due season order and manner within our respective Relations Thus Gods people are bid to plead with their Mother to contend for the faith to admonish one another with mutual watchfulness c. that they may not be partakers of other mens sins but still keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Christ and his Apostles did so in the Jewish Church though exceedingly corrupt till that ceremonial administration of the Lords gracious Covenant gave way to the Evangelical dispensation thereof 3. The evil that Conscience startles at in the Church is either fundamental or circumstantial as to salvation That evil which destroyes the foundation not holding the Head when obstinately retained after all due convictions renders a Person and Society unfit for Christian Communion deservedly who are to be accordingly dealt with Thus Paul withdrew from the Jews obstinately rejecting Christ and separated the Disciples Thus the reformed Churches did orderly protest against Apostate Rome aad separated from them In this case the Heretical Society is the Schismatick for as in Martyrdom so in Schism it s the cause not the suffering that constitutes it Thus when a rotten member contracts an Heretical Gangrene which makes him fall off or to be cut off from the Church he himself is the Schismatick 4. The circumstantial evil which offends any person in the Church is variously considerable in Doctrine Worship and Discipline according to the weight of that Truth it seems to oppose Some are of far greater moment then others and challenge sutable care and carriage Some circumstantials are Indefinite and indifferent in themselves to be regulated by Christian prudence in every Society and meeting as the gesture of the body length of time spent in the exercise c. where in the general Rules of Order Decency Edification and Expediency are still observable Other Circumstantials are definite and parts of Worship Instituted of the Lord as the keeping of the first day of the week for a Christian Sabbath singing of Psalms solemn Prayer c. which are not indifferent but necessary to be observed according to Scripture Rule He that scruples any thing about such should use the best means of Information private and publike with much humility and sobriety diligence and teachableness If after all he cannot be satisfied he may forbear that particular thing which his conscience cannot meddle with still keeping Communion in the rest This is the Apostles Doctrine as far as we have attained let us walk by the same Rule and mind the same thing if any be otherwise minded the Lord will reveal that unto him also Hast thou faith have it to thy self in such a case that thou maiest give no offence to others 5. If any Christian should find the Church whereof he is a Member growing worse daily and not admitting of any advice help for amendment but obstinately refusing to rectifie what is palpably evil such a man is to be very cautious in that case that in desiring leave to depart to some other society where he may serve God with purity and freedom that all proceedings therein may appear to flow from cordiall Love to Christ to his Ordinances and people with all due respects to those also from whom he departs still owning what ever appears of good in them with hearty grief for what is amiss that he may avoid the stigmatical Brand of a schismatick in the performance of his duty 6. Schism from the Church is either universal or particular Universal when Persons divide from all Christian Societies and People that do not own their particular way Such was the separation of the Donatists besides that of the Arrians Meletians Acesians Circumcellians and many others divers whereof were also heretical Such is the Schism of the Romish Church now apostatized from the very foundations of Christianity which they verbally profess but collaterally and effectively destroy and renounce by their Antichristian additions and Detractions Traditions and Corruptions A particular Schism is a sinfull division from some particular Church whereto a Christian had his Relation or from some Member or Members thereof The former is a Schism from the Body this later in the Body a sad instance whereof appeared in the Church at Corinth which Paul sharply reproves and prescribes a fit cure unto again and again The grudgings and Rudiments of this sad distemper bewrayed themselves by divers Symptoms also in most of the Christian Churches even in Apostolical daies and the succeeding Primitive Times witness the many cautions and hints given in their Epistles and the Relations of Ecclesiastical Records The sad experiences of the Reformed Churches in former and later Seasons especially in these Nations afford numerous Instances thereof sufficiently deplored Vse 2. This speaks conviction to all persons estranged from Peace Is Peace so blessed a thing then should it not sharply reprove multitudes of men As 1. The Ignorant that know it not and will not learn This is the dreadfull brand of the children of wrath the way of Peace they have not known An evil Peace they are acquainted with but the Peace of God they are strangers to Their Peace in sin is wofull presumption which feeds them with deceitfull hopes Quick-sighted they may be in carnal things but they are quiet blind in spiritual matters Christ wept sorely upon such a people wishing they had known the things of their Peace when alas they were hid from their eyes 2. The Negligent that mind it not but are pleasing themselves on the bed of carnal security laying their head on the devils cushion Such Laish like sleep securely in their sluggish course till they awake in the midst of Hellish flames Like Moab and Edom they settle on their lees till Divine wrath do sweep them away Their sleepy Peace feeds them with specious dreams of pleasure profit and preferment till they be rowzed up by the Messenger of Eternity They embrace a cloud in stead of Juno they are of Gallios spirit not caring for the things of their Peace Their sleepy disease is so much the sadder because so sensless 3. The scornfull that own it not but reject and disdain it such can make a Jeaâ— of war and of Peace and turn all things of the greatest weight into a fond jest Such fools make a mock at Sin and at Peace too Their Pregnancy of Parts serves them for a Racket to toss the Ball of a wanton witt from one to another like the mad fellow that throws fire-brands in his jovial mode saying still am not I in sport such as thus abuse Gods Peace in jest are like to go to Hell in earnest far enough from Peace This is the high road to Satans Kingdom wherein many gallop in a full career The seat of the scornfull is the highest degree of advancement in the devils University whereto many ungodly sinners attain per saltum by a trick of youthfull wit
also called the last day the great day of the Lord that day known to the Lord. This solemn Day hath two eminent parts also the Morning and the Evening thereof 1. The first part is a cloudy stormy morning like the Reign of David full of Civil and Forraign Wars attended with varieties of troubles and discords A time it s of strong delusions and direfull divisions of wofull defections and renewed provocations from men though of special Illuminations and Salvations from God Secondly The latter part and Evening thereof is like to be of a various Mixture attended with strange Revolutions in the shaking of Nations and overturning of all things untill Christ come into his Right to clear up all and fill his house with Glory In the Evening time it shall be Light when in natural Probabilities all things incline rather towards midnight The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall do this that he may be known to be the Prince of Peace both as King of Nations and as King of Saints Then shall the Lord be one and his Name one when he gives them one Heart and one Way that they may serve him with one Lip and shoulder The Lord will thus gradually accomplish all those precious and glorious Promises which have a special Aspect on these latter dayes concerning the Propagation Settlement and Glory of the Kingdom of Christ Should not all this be a wonderfull encouragement to every Christian to have the honor and the happiness of being a faithfull and succesfull Instrument therein The Lord loves to act by men and means though he needs them not and never ties himself to them He bids his people be very active and self-denying in this very season that by restoring health and cure to them he may therewith reveal the abundance of Truth and Peace When Christ is owned and served thus as our Melchizedek our King of Righteousness he will soon appear to be King of Salem a King of Peace and settle his People in his Jerusalem the vision of Peace Thus the very season gives us a strong Invitation to Peace-making that we may be found faithfull Attendants on his Spirit Word and Providence in the diligent use of all fit means through his gracious Help Should not true Patriots learn and improve that famous Wisdom of the men of Issachar who so well understood the times of Gods mercy and what Israel ought to do therein that all their Brethren were at their Command for the advancing of Christs Interest and the common Good A curious search of things and times unrevealed to us is forbid and condemned But an industrious studying of Things and Times that we may perform our Duty therein to the promoting of the Lords Promises in compliance with all his Precepts doth become all in this signal season that bear a good will to him and his work Secondly The Work of Reformation is a singular Incitement to this blessed Peace-making The latter dayes are the special Season of this special Work The Gospel Time is eminently called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Time of Reformation the proper Nick and Juncture of time for the perrectification the through redress of all things amiss This latter part thereof challenges this Work of Reformation in a peculiar way as Reformation challenges Peace-making Our solemn Covenants and Engagements so frequently renewed for Reformation before God and Men do press us thereto Our Christian Profession and the very Name of all Christian Churches recovered out of the Egyptian Sodom of Antichristian Romish Pollutions require justly of us further Reformation How much hath been declared by all sorts of Persons to express their Duty and excite each other to Reformation of all things amiss in Church and State in publique and private will stand on Record to Eternity though it be too much forgotten even of the best Peace-making is still a chief part thereof and a chief help thereto Should it not quicken our designs and delights our desires and Labors to the most industrious pursuance of it Is not the absence and estrangement from Peace the great evil of these dayes Are not our discords and disorders the Bane and Poison the sores and diseases the ruin and Pest of all ranks among us Are not our jars and unchrstian Wranglings a continual eye-sore to God and good Men Do not those unnatural Dissents and uncivil Contentions blast our budding hopes of all temporal and spiritual Good threaning destruction to all our Comforts Doth it not concern all to reform such abuses as fast and as far as they can possibly Shall we not be charged as wilfull self-destroyers if we neglect it Will not all Nations cry out justly on us Shall we not be the scorn and mirth of all evil men and devils the sorrow of all good men and Angels Secondly Is not Peace-making as great a furtherance to Reformation Is not this the sure sweet and speedy way to unite our strength and to manage it to the best advantage for good against evil at home and abroad in all Civil and Spiritual Regards Do not sinfull dissents distract our minds disaffect our hearts disable our hands and divide our strength from the Lords great Work Doth it not fare with us when divided asunder as it did with Sciurus his Arrows easily broken one after another Is not an orderly uniting of Gods people as strong and durable a means of preservation in every respect as that Bundle of Arrows which the said Sciurus gave unto his sons to let them understand the good of Peace and the evil of War This Cable-roap thus orderly twisted by united strength is of lasting use if you do but once take it into pieces how weak doth it become Two are better then one and a three-fold Cord is not easily broken said the wise Man by good experience His Kingdom the Throne and the Type of Christ flourished in a triumphant way whilst Princes and people kept close to their God and to each other in all his wayes according to his word As soon and as fast they disjoyned and disordered themselves sin and sorrow increased on them to their total and final destruction Peruse all Records sacred and humane for a further Illustration of this Do not Reformers need all possible help from one another in the cause of Christ and of the Publique Is not their work maligned and opposed by multitudes of enraged enemies both humane and diabolical Are they not weak few and inconsiderable in Comparison of the adverse party Do they not still carry in their bosoms Legions of Traitors of rebellious Lusts that are still plotting and stirring against the Lord Christ and his gracious Work Do they not still find in the midst of them very many back friends and counterfeit Spies as Nehemias time gave sad experience that are still Laboring to weaken and undo them Is not this now the case among all Protestants and all Reformers as in Europe
2. Between the quality and quantity of it There is a latitude in the gifts of God as there is a great variety among his children Some are bigger others lesser some sicâ—lier others healthier All his dispensations are suited to their Sizes wherein his Spirit Word and Providence admirably vary according to those multiplicious Ends whereto his good pleasure did from Eternity fore-ordain the same That some have more and others less of Grace and Peace it s no wonder The various parts of the world are not alike visited from heaven for equality though none of them be without their Portion Vse 5. This truth should also prove of very great force to press an effectual Exhortation upon all the professors and possessors of Peace 1. Nominal Professors that do bear Christs Name and yet want his Peace should be mightily prevailed with to get the same and make sure of it This inestimable Vnio this rare pearl of price should marvellously gain mens hearts thereto Such a Load-stone should draw powerfully Blessedness is that good which all things do by natural instinct move earnestly for What can you desire for pleasure or profit credit or comfort that is not comprized in this incomparable Blessing What evil can you fear or beware of that it will not exclude and remove Be perswaded then to look after it more affectionately and sedulously more vigorously and effectually You must treat for Peace as for your very life with all fervency Sinners of all sorts should be strongly quickened thereto Are not you all sworn enemies to God from the very womb Were not you born and bred up in sinful Rebellion against his Highness Are not you continuing your hostility every moment by the renewal of millions of sins against the Crown and dignity of Christ Can you make any amends to him for the evil past or procure his favour by any thing of yours for the present and future Is not your case very desperate if you look not instantly for relief What can all the world do to you without Peace What Peace as long as you stand out against God with arms of defiance Be convinced then of the necessity excellency and usefulness of this blessed Peace Qu. How should I come by it Answ Thou must treat with God upon his own terms as a Traytor summoned by Proclamation All sorts of sinful wretches are called thereby as it were by name none being excepted Exclude not thy self make no excuse no delay no stop as thou tenderest thy eternal state Seek ye the Lord saith his great Herauld whilest he may be found call upon him whilest he is near Let the wicked forsake his waies and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord for he will have mercy upon him and unto our God for he will abundantly pardon Thou hast heard his offers lay down thy arms observe his Articles cast thy self at his feet and yield to Mercy if thou persist in sin dreadful will thy end be Obj. Alas I cannot come I have no power no will of mine own to the least spiritual good Answ Be the more earnest with him for his grace that it may be sufficient for you to the effectual bringing you off from self to himself He hath laid help on him that is mighty yea the mighty God and Prince of Peace able and willing to save to the utmost every soul that comes to the Father by him doth not he bid you take hold on his strength that you may make peace with him assuring you that you shall make Peace with him in that way Is not Christ himself the Way the Truth and Life the living and true Way that good old Way renewed by whom you must come to the God of Peace is not Christ become our Peace for that end that in him we might be sure to obtain Reconciliation through faith in his blood Come then to God with the Kings Son in your arms as Pirrhus in his distress did come to that Prince whose mercy he implored that you may treat with him on the best advantage for a desired Peace Acquaint thy self with him and be at Peace and thereby great good shall come to thee Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth and lay up his Word in thy heart if thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up and put away iniquity far from thy Tabernacle Then shall thy Peace be abundantly certified and ratified to thee as himself further assures thee in that large Declaration of his His Promises are divine Cords of love and the strongest bonds of God-man to draw you to the Father by the Spirit of his Son None can come to him except he be thus drawn and all whom he gave his Son shall be thus surely drawn and made willing to come that they may be welcome Resist not therefore his Spirits motions burst not those bonds follow his drawings yield to his offers embrace his terms and your Peace is made Obj. But I am unworthy wretched miserable the chief of sinners unfit unprepared destitute of all good Answ The more need have you to hasten to him and embrace his gracious invitations Doth not he call the hungry weary and heavy-laden for Rest and Peace in himself which nothing else can afford them The whole need not the Physitian but the sick saith this Prince of Peace who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance He needs not he expects not any worthiness of your own He bids you come self-denyingly and self-resigningly and strip your self of all your filthy raggs that he may cloath you with his own worthiness the white robes of his imputed righteousness which by faith you are to put on as he puts it on you by the hand of his Spirit His Mercy must be your only Merits Be but willing to be ordered by him in all things that he may strip you of self and cloath you with himself and your Peace is sure Lie but at his feet in all the waies of Peace prescribed you in his word of Peace and you may be certain of his Peace He comes on the white horse of his Gospel to preach Peace to all sorts of Gentiles hearken to his voice attentively affectionately submissively applicatively and all will be well Neglect no means rest on him alone who will efficaciously ordain Peace for you having wrought all his work within you Obj. But I see many do miscarry that have used the means and been far more forward in all things then I ever was I hear of those that sock and find not that but few are chosen though many called that many prove but foolish Virgins and many are turned out being found without the wedding garment Answ What of all that be you the more careful to avoid the rocks that others have split on Use more diligence in making your Calling and Election sure and working out your salvation
the name of Christ It s also too clear by sad experience that many such are ranging among us But you had need beware that you mistake not Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light that you put not bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter There is a woe denounced against such perverse Over-turners of persons and things Ponder well therefore what it is you dislike and oppose in them Is it not that purity and power of his Word and Grace which they own and promote Do not you think them too rigid and strait laced for your loose and wanton Spirits Are not you afraid of lessening your sinfull pleasures profits and credit if they should bear sway Are not you secretly moved with envy and indignation at the advancement of Christs Name by them Do not you feel sometimes the Truth they declare gnawing your conscience and stabing your heart Are not the Persons often so nicknamed humble and holy meek and yielding still desirous to promote true Peace Is it indeed for evil or for good that you malign and oppose their work Were it for sin in them you would abhor your selves and your Companions much more then you do them for your sins exceed theirs notoriously Were it not for their good that you oppose them you would honor and practise that good to better purpose But is not your case much like that of the Scribes and Pharisees They adorned the Tombs of the Prophets speaking well of the times and persons past But they maligned and still persecuted the living Prophets and servants of Christ who taught the same Doctrine Thus ye speak well of our first Reformers and Preachers that are dead and cannot now touch your conscience but do not you slight and oppose the liviug Prophets and Ministers of Christ who tread in their steps and teach the same Doctrine of his Word and Peace Fourthly You call their Way a new Religion that would over-turn all But are not you deceived and grosly mistaken There are indeed too many old errors raked up out of Satans old dung-hill set out with a new dress and passing for new Light Such a new Religion would indeed over-turn all if but let alone and is justly to be abhorred of all But that which you mis-call is it not the Religion of the new Testament renewing the gracious Edition of the Lords Covenant Is it not that Truth of Divine Scriptures wherein both Old and New Testaments agree Is it not the good old way of believing Abraham and David of all the Patriarcks Prophets and Apostles renewed by Christ for Evangelical use Is not Truth ancienter then error as much as God is elder then the Devil Suppose it brings something new to you in Doctrine Worship or Discipline Doth your Ignorance make it a new Religion Or is every lesser difference in the things of Christ a new Religion Suppose it come to reform things amiss in your persons and families as in Church and State Is the redress of things an over-turning Is weeding of the ground and dressing of â—t hurtfull or usefull Are not you content to have your body troubled with Physick to purge out ill humours and recover health Will not you be willing that Gods Physick should work effectually on your selves and others Suppose your own and others Corruptions be thereby over-turned by the Root will not Church and State be the better for it and your selves also If you get no good and see little Peace from this Gospel of Peace you must blame your own and others Lusts still set in opposition thereto Is not mens folly signally notorious that oppose Gods Word and his Ministers and then complain of the Breach of Peace Is not their misery of the like magnitude that abuse and oppose both the messengers and message of Peace like the mad and wretched Patient that abuses both Physitian and Physick Doth not your complaint of the Lords servants resemble that of Ahab to Elijah calling him the Troubler of Israel and his enemy May they not answer you as Elijah did to him As Paul to the Galathians are they become your enemies because they tell you the Truth Whilst you are enemies to the Peace-makers of Gods own sending what can you expect from the God of Peace Thirdly We have here also a just reproof to the professed friends of Peace-making There is altogether a fault among such even the best of them Our deadness and dulness our backwardness and frowardness about it deserves sharp Rebukes No wonder if we miss of the Blessings of Peace that take so little pains about Peace-making Yea we not only neglect our duty and omit much good but we also commit very much evil which hinders the good that we should promote It s our sin let it be our shame and sorrow that we have done so little about this great Work The many Rebukes sent by the Apostle to the Christians at Corinth and Rome at Phillipi Colossus and other places should be pressed home upon our Consciences to awaken and humble us Our sins therein are the more provoking because of our near relation to the God of Peace that calls us to this work If it be so dreadfull to be thus abused by strangers and enemies how much worse is it for Christ to suffer this from his nearest friends and dearest Relations How ill do we take it from our menial servants when they do neglect any special Business committed to their care Peace-making is the work whereto Gods servants are peculiarly called the neglect whereof must needs displease him much Our Peace with God is often much ecclipsed and clouded through our own default and neglect of the means appointed to us for acquaintance with the Lord our Peace How much help might we afford to others to the making of their Peace if we were but faithfully industrious The Lord is pleased to honor his so far as to create the fruits of their lips to be Peace Peace for the good of many Should it not grieve us much that we dishonor him so much in that work for lack of prudence activeness and zeal Christ himself made it his chief business to speak words of Peace to the troubled souls and comfort his Mourners in reviving theiâ— contrite Spirits how unl ke are we to him about that very thing Do not we too often act like Peace-breakers rather then Peace-makers with respect to our own and others consolation by omitting good and committing evil The Peace of his Church is most dear to him who spent and was spent for that very end But doth it not appear of little worth to us considering how little we do for it It offends us much to see our families disturbed with brawls between our children and servants yet what sad jarrings do we too often behold and occasion in the Lords family with little feeling and less helpfulness It would trouble us much to feel Convulsions in our own bodies but how little are we
of the said good Laws sutably to their several Capacities whether in the whole Common-wealth or in particular Corporations and Societies thereof 5. Peace Oeconomical is also to be made in every Family and looked after according to each particular Relation and station therein Conjugally between man and wife Parentally between Parents and Children Despotically between Masters and Servants This blessed work is to be attended that all Offices of Duty and Love may be seasonably and effectually performed therein sutably to the Lords Will made known to his Word Quest But what is to be done about these various Kinds of Peace Answ In each of them there are two main Essentials of singular Import to be accordingly minded still Unity and Order 1. Unity is the great Principle that must knit into one the different parts of every Society God alone is one pure entire Being one perfect Infinite unchangeable eternal Act. Creatures are finite compounded Beings whose parts require Union towards Communion Rational Beings as men and Angels must look first to their Relative Union unto God the Soveraign Being and Source of all Beings that they may not want Peace with him and in themselves Closing with him and keeping close to him are then mainly to be attended in and through Christ who must uphold the Elect Angels and recover his Elect among men Among all natural Things unity is still the great Peace-maker This makes the sweet Harmony in the Body when every part is joyned to each other by fit Ligaments that the whole may be kept in Peace under its Head Thus also in things artificial as in Musick Building and all Compositions Union effects that due agreement of many into one in a fit way of Correspondency whence a sutable Peace Thus with all Societies it is whether Spiritual Political or Oeconomical There must be Union for due Communion answerable to their several constitutions Their Being and strength support and life depend hereupon So far as any departs from Unity he departs from Peace Therefore did the Philosophers account the number of 2 accursed because it was the first dividing Number The Church of Christ is such a Body as needs this most peculiarly whether considered as invisible and more mystical or as visible and more Political 1. The Church invisible mystical consists of all the Elect of God effectually called being Coetus vocatorum part whereof is triumphant in Glory part militant in Grace The Lords Spirit cements them into one under Christ their Head thence are they said to be one Spirit being glued to the Lord as the Original elegantly phrases it As by faith regenerate persons are united to Christ so by Love are they knit to his Body Peace is thus made and kept when we cordially love every Christian bearing his Image upon his account with a singular constant efficacious Love without partiality self-respects or Hypocrisie When we no sooner perceive that aliquid Christi as Calvin was wont to phrase it that resemblance of Christ though it seems never so small and a minimum quod sic but our affections are endeared to such an Object by gracious Sympathy we appear united to Christ himself being thus knit to the members of his Body This unfained Love of the Brethren with a pure fervent heart so much commended and urged by Peter John and other Apostles as by Christ himself is the great Peace-maker Therefore are we bid to love the Brother-hood and love as Brethren not in word and Tongue but in deed and in truth to testifie our spiritual Resurrection from a sinfull death into the life of Grace by the Spirit of Christ incorporating of us unto himself Nothing should keep us from this blessed Union either in others or our selves If they be poor and weak under corruptions and various distempers yet we should own them by this endearing love because they are his and our fellow-members We despise not the members of our Bodies when infirm and diseased but pitty and tender them the more What though they be distant by place or Opinion Interest or Affection from us Yea though they seem to be opposite and set against us that should not estrange our heart from them Calvin would still express his endeared respects to Luther as to an eminent servant of Jesus Christ though he was too much and often abused by his violent Spirit and blind zeal We should not be overcome of evil but still labor to overcome evil with good Though others corruptions cannot suffer them to be so free and frequent with us or hearty to us yet the Grace of God in us should own whatever is of his Grace in them really and actively This Unity of the Spirit should thus be efficaciously kept in the Bond of Peace among all the members of Christs Body mystical 2. The Church of Christ is considerable as a Body Political and visible The many controversies about it we heartily wave wishing that all others might do the like still for the Peace thereof It admits also of a double respect whence its denomination of Catholick or Universal and Particular 1. Whether the Church Catholick be totum integrale or universale we dispute not what is granted of all sober Christians about the same we would and should still improve towards Peace-making There are general Rules of Faith and Order wherein all Christian Societies do agree together though they dissent in the particular Applications or Explications thereof So far should all Christians labor to unite and to own each other for Peace and Communion Doth not our professed Belief of the Holy Catholick Church and Communion of Saints engage direct and excite us thereto Though we cannot bring all others to our particular Judgement and Practice supposed by us to be most Scriptural yet are we not bound to labor for the utmost degree of Christian Communion wiih all the Churches of Christ in the World as far as may be possibly attained Are not those things wherein we agree with all Societies sound in the main sufficient to unite us so far and to make us to own each other in the wayes of Christ Will not this be of singular help through the blessing of Heaven to further Ecclesiastical Peace by the healing of our unchristian Divisions Have we not wrangled too long already Is it not possible to find out some Expedients that may unite us in the wayes of Peace Are we not tired yet with our sinfully wofull Contentions Can judicious Christians willingly still keep their distances and differences Will not such Fractions Luxations and Convulsions prove bitterness in the latter end If we do not strive to yield one to the other we are like to break all We shall never meet without mutual condescensions The Ministers of Christ are especially concerned in this great work Be we heartily humbled for our former evils opposing this Thing so dear to Christ and of such import to his Interest Labor we more for such Christian Associations
People If it be possible as far as in you lies have Peace with all men this is a Gospel precept obliging us all Only be we sure that it be a good Peace a Peace in Good not an evil Peace a Peace in evil Brethren Live in Peace fare-well be perfect be of good Comfort be of one mind live in Peace and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you This is Pauls Valediction left with Gods Children who are dignified with this Property of blessed Peace-making That is the next point to be considered of Proposition 3. Peace-making is the dignifying Property of Gods Children This Conclusion is considerable in its Deduction and Explication Confirmation and Demonstration towards Application 1. It s Deduction is cleared by viewing the Context Scope and Connexion of the words and sence parts and whole Having set down the Blessedness of Peace and Peace-making he subjoins the Characters of such persons whom God blesses in such a Work They shall be called the Children of God saith Christ they shall be known and distinguished thereby as a man is properly dignified and discerned by his name this shall appear to be the Dignity and property of Gods Children Thus the whole Text is a Divine Enthymeme a contracted Syllogism the first part whereof affords the Consecution and this latter Branch holds forth the Proposition from which as from its Cause by an Apodeictical ratiocination à priori the particle For deduces the said conclusion Gods Children cannot but be Peace-makers and blessed therein Secondly For Explication the genuine Import of this Scripture-dialect is to be minded 1. To be called in the language of Heaven is as much as to be and appear such God cals a Thing by Constitution and Designation by making and appointing it to what that name denotes thus he cals his Children to be Peace-makers he enables and ordains them thereto Man is said to call by Dignification and distinguishing Appropriation acknowledging and discerning it to be thus truly and eminently Thus Peace-making is such a proper Dignity and a dignifying Property of Gods Children that they shall be known and discerned thereby as a Person of Honor is by his Name and Title of Dignity 2. The phrase of Gods Children is variously significant in Scripture First Generally by vertue of an immediate production thus the Angels are called the Sons of God and Adam also bears the Title of Gods Son Secondly More specially by supernatural Regeneration and Spiritual Adoption thus true Converts made new Creatures born of the Spirit by receiving Christ receive the dignifying Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to become the children of God Thirdly Professedly by federal Relation in a visible Ecclesiastical Dignification thus all Church members whether Infant or Adult are called Gods Children though many of them apostatize afterwards from that professed Adoption Thus the Jewish Posterity were called Gods Children all Church-members in Galatia are so dignified thus the Childen of the Kingdom are they called who are cast out at last Fourthly Most especially by eternal Generation thus God the Son the personal Word is the Son of God Fifthly By a transcendent Generation so Christ as the Son of Man with respect to his humanity being conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary was born the Son of God the child of the most High Sixthly This Title is sometimes given by vertue of an eminent function thus Magistrates are called the Children of the most high as they are also on the same account sirnamed Gods by a providential Call to that Office wherein they act as the Lords Deputies The second and third Acception of this express are proper to the Subject in hand and sometimes the sixth The gracious Children of God are eminently discerned by this property which is their Dignity so far as it is visible so far appear they to be Gods Children especially if they be Magistrates Both their Honor and their Happiness flourish wonderfully in the blessed performance of this signal Duty 3. For Confirmation hereof you have the harmony of all Records Divine and Humane subscribed unto by the constant Experience of all men in all places Gods Children have been still remarkably discerned by this singular Work Scripture by such illustrious Actings of the Lords Worthies testifies it most eminently The whole Series of sacred History speaks it aloud In such a multitnde of famous Witnesses a few hints may serve in the name of all That glorious Type of Christ well known by the Title of Melchisedek is as famously dignified with that of King of Salem the City of Peace â—he Apostle presses this notable parallel attended with divers others that the Glory of Gods only Son might be the more observably admired in this dignifying Property of his singular Predecessor Christ himself appeared to be the Son of God most eminently by this very thing He came personally to become our Peace to purchase and procure restore and preserve promote and improve all Peace for us in and through himself His glorious Office called him peculiarly thereto for which he was proportionably qualified by the Fathers Spirit His Sacerdotal his Prophetical his regal Function tended all to Peace and are still conversant about it to Eternity His whole progress from deepest humbling to the highest degree of exalting concurred thereto All his eminent Types and fore-runners were faithfully employed to that end The successive Priests of Aarons Linage pointing at his Priest-hood and holding it forth by ceremonial Rites to believing eyes made this work of his their proper business and dignifying charge for his Honor and his peoples good The many Prophets whom his Spirit sent and qualified from one Age to another still preached Peace in him and by him whom they did represent The famous Princes in their Generations that governed his People were his choise vicegerents upon this very score All those Instruments whom the Lord made use of in bringing his People into the Canaan of Peace and Rest out of Egypt through so many changes to settle them there in their Spiritual and Civil Liberties under his Government acted to the same purpose The whole Contexture of his Providence from Adam to Christ holds forth as much in all the various transactions of it Each passage also of the New Testament whether Historical Doctrinal or Prophetical points at this dignifying property What was said and done more figuratively under the old Testament about this subject is herein more Evangelically as with a Sun-beam expressed to us The Peace of Christs Kingdom so much celebrated by David Solomon Moses and Esay as by all his other Prophets is gloriously expressed and gradually fulfilled in this last Period which began at his first personal coming incoatively and will be perfected by his second coming consummatively The 45. and 72. Psalm the Song of Solomon with the 31 32 33 60 61 65. of Esâ—ias the 31 32 33. of Jeremy the latter end of
Ezechiel the 2 3 7 11 12. of Daniel with the many glorious Prophesies of all other Scriptures bespangle this Truth as eminently as the Firmament is bespangled with starrie constellations In each in all of them are marvellously set out the Subjects and Matter the Ground and Rule the End and Effects of this blessed Peace about which all the children of God are still illustriously imployed Ever since Christs return to his Glory to improve and apply the fruits of his blessed Impetration in order to Peace his people have been taught by his Spirit Word and Providence to attend with care this honourable Work under him for him in conformity to him Sacred volumes are as full of this as the Sun of Light Christ often minds all his D sciples that their peaceable Unity and Order should be their Badge still of their being his before God and Men. What they learned of him they were as careful to practice and communicate on all occasions in order to Peace Numerous Instances might soon be named were it needfull in so clear a case Their Christian forbearance of many lawfull things when not expedient and patient bearing with weak Believers both Jews and Gentles in many ceremonial and other matters testified then their studious Labor towards this choise Work Humane Histories of all parts and ages give a further Attestation hereto What singular Peace-makers appeared in the Eastern and in the Western Churches untill the setting up the Romish Antichrist that grand Peace-breaker we may read at large in Ecclesiastical Records Lucius and Constantine Brittans princely Lights and all their Successors whose name is eternized for their piety and Heroick Actings manifested this in a peculiar manner The Primitive Fathers those worthy Champions of Christs Interest were eminently imployed about this witness their excellent Memorials It was the man of sin who began by time to quarrel with the rest and by renewed Schisms and Apostacies formed that Embryo of Roman Papacy into a compleat Son of Perdition Faithful Endeavours fot the Peace of God were continually used by divers of his servants in the several parts of Asia and Africa especially of Europe against such Antichristian discords and disorders as learned Mornay Vsher and many more have abundantly cleared Though in that stormy hour of Temptation and Defection they suffered much in their witness-bearing for so many years of the Beasts prevalency yet did they still defend the cause of Truth and Peace and make good their ground to the very last breath Since it pleased Heaven to smile again on earth in the beginning of the Reformation carried on through the regions of Europe Gods Children have been labouring daily to this very season for Peace in Gods way The more eminent that Protestants have been in the Magistracy or Ministry in Brittain and France Germany and Holland Swedeland and Denmark for the cause of Christ the more studious have they been of his Peace All their Conflicts with the man of sin and with the sin of man have been on Peace-account so far as they owned God to be their Father We may appeal to our experience besides the Monuments of every Nation Object Doth not the contrary seem to be true What else means the bloody contests and bitter discords both of the former and of latter dayes among Gods professed People Answ 1. Many profess to be Gods Children that are in heart the Devils Children Though many be externally called yet but few appear to be chosen by embracing Christs effectual Call It s no wonder that carnal Hypocrites prove contentious seeing they carry still so much of the Serpents seed whose Antipathy is still desperate against the womans seed No marvel if such weeds prejudice the Lords ground and all his good plants Such disguised Foxes Wolves under sheeps clothing will shew their teeth and bite when they see their time Such Malignant humors being mixed among the good in the body Political and Ecclesiastical as in the natural may lie couchant for a time till they gather to a head ripened for mischief 2. In Gods own Children there remains much corruption still even in the best though not in all alike which occasions so many breaches of Peace in every respect Paul himself found cause to complain heavily of his jarring lusts indisposing every faculty to this choise Duty The seventh to the Romans sets forth a lively Anatomy of his heart for a Looking-glass to the best Christians to behold their state in David himself the man after Gods own heart gives the like account of his condition and bewrayed it by his woful relapse for a warning to all The best Gardens retain still some weeds Canaanites will remain and scattered Tories after a Conquest Our best state below is still militant both internally and externally Sin and Self will still be plotting with Satan against the Peace of God and Man Mens lust are sturdy strong and numerous secret and subtile vigilant active opposing each other in opposing Peace insatiable are they and irreconciliable full of malice envy and revenge having as much of Hell as earth can receive So far as they remain though but languishing of a deadly consumption they will still shew implacable enmity to Peace and all favour to jar and disorder 3. Christians even the best are often mistaken about their Duty towards Peace and good Much ignorance and infirmity still do attend them It s not easie but very difficult to observe the right middle that avoids both sinfull extteams Error is still a notorious Cheat and leger de maein cogging his dice and shufling his cards with dextrous methods to abuse the simple Many of Gods people are often ensnared and engaged into a party opposite to Peace before they be aware Such a pre-possession begets a prejudice against others and makes them often to suspect each other for meer Hypocrites especially in such a spring as this wherein such weeds abound every where The path-way to Peace is uncouth and obscure very frequently being much untrod and disregarded The means leading to Peace are often costly troublesome and harsh whereas the high-road to discord and disorder is a broad way crouded with multitudes and of easie charges for any Travellor promising fair what ever it performs 4. Satan is still a desperate Enemy to the Children of God and to their peace His part is still acted craftily and industriously with all the powers and policies of Hell He will be sure to stand at Joshua's Elbow to discover his filthy Garments and to accuse him both to God and man He ceases not to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Accuser of the Brethren day and night charging them to themselves and others so to hinder their peace He observes warily what darling sins they are most subject to fits all his Baits to their dispositions conditions and occasions in order thereto Many Reproaches upon the ways of Peace doth he often cast by his Ingineers as so many thorns
Soveraign Physician Shall not the Head look to his Body Will not this dear Husband take care of his own Spouse Can such a friend be still estranged from his dearest Relations Shall not every Promise be made Yea and Amen in him who is the same yesterday to day and for ever Should not this cordial be carefully laid up and faithfully improved by all Peace-makers who thereby testifie their dignifying Property of being Gods Children Vse 5. This Truth cannot but express a vigorous Exhortation and press it strongly upon all the Sons of Men to look well after this signal Property of the Children of God This voice of Heaven speaks a Divine Oracle by the mouth of Christ 1. To the Friends of Discord And 2. To the Friends of Peace 1. The friends of discord should be effectually adviesd about it It s a business of exceeding weight to be found in a diametral Opposition to this eminent Character of Gods People will be as wofull as its sinfull All those who cherish dis-unions and jars between God and Man between man and man had need consider the sadness of it All the Promoters of disorders and Animosities in any relation Publique or Private Civil or Ecclesiastical should be spoken to sinners of all ranks either gross or close Superiors or Inferiors attend hereunto The Cryer of Heaven proclaims an Oyer to teach of you Hearken in season as for your Life before it be too late A Dâ—sswasive and a Perswasive are hence proposed to you in the Lords Name 1. A Disswasive from your case and course so full of evil and empty of good so bent to evil and backward to good How unlike are you to the Children of God and to God himself whilst you love what he loaths and loath what he loves Do not envy and strife breed all confusion and every evil work Whom do you resemble in such a Love and Life of contentious divisions and dividing Contentions Are not you so much the more like Mars and Bellona the gods of Heathens by how much the more unlike unto Christ the Lamb of God and the Prince of Peace Are not you comformed to Satan the God of Confusion so much the nearer by how much further you stand and act from the God of Peace and the Peace of God Shall not God himself disswade you from that state and carriage so like unto hell and so unlike Heaven Is there not reason enough in his Divine Logick to convince you now of your sinfulness and wretchedness at once When God refuses to own you for Children the devil will be sure to challenge his Right in all such who do so nearly represent him Your dividing from God and from his wayes of Peace should strike terror into your very souls Will you still carry Hell in your Bosome in your Countenance in your Speech and Carriage to train you up for that Eternal Hell in utter Confusion Have not you mispent time enough already in the base drudgery of Sin and Satan against the Peace of our dread Soveraign May not this hour be your very last this advice the last address to you if you let it slip how desperate is your Case Have you not abused the Bounty and Patience of his Majesty too much already do you not know he will not alwayes bear When his Spirit once ceases reasoning with you his justice will immediately follow to seize on you towards Execution Be then moved by your own Interest Buy what ever is dear unto you or to the publique Let Ingenuity prevail with you and be disswaded from following the God of Discord and Disorder under whom you serve at the command of your Contentious Lusts Be willing to see and conside rhow unreasonable and unprofitable how unpleasurable and dishonourable such a condition will prove in the end Be sensible at last be ashamed be weary of that Life so wretchedly mispent in wrangling and Wars with God and goodness What fruit can you expect from those sinful wayes the End whereof is Death Natural and Civil Spiritual Eternal Learn to abhor and utterly abandon those Dividing Lusts that would still separate you from God and his Peace Such bitter Roots can give you no Fruit but what is harsh noisom and detestable to God and good men See then the baseness of that Rotten Heart which like a Dung-hill is still putrifying breeding more Vermin Weeds and Corruption Your body of Sin must be crucified with a Lingring Shamefull Violent Death for all its Treasons against the God of Peace The Limbs of that old man that inveterate Rebel that is still plotting and acting trechery in your own bosome must suffer jointly and severally You must be content that his Right hand Right eye and Right foot should be judicially proceeded against to Extirpation else you are none of Gods Children yet if you cherish any of Satans Brats in your deceitfull heart you 'l be arraigned for Treason against Heaven Be then disswaded from such Compliances with Sin and Satan by patronizing any secret Lust See the worst of your selves in the Lords own Glass that you may be throughly divorced from that corrupt self which hath kept you so long in League with Satan and at War with God Be willing at last to bewail your case and be dis-ingaged from all evil wayes in Principle or Practice which are such desperate Enemies to your Peace As you desire to be called the Children of God be sure you beware of such State and Acts which oppose directly the property and dignity of such 2. A Perswasive is sent to you likewise to invite you to the Lords own Work in his own Method That you may be numbred among Gods Children you must attend their dignifying property You must be born again that you may enter into his Kingdom and the Peace thereof if you will believe the Prince of Peace himself Old Things must pass away all things must become new Is not the God of Peace well worth such a Change Is not his Peace of incomparable value What are all things below but Bables thereto Be then encouraged to look after the Narure of Children that you may manifest the Property of such You must receive the Spirit of Adoption from the Father of Spirirs in the renewing of your inward Man that you may be able to speak and act as becomes Gods Children A Contract of Marriage must effectually pass between the Son of God and your Soul by mutual consent that you may be taken into this Family All men naturally are children of Wrath and wedded to Sin By custome therein they increase their Bonds becoming twice more children of Hell till by increase of Disobedience they visibly appear the Devils children Be therefore stirred up to look after a gracious Change for a better state that you may live in a better Rank You have been too long among the Beggars embracing dung-hils and with prodigals feeding among swine after
wise Physicians We seem to hasten towards the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and critical Period as other parts of the world also If we be found effectually to know the things of our Peace our Crisis and turn will be a saving and a blessed Change but if they should be still hid from our eyes as they were more then once from Jerusalem and Gods professed people we know what followed and what we deserve The great Climacterical year comes on a pace on all ranks of men none of us is certain of an hour longer for our selves or others What ever becomes of the greater world our Microcosm our diminutive World cannot be far from its dissolution The right Improvement of such a personal and publique Trial may prove to all of singular Use and quicken our Pace into those waies of Peace which are sure to be still accompanied with Blessedness from the God of Peace So shall our Hopes over-poise our fears in all Spirituall and Civil Relations Vse 4. Choise Consolation flows from this Truth to all true Peace-makers Christ assures them of a Blessedness still commensurate to the work they attend Such are like to meet with very much trouble that will be faithfull to God and his work in this and all things else He therefore provides sutable refreshment that they may not be dismaid and discouraged The Souldiers of Christ meet with many a Brunt in this warfare for Peace among such mighty and numerous enemies so full of malicious Cruelty and desperate rancor Friends themselves prove often unfriendly and opposite to the Lords Champions through mistakes herein He therefore gives a blessed Viaticum that they may not want any provision or protection answering their Work Peace is the Health of the body Politick and Ecclesiastical as Health is the Peace of the body natural Much labor and toil much attendance and watching the procurement thereof will still require The Lord therefore lets all Physicians know and other attendants called to this cure that they shall not want his Blessing therein This is a cordial against all faintings and discouragements rising from within or from without us This will arm us against all Temptations and all corruptions against all Afflictions and Perturbations from men or from Devils These things saith Christ to all his Disciples that in him they may have a blessed Peace in all the world we shall have Tribulation but be we of a good chear he hath overcome the world My Peace saith he I leave with you Peace I give you not as the world gives it give I it to you let not your heart faint nor be ye troubled Christ himself the great Peace-maker could not perfect his work without infinite cost trouble and opposition Yet went he through all with Faith and Patience victoriously into a Triumphant Peace As we are called to be his followers in the work it self we may be sure to enter with him into a Blessed Peace in the faithfull discharge of our Duty What can he want that hath the God of Peace and the Peace of God for his Portion Work and Protection still Doth not this Blessedness include all good and exclude all evil Doth it not express an answer of all doubts a supply of all wants a fulfilling of all possible desires Is it not a free and a full Blessing a sure and singular Mercy transcendently surpassing all humane conceptions Is there any thing of excellency either in Heaven or Earth that is not comprized under this Expression Turn this Jewel round view this Blessedness in all its dimensions the heighth and length the breadth and depth thereof are inestimable This Blessedness is the true Nectar and Ambrosia the meat and drink of Heavenly Persons The richest Extracts the noblest Tinctures the choicest Quintessences of the best Chymists are but Bables to this The summu◠Apex the Cream and Abstract of the finest humane Perfections come Infinitely short of this Could all the Creatures Excellencies be melted into one and sublimed to the highest degree by the best Artist to compleat an Aurum potabile a Lapis Philosophicus an Elixir of Life all would be but loss and dung before this This rare Confection fits all persons in all conditions for all times and places This Water of Life which runs through the midst of the Paradise of God is the Priviledge of all faithfull Peace-makers conveying to them all the Benefits of the Tree of Life to Eternity Is not this cordial well worth the laying up that it may be seasonably laid out Will not this Blessedness every way so Divine make full amends for all cost and care that we can bestow upon Peace-making If the Lord will bless who shall hinder it Who shall speak trouble where he speaks Peace If the Lord bless not what can men expect This Blessedness is the Prerogative of the friends of Peace Strangers Enemies meddle not with this Joy that were not willing to meddle with the work and Master that afford the same Vse 5. Hence also arises a forcible Excitation to press all sorts to this Eminent Work The Dignity should sufficiently enforce the Duty Such Divine wages attending Divine Work should abundantly commend the same to any person that hath not made wrack of his Reason and Religion at once All persons are so nearly concerned therein in their respective Capacities that the very naming of Christs words and work should be a sufficient Exhortation to them Motives of all sorts have been enlarged on by many choise Pens to this very purpose whereto we refer the studious Reader Our intended brevity bids us contract and say much in few words Do we yet need cogent Arguments and prevailing considerations Take but a re-view of the hints already given about the Blessedness of Peace and Peace-making and your heart cannot but be mightily set on work towards it If any should desire or need any further Inducement yet let such but observe how much Gods Interest Mans Advantage and their personal good are concerned therein Was it not the prime and proper work of Christ Is it not the chief work he cals Christians to Can any Pleasure Profit or Credit worth the looking for be wanting thereto Do not all the Divine Attributes shine most eminently about all the parts and friends of this work Are not all hmmane Excellencies centred in and cherished by the same Is it not as Beautifull and Radiant as it is needfull and expedient Two signal Things should efficaciously be prevailing with us as wonderfull Incentives thereto in this Generation viz. 1. The Season 2. The Work of Reformation 1. The Season is a remarkable Part of the latter dayes promised to be a special Time of Peace All controversies about such Times and Seasons we willingly wave This phrase of the latter dayes is taken largely or strictly in Scripture It signifies largely the whole Complex of the Evangelical Period from Christs time to the End strictly the later part thereof which is