meditate on this Day of Iudgement when Christ shall come in glory to iudge both the quicke and the dead and of the signes of his comming of the resurrection of the dead and change of the liuing of the citation of all before Christs Iudgement seate and of the diuers sentence which he shall pronounce for the elect and against the reprobate and of the blessed estate of the one and the cursed and miserable condition of the other of the eternall retribution which shall then bee of rewards to the faithfull in the full fruition of eternall life and blessednesse heauenly ioy and perfect glory of all the parts whereof I haue spoken in another place and of the retribution of punishment to the wicked in hell torments Christ Warfare 2. part both in their soules and bodies And these are the things whereupon wee may meditate respecting the actions of God Now concerning the things which we are to beleeue concerning the Church there is all profitable matter of Meditation As that there is a Church called and gathered out of the rest of the world as Gods owne peculiar people to worship and serue him according to his will That there is in this company an holy Communion of Saints vnited vnto our Head Christ by his Spirit and a liuely faith and with one another as members of the same body with the bond of faith and loue That this Church is Catholike part whereof is Militant on earth and part of it Triumphant in heauen That the properties of the Militant Church are to bee either inuisible which consisteth onely of the elect or visible consisting partly of them and partly of hypocrites that there are certaine infallible notes of the true visible Church by which we may discerne it from all others as the sound preaching of the Word and the right administration of the Sacraments in all the essentiall parts of them according to Christs holy institution and finally that there are also infallible notes of the true members both of this and the inuisible Church of Christ on which wee may profitably meditate and by examination apply particularly vnto our selues that we may know whether we be or no in this number And these are the things to be beleeued which we may chuse for the matter of our Meditation The things which are to be done are all contained in the Law of God or ten Commandements vpon which we may meditate seuerally and on all and euery of the vertues and vices contained in any of them but especially on those vertues in which we are most defectiue and on those vices vnto which our corrupt natures are most inclined as also on the meanes and helpes whereby wee may be inabled to imbrace and practise the one and shunne and auoyd the other and on the signes whereby wee may vpon due examination know whether or no we be indued with those vertues and purged from those vices Of all which I haue spoken in the former part of this Treatise vnto which I referre the Reader or if hee desireth a more full and perfect discourse vnto that exact and learned abstract of the duties commanded and sinnes forbidden in the Law of God written by my right reuerend and deare Brother to whose labours I acknowledge my selfe most beholding for all the former heads of diuinity which I haue set downe as the matter about which our Meditations may be profitably exercised §. Sect. 10 Rules directing vs in the choice of the fittest matter for our Meditations And thus haue I shewed what great and aboundant matter there is fit for our Meditations seeing any one of the former generall heads or points being thorowly discoursed on in our minds and wrought vpon and applyed to our affections according to that forme which I shall afterwards prescribe is sufficient for one dayes exercise and many of them will affoord plentifull matter for much longer time And therefore lest any should now bee as much troubled with plenty as they were before with want not knowing what theame or subiect to chuse out of such great variety and therefore being thus distracted in their thoughts should let all alone I will for the direction of such in their choice propound these rules following First that wee ordinarily and most often make choice of such matter as we finde to be most fit to stirre vp our deuotion to strengthen our faith to worke vpon our hearts and affections to inflame our loue towards God and kindle our zeale to confirme our affiance increase our hope feare of God humility and patience and finally to inable vs with all cheerefulnesse to performe all the duties of a godly life To which purpose wee must rarely chuse such matter as is meerely intellectuall and fit rather for speculation then for vse and practice though in truth there bee few points of sound Diuinity and scarce any of those before expressed which being rightly handled in our Meditations will not afford some fit matter as well for the sanctifying of our hearts and affections as for the inlightning of our mindes and increasing of our knowledge but such as hath beene matter of fact and brought to the vnderstanding by the imagination and to it by the ministery of the senses which will more easily and kindly affoord matter of Meditation to the most simple fit to worke vpon their hearts to inflame their loue stirre vp their deuotion and inable them vnto all Christian duties the which are the mayne ends of this exercise and not the inlightning of the mind with curious speculations and fruitlesse knowledge In which regard when we finde the matter on which we meditate vnfit for those vses and rellish in it little sweetnesse of spirituall refreshing or feele small warmth for the heating of our hearts with loue zeale and true deuotion we need not to insist vpon it but may passe to some other point which is more effectuall to the atchieuing of these ends Secondly wee must make choyce of such matter as in our discretion we thinke not only in it owne nature most excellent and generally most profitable and necessary but also such as is fittest for our persons and present state place time and other circumstances For as those who are inuited to a great and bountifull feast doe not feed on euery dish nor alwayes on such as are most costly and generally esteemed best but at least if they keepe a good diet make choyce of one or two amongst the rest which they thinke fittest for their stomakes and in respect of the present state of their bodies most likely to bring with delight to their taste wholesome nourishment for the preseruing of their health and strength so in that great plenty of prouision which I haue made to entertaine my ghests at this spirituall feast they must not run ouer many things at once nor alwayes preferre in their choyce such points as in their owne nature exceed others but picke out one or some few which are most fit for
and that they know his voyce and are able to discerne it from the voyce of a stranger And as it makes vs strangers from God and the Couenant of grace so also from the life of God or the godly life which he commandeth as we see in the example of the Gentiles who hauing their vnderstanding darkned were alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in them because of the blindnesse of their heart And contrariwise thrusts vs headlong into all manner of sin for as the Apostle saith in the same place When the Gentiles through their ignorance were thus estranged frō the life of God they became past feeling and so gaue themselues ouer to lasciuiousnes Eph. 4. 18 19. to worke all vncleannesse with greedinesse So Hosea hauing set downe a Catalogue Hos 4. 1 6. of many grieuous sins which made the Iewes liable to Gods heauy iudgements doth after shew that the cause of all their sin and punishment was because they lacked the true knowledge of God in the land Whereof it also is that sinners of all kinds are included vnder the name of ignorant persons who know not God So the Psalmist Powre out thy wrath vpon Psal 79. 6. Ier 10. 25. the heathen that haue not knowne thee and vpon the kingdomes that haue not called vpon thy name And the Apostle saith that the Lord Iesus shall come with 2. Thes 1. 7 8. his mighty Angels in flaming fire to take vengeance on them that know not God And therfore if we would haue any portion in Gods sauing graces or part in heauenly glory if we would not be strangers from God and aliants from his Church if we would performe any duty of a godly life or not be caried headlong into all wickednesse if we would not be subiect to Gods iudgements and fearefull destruction nor exposed to the imprecations of the faithfull in this life nor to the vengeance of a terrible Iudge when Christ shall appeare at his second comming let vs not liue in ignorance but vse all our indeuour to attaine vnto the sauing knowledge of God and his will Neither let vs with ignorant people content our selues with our own good meanings and blind deuotions as our guides in godlines for then our seruice of God will be but will-worship and the carnall conceits of our owne braines and all our Religion being nothing else but bodily exercise and Esa 1. 12. 29. 13. ignorant superstition will be reiected of God as odious and abominable §. Sect. 4 That God is the chiefe Author and efficient cause of sauing knowledge Seeing therefore knowledge is so necessary vnto a godly life we will a little further insist vpon it shewing what it is and the nature and properties of it whereby we shall be the better able to labour after it in the vse of all good meanes and know to our comforts when we haue attained vnto it Sauing knowledge then is a grace of God wrought in vs by his holy Spirit which inlighteneth our minds to know those things which are reuealed of God and his will by his Word and workes that we may make an holy vse of it for the sanctifying of our hearts and direction of our liues in all duties of holinesse and righteousnesse Whereby we may perceiue that not nature but God onely is the Author and efficient cause of this knowledge and so much onely doe we know of God as we are taught of God According to that couenant of grace in which God promiseth that hee Ier. 31. 33 34. will put his Law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts and that wee shall know him from the least to the greatest So our Sauiour speaking of his Elect saith that they all shall be taught of God And againe No man knoweth the Iob. 6. 46. Sonne but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the Sonne and he vnto whomsoeuer the Sonne will reueale him Neither is this knowledge a naturall habit of the minde but a grace of God which is not purchased by vs or our owne merits or therefore bestowed vpon vs rather then others because God foresaw that we would vse it when we had it better then they but Gods free gift promised in the couenant of grace The which he worketh Ioel 2. 28. in vs first by sending his Sonne his true essentiall wisedome who hath reuealed vnto vs his Fathers will and being the great Prophet of the Church hath made knowne vnto vs the counsels of God and all things necessary for our Saluation and that not onely nor chiefly to the wise of the world but to the weake and simple according to that of our Sauiour I thanke thee O Father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid these Matth. 11. 25. things from the wise and prudent and hast reuealed them vnto babes And secondly his holy Spirit who was and is sent from the Father and Sonne to teach and lead vs into all truth as our Sauiour promised his Apostles And this is that holy anointing of which the Apostle speaketh whereby wee Iob. 16. 13. know all things and neede not that any teach vs but as this anointing teacheth vs of all things And that Collyrium or precious eye-salue which Christ Apoc. 3. 18. promiseth to giue to the Angell of the Church of the Laodiceans to inlighten their blind eyes in the knowledge of the truth So the Apostle telleth vs that we cannot see nor conceiue the things which appertaine to Gods Kingdome but God hath reuealed them vnto vs by his Spirit for the 1. Cor. 2. 10. Spirit searcheth all things euen the deepe things of God And hence it is that he is called the Spirit of wisedome reuelation and illumination and the Ephe. 1. 17. Iohn 16. 13. Spirit of truth because he is both light and truth himselfe and also inlighteneth our mindes which are naturally full of darkenesse and leadeth vs into all truth needefull for our saluation And therefore if we would haue this sauing knowledge we must goe to the chiefe Fountaine and Author of it and pray often and earnestly that he will for his Sonne and by his holy Spirit take away our naturall blindnesse and open our eyes that we may see the wonderfull things of his Law Psal 119. 8. §. Sect. 5 Of the instrumentall causes of sauing knowledge The instrumentall causes of this knowledge are first the Booke of nature secondly the Booke of Grace The Booke of nature for euen this light being sanctified by Gods Spirit is helpefull to the regenerate for the reuealing of God and his will vnto them And that both the eternall booke of nature which is the conscience and the externall Booke which is the great volume of the creatures For if there be in all men some reliques of the light of nature shining in their consciences which conuince them that there is a God and that this God is most
especially those which respect his Sabbaths and seruice as the profaning of his holy Day by vtter neglect of all holy duties or by imperfect performance of them want of preparation of reuerence and attention faith and feruency of spirit in hearing the Word and calling vpon Gods name want of care in laying it vp in our hearts and memories and practising it in our liues c. And thus as in our Complaints wee are to bewaile other wants so those especially which make vs vnfit to performe any acceptable seruice vnto God and in our petitions as wee are to beg other gifts and graces whereof we stand in need so those aboue others which inable vs to the better sanctification of the Lords Day in performing vnto him his spirituall worship as hungring and thirsting after the meanes of Gods glory and our saluation prepared hearts and good consciences faith and feruency of spirit reuerence and attention in hearing the Word and Gods blessing and assistance of his holy Spirit vnto his Minister and Ambassadour that he may speake the Word powerfully and profitably as to all the Congregation whereof we are members so vnto vs especially for our edification and building vp in all spirituall grace the mortification of our speciall vices and corruptions the increasing of our vertues and confirming of our strength vnto the performance of all Christian and holy duties wherein as yet we are most defectiue And finally in our praises and thankesgiuing we are to magnifie Gods holy Name as for all his blessings and benefits so for those especially which respect this Day As the giuing of Iesus Christ to be our Sauiour and Redeemer and causing Luk. 1. 78 79. this Sunne of righteousnesse to arise and shine vnto vs the continuance of his Sabbaths and the light of his Gospell wherein hee reuealeth vnto vs his holy will concerning our saluation and the meanes whereby we may attaine vnto it the peace liberty and safety which we inioy together with his spirituall fauours for granting vnto vs his Word and Sacraments and making them in some measure effectuall by the inward operation of his holy Spirit for the begetting and increasing of our faith and the worke of Sanctification in vs and the like With prayer we must also as leisure and opportunity serueth ioyne the reading of some fit portion of holy Scriptures for the better seasoning of our hearts and settling of our affections vpon holy things for the inflaming of them with the loue of Gods Law and with longing desires after the publike meanes of our saluation With which priuate exercises when wee haue prepared our selues we must if we be gouernours of families vse all good meanes for the fitting and preparing of our children and seruants for the publike seruice of God not thinking it enough for those that haue the charge of others to performe priuate duties by themselues vnlesse they cause their inferiours also to ioyne with them But especially before wee goe to the Church we must call them all together vnto prayer wherein after the confession of our sinnes and earnest petition for all necessary graces wee are to desire the assistance of Gods holy Spirit for the sanctifying and preparing of the whole family that they may in some acceptable manner performe all good duties which belong to the Sanctification of the Lords Day Neither must we as many doe thinke it sufficient that wee bring our families to Gods seruice nor neglect the duty of priuate prayer because it is to be performed publikely in the Congregation and so cause one duty to shoulder and thrust out another but wee must ioyne them together seeing the priuate seruice of God is not onely on his holy Day acceptable in it selfe but a notable and necessary meanes to fit and prepare vs for the right performance of his publike worship In which respect as we must be carefull that the publike seruice doe not exclude the priuate either morning or euening so much more that the priuate doe not hinder the publike but we must so order and dispose of these family-exercises as that they may be finished in seasonable time and not hinder vs from comming to the beginning of publike prayer with the residue of Gods people §. Sect. 4 Duties to be performed when we are going to the Church After all which duties performed in the family we are when we are ready to goe vnto the Church or when wee are in the way to spend that time in holy Meditations thinking with our selues that we are going not vpon some slight or ordinary businesse but to present our selues in the glorious presence of the great King of heauen and earth who being infinite in all holinesse and perfection and a God of such pure and piercing eyes that he seeth not onely our outward actions but searcheth the heart and reines hateth and abhorreth all impurity and corruption dissimulation and hypocrisie all cold formall and negligent seruice and will bee worshipped of vs in spirit and truth Let vs call to minde that we are going not to conferre with our companions or with mortal men not much superiour vnto vs but to speake and make our suits to Gods supreme and most glorious Maiesty to heare him speaking vnto vs by his Ambassadours in whose presence the heauens are vncleane and the blessed Angels hide their faces And that not about ordinary and slight matters but such waighty and important businesse as no lesse concerneth vs then the eternall saluation or damnation of our bodies and soules Finally that we are going about such affaires as will according as we dispatch them make vs much better or worse For the Word shall prosper to the atchieuing of that Esa 55. 11. end for which God sends it and shall neuer returne in vaine either it will soften vs like wax or harden vs like clay either it will be Gods strong power 2. Cor. 2. 15 16. to our saluation and the sauour of life vnto life or the sauour of death vnto Rom. 1. 16. 2. Cor. 2. 15 16. death for our deeper condemnation and by performing this duty in hearing of it we shall be neerer heauen or hell And hauing with these and such like meditations brought our selues to the place of diuine worship let vs enter into it with all feare and reuerence as into Gods owne House and place of his glorious presence saying with Iacob Surely the Lord is in Gen. 28. 16 17. this place how dreadfull is this place this is none other but the House of God and this is the gate of heauen CAP. XLI Of the publike duties of Gods seruice on the Lords Day §. Sect. 1 That we must ioyne with the Congregation in all the duties of Gods seruice ANd thus hauing placed our selues in Gods holy Assembly we are to ioyne with them in all duties of Gods seruice with vnanimity of heart and vniformity in action and gesture as becommeth those that professe themselues to be of the same
thee In God I haue put my trust I Psal 56. 3 4. will not feare what flesh can doe vnto mee Thus the Church triumpheth ouer all her troubles and remaineth secure in cases of greatest feare in sole confidence of Gods protection God is our refuge and Psal 46. 1 2 3. strength a very present helpe in trouble therefore will wee not feare though the earth be remooued and though the mountaines be carried into the middest of the sea c. And so likewise the Apostle Paul What shall we say then to these things if God bee for vs who can bee against vs who Rom. 8. 31. to 39. shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that iustifieth who is hee that condemneth c. Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword nay in all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loued vs and thereupon he concludeth I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Yea so solely and wholly doe the faithfull ground their spirituall securitie vpon the Lord that when they excell and abound in wisedome strength and all earthly helpes it is not encreased and when they are depriued of them all it is no whit lessened and abated because the Lord in himselfe is all-mightie and all-sufficient and hath by all these meanes no strength added vnto him nor yet is any whit weakned when all these inferiour comforts and encouragements are taken away And this the Lord requireth of Abraham that hee should be secure in his sole protection Feare not Gen 15. 1. 17. 1. Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward And againe I am the almightie God or the God all-sufficient walke before me and be thou vpright And of the Church Feare not thou worme Iacob and yee Esa 41. 14. men of Israel I will helpe thee sayth the Lord and thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel Intimating thus much that though the Church were so sensible of her owne weaknesse that shee was as vnable in her owne strength to resist the malicious rage of her cruell enemies as a seely worme yet shee had cause enough to bee secure and without 2. Cor. 12. 9. feare because the Lord who is all-sufficient and taketh delight to manifest his power in weakenesse had promised his helpe §. 4 That the regenerate onely are the subiect of spirituall securitie Thirdly I say that this Christian securitie followeth our regeneration iustification and peace with God because there is no true securitie to those who are vnregenerate vnder the guilt and obnoxious to the punishment of sinne and who haue God for their enemie who is able and readie euery minute to consume and destroy them There is no sound securitie to those who by hellish charmes haue rocked conscience asleepe which is euery day in danger to be awakened and being rowzed vp will catch them by the throat and hale them to answere for all their crimes at the vnpartiall Barre of Gods fearefull Iudgement In which regards I may conclude with the Prophet that there is no such peace to the wicked for when they are once awakened Esa 57. 20 21. out of this sleepe of carnall securitie they are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast vp mire and dirt But it is the faithfull only who being truely conuerted from their wicked wayes iustified and reconciled vnto God and hauing peace with him haue also peace of conscience that are capable of this grace of spirituall securitie §. 5 The grounds of spirituall securitie on which it resteth Fourthly I lay downe the grounds of Christian securitie wherevpon it resteth namely knowledge beliefe and remembrance of God and his sauing attributes Wherein it is quite contrarie to carnall securitie which is grounded on the ignorance not beleeuing and forgetfulnesse of them which the greater they are the greater is the carnall mans securitie euen as contrariwise spirituall securitie encreaseth in strength as we doe more and more encrease in the contrarie graces Fiftly I shew what feare spirituall securitie expelleth namely that onely which is carnall and seruile For as for that holy filiall and spirituall feare of God our gratious Father in Iesus Christ it is no way opposite to this Christian securitie yea they are mutuall causes one of another and so the more the one encreaseth the more vigour and strength it ministreth to the other The more happie we find and feele our selues in our secure resting vnder Gods protection the more Nihil potest esse securius quam illi omnia committere qui nouit suis cultoribus congruè profutura praestare Cassian in Psa 72. we feare to displease so gratious a Father vnder the wings of whose prouidence we enioy such sweet securitie and the more wee feare to offend him the more secure wee are in his loue and fauour For as one sayth nothing can be more safe and secure then to commit all things vnto him who knoweth how to giue most fitly all things profitable to those that feare and serue him §. 6 Of the continuance and perpetuitie of spirituall securitie Sixtly I adde the continuance and perpetuitie of the Christians securitie not for a spint alone like carnall securitie till the conscience be awakened with the threatnings of the Law or the smart of Gods seuere Iudgements but in all estates and at all times though not alwayes alike and in the same proportion in his sense and feeling In which respect the Christian findeth it to encrease or diminish as hee thriueth or decayeth in those graces which are the causes which both breed and nourish it and as he is more diligent and carefull or more negligent and remisse in vsing the meanes whereby it is obtained and preserued But when the Christian thriueth in spirituall grace is watchfull ouer all his wayes and endeauoureth in all things to please and serue God and so preserueth inwardly peace with him and peace of conscience then is there no outward thing that can disturbe his peace or depriue him of his spirituall securitie which he hath in the assurance of Gods fauour and protection but he constantly retaineth it at all times and in all estates and enioyeth secure peace in the middest of warres and troubles and a quiet calme in the greatest stormes and tempests of worldly calamities As for example in the time of extremest dangers he is secure and safe as though there were no perill approching so as he can say with Dauid I laid mee downe and slept Psal 3. 5 6. I awaked for the Lord sustained me I will not be afraid for ten thousands of people that haue set
themselues against mee round about The Lord Psal 27. 1 3. is my light and saluation whom shall I feare the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid Though an host should encampe against mee my heart shall not feare though warre should rise against me in this I will be confident And with the Church God is our refuge and strength a very Psal 46. 1 2. present helpe in trouble therefore will wee not feare though the earth be remooued and though the mountaines be carried into the middest of the sea So in the time not onely of worldly prosperitie when God hedgeth him in on all sides with the pledges of his loue but also of affliction trouble and persecution hee is secure in the assurance of Gods fauour because he knoweth that these are signes of his adoption Rom. 8. 28. and that all things worke together for good to them that loue God to them that are the Called according to his purpose That vers 35. Afflictions Tribulation Distresse Persecution Famine Nakednesse Perill or Sword shall not bee able to separate him from the loue of Christ That they doe not hinder but further him in the way to euerlasting happinesse For by many tribulations we must enter into the Act. 14. 22. Kingdome of God wee must first suffer with Christ that afterwards 2. Tim. 2. 12. wee may raigne with him and these short and momentanie afflictions 2. Cor. 4. 17. shall cause vnto vs a farre most excellent and an eternall waight of glorie That they are not vnto them effects of the Legall curse but assurances of euerlasting Blessednes according to that of Dauid Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out Psal 94. 12. of thy Law And of the Apostle Peter If yee suffer for Righteousnesse Pet. 3. 14. happy are yee and bee not afraid of their terrour neither bee yee troubled And of the Apostle Iames Blessed is the man that indureth Iam. 1. 12. tentation for when he is tried he shall receiue the Crowne of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that loue him And finally that of our Sauiour Blessed are they that are persecuted for Righteousnesse Matth. 5. 10 11. sake for theirs is the Kingdome of Heauen Blessed are yee when men reuile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of euill against you falsely for my sake reioyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heauen In which respects they that are iustified by Faith Rom. 5. 1 3. and haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ not onely reioyce in hope of the glorie of God and beare their afflictions with patience but euen glorie in tribulation as the Apostle speaketh In a word hee loseth not his spirituall securitie no not in the agonie of death it selfe because the Righteous hath hope in death and when hee Pro. 14. 32. is killed euen by Gods owne hand can say with Iob Though hee slay Iob 13. 15. mee yet will I trust in him And because hee knoweth that though Death bee able to separate his soule from the body yet it is not able Rom. 8. 38 39. to separate him from the loue of God in Christ Yea contrariwise it shall serue as a passage conducting him into Gods presence and hasten the fruition of this glorious Majestie and supreme goodnesse In whose presence is fulnesse of ioy and at whose right hand there are Psal 16. 11. pleasures for euer more CHAP. II. Of the Causes and Effects of spirituall Securitie §. 1 The causes of spirituall securitie respecting God HAuing shewed what spirituall Securitie is it now followeth that wee intreate of the Causes of it which are of Deus nobis haec otiasecit Virgil. Eclog. 1. two sorts the first respecting God the other our selues The chiefe and principall cause of it is Gods free grace working this spirituall securitie in our hearts that wee may with greater ioy and cheerfulnesse performe vnto him faithfull seruice when as wee are assured that though wee haue many enemies which oppose vs in it yet none shall bee able to doe vs any hurt nor hinder vs from receiuing the recompence of reward which the Lord of his free mercy and grace hath promised vnto vs. And thus Dauid acknowledgeth that it was no wisedome power or prouidence of his owne but the Lord onely that did make him dwell in safetie And that Psal 4. 1. 91. 1. he who dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide safe from all danger vnder the shadow of the Almightie Secondly we haue this securitie by the free donation and legacie of Iesus Christ who at his comming in the flesh brought this peace with him and caused it to be proclaymed by his holy Angels Glorie to God in the Highest and on Luk. 2. 14. Earth peace good will towards men And leauing the Earth bequeathed vnto the faithfull and left this peace behind him Peace I leaue with Ioh. 14. 27. you my peace I giue vnto you not as the world giueth giue I vnto you that is a worldly and outward peace for in the World ye shall haue Ioh. 16. 33. tribulation but a spirituall peace with God and peace of Conscience by which yee shall haue inward tranquillitie of mind and securitie from all danger in the middest of earthly troubles and therefore let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid The fruit of which peace is the securitie of all the faithfull following their regeneration and change of their nature from sauage crueltie vnto a Doue-like simplicitie and Lambe-like meeknesse one towards another according to that prophesie of Esay foretelling the state of Christs Kingdome The Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lye downe Esa 11. 6 7. with the Kid and the Calfe and the yong Lion and the Fatling together and a little Child shall leade them c. And the suckling Child shall play on the hole of the Aspe and the weaned Child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice Den. They shall not destroy in all mine holy Mountayne for the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters that couer the Sea Thirdly we enioy this securitie by vertue of the Couenant of grace which God hath made with vs in Iesus Christ Wherein the Lord hath freely promised that he will be our God and King and we his peculiar People and Subiects of his Kingdome whom he will therefore receiue vnder his protection and preserue safe and secure from all danger and that he will be our Shepheard and we his Flocke and the Sheepe of his pasture whom he will keepe safe in his Sheepe-fold from the Wolfe Lion Beare and all other rauenous Beasts which shall attempt to hurt vs according to that of the Prophet I will saue my Flocke and they shall no more be a prey And I