peace with me that so he may live Reason 2. Why we must give diligence to be at peace and in a reconciled estate with God that so we may be found of Christ in it at his coming Because peace with God is so desirable All peace is desirable whether in a Family or Neighbourhood or Nation but this peace with God is transcendent an incomparable blessing 1. It passeth all understanding all created understanding Phil. 4. 7. 2. It is safeguarding Phil. 4. 7. 3. 'T is part of the Kingdom of God Rom. 14. 17. 4. 'T is everlasting Isa 54. 10. Reason 3. Because to be negligent herein not to be diligent in seeking peace with God is so dangerous For are we able to meet God when he shall come against us See Luke 14. 31 32. Are we stronger than he 1 Cor. 10. 22. Can thy heart endure or can thy hands be strong in the day when God shall deal with thee Ezek. 22. 14. If you rebel and make not your peace with him he will be your enemy and fight against you Isa 63. 10. and Who ever hardned himself against God and prospered Job 9. 4. If you shall not be found of Christ in peace at his coming he will at his coming take vengeance upon you 2 Thes 1. 8. The Use Must we be diligent in seeking peace with God that so we may be found of Christ in peace at his coming Use 1. Examine Have we done our duty herein have we been diligent in making our peace with God and have we made our peace what faith Conscience is there peace between God and you deal truly with your own Souls 1. They that are at peace with God are at war with sin Know ye not the friendship of the world is enmity with God Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God Jam. 4. 4. Now all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life 1 Joh. 2. 16. and whosoever is a friend of these is an enemy of God If any man love these the love of the Father is not in him 1 Joh. 2. 15. These lusts do war against God and the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. and they that are at peace with God and in his favour and have any love to him and their souls cannot be at peace with these with an unlawful immoderate desire after the Profits Pleasures and Honours of this world What say you are you at war with these If you be at peace with these you are not at peace with God 2. They that are at peace with God are in mourning for their former enmity against God when they look on him whom they have pierced they mourn Zâ—ch 12. 10. Now do you do so Do you mourn for your former sinning against God and offending him as one mourneth for his onely Son what and are you in bitterness for it as one that is in bitterness for his first born 3. They that are at peace with God are in care to please God and in fear to offend him for the future Care and Fear are the fruits of godly sorrow for offending God 2 Cor. 7. 11. They that are at peace with God say as Joseph when tempted to sin Gen. 39. 9. Behold now I have peace with God how then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God and so break my peace with him Is it thus with you is there this care and fear in you 4. They that are at peace with God are in pain and heaviness till others especially near Relations be also at peace with God as Paul was Rom 9. 1 2. He had great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart for his brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh because they sought not peace with God by Jesus Christ because they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness had not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God Rom. 10. 3. You have Children and other Relations are you in pain and heaviness till they have made their peace with God is it a grief of heart to you that any of yours should be at war with your God with whom you now are at peace 5. They that are at peace with God are at peace with those that are at peace with God their delight is in them Ps 16. 3. but they are grieved with those that rise up against God Ps 139. 21. they count Gods enemies their enemies v. 22. and Gods friends their friends Is it thus with you 6. They that are at peace with God cannot but wonder and say to God as once Ruth said to Boaz Ruth 2. 10. Why have I found grace in thine eys that thou shouldest take knowledge of me seeing I am a stranger So faith the person that is at peace with God that has found favour in his eyes why have I found this favour who was sometimes alienated and an enemy in my mind by wicked works Is it thus with you 7. They that are at peace with God are joyful in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom they have received the attonement Rom. 5. 11. They rejoyce in Jesus Christ and have no considence in the flesh Phil. 3. 3. They say not unto us not unto us but unto God in Christ be all the glory and praise of our being at peace with God They thank God through Jesus Christ for their being at peace with God They say as Paul Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that we should glory in any thing save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ through which our peace was made Col. 1. 20. Now are you thus joyful in God through our Lord Jesus Christ 8. They that are at peace with God do highly esteem those that have been instrumental in making their peace with God The feet of those that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things are beautiful to them Rom. 10 15. How are they accounted of by you Use 2. Reproof This reproves those that neglect their duty herein that give no diligence to make their peace with God but go on in their enmity and hostility against God As did the old World Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar and Herod when God spake unto them by Noah Moses Daniel and John Raptist But what got they by standing out against God Had it not been better for the old World to have hearkened unto Noah and for Pharaoh to have hearkned unto Moses and for Nebuchadnezzar to have hearkened to Daniel and for Herod to have hearkned to John and so to have prevented that destruction and misery which came upon them Did they do ill in standing out against God and is it not ill in you to do the same can you condemn them and not your selves Sirs you have the offers of peace with God made unto you if you accept not of the offers if you hearken not to the counsel God gives you and shall
travel with 5. That God will not deny them any request that is for their good They may ask what they will and it shall be done for them if it be good for them Joh. 15. 7. And this they may be confident of 1 Joh. 5. 14. If they call God will answer Ps 91. 15 16. and be favourable to them they shall see his face with joy Job 33. 26. Yea sometimes before they call he will answer them and whilst they are yet speaking he will hear Isa 65. 24. 6. That all shall work together for their good Rom. 8. 28. Their wants shall make them pray the more Their sins shall humble them the more Their sorrows and sufferings shall make them slight the world the more Their temptations shall make them exercise grace the more Their spiritual desertions shall set them a longing to be with Christ the more All shall be for their advantage whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the World or Life or Death or things present or things to come all shall be theirs 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. See Jer. 24. 5 6. 7. That the Creatures shall be at peace with them Job 5. 23. Yea their enemies too if it shall be for their good Pro. 16. 7. So that they may sleep securely Job 11. 19. And not be afraid of evil tidings Ps 112. 7. When thou liest down thou shalt not afraid yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet unto thee for the Lord with whom thou art now at peace shall be thy confidence Read Pro. 3. 23 24 25 26. 8. That they shall have confidence at the appearing of Christ and shall not be ashamed before him at his coming 1 Joh. 2. 28. Reader shall I reason with thee 1. Are these things so is this the happiness of a reconciled estate Will God be a friend to such A friend for ever With all that he is has can do or procure Does God take delight and pleasure in such do you believe it nay but do you believe it Will not God deny them any request that is for their good Shall all work together for their good And shall even enemies be at peace with them if for their good I say are these things so do you indeed believe them to be so 2. Say then is not a reconciled estate a happy estate 3. Is not such a happy estate desireable 4. Art thou yet in a reconciled estate Canst sind in thy self the Characters of a reconciled person Look back to the Use of Trial and put again and again the questions to thy self that there are put to thee and allow some time for it deal truly can time be better spent 5. If thou canst not yet satisfie thy self that thou art in a reconciled estate how art thou affected art in trouble about it in care and fear about it 6. If so wouldst thou be in a reconciled estate may one believe thee Is it a comfort to you to think that God is reconcilable through Christ and that he makes the motion to you and will be at peace with you if you will be at peace with him And are they welcom to you that come in Gods Name to make peace between him and you And do you like the terms and cordially accept of peace with him upon these terms 7. Can you be in a reconciled estate without the use of means 8. What are your thoughts of the means prescribed are they good 9. Why then will you not use them Motive 2. The misery of an unreconciled estate which will appear to be great if you consider that unreconciled persons are 1. Enemies to God 2. And God is an enemy to them 1. If you be an unreconciled person thou art an enemy to God and which aggravates thy misery 1. Thou art a weak enemy unable to resist or defend thy self Can thy heart endure or can thy hands be strong in the day when God shall deal with thee Ezek. 22. 14. 2. A poor Enemy that hast nothing to ransom thy self if taken though thou have Silver and Gold never so much for Neither Silver nor Gold shall be able to deliver in the day of the Lords wrath Zeph. 1. 18. 3. A secure Enemy that fearest no danger and therefore thy case the more dangerous When any man shall hear the words of the Curse and yet shall bless himself in his heart and say I shall have peace though he walk in the imagination of his heart the Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven Deut. 29. 19 20. 4. A provoking Enemy that provokest God to his face Isa 65. 3. 5. An Enemy that hast refused proffers of peace Pro. 1. 24. 6. And it may be an Enemy that hast abused those that have been sent to treat with thee about peace with God such as you read of 2 Chr. 36. 16. And if so may not God justly refuse now to be reconciled to thee Because I have called says God and ye have refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded but have set at naught all â—y counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at their calamity and mock when your fear cometh Pro. 1. 24 25 26. Take your Bible and read on to v. 31. And dreadful is that word Ezek. 24. 13 14. In thy filthiness is lewdness Because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not bepurged from thy filthiness any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee I the Lord have spoken it it shall come to pass And I will do it I will not go back neither will I spare neither will I repent according to thy ways and according to thy doings shall they judge thee saith the Lord God Poor Soul what if this Scripture should be fulfilled in thee And what if God should give Satan a commission to fetch away thy unreconciled Soul this night 2. If you be an unreconciled person God is an enemy to thee And he is 1. A potent enemy Nah. 1. 2 3 6. God is jealous and the Lord revengeth the Lord revengeth and is furious the Lord will take vengeance of his Adversaries and he reserveth wrath for his Enemies The Lord is slow to anger and great in power and will not at all acquit the wicked Who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger his fury is poured out like fire and the Rocks are thrown down by him 2. A sworn resolved enemy Deut. 32. 40 41 42. For I lift up my hand to Heaven and say I live for ever If I whet my glittering Sword and my hand take hold on judgment I will render vengeance to mine enemies and I will reward them that hate me 3. An unavoidable enemy Ps 139. 7
blessed estate When Christ who is their life shall appear then do they expect to appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Our conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies and make them like to his own glorious Body Phil 3. 20. According to promise we look for new Heavens and new Earth saith St. Peter 2 Pet. 3. 13. And Paul is confident of rest when the Lord Jesus should be revealed with his mighty Angels 2 Thes 1. 7. Use Approve your selves Believers by looking for this blessed estate and hastening unto it See 2 Pet. 3. 12. Doct. 3. They that do expect this blessed estate must be diligent that they may be found of Christ in peace or a reconciled estate with God at his coming Here I shall shew you 1. What this Peace and Reconciliation with God is 2. How it was effected how brought to pass seeing we were in an estate of variance and enmity 3. That 't is our duty to be diligent to be found in peace in this estate 4. What this diligence is 5. To what this diligence in Scripture is applyed and to what required 6. Why. 7. The Use 1. What this Peace and Reconciliation with God is Answ 'T is the restoring that ancient friendship betwixt God and Man which sin had dissolved Or The reuniting of God and Man which were at odds The healing and making up of the breach between God and Man which sin had made Rightly to understand this know 1. God and Man were once good Friends Man in his estate of innocency was in an estate of unity and amity with God God was well pleased with Man and Man well pleased with God Gen. 1. 31. 2. By mans transgression this friendly estate between God and Man was lost and all mankind plunged into an estate of alienation and aversation from God and enmity against God 3. This alienation and difference is mutual on both sides 1. On Mans. Col. 1. 21. You that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled So Rom. 8. 7. The carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be 2. On Gods God owns him not will have no fellowship with him Mat. 7. 23. Luk. 13. 17. God is so alienated from fallen Man 1. That he abominates his Person and Services 1. His Person Ps 5. 5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight thou hatest all workers of iniquity saith David God is angry with the wicked every day Ps 7. 11. His Soul hateth the wicked Ps 11. 5. 2. His Services He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law even his Prayer shall be abomination Prov. 28. 9. The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord Prov. 15. 8. So Isa 1. 13. Incense is an abomination to me your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth v. 14. They are a trouble to me I am weary to bear them 2. God is so alienated from man that he leaves him under the power of Satan to whom he had yielded himself Ephes 2. 2. 3. And in bondage unto death under which he had brought himself Heb. 2. 14. 4. God is so alienated from him that he leaves him under the power of sin which he had embraced Rom. 6. 16 17. 5. Under the guilt of sin which he had contracted Rom. 3. 19. 6. Under the curse of the Law which he had transgressed Gal. 3. 10 13. 7. Under the wrath of God which he had deserved Ephes 2. 3. Rom. 1. 18. and 5. 9. 4. No man can reconcile himself to God or reingratiate himself with God nor can any creature do it for him Acts 4. 12. Neither salvation nor reconciliation in any other but in Christ for there is none other name under Heaven among men whereby we must be saved or reconciled 5. Jesus Christ a mighty Person undertook the Office of a Mediator and has made peace for many and will make peace for all the Father hath given him This may be illustrated by the making up of the breach between David and Absalom 2 Sam. 14. 1. David and Absalom were good friends at first 2. Absalom kills Amnon and thereby offends David 3. This offence makes a difference between David and Absalom David is wroth Absalom slees and dares not come near his Father 4. Joab uses means and seeks to take up the difference 5. By Joabs means the breach is made up and David and Absalom become good Friends again Even so 1. God and Man were good Friends at first whiles he retained Gods Image 2. Man offends by eating forbidden fruit 3. This offence makes a difference between God and Man 4. Jesus Christ undertakes to make up the difference 5. By means of Jesus Christ God and Man become good Friends again 2. How this peace and reconciliation with God was effected how 't was brought about Answ Much after that manner and by that means that David and Absalom were reconciled 1. Davids heart was towards offending Absalom 2 Sam. 14. 1. Davids Soul longed to go forth unto Absalom but for shame he could have gone himself or sent others to fetch him home O the Ocean of Love that is in a Fathers heart 2 Sam. 13. 39. Even so was Gods heart towards transgressing offending fallen Man His Soul longed to go forth unto fallen man His kindness and love towards man appeared Tit. 3. 4. which Eph. 2. 7. is called the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus This he shewed God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that we might live through him Read Joh. 3. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 9. 2. Joab perceives it 2 Sam. 14. 1. So Christ knew the Fathers love to Man being in his bosom Joh. 1. 18. The onely begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him None knows the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Mat. 11. 27. 3. Joab intercedes for Absaloms return and reception into favour and instructs the Woman of Tekoa to say to David among other things The iniquity be upon me 1 Sam. 14. 9. So saith Christ Man hath sinned let his iniquity be upon me As once Abigail said to David when her Husband had offended Upon me upon me let this iniquity be 1 Sam. 25. 24. And as Rebecca said to Jacob when he feared he should bring a Curse on him by seeking a blessing in a wrong way Upon me be thy curse Gen. 27. 13. So said Christ to his Father Upon me be the curse of the Law which Man hath transgressed And as Paul to Philemon concerning Onesimus Phil. 18. If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee ought put that upon my account So said Christ to his Father What the sinner oweth thee put that upon my account Lo I come saith Christ to do thy will Ps 40.
c. Whither shall I flee from thy presence 4. An immortal enemy not like a Man that shall dye or the Son of Man that shall be made as grass Isa 51. 12. And whilst he is an enemy to thee 1. All his actings towards thee are in a hostile way Isa 63. 10. They rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemy and he fought against them 2. He will not grant your requests Isa 1. 15. When you spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you yea when you make many prayers I will not hear 3. His Creatures are in Arms against you and wait but for a word of command and then will fall upon you as once they did upon Pharaoh 4. You may fear therefore continually day and night and can have no assurance of your life Deut. 28. 66. And now poor unreconciled Soul shall I once more reason with thee Are these things so art thou an enemy to God and is God an enemy unto thee And art thou not only a poor weak enemy no way able to prevent falling into the hands of the living God nor to deliver thy self out of his hands when fallen into it but a secure enemy also a fearless enemy unapprehensive of danger yea a provoking enemy that hast time after time refused proffered peace And is God an enemy unto thee a potent sworn resolved provoked unavoidable immortal enemy to thee And are all his Actings against thee in a Hostile way And will he grant none of thy requests nor have any fellowship with thee And are the Creatures waiting for a command from their great General to fall upon thee And canst thou have no assurance of thy life no not for an hour no not for a minute Is this thy case poor unreconciled Soul what thinkest thou Is this thy case is this thy case wilt thou not be at the pains to think a little Lord what ails thee that thou art not startled affrighted sinking into a swoun at the thoughts thereof What to be an enemy to God and to have God to be an enemy unto thee Is this nothing a thing to be laid to thy heels and not to your heart 1. Is it nothing to reject proffered peace and reconciliation with God will it not bring upon thee double condemnation Reader I beseech thee take thy Bible and before thou read a line more in the Book thou hast in thy hand read Mat. 10. 12 13 14 15. Luke 10. 5 6 10 11 12. And now Reader what sayest thou is it nothing to be under this threatning It shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for thee 2. Is it nothing by thy standing out refusing proffered peace with God to grieve God Christ the Holy Spirit Angels near and dear Relations a Mother it may be that bare thee brought thee forth into the World and nurst thee up who is in travel again till thou be at peace with God is this nothing Once more I beg of thee to take thy Bible and read Mat. 23. 37. Mar. 3. 5. Mar. 8. 12. Luke 19. 41 to the end Zech. 7. 11 12. What more shall I say unto thee poor unreconciled Soul that refusest proffered peace 1. Is it not thy Saviour thy Saviour for all that thou knowest that thou standest out against 2. Art thou without reason natural affection and self love that thou standest out against a Saviour that thou runest from peace and pardon and life 3. What harm will pardon peace reconciliation do thee 4. Wilt not wish first or last that thou hadst accepted of proffered peace with God Reader take thy Bible read Luke 13. 24 25 26 27 28. Good Reader say me not nay read what is written for thy good for thy admonition 5. Would it not be a day of gladness to God Christ Saints Angels and thy Relations and Acquaintants that fear God if thou wouldest be perswaded to come in and be reconciled to God for certain it would Read Luke 15. 6 7 9. Luke 10. 21. Cant. 3. 11. Ps 87. 5 6 7. You will do very little for your souls if you will not be at the pains to read and consider these few Scriptures for their good Come come Reader 6. Is it without a Providence that this Book was put into thy hands and that thou hast had a heart to read it sure not I would hope that God intends thee good by it Good Reader be willing to be saved To come to Christ To endeavour thy peace with God To set about the use of the means before prescribed To try what thou canst do to be at peace with God Come wilt thou try and use the means in good earnest I will promise thee if thou wilt thou shalt not want help God Christ his Spirit good Ministers and People will help thee See Isa 41. 10 13 14. Rom. 8. 26. Ps 89. 19. Ps 72. 15. Ps 118. 25 26. Come Reader do I intreat thee to thy loss or hurt Is it not for thy good Hear it I beseech thee and know it for thy good Job 5. 27. Is it not great rich grace and favour that god doth offer to be at peace with thee And wilt thou receive the Grace of God in vain God forbid In Memory of that very Religious Gentlewoman Mrs. Anne Kyrl the Relict of Colonel Robert Kyrl of Waford and Daughter of William Sellwin of Matson near Gloucester Esquire Who having lived about 46 Years did sweetly fall asleep in Christ March 30 was decently interred April 6. 1677. and is at blessed rest till Christs second appearing to awaken raise and glorifie her with himself for evermore Concerning our dear Friend departed an Exemplar worthy imitation I think I have warrant enough to say something to her praise She was a Woman that feared the Lord and shall she not be praised Solomon says she should Pro. 31. 30. She was a Dorcas why should not the Coats and Garments she made be shewed Acts 9. 39. Christ commended the Faith of the Centurion Mat. 8. 10. And of the Syrophoenician Woman Mar. 7. Mat. 15. 28. And the love and repentance of the Woman that stood at his feet behind him weeping Luke 7. 44 c. And what Mary the Sister of Lazarus Joh. 12. 3. had done in pouring Oyntment on his head he said should be spoken of throughout the world for a memorial of her Mar. 14 9. And for a Memorial of our Friend now sweetly sleeping in Jesus who had as Demetrius a good report of all 3 Joh. 12. I may safely and boldly say 1. That she according to Gods promise looked for new Heavens and a new Earth She looked to things not seen and things that are eternal 2 Cor. 4. She looked for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2. 15. Yea she looked for and hastned unto the coming of the day of God 2. Her looking