it at least till either the Party espousing that opinion confesses that Conscience is not at the bottom of it or that it appear by undeniable Evidences that a worldly or sinister design is the foundation of it 5. That the differing Parties do not multiply the controversies which are amongst them make them neither more numerous nor greater than really they are and that they do not interpret an accidental unwary expression that may drop from the Pen or Mouth of one party as a new controversie 6. That one party do not charge the other with consequences which they do not own nor with Doctrines and Positions which they detest from their hearts 7. That each party defending or proving their opinion do it with great modesty without provoking or exasperating or approbrious Language and revilings or bitter reflections on the other 8. That of these differing parties none do vye with the other except it be in living up to the Precepts of the Gospel particularly those of patience long-suffering and charity These rules I apprehend to be the foundation of Peace and Concord of Protestant Churches that differ in points of no great concernment and were these Maxims once put in practice the particular controversies might soon be compromised To this purpose is that saying of the Apostle Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let 's walk by the same rule let 's mind the same things and if any be otherwise minded God will even reveal that unto you Phil. III. 15 16. But however II. If we cannot mend the Publick let 's endeavour to reform particular Persons It is a sad sight to see Christians divided among themselves but it is as dismal a
spectacle to see so many of us at war with God This I know will hardly be believed by the guilty and because they do not blaspheme God or do not trouble their heads much about God or Religion they know nothing to the contrary but that they are at peace with God and that they and God are very good Friends This is true stupidity and were the stupidity invincible as it is in Beasts such Men would be safe safe as the wild Ass or the Dromedary in the Wilderness safe I say from the Danger of God's Wrath. But this cannot be the case of any of you that live in a Country where the Gospel is preach'd where you are told that not to love God is to hate him and that not to delight in his ways is to incurr his displeasure that to live in those sins which exclude from the Kingdom of Heaven is to bid defiance to him that to be neglectfull of his Will is to wage war with him that to slight the admonitions and entreaties of his Messengers is to be at enmity with him and that to mind the World more than his Service or to seek to please Men more than him is to provoke him to anger And hath not this been the temper and is not this the complexion of many of you How many years have some of you born Arms against God Your wilfull sins are the Weapons whereby you fight against him and though like the Giants in the Fable you do not heap Mountain upon Mountain to pull him out of his Throne yet by espousing that life which is odious to him you affront his Sovereignty and by living contrary to the Gospel you despise and dishonour him who hath the greatest right to command you And is it not high time to make peace with him If God be not at peace with you here he will never be at peace with you hereafter What peace while the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many said Jehu 2 Kings IX 22. So here what peace can there be betwixt God and you while you continue in that pride and vanity and intemperance and other sins against which the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven Do you think you are at peace with God because you thrive and prosper in the World Do not the wickedest of Men do so and is that an Argument that God is their Friend Will you make his patience a sign of his being reconciled to you when it is only a motive to a reconciliation There is no peace saith my God unto the wicked Isa. LVII 20. Let them be never so potent never so rich never so wealthy their impiety takes away all peace betwixt God and them He hath declared so much and will not you believe him Will you give no credit to his word till with Dives you lift up your Eyes in Hell and see that God is not your friend If you do thrive and prosper in the World cannot those Blessings move you to be at peace with him Do you believe he is kind to you and shall his kindness provoke you to be his Enemies Nothing can settle a peace betwixt God and you till you change your lives and make conscience of your ways and abhorr that which is evil and cleave to that which is good Then indeed were your sins as crimson they shall be as wool were they of a scarlet Dye they shall be as white as snow but till then your sin like that of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond as it is said Jer. XVII 1. and you do as good as say to God with those Desperadoes in Job Chap. XXI 14. Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Till then you can never be at peace with your own consciences carnal security you may have but peace of conscience is another thing for this can never be at rest while it hath reason to believe God frowns upon it but being sure of the light of his loving kindness a Man walks in Paradise and dwells in the Garden of God But III. When Christ in the Text professes and declares how pleasing and acceptable a peaceable and peace-making Temper is to God would not one think that every one that believes the Gospel should be ambitious of those qualifications which God not only approves of but promises to reward with the highest Honour and Dignity Yes did Men love God indeed and in truth they would not only be glad to know what is pleasing to him but even run to do it as good natured Children that observe their Father's temper and endeavour to gain his love by a deportment and behaviour they know he delights in Peace among men God delights in peace among Christians especially to whom he hath vouchsafed a higher dispensation Among these no noise no clamour no railing no quarrelling no Swords no Cannon should be heard these profess themselves Disciples of Christ Jesus the Prince of Peace and there is no command that is more strictly or more frequently injoin'd than that of Peace This they are to pursue to follow and to endeavour after by all possible lawfull means This is their livery and the very mark whereby they are to be distinguish'd even their peaceable Behaviour This is the Salt which is to keep them sweet as Christ calls it Mark IX 10. But you all know how contrary to this character the generality of Men live upon the least provocation they break the Peace and all friendship is renounced especially where they have a Purse to maintain the dispute many a Man that was humble and peaceable before when poor no sooner doth he find his Purse swell but his Temper alters and now if his Neighbour doth displease him though there be no malice in the case presently he talks high and big and he cares as little for his Neighbour as his Neighbour doth for him This is the humour of the Age and instead of repenting of their heats and divisions they justify their contentions and oppose the reasons of flesh and blood and the circumstances of their birth and quality of their honour and grandeur to the laws of that Saviour by whose Blood they say they are redeemed Strange Christians these that will be so in despight of Christ though they have nothing of the character in them And let us but consider what trifles they are Men quarrel about and how frivolous the things for which they break forth into flame and fury and break the Peace which they should maintain and keep things which a Philosopher would put by with a smile and a wise Man think below himself to take notice of But what shall we say Till men come to stand in awe of the Gospel more than of the laws of the Land and the threatnings and punishments of the Magistrate thus it will be and when opportunity serves will be carried away with the stream of their passions and sinfull