his people service My hearts desire is that the least cause of offence may not be given to the least of Christs Disciples by any expression or carriage of mine Yet cannot I but be sensible of my weakness and insufficiency Humanum est errare belluinum perseverare in errore cognito I would willingly know and mend my own faults that I may the better be helpfull to others as the Lord shall please to afford his Help that theirs may be mended likewise The two great Ordinances of the Magistracy and Ministry are most concern'd in this Business of Peace and most endangered by the enemies thereof The Lords Servants that are intrusted by him to act therein as his Deputies and his Substitutes should not be daunted by any discouragements from Earth and Hell but vigorously excited by so many great Incouragements given them from Heaven in this nick of Time The faithfull Witnesses of Christ in both functions shall rise again after their humbling to his Glory and their enemies shame in the true setling of a Righteous Peace Should not both then be peculiarly stirred up that they may stir up themselves and all others to serve Gods Spirit Word and Providence towards an ordâ—rly uniting of their strength for that very purpose A word to the wise may be sufficient if the Lord please to bless it to them I. Is not Magistracy appointed of God for a Soveraign Help to the procuring and promoting of Peace to the restoring and preserving thereof Hath not the Lord stamped his Image thereon with special rays of Majesty and Authority armed with Power and Abilities by a Providential Constitution to advance all the ends of a Political Peace in the furtherance of all Godliness and Honesty Are not therefore all Magistrates Supreme and Subordinate honoured in Scripture with so many dignifying Properties of resemblance and nearness to God of assistance and favour from God in order hereunto as hath been touched elsewhere more at large Are they not the persons against whom still the most desperate Opposers of Peace are most incensed and ragingly active Are not thes great Physitians of State deeply engaged to attend their Office towards recovering and maintaining the Health of that great Body committed to their Charge Have they not most need to be most watchfull and active when the ill humours are most malignant and the Patients most disorderly under their numerous distempers both complicate and inveterate Hath not the Lords Spirit in his sacred Records set a Crown of Glory upon the memory of those Noble Worthies who made his work their own to the utmost Sphere of their activity Do not all sorts of civil Monuments among all kind of people in all parts and seasons of the World honour those Patriots to the utmost degree who spent and were spent in the faithfull discharge of their Functions to make good their Peace Are not such Persons of honour and Power exposed also to more Temptations as Mountains are to the storms and blasts far beyond the rest Do they not need most help from God and from Man who are to do most for God and for Man Have not all former and later Designs carried on closely by the subtile Ingineers of Spain and Rome against our Religion and Peace still been levelled at the Magistrates that stood most in their way Have not all such Rulers in Scripture and Experience who have been noted for neglect of their Trust been also threatned branded and punished in the highest degree Corruptio optimi is still pessima The best things corrupted will do most mischief Great Personages move in such great Orbs that they carry very many with them either to good or evil Their Burthen and Care their Work and Influence their Account and Harvest still answer the greatness of their Charge In both Kingdoms of Judah and Israel we still find the People following their Princes both to good and evil According as they carried it towards their Supreme above So were the changes of Peace and War below A treble Relation doth the Magistrate bear which challenges his special helpfulness towards Peace 1. Oeconomical towards his Family according to the various subordinations thereof Conjugal Parental and Despotical Therein the Royal Prophet that Mirror of Princes resolved and laboured to be most Zealous for the peace of God in advancing his Interest therein The very breathings of his Soul towards it stand yet on Record in Psalm 101. This is a right beginning indeed to settle first at home Vnity and Order in Truth and Righteousness What he could not help he bewailed it both to God and Man witness 2 Sam. 23. 4. And when he grew remiss about it he was visited with domestical crosses of many serts to awaken him and mind him of his Vows and Engagements so often renewed Would Rulers follow that excellent Pattern in studying and advancing Gods word seâ—king his face and instructing their charge what a mighty furtherance were it towards Peace When on the contrary the Name of Christ is neglected there all tends to confusion If a Ruler be given to lies whether verbal or practical saith Solomon all his servants prove like him in wickedness and loosness Men are sooner led by Presidents then Precepts The Lord therefore gave a special charge to the chief Magistrates of his people that they should write out to themselves a Copy of his Law and read therein daily giving also command that all Superiors in Families should be speaking of his Word both early and late for others Instruction On these terms was the blessing premised and performed to Abrahams Family and Noble Joshua that Famous Protector of Israel resolved and professed solemnly before all what special care and course to take therein Is not this the sure way to bring all Inferiors to mind and follow their Superiors Example that they may be found orderly moving in their respective places towards a true Peace 2. Rulers bear a Political Relation in their publike capacity to the civil State wherein they may prove singular friends to the peace of their dread Soveraign in the dâ—â— observance of his Laws Righteousness hereiâ— exalts a Nation but sin is still the reproach of a People Civil Righteousness both commutative and distributive will still be found to be the true Mother and the Nurse of â—eace Good Laws well made and as well executed are the Bond of this Peace Magistrates are still the Living Laws that must put life into all good Laws that the Mountains may still bring forth Peace and the little Hills by Righteousness These are the Pillars and foundations of civil Societies which will râ—in all if they rot and waste The Throne is established with Justice and shaken to pieces by injustice All Powers that are ordained of God providentially are a choice Blessing if they prove good and a wofull curse if otherwise Christ the King of Nations is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords by
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
THE BLESSED PEACE-MAKER AND CHRISTIAN RECONCILER Intended for the healing of all unatural and unchristian Divisions in all Relations According to the Purport of that Divine Oracle pronounced by the Prince of PEACE himself Matth. 5. 9. By Claudius Gilbert B. D. Minister of the Gospel at Limrick 2 Thess 3. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zech. 8. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 3. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pax una Triumphis Jnnumeris potior LONDON Printed for Francis Titon and are to be sold at the sign of the three Daggers in Fleet-street 1658. To the Right Honourable Sir Hardress Waller Knight Major General of the Forces in Ireland And to his Vertuous Consort the Lady ELIZABETH WALLER Right Honourable THe subject of this Tract will sufficiently commend it self from its own worth and your acquaintance therewith The plain Garb wherein it doth appear can give no just cause of disparaging it to the judicious friends of Gospel-simplicity There is like to be most of Power and Peace where most of Purity cloathed with plainness The many experiences afforded to you both by the renewed Dispensations of the Lords gracious Providence in all former and latter Revolutions may be revived to further Improvement through the blessing of Heaven on your Honours perusal of these lines The Peace of God is that Signal Mercy which hath through Grace very deeply affected your Hearts and to the promoting whereof you have been many wayes remarkably instrumental in your respective Spheres through the Lords good hand Many Considerations of weight do very much press the Authors spirit which cannot but oblige him to publish his Christian respects due to your Honors as by all other possible demonstrations so by this way of Cordial Expression If my poor labours in this and other parts of Ireland have been blessed in any measure from above to any person such have much cause to acknowledge you both as the singular Means which the Lord employed for the procuring thereof Your industrious Care of this Countries welfare and renewed solicitations on the best account did occasion and hasten my coming over near five year ago Through the same Labour of Love continued and enlarged by you towards the Servants and Service of Christ upon his score divers other Ministers of his besides my self have received good Incouragement in his Work in these and other parts Your Reward is sure with the Lord who is most mindful of the least kindness shew'd to any of his friends He cannot forget the meanest Cup of Water given to the smallest in the Name of a Disciple Among the many choice favors bestowed on your Honors by the Supreme Disposer of all things this is one of a prime Magnitude that he hath given you both such hearty Affections to the friends of Christ as well as to his Peace and Interest The benign Influence of such a gracious Constellation is most obliging in such a season wherein so many malignant Aspects are cast from all parts upon the good Wayes and Servants of God To prove still-fixed and radiant Luminaries when so many others blaze but like Comets and like falling Stars or wandring Meteors is both your Honor and your Happiness Gods people in this place and in other parts cannot but take special notice thereof having so much cause to observe it to be a singular Return from the Throne of Grace to their fervent prayers so constantly renewed on your behalf That you may further reap the Joyful fruits of his Divine seed in being still farther serviceable to his Glory and his peoples Comfort proportionably to all your Eminent Relations and occasions through the supplies of his holy Spirit is the Cordial and incessant Request of him who delights to be and appear Your Honors humbly devoted servant on the best Terms in Gospel-work Claudius Gilbert From my study at Limrick March 23. 1656. The Preface Christian Reader THou hast here the substance of severall Sermons preached in Limrick out of earnest longings after this peoples good If the same prove of any use to thee through the blessing of the Father of Spirits Let him have the praise and let the Author share in thy prayers who finds so much need of help from all hands His Design herein is very Candid his desire Cordial what ever thou mayest think of his matter method or utterance The excellâ—ncy and Necessity of the Theme here handled will make full amends for any defect of Writer or Printer We can but give Hints in such an intended Brevity of those choice Rarities which are richly stored up in the larger Cabinets of others We but point at the Veins of those Golden Mines out of which many learned and godly Pens have often extracted so much precious Treasure It 's probable that in such a large field so plentifully stored the best Reapers may leave some Gleanings for their followers The Lord of the Harvest hath often employed many of his Servants among all Nations in the various successions of his Church to promote his blessed work of Peace by their Pens as by all other due Means When this Tabernacle of the most High God is to be reared up and his Tent to be pitched among the Sons of Men Contribution then is expected and accepted from all Sorts what ever sutably to their severall abilities The Badgers and Rams skins will be welcome from such as bring their heart therewith though they cannot bring Gold and precious stones as some others do The God of this Temple prizes the Widows Mite cast into his Treasury for repairing thereof at a very high Rate He delights to see his Laborers active about this piece of work which is so dear to him and cost him so dear His Children please him best when forward though weak about this study and occupation whereof they receive a special charge from him In such a publick and wofull Incendy as now threatens all things Civil and Sacred every one should bring what water he can get to the quenching of such devouring flames We have all a share in the Publick good and have had a hand in the publick evil It 's good Reason we should be sensible of our personal and Relative sins which have been and are still the diviing Causes of distractingly destructive sorrows The sad experiences of so much mischief occasioned by our own and others Lusts cannot but press ingenuous Christians to utmost endeavours for esficacious redress Sense of Duty in such a Juncture and Turn of Affairs prevailed with me to the publication of the Libertine School'd and Christs Soveraign Antidote against sinfull Errors not long ago The same ground hoth now brought forth these Papers to serve as a whet-stone though dull in it self to the sharpening of all the Lords Friends that their abilities and Opportunities may be improved to the uttermost for Christs Interest in this great Work of his I would not be idle as long as its day nor neglect any advantage afforded of doing God and
the Text to his Peace-makers 3ly The Reason and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this Point is clearely drawn from the Blessedness of the work it self which cannot but impart a sutable Blessing to the Lords Work-men The Blessedness of Peace hath been already demonstrated in an ample manner This work of Heaven is never destitute of Heavens Blessing What was said of virtue by the Philosopher that its both Work and Wages carrying meat in its mouth is verified of this blessed Peace It s Christs work they are his Work-men he hath a special Interest in them both and a special Blessing for them still in making them a Blessing to others Such Peace-makers enjoy a singular Blessing in themselves as Austin explains it They communicate also a choise Blessing even in Temporals to others as Chrysostom comments on this place Yea They are choise Instruments of Christ to convey saving Mercies by the Gospel of Peace as Basil Interprets the words Peace-making is Christs Work so peculiarly that he is called our Peace in the abstract who breaks down all partition Wals by the virtue of his cross whereon he slew the Enmity to reconcile his people to God and to each other through the application of his Merits to them This Blessed Work removes and prevents all Curses it brings and declares offers and imparts increases and cherishes restores and crowns all Blessings possible So far as he honors any servant of his in making use of them Instrumentally about this work of his so far happiness attends them therein Though he needs no help yet is he pleased to make use of Helpers against the mighty Enemies of Peace He takes kindly and graciously rewards the cordial contributions of his People thereto though never so smal All his Servants are called to Peace and implyed about it in their several Stations His Presence and Blessing cannot be wanting where he sets his friends on work on his account He loves to walk in his wonted Road and to act ordinarily by men and means having to deal with rational Creatures not with blocks and Bruits Wise and good men will not imploy servants but they will help and own them in their work The blessed God employes not his children and servants without his aiding and favouring Grace about this work of his To impose a hard Taske and to refuse straw is the property of an Egyptian Tyrant our gracious God is no such hard Master he reaps not where he hath not sown though idle servants may charge him with cruelty Christ is most benign in his Influence to every Soul that sincerily minds his service He that feeds Aliens and Enemies is not like to neglect or forsake his friends He that bountifully blesses with Temporals the very worst of men that oppose his Peace will not he surely bless with his right hand his peculiar People entrusted by him about peace-making wherein his Honor and his Interest are so signally concerned Vse 1. The Improvement and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this Truth affords a Word of Instruction in two Corollaries 1. We may hence observe the unhappiness of our Age wherein such blessed Peace-makers are so scant Sad lamentations might be justly enlarged over so many unpeaceable Spirits No wonder if we have so little of Gods blessing considering how little we have of his Peace When a mans wayes please the Lord he makes even his enemies to be at Peace with him It is a shrewd sign that our wayes are much displeasing to him when our very friends are not at Peace with us David much complained of his ill Neighbours the ten Nations surrounding Israel whose inveterate enemies they still appeared in allusion whereto the ten Horns of the Antichristian Beast are described in the Revelation whose Character it was to be Haters of Peace and lovers of War It s common and sad to see so much of that Antichristian Spirit breathing among us The most are wilfully and the best unhappily engaged too much in unchristian inhumane janglings Too many we have of a Saâ—â—mâ—ndrian Spirit whose Element is fire it self they so love to live among contentions Too much of Hell-fire wofully appears in most of our unhappy contentions Friends too often strike each other in the dark upon mistakes Hereby sport is made for Satan and sorrow for Gods people the Lords Name suffers and his enemies laugh the good are scandalized and the bad hardened Whilst â—any contend unhandsomly for Truth they miss of Peace and the Blessing yea of Truth also To live still in a burning Climate under a torrid Zone of hot dissentions is more sutable to Negroes and Mores then for Christians who are best fitted in a temperate Clime of due moderation How much do Christians wrong themselves and others in every respect spiritual and civil by needless quarrels Are not many of our differences as little weighty as that woful brawl about the time of keeping Easter which continued for so many years between the Eastern and Western Churches in the second and third Century proceeding often to solemn Excommunications The Jars between Epiphanius and Chrysostom Jerom and Ruffin were very doleful and from small beginings rising further to sad Catastrophes It were to be wished that divers eminent Lights of this Age were not so unworthily engaged as those famous ones were about the fifth and sixth Centuries Austins complaint might justly be ours concerning such cases The contentions at Corinthus among those Christians so excelling in Gifts bewrayed a great deal of fleshly Corruption reigning in many remaining in the best do they not so with us Our Sea of glass our reformation-state hath too much of this fire mingled therewith which cannot but prove wofully sinfull Strange fire cost Nadab and Abihu dear though such eminent Persons in such an eminent Work This wild fire so commonly scattered is ominous and pernitious still in Civils and Ecclesiasticals It s a perverse Spirit that doth so judicially divide between Abimeleck and the Sichemites those old confederates though over-ruled by the Lords own hand When utter ruin was threatned to Egypt such a perverse Spirit was to be mingled in the midst of them as the wofull Executioner of Divine Vengeance When the Pride of Babel and its Builders was mounting to the Heavens it was fearfully checked by the confounding of their Tongues Is it not very irrational to think of building Zion in that very way whereby the Lord confounded Babylon This is a sore Lamentation and shall be for a Lamentation 2. Hence also have we a vindication of peaceable Christians They that know the God of Peace and the Peace of God best are most forward to advance Peace-making It is not from a low luke-warm Spirit as many mistake it but from the most rational grounds There is nothing so rational as Grace which makes the best use of Divine Reason which appears herein very eminently They are most zealous after Peace who are most rationally sensible of
the Scripture-dialect that calls them Saints Brethren and Sisters that they may be further stirred up to act as such and to own each other in such a Relation with most entireness and mutual helpfulness What if Hypocrites creep in among them against their knowledge and will should it reflect on all Would you be content to be counted and called knaves because some of your profession do sometime prove such is it strange to see weeds among good corn in the Spring Do not hypocrites multiply apace in such a spring of Reformation as this Till you have learned to judge better of others and worse of your selves your case cannot but appear dolefully suspicious Your estrangedness from Peace with good Men and good Ordinances shews yon to be yet strangers to Gods Peace and to the God of Peace 2. This Point speaks terrour to all the enemies of Gods Peace and work opposing the same internally and externally covertly and overtly directly and collaterally It opens the black Box of the God of vengeance to send forth his flying Rolls of voluminous curses against his malicious Adversaries The Prince of Peace is also Lord of Hosts as terrible to his foes as he is amiable to his friends All ye whose heart doth malign or scorn his Peace whose tongue scoffs at and abuses it whose hands do cross and reject the same consider your waies Do you know with whom you enter the lists whom you reproach and taunt whom you oppose and abuse If you did you could not but tremble as Beâ—shazzar did at this hand-writing drawn out against you by the Lord himself Can your hands be strong or your heart endure when he comes to contend with you with fire and sword with unquenchable flames and never-dying worms Doth not fearfulness surprize your very souls at this Message of his Are not his Pursuivants in inquest for you Is not his Hue and Cry sent forth long ago against such a rabble of Traytors and Rebells who among you can dwell with everlasting burnings Are not the Armies of the God of Battles gone forth against you to serve the Executions of his angred Justice and abused Mercy Will you still provoke the Lord to his own face unto jealousie are you stronger then he Have not you rejected his tenders of Peace and abused his Mercy long enough Hath not he been importunate with you to lay down your arms and submit to him for eternal Peace long enough already Will you still trample his precious blood the price of that peace under the feet of scorn and abuse will you still do despight unto the Spirit of his Grace and Paace The hour-glass of your life is almost run out your period is very near its end and are you still resisting of his terms and fighting against him every moment by your sinful course Is not every thought word and work of yours a weapon of Rebellious defiance against the Peace of your dread Soveraign Is not your Peace with sin a published war against his Majesty Will you still be cheated with a dissembling dead and dreaming Peace will you still maintain your diabolicall Peace and Covenant with Hell will you still oppose his honour and your good in opposing his Precepts and Orders Do not you stand out against his interest whilest you malign and oppose the Peace of Church and State which he would have all to labour after If Peace-Makers be blessed of him what can wilful Peace-Breakers expect but his judicial curse Doth it seem light to you to tear in pieces his Church and family his Mysticall Body his Evangelicall Kingdom Will you still trample upon his bowels and tread upon his despised members Will you still cast off his easie Burthen and his gentle Yoke preferring Satans drudgery before it Will you still contemn the Laws and Orders of the King of Kings and yet dream still of impunity Will our General still suffer his Commands to be thus obstinately opposed Will not the Captain of the Lords Hoasts deal with his mutinous and rebellious Souldiers Is not your seditious carriage against his Deputies Civil and Ecclesiastical a rebellious Affront reflecting on himself Is not this a piece of egregious Madness to rend and spoil the publique Bottom that you may dress and trim your private Cabin Can you be safe when the publique sinks and enrich your self hy the publique Loss Will not your misery be as infamous if you thus wilfully cast away your selves in endeavouring to serve others so But me thinks I hear some say Object God forbid we should be so vile What are we dead dogs that we should do so and be reputed such We own Christ and his Peace and it s for his sake that we abhor and oppose a company of rebellious Schismaticks that would over-turn all by their new Religion Answ 1. We wish a hearty Amen to your prayer that none of you may appear so vile Hasael little thought â—â— the Prophets warning that he should afterwards prove such an outragious Villain Mans heart is an Ocean of sinfull Corruptions smooth in calm weather but terribly working when the stormy winds of contrary Temptations conflict thereon striving to turn up its very bowels It s a sink of all filthiness a Den of ravenous beasts a bed of poisonous Serpents which lie still for a while but will make wofull work when stirred to the purpose It s a Hell on earth full of direfull fiends whilst sin and Satan have the rule thereof Till your heart be changed it may be as bad with you as with the worst if God restrain you not No man hath the command of himself further then Gods hand enables him thereto Secondly If you own Christ and his Peace in Truth you 'l find the benefit thereof But words are but wind when the heart and life do give them the lie The traiterous Jews and bloody Romans gave Christ good words too in the very worst of their villanies Do not you give Christ more blows then good words are not you real Butchers of his Peace whilst you seem verbal Professors thereof whilst you do cherish his worst enemies and oppose his friends sent on his Errand is this to love Christ Whilst you desire what he still disdains and disdain what he delights in is this to own him Whilst you turn your back upon the word and wayes of his Peace do you own his Peace If you can prefer any creature or lust either directly or indirectly before him and his Peace you own them not in Truth What think you of that disobedient servant that knows his Masters will but will not do it Is not he like to bear the more stripes Did you own Christ you would not disown those Things and Persons that bear his Image and promote his Peace Thirdly You again say they are not his friends but a company of rebellious Schismaticks that would over-turn all It s pitty that such persons should be found or owned under
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
stirred by so many convulsive motions in the body of Christ Our sinfull corruptions are still breeding the malign humours which cause such direful symptoms therein Our Pride and Passion our errors and folly our self-seeking and self-conceitedness prove the sad grounds of many distempers Our dividing Principles and practises are so many and so prevailing that the abuses shewed to Christs natural Body by the Barbarian Crue are most desperately revived thereby upon his mystical Body It much aggravates our sins and Christs sufferings that the members themselves of his own Body have a chief hand therein To be a self-murtherer a felo de se is horrid to think of How much worse is it to be murtherers of Christs Body of our souls and others as far as in us lies Our unchristian jars are so unnarural that Pagans themselves would be ashamed of them Infidels of all sorts agree in their wayes Christs followers are still disagreeing We are too ready to lay the blame on others whereas we should charge it on our selves each of us What was observed by an Infidel about the Christians of his time that they were worse to each other then wolves are to men is upon sad grounds cast into our teeth by all Christs enemies that do surround us Those lusts of ours that disturb the Church have the like ill Influence upon all our civil Relations Satan hath a great stroak in all our divisions and finds it best fishing in such troubled waters The least spark of Ingenuity cannot but make the hearts of Christs friends to break and relent at these considerations But some think and say Object Divisions are indeed sinfull and wofull hindering all good and procuring all evil but we cannot help it the fault is not ours we must contend for Truth blame others for opposing it if they come not up to our Light how can we agree as things are now it cannot be otherwise there were such before and the Lord will turn all to good at last Answ 1. We should the more judge our selves for these evils because they are increased to such a height that little help can be afforded thereto Is not our sin and danger so much the greater thereby that our diseases are so inveterate so complicate and desperately incurable The more shame for us that have let them grow so long on us till they be thus radicated within and spreading as so many ulcered Cancers and dreadfull Gangrenes 2. Excuse we not our selves by blaming of others for we have all had too much hand in this Epidemical evil We should not imitate our foolish children that will be still justifying themselves though they be guilty and charging of others Should not we rather imitate David and condemn our selves Which of us can say that his heart is clean Were we never moved by any Lust of ours to cast in fuel into these Incendie The most gracious judge themselves most still 3. Though we are bid to contend mightily for the faith yet are we also bound to speak the Truth in love and to avoid perverse disputings There is a good contention for Truth against the Subverters of it carried on graciously and an ill contention about lesser things and against Christs friends carried on sinfully Gods work is never well done with the devils Tools He never needs nor likes Satans help Mans wrath doth not fulfill the righteousness of God Is it not pitty that Gods Truth should suffer by our ill handling and be made a patron to mens base lusts and a disguise to them Do not our dissentions savour too much still of self sin Satan 4. There is an unseasonable profession of some Truth wherein we are ready to discover much evil and to do much hurt We must indeed be alwayes ready to give a reason of our faith to any one that asks not in diriding scorn nor ensnaring malice but with meekness and fear so as to honor God prevent scandals be helpfull to others discharge a good conscience and own the name of Christ when duly called But this Command as all other Affirmatives though it binds still yet not for every season to be published There is a time wherein silence is expedient as when others cannot bear a Truth of lesser weight which would hinder a more important Truth or prove a block to the work of Christ and my profession or when its like to be basely abused by the palpable corruptions of Standers by or asked in scorn or malice c. Hast thou faith saith the Apostle have it to thy self in such a case a fool utters all his mind but he that is wise keeps it in till afterwards Should we not be humbled for our Imprudence and rashness in not observing the times of speech and silence 5. Though others come not up fully to our Light it excuses not our unchristian janglings Cannot Christians agree unless their complexions agree in all things Is there not a great variety of Gifts and Graces in the Lords school and family as there is diversity among the members of all Societies is it not our weakness and sin rigidly to measure all others by our line and force them to our standard Doth not the Lords word still direct the strong not to dispise the weak and the weak not to judge the strong but to be mutually compassionate and helpful as becomes the members of Christs body Should not Christs servants attend their work together so far as they understand his Will walking in love till they can receive and give further satisfaction mutually 6. There have been indeed sad distractions in former Ages but was it not the sin and sorrow of Gods people That Abraham and Lot Paul and Barnabas Moses Aaron and Miriam should fall out was very sad indeed The various wranglings of the Corinthians as of other Apostolical Churches and of all after ages to this day in every Nation hath still moved Gods people to singular Humiliations should they not do so with us 7. God also hath an over-ruling hand in the disposal of our distempers as of all things else to his Glory and Mans good His way is made through such whirl-winds his paths appear in the storms and depths he suffers the poison of sin as the Soveraign Physician who can correct it so as to bring forth a greater Good out of it He will still so curb both sin and Satan that they shall be subservient to his Ends as all things else also Surely the wrath of man shall praise him and the remainder thereof will he restrain But is this any excuse either to man or devil Doth it lessen our evil against so great and so good a God Should it not the more deeply affect us that we wound our selves and others still to make work for him Is it not pitty that the riches of his Divine Bounty and Patience should be thus abused Will the Lord alwayes bear with such horrid Affronts
would obstruct this blessed Peace-making 5. Observe we our Speeches and Expressions Do they savour of a peaceable Spirit Do we speak the Truth in love for mutual Edification Do we sharpen that sword of the spirit on Gods own whet-stone and furbish it with the oyl of meekness Are we like Naphtali speaking goodly words satisfied with favour and followed with the Lords Blessing Do we cloath the strength of our reasons with silken words and sweet expressions Do we wisely labor by a soft answer to pacifie wrath and to asswage the swoln waves by pouring the oyl of the Sanctuary thereon Are we far from the Tale-bearers course whose tongue is sharpened and fired from Hell to do mischief with Doth the language of our lips hold forth the composed frame of our inward Man by all possible mildness and soberness Do we so hate backbiting slanders that our mouth is ready to remove mistakes and dispel jealousies rather then cherish or increase the same Is our Tongue our Glory in glorifying God about this great work when others do shame him themselves and others in abusing it Have we learned that excellent Art of mastering the Tongue which a godly man is said to have bestowed 37 years a learning daily before he could be perfect at it Is Davids care ours in all occasions to beware of offending with our Tongue Do we make and keep Covenant with it as Iob with his eyes that it may prove usefull not hurtfull to Peace Is it a Soldier so well disciplined as still to observe superiors Orders Is it a servant so well at command as still to attend with sober reverence and to execute with faithfull diligence the masters pleasure 6. Take we a view of our Behaviour and actual Endeavours Doth the language of our Life speak us to be blessed Peace-makers Is our carriage towards all above us about us under us tending thereto and an enemy to division and to confusion Do we still labour for Unity and Order the very sinews of Peace in all Civil and Spiritual respects Do we recommend it to others also by all effectual courses that may be Are we ambitious of overcoming them by an amicable Emulation as Taxiles and Alexander did with mutual kindness Are we the first in seeking for Peace still and the last in occasioning stirs as Aristippus did to the winning of Aeschines his angred enemy Do we strive to cure others reproaching Genius as Philippus of Macedon did by gratifying of a good Souldier who had been too much neglected Do we manifest by our dealings with men that what ever we say and do to them is in love to their good and from fear of their hurt Do we avoid needless and perverse Disputes the breeders of strife whilst we explain and apply the Truth with purity and Power When we are forced to contend for the faith is it still in the demonstration of that Heavenly Spirit whose Wisdom is first pure and then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated Is the fruit of Righteousness thus sown in Peace to testifie us to be Peace makers Do we labour to manifest most Peace to mens persons whilst we are signifying war against their Lusts Do we appear to act as wise Physicians tendring the Patients most when we are most set against their ill humours and diseases Do we beware of wresting mens words beyond their Genuin sense and Tendency by suspicious jealousies and reflective constructions as we desire not to be prejudiced our selves in that way Do we disown that Sophistick Spirit that lies at the catch of every tripping word Are we ingenuous in all our debates to aim at Truth not at victory Are we as thankfull to have our own mistakes rectified as we are ready to rectifie others Do we still strive to make the best construction of others thoughts and acts till the worse do more plainly appear Are we candid in our transactions wishing as Cato so to carry it as if every man had a window open to look through our house and our very heart Are we diligent in the use of all means appointed of God to get and keep Peace in every Relation in every occasion in every condition Is this our industrious Activeness manifested by a constant exercise of self-denial and all the Graces of Gods Spirit which are the womb and the breasts of Peace Is it our continual care effcctually still to mortifie and purge out the many corruptions of our hearts which are the sworn enemies of Peace If it be possible as far as in us lies do we endeavour to have Peace with all men Do we therefore carefully attend the proper duty of our general and particular Calling that in each respectively we may punctually give God and man their Due Do not we willingly neglect any thing which might beget or propagate Peace whether eternal internal or external Is Pauls exercise our continued Recreation that we may have alwaies a conscience void of offence both towards God and Man Though the Market of Peace be at a dear Rate yet do we not grudge any thing for it that is not sinfull and dishonest Secondly We may hence also take relatively an estimate of others present state and a Prognostick of their future case whether Oeconomical or Political Military or Ecclesiastical So far as any Soul or Society are from Peace-making so far are they from the Blessedness attending the same The more of this good work is found among men the more evidence still of the Lords Blessing Such as the Peace is such is the Blessing whether internal or external only whether spiritual or seeming The Records of all Ages and of all Nations demonstrate it fully We need no star-gazing Mountebanks to cast a figure for a cheating Prediction Do but prudently view the various Aspects of mens Spirits in their multiplicious Motions towards Peace Observe but those many constellations of all sorts of People in the firmament of publique affairs both in Church and State with the Planetary revolutions of private Relations in their respective Spheres Compare these Providential passages with the experiences of all or any other place and season by the certain Rules of Divine Wisdom recorded in Scripture and your conclusions duly drawn from thence will be clear and sure whether for good or evil God indeed reserves his Soveraignty still to act as he pleases with or without means by them or against them It is his free Grace can save with a notwithstanding mens unworthiness and unpreparedness Yet as he himself walks in his own Road of Scripture and Providence so doth he teach us thus to observe him in observing our selves and others therein to teach us aright what we may regularly expect leaving all Events to his supream Ordering The crazy constitution of things among us and the many Symptoms of our inveterate complicate diseases in all the parts of this great Body redner our condition very suspicious to all
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
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
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
and stones of offence to discourage Gods People He mis-represents them one to another by Calumniations slanders and mistakes A fair varnish doth he put upon the wayes of discord and disorder to inveigle honest plain-hearted Christians under specious colours of Liberty and Purity Power Profit Pleasure and Credit Many false glosses puts he on Scriptures to wrest them to his Ends by Mis-interpreting and mis-applying them against their genuine scope and sence context and harmony He will often be reformer himself Jesu like and drives on furiously that he may undo all by over-doing whether in Church or State He never wants his Saâ—ballats and Tobias his Samaritan Crue to attempt by Fraud what force could not effect sewing the Foxes tail to the Lyons skin He will build also with Gods Nehemias's and be more forward then the best of them that he may ruin all by undermining and counter-working Emissaries of all modes and sorts he ever entertains among Reformers under various disguises of Souldiers and Scholars Merchants and Trades-men Courtiers and Travellers to scatter his Tares and breed divisions against their Peace and for their ruin Flectere si nequeunt Superos Acheronta movebunt All fair and foul means shall be attempted what ever it cost 5. God himself hath a hand in all this permitting and over-ruling all to his Honour and his Peoples good in the Result He can make straight work with crooked Tools and correct the poison to made it useful in his Providential Confections He thereby discovers to his People their secret corruptions which upon boiling work up like froath to be scummed away His Divine Chymistry knows how to extract good out of the worst dung and vilest kind of Evil. The striking of the steel against the flint will seasonably by his Divine hand bring forth sparks both of Truth and Peace Though there be much noise in the providing of all materials for his house yet will he at last perfect its building in Quiet and Peace Every Grace of his wrought in his People hearts by his holy Spirit he doth hereby furbish and exercise to render them more humble and wise more sincere and self-denying more patient and active more zealous and prudent in the wayes of Peace The noise made at the breaking in of Windows for light will be compensated by the Light come in Our sad Experiences of those sinfull Woes attending disorder and discord will make us all to prize and desire to promote and improve Peace at a better rate Wit so bought will make us wiser for the future then to slight our Peace and to venture it as we have hitherto so foolishly done God will over-shoot Satan in his own Bow and magnifie all his glorious attributes in the creating of Peace for his People Christs coming at night after many storms will be most welcome to his wearied disciples though they did for a while mistake him for a Ghost and mistrust his Peace The chaff of his floor will be winnowed and fanned away by such renewed shakings and after this toil some turning up of his ground his Seed and Planâ—s will take and thrive the better The dross shall be consumed and the Gold refined of his Church and People by those many fires that have been so long kindled among them Fourthly The Demonstration will unfold the Reason wrapped up in the very words of the Text. They are his children and their Relation to him is sufficient ground why such Peace-making should be their dignifying Property That filial relation imports three special Things among many others which strongly engage them to this work of his his Nature his Charge and his Interest Reason 1. His Nature is imparted to them by the Spirit of Grace regenerating them that they may partake of the Divine Nature in quality though not in equality in the likeness though not in the sameness in the similitude though not in the substance The Divine Nature Essentially considered is an infinite unchangeable Being and incommunicable to Creatures as indivisible as incomprehensible Men partake not of that they are not they cannot be deified its absurdity and horrid blasphemy to think or say so The substance of God is one pure entire eternal Act admitting of no parts though it admits of three distinct persons in whom it subsists in a mysterious ineffable manner Yet the Scripture speaks both of the name and nature of God effectively and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to mans capacity to be still understood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a sence becoming such a God He is then said to give his name to men and to call them Gods when he puts an office upon them whereby he is to be represented and served among men in a peculiar way He is likewise said to make them partakers of his Divine nature when he works in them a gracious Resemblance of his perfections according to their created capacity Thus man was at first made after Gods Image in his own likeness and Gods Elect are all in due time created anew after the same Image in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness That which is born of the flesh is flesh so that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Such Heaven-born souls are called new Creatures and must needs be duly qualified in some measure answerable to the God of Peace Their sinful Nature being Satans Off-spring bears still his Image in all the black Lineaments of Hell still indisposed and contrary to Peace still disposed and bent to disorder and discord Gods Holy Spirit uniting them to Christ changes their Nature in their gradual sanctification turning their dung-hill heart into a garden and that unclean Den into a holy Temple for his own habitation So far as the renewing Work goes so far do they learn by this gracious Instinct to move after Peace and against sinfull jars in conformity to the Lord himself They are daily taught by the Spirit of Christ now working in their souls much like as their souls work on their bodies through intermediate Spirits to be of the sume mind that was in Jesus Christ towards all kind of Peace By thus putting his Spirit within them in their adoption he causes them to walk in his Statutes of Peace that they may keep his Judgements and do them So far as the heart of stone is taken away from them so far are their sinfull unpeaceable Spirits mortified and subdued so far as he gives them a new heart of flesh so far are their Spirits made plyable and inclined to all the wayes of Peace Their Sanctification is daily carried on in a gradual manner to the crucifying of sin and vivification of every Grace in them This spiritual growth set forth in Scripture by all sorts of increase in Vegetables and in Sensitives is given to all though not in all alike and must needs render them so far like to him bo h in Dignity and Duty Peace-making is
The Lord my Banner Is it h s Presence and Blessing in every Ordinance and Providence that we wholly rest upon to conclude and effect all our Treaties and Matters of Peace either with God or Man Have we none in Heaven but him none on earth in comparison of him When our flesh and our heart fail us is he then most the strength of our heart and our Eternal Portion Do we account it our great dignity to be nothing that he may be All to do nothing through self that he may do all in us by us for us Do we find his Grace so sufficient for us that his strength is still perfected in our weakness so that we may cordially say with the great Apostle When I am weak then am I strong Are we found active in this great duty of Gods Children in imitation of Abrahams Faith to trust him in the mount of Straights in mans extremity not staggering at the Promise through unbelief but being strong in faith to give him Glory in the diligent use of all appointed means or in want thereof Are we thus through his Grace carried on in his Work with dextrous zeal and watchfull dependance that we may demonstrate in our respective Spheres that we are his Children by this signal dignifying property of Peace-making on all occasions Is the joy of the Lord thus our strength continually Vse 4. Singular Consolation flows from this Point also to all faithfull Peace-makers seeing this gives out the proper dignity of Gods Children Such may happily meet with many Reproaches and be slandred opprobriously for Neutral Spirits and timerous Ones They may be accused of luke-warm indifferency and unworthy Compliance Satan will be sure to set out Vertue with the dress of Vice as he still labors to put on Vertue 's Apparel on the contrary Vice But true Peace-makers fare no worse herein then Christ himself and his Apostles did so often mis-judged of and mis-called Honor aud Comfort will never be wanting unto Gods Children whilst they manifest such a dignifying property What is defective to them on mans part shall be surely made good on Gods part with greatest advantage Those that honour him will he still honor but such as despise him shall become vile as base as the dung The Lord will seasonably give strength to his People the Lord will surely bless his People with Peace What ever we bestow on this precious jewel will prove to be of admirable Increase The cost and care bestowed on Gods Work will orderly return with an hundred-fold augment The Children of God are best Merchants their Commodities Trade and Venture Facturage and Gain are all incomparable in all their dealings with him and for him Much study and care much labor and toil will this Work require much self denyal and yielding to others The Market of Peace is often inhanced to very high terms It cost Christ dearer then it can possibly cost us The more we venture the more shall return Such a precious grain will duly afford a plentiful Harvest Our own bosoms shall be the Granaries thereof if others be still estranged from it If we cannot meet with Sons of Peace abroad our Peace like Noahs Dove will return home safe with a surplusage If others cannot be perswaded to come along with us yet shall we not fail to enter into Peace the glorious Palace of Eternal Rest That Rest and Joy of our Master shall be the Portion of all faithfull servants It shall comprehend us that are not able to comprehend it It will entertain those that promoted it If men will not help but discourage us the Lord himself will be our Encouragement Our Peace with him will be best ensured by that Spirit of Peace which he gives us to animate us about his great Work Peace within we shall most enjoy when we have laboured for Peace among Men. What ever men take this Peace and joy of the holy Ghost none can take away Our heavenly father will keep it for us and keep us thereby through faith to Eternal Peace Great Peace have they that love his Laws in order to Peace nothing shall offend them Their work of Faith their Labor of Love and Patience of Hope will not be so succesless as to themselves or others The Lord will speak Peace in the best way and season to his People and Saints that they may not return unto folly If our seed come not up so soon as we wish yet will it appear towards its ripeness as soon as God wils We must not limit nor anticipate him He likes not our Post-dates nor Antidates The Vision of Peace is for an appointed Time It will come and not lie Though it seems to tarry we should wait for it because it will come and not tarry But the just must here exercise his faith whilst others are swelling and sowring through unbelief Our comfort is that our endeavours shall contribute to the Foundation if not to the finishing of the Lords building The deeper and wider he layes his Ground-work the slower yet surer will the Structure of Peace attain to perfection Gods Time is still best so is his Method He is still a God of Judgement blessed are they that so wait on him in the wayes of Peace The meek of the earth that work his Judgements seeking Righteousness and Meekness still in order to Peace shall be sure to be hid under his Covert whilâ—â— his wrath is falling on others All his Promises shall be orderly made good to all his Children He will in due time make their Officers Peace and their Exactors to be Righteousness The turnings of his hand and overturnings of Persons and things will be subservient to the taking away of our dross and purely purging out of our Tin that our Judges may be as at the first and our Counsellors as at the Beginning Zion shall thus be saved with judgement and her Converts in Righteousness Then shall he extend Peace to us as a River and the Glory of the Gentiles as a mighty stream Then shall the Lord be One and his name One throughout the earth Then will he turn to the People a pure Language that they may serve him with one Consent The Lion then shall dwell with the Lamb the Envy of Ephraim shall depart that they may not hurt in his holy Mountain but be filled with the Knowledge of the God of Peace as the waters cover the Sea The King of Peace is nearly concerned in the making good of these and all other Engagements He wants no Skill no Power no Will to the perfect compleating thereof Tout vient a point a qui peut attendre is a Maxim ever verified among all Nations All things conclude well to such as can but wait Patients need Patience under the Physicians hand Gods Children cannot but do well whilst their own Father looks so to them and their elder Brother is their