Evil all the days of his Life As Sozomen reports l. 7. 6. That Theodosius thâ— Great was preserved from the Contagious Pestilence of Arianism that had over-run all the East by Placilla the Empress who kept him in sanctirate ti mere domini in Holiness and Fear of the Lord And Theodoret tells us l. 5. 18. That his Wife never gave over calling to his Mind the Laws of God that she was well acquainted with and among other things she said unto him My Husband you must remember what you formerly were and what you now arâ— if you perpetually think upon that you will never be ungrateful to your Benefactor but you will justly administer the Empire that you have received from him and upon that account still worship him that hath raised you to that Dignity With such gracious Speeches as these says Theod. she watered her Husband's Mind continually beholding her chaste Conversatition coupled with Fear as the Apostle speaks 1 Pet. 3. 2. Socrates reports l. 9. 26. that Valentinian Major made a wicked Law to his perpeutal infamy That a Man should have two Wives contrary to the Law of God true Piety Christian honesty whereupon Salvian was not afraid to say That the Boars that abhorred that Law lived better than the Nobles that kept it though Baronius in his Annals denies this of him upon small Ground yet it was too true Bloody Lamech was the first Bigamist Gen. 4. 19 23. But to the Man that feareth God in whose Heart is his Law that made one for one yet had he the residue of the Spirit and wherefore one Mal. 2. 14. That he might seek a Seed of God he saith Thy Wise shall be a fruitful Vine by the sides of thy House thy Children like Olive Plants round about thy Table Behold that thus shall the Man be blessed that feareth the Lord. Yea thou shalt see thy Childrens Children and Peace upon Israel Psal 128. 3 4 6. 4. Parents and Children 1. IF the Peace of God rule in the Heart of the Parents which is the second Relation in the World into which they are called by Nature in one Body Parental and Oeconomical then their desire will be That he would circumcise their Hearts and the Heart of their Seed Deut. 30. 6. that he that made them Creatures may also make them new Creatures according to that Speech of St. Paul My little Children of whom I travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you Gal. 4. 19. They will Consecrate them to the Lord in their Conception and solemnly in their Birth and Baptism They will be careful that as new born Babes they may desire the sincere Milk of the word that they may grow thereby And that all their Children may he taught of God the ways of Cod that great may be the Peace of their Children Isa 54. 13. according to the Evangelical Promise in Isaiah Then shall they not be ashamed when they speak with the Enemy in the Gate as the Psalmist speaks Psal 127. 5. Parents ought to bring up their Children for God that their Children may be the Children of God that God may be a Father unto them and they shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 18. They ought not to provoke their Children to wrath lest they be discouraged saith the Apostle but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord as God testifies of Abraham For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him that they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Gen. 18. 19. They ought to say with Joshuah As for me I and my House will serve the Lord Josh 24. 15. and with Holy Job Offer Burnt-Offerings to God according to the number of them Job 1. 5. making mention of them in our Prayers as occasion is offered still going before them in good examples as in holy Instruction they being more apt to do as we do than as we say and do not Not stroking their Heads as Eli did to Hâ—phni and Phineas that were Sons of Belial they knew not the Lord upon whom God did threaten to bring a dreadful Judgment 1 Sam. 2. 12. at which both the Ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle because his Sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not 1 Sam. 3. 11 13. Theodoret relates a famous History of a noble Man of Beroa l. 3. 18. who was the chief Man in that Republick whose eldest Son had polluted himself with Paganish Impiety and forsook the true God and turned Apostate with Julian the Emperor this Father for that cause expelled him out of his House and did Abdicate him from his Inheritance as Adam was driven out of Paradise for eating the forbidden Fruit as a just Punishment of his Apostacy from God The Son went immediately to Julian who at that time was not very far from the City and told him how his Father had served him for renouncing the Christian Religion and embracing his and that he had Disinherited him Julian bids the young Man be of good Cheer and Courage and promiseth to reconcile him to his Father when the Emperor Julian was come into the City he invited the principal Men therein to a solemn Feast and among the rest the Father of this young Man both whom he commanded to sit at his own Table and in the midst of the Feast he spake thus to the Father of the young Apostate SIR I Esteem it altogether Unjust that any Man should offer Violence to the Conscience of him that hath turned aside to another Religion and would force him against his Will to a contrary Opinion compell not your Son therefore to adhere to your Religion though I could easily constrain you to embrace it But the Father sharpning his Mind by Faith in God thus said O Emperor Do you speak of this Knave of this wiched Villain who is hateful to God and hath preferred Falshood to the Truth of God Then Julian putting on the Person of Mansuetude for such he would seem to be Come saith he give over to revile and turning himself to the young Man he said I will take care of you seeing I cannot obtain this of your Father But The Tyrant was false as all Apostates are for not long after he fell in Persia with all the Threatnings that he had not obscurely thundred out against the good Father of this vile young Man that had forsaken the living God That he might say to a Stock thou art my Father and to a Stone thou host brought me forth as the Prophet Jeremiah speaks Jer. 2. 7. So that great Man shines as a singular Example of Zeal in the Church of God which all Parents ought to look upon who desire to preserve the true Religion in their Family that they may give a comfortable Account of all
never entred into his Thoughts of appearing in Print as contenting himself with doing his Duty to God in teaching of his Flook at home and preaching Christ and him Crucified with in his own Precinct and Province the care of those Souls under his Tuition being the ultimate of his VVork and Study where accordingly he took occasion to lay hold of so Heavenly an Admonition and Preached to his Parishioners on the very Text so warn'd by the Voice of a Raven but when in a remoter station in the Country he had understood that several little trivial Penny-Books and Ballads had been printed and dispersed here in London giving a Narration of the said wonderful thing and considered that so great a Truth was published in such a manner hereupon as he very well knew how many Notorious Fictions and Fooleries are daily imposed upon the VVorld in such trifling Pamphlets searce one in three truth Therefore to rescue this serious Narration from falling under Scandal and Reproach from such a Publication as such may render it doubted and suspected he perswaded himself together with the prevailing importunity of Friends to let this Discourse of his contrary to his usual modesty be made publick in the VVorld as indeed hoping in some measure to do some good Christian Service therein as far as lay in his Powâ—r 'T is on this Account Christian Reader that this following Discourse is presented to thy Hand and under such Credentials 't is hoped with the Grace of God that the seasonable Precepts contained therein may be of Efficacy and Force to work a lively sense in thy Heart of that just and high value we ought to set upon the Peace of God here offered by the Apostle to thy most earnest seeking and desire And withal though this Voice of a Raven thus Commission'd from above in the utterance of such a Heavenly Admonition seemed to direct his stupendious Language to a particular private Family which Private Family through God's great Goodness and Mercy have since received the wonderful effects of the said Heavenly Admonition being all reconciled and united in a most perfect Love and Amity undoubtedly the purport of that Language so marvellous in our Ears had a further and larger Extent as being indeed a general Awakning Alarm to all Mankind Union and Concord being the fairest and largest Branches of that greatest of our Divine Apostolical Instructions Charity Most certainly this wondrous Warning piece though more immediately pointing to a single Family was intended for an Universal Call and Thou and We and all the Professors of Christianity are thus called by a gracious God from the highest to the lowest from the Cottage to the Throne to Unity and Love as the effectual means of attaining the Peace of God which is the Fundamental and Basis of our Happiness both in this VVorld and the VVorld to come the Blessing both of Heaven and Earth As such therefore kind Reader be pleased to accept it and if it may be any ways instrumental towards that great end the obtaining the Peace of God to thy Soul the Author has his Labour more than rewarded And so Farewel COL Chap. III. Ver. xv And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be yo thankful THese Words well Beloved in our Lord have ever since run in my Mind since we were in so unusual and miraculous a manner directed unto them by the unsearchable wisdom of God that doth nothing in an extraordinary way but for most excellent Ends and Purposes And although the more I have thought of them the more Difficulties have presented themselves unto me insomuch that I have endeavoured to remove my Thoughts from them to some other place yet I know not how I have been still rowled back to them again for to use the words of the Prophet They were in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary with forbearing and I could not stay Jer. 20. 9. I resolved at length to make them the ground of my Speech to you at this time which the Lord grant may be with as much profit to you all as both I bring desire unfeigned and the Scripture it self affords occasion thereto And that indeed is very remarkable in many regards They are first the words of God not only as all other holy Scripture from Divine Inspiration 2 Tim. 3. 26. in which sort the words of holy men yea of wicked men yea of wicked Spirits themselves at least as far forth as to the recital of them are the words of God but these of my Text have been pointed at of late by a new Inspiration from God in the Mouth of a Raven in a distinct and audible Voice He that spake of old from Heaven on Mount Sinai in the sight and hearing of all Israel hath commanded us to look seriously into this Scripture If Paul said to King Agrippa That he was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision Acts 26. 19. Why should I or you be disobedient to the heavenly Voice of this Text and not say with the Psalmist I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints Psalm 85. 8. Never more necessary than in this Contentious Age but let them not turn again to folly Now because this Voice came not because of me or the Childs sake only that heard it but for your sakes also and for all that are a far off Isa 57. 19. that are concerned with us in this peace of God I will endeavour to look into and open this Scripture unto you that all that have an Ear to hear may hear with Reverence what the Spirit of God speaks to the Churches 1. Sam. 3. 19. Rev. 2. 17. in it that we may not let it fall to the ground That which Chrysostom hath in his Entrance to entreat upon this Epistle seems to me not untruly nor unfitly said These Epistles which the Apostle writeth out of Prison such as are to the Ephesians whereto this hath wonderful likeness to the Philippians to the Hebrews to Philemon the 2d to Timothy have I know not what more than ordinary Portion of the Power of Pauls Spirit appearing in them 1. Whether because he was now come near to the end of his Life and so the Graces of God's Spirit in him to perfection Or 2. that Afflictions have a special power to enlarge our hearts and make them apt for heavenly Exercises as indeed the Truth never thrives better than under the Cross Or 3. that the Auditor now conceives Paul as the same Chrysostom speaks like a noble Conquerour Inditing or Writing amidst his slaughter'd Enemies amidst his Trophies the durable Monuments of his Glory Now if you please I will add a word or two touching the Argument or general scope of this whole Epistle before I come to the particular handling of the Words of the Text It may appearby
encrease of God And the Apostle to the Romans So we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another Rom. 12. v. 5. and 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. There is one body and one spirit and Ephes 4. 4. and v. 12. For the edifying of the body of Christ So Ephes 5. 23. He is the head of the body the Church and Col. 1. 18. and Chap. 2. v. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come but the body is Christ And be ye thankful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The former Translation reads it and be ye the amiable This word is not found any where that I know or can meet with in this sense divers of the same Stock I may say and mark still signifie thankful and so do others beside Chrysostom the Syriack Interpreter referring it to Christ although seeing it is put in rank with Duties pertaining to men I rather take it of thankfulness to men each to other of that after Such then is the sense of the words wherein we are exhorted to two Vertues Peace and Thankfulness There be two parts of the words that concern Peace first the Duty Let the peace of God rule in your hearts Secondly two Reasons 1. God's calling You are called to peace The second Reason is That you are in one body Peace which is the Duty that we are exhorted unto is a Moral or to speak in Christian language a Theological Vertue of that worth and excellency which we are bidden to suffer to marshal us and all our actions to give Peace the preheminence let it rule in God's Name in us and over us It is the Peace of God The Evangelical Observation is this Observ That when there shall be a Conflict in our Thoughts between Anger Swelling Disdain Ambition Revenge and on the other side Meekness Mercy Humility Love yea sometimes Justice then let Peace bear the sway and order all things It is not then tho' still to be desired yet to be hoped for so much to be without Conflict with our Passions as regarded that at least they be well Marshalled a wrestling there will be only beware this Contention be not without a Moderator of the Strife which must be Peace Trem. renders it thus Pax sit moderatrix in cordibus vestris Let Peace be the Moderatrix in your hearts It is not to be expected then but there will be Contentions Discords and thereupon troublesom Affections which will strive for the Mastery and dominion as was amongst the Apostles themselves for by the way they had disputed Who should be greatest saith St. Mark 9. v. 34. but yet let Peace rule let her always in your hearts win and have the upper-hand as Erasmus renders this Phrase in his Paraphrase upon this Epistle This was the case between Abraham and his Nephew Lot when there was a strife between the Herdmen of Abraham's Cattel and the Herdmen of Lot's Cattel and the Canaanite and the Perizite dwelt then in the Land Gen. 13. 7 8. And Abraham said unto Lot Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee and between my herdmen and thy herdmen for we are brethren Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are men-brethren and so Peace and Love decided the Controversie and prevented all future occasions of difference between the two Families The Reasons of Dissentions are either inward or outward 1. Inward are many first Defects of Understanding when men are not rightly informed and acquainted with all matters Abimelec pleads thus and justifies himself to Abraham who had reproved him because of a Well of Water which Abimelec's Servants had violently taken away Gen. 21. 25. And Abimelec said I wot not who hath done this thing neither didst thou tell me neither yet heard I of it but to day A right understanding prevented a sad falling out and danger of War between the Israelites and the men of Gilead about the Altar of memorial that was reared up at the Banks of Jordan till the true meaning thereof was known Josh 22 12. The whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shilo to go up to war against them 2. Weakness of Judgment is a second Reason of Dissention for though in general we may discern what is good or evil as that no man is to be wronged and that we must do unto others as we would be done unto yet when we come to the particulars we resolve far otherwise Deteriora sequor 3. Stifness in Opinions once received and entertained is an occasion of continued Differences even amongst men of the same Profession as between the Pharisees and Saduces there arose a Dissention and the Multitude was divided Acts 23. v. 7. 4. Pride is a great Makebate only by Pride cometh contention saith Solomon Prov. 13. 10. Men have forgotten that exhortation of the Apostle Peter Yea all of you be subject to one another and be clothed with humility for God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble 1 Pet. 5. 5. 5. Envy is a cause of deadly Dissentions insomuch that Solomon asks the Question Prov. 27. 4. Who is able to stand before envy before this Son of Anak The ground of the first Quarrel between Cain and Abel that ended in innocent blood Gen. 4. 5. The Lord had respect to Abel and his Offering but to Cain and his Offering he had no respect and Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell Moses tells us That Jacob heard Laban's Sons say Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's hath he gotten all this glory and Jacob heheld the countenance of Laban and behold it was not towards him as before This occasioned Jacob's stealing away from Laban secretly with all that he had as ye read Gen. 31. 1 2. 27. 31. See also Gen. 27. 41. where it is recorded That Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him and Esau said in his heart the days of mourning for my father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob. Again Genes 37. 4. 8. When Joseph'd brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him and his brethren said unto him Shalt thou indeed reign over us and shalt thou indeed have dominion over us and they hated him yet more for his dreams and for his words Stephen the Proto-martyr quotes this Scripture in his last Speech before the Jewish Sanhedrim and the Patriarchs moved with envy sold Joseph into Egypt but God was with him Acts 7. v. 9. Enviest thou for my sake saith Moses to Joshua that would have him forbid Eldad and Medad to prophecy in the camp would God all the people of the Land were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them Numb 11. v. 29. What a dreadful Judgment did Envy bring upon Corah and his Confederates when they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said
unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the congregation are saints every one of them and the Lord is among them wherefore then lift ye up your selves above the congregation of the Lord Num. 16. 3. 32. The earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up c. Pilate had rather released Jesus than Barabbas for he knew that for Envy they had delivered him Matth. 27. 18. And the Contention was so sharp saith Luke between Paul and Barnabas Acts 15 39. that they departed asunder the one from the other men that had had hazarded their lives often for the Name of the Lord Jesus as all the first Synod at Jerusalem testifie to the Gentiles under their hands v. 26. Two Apostolick men of whom the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them and when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they sent them away Acts 13. 2 3. I find Strife and envying always joyned together as Rom. 13. 13. Let us walk honestly as in the day not in strife and envying 1 Cor. 3. 3. For are ye not carnal whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions or factions are ye not carnal and walk as men And James â—aith That where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work Or as the Original bears it Tumult and unquietness Jam. 3. 16. Thus I have briefly searched into the inward Reasons of Dissentions according as the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures hath laid them before us 2. The outward Reasons of them are 1. Satan the old Serpent that kept not his first station Jude 6. but brake his own peace with God in Heaven and ours with our God in Paradise and ever since with one another that slips no occasion to sow the Tares of dissention in the Lord's field and persecutes the Woman that brought forth the Man-child Rev. 12. 13. 17. as hotly as ever because he knoweth that he hath but a short time between him and the Lake spoken of Rev. 20. 14. to break the peace and hinder her prosperity By making war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ the things that shall come upon him and his followers make haste Deut. 32. 35. Secondly Wicked men set on by Satan to set us together by the ears that they may weaken us by our own powers The Church had sometimes rest from her Paganish Enemies and Persecutors but never from her own Children that she had nourished and brought up yet they rebelled asainst her Isa 1. 2. That came to her in Sheeps-clothing but inwardly they were Ravening Wolves as our Lord describes them Matth. 7. 15. Such were the Arians of old whose Divisions and Cruelties exceeded the Paganish as much as the Popish exceed all that were before them in Malice Hatred and Cruelty towards God's People of which the Apostle gave warning to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus saying For I know that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock and also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them Acts 20. 29 30. And again he would have Timothy to know that in the last days perilous times should come which he describes so exactly as if he had lived in our days to behold them 2 Tim. 3. verse 1 2 3 4 c. The next Observation from these words is this Obs 2. That the Peace of God ruling in the hearts of Believers is the only remedy against all Dissentions inward and outward which is here called God's peace for these Reasons Reas 1. For indeed he and he alone it is that makes men to be of one mind together Rom. 15. 5. 2 Cor. 13. 11. the work of godly union is the Prerogative of God according to the Name that Gideon gave to the Altar that he built in Ophrah when he was made Captain General against the Midianites he called it Jehovah Shalem that is the God of peace or the Lord send peace which he did grant his people for forty years after the defeat of their invading and presumptuous Enemies by the Sword of the Lord and the Sword of Gideon Judg. 6. 24. and Chap. 8. 28. Reas 2. Because it is God alone that makes the Enemies to be at peace together with those that he loves as Solomon speaks Prov. 16. 8. When a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even his Enemies to be at peace with him I make peace saith the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 47. 7. 3. He is termed by the Name of The God of peace Prov. 15. 15. Not only in respect of the giving spiritual peace of Conscience which is a continual Feast but this inward peace of Affections and outward carriage towards others as our Apostle concludes his Second Epistle to the Corinthians among whom there had been many Dissentions and Contentions 1 Cor. 1. 11. Finally my brethren farewel be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you 2 Cor. 13. 11. 4. Lastly he is called The God of peace not only essentially but also personally Obs 3. God in the unity of Essence and Trinity of Persons is the God of peace there is a most blessed and eternal peace between them 1. God in the unity of Essence is the God of peace the Apostle concludes the 15th Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans thus Now the God of peace be with you all Amen and to the Philippians he writes thus The things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you Phil. 4. v. 9. 2. God the Father the first Person in order of the glorious Trinity is styled the God of peace as the Fountain and first Author of it and who in that he is our Father in Christ loves us and will not see us want any good thing Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights saith St. James 1. 17. and our Apostle concludes his Epistle to the Hebrews with this Prayer Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen Heb. 13. 20 21. 3. God the Son the second Person in the blessed Trinity is also styled the God of peace as the Deserver of all that is to be given us and Bestower who by Office and Authority is able to dispence from the Father unto us his Subjects such things as we have need of whereof Grace and Peace are the chief Jewels as verse 2.
of the first Chapter The Syriack reads this Text thus Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts He is our peace saith the Prophet Micah 5. 5. and this man shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall tread in our land The Prophet Isaiah calls him the Prince of peace Isa 9. 6. as typified by Melchisedeck King of Shalem the true King of peace as the Apostle renders his Royal Titles first beng by interpretation King of righteousness and after that also King of Salem which is King of peace Heb. 7. 2. and well may he deserve that honourable Title For he is our peace saith the Apostle to the Ephesians Ephes 2. 14. Who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us between Jews and Gentiles and between our God and us having made peace through the blood of his Cross saith he in the First Chapter of his Epistle and 20th verse He is our Peace-maker with God Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5. 1. At his Birth all the Militia of Heaven sang this joyful Ditty in a Proclamation of Peace Glory to God in the highest peace on earth good will towards men Luke 2 14. At his Death he left us a Legacy of peace My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth I give unto you John 14. 27. 4. God the Holy Ghost the third Person of the glorious Trinity is the God of peace the Spirit of peace and love And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly the conclusion of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians ch 5. ver 23. He is the Sanctifier of all the Elect people of God The excellent fruits of this God of peace are set down by the Apostle to the Galatians But the fruits of the Spirit are love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law Gal. 5. 22. And because the God head and Consubstantiality of the Son with the Father is by all this discourse approved and that also of the Holy Ghost I will conclude this Point after the phrase of the Athanasian Creed The Father is the God of peace the Son is the God of peace and the Holy Ghost is the God of peace and yet they are not three Gods of peace but one God of peace And with that Prayer wherewith the Apostle concludes his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians which includes all this Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means the Lord be with you all 2 Thess 3. v. 16. Observ 4. In the brief Application of this Point before I proceed any further let us observe for our Instruction That this is a close Argument to perswade the more to permit this Peace to hold the Mastery in us because it is God's and so indeed God shall rule in our hearts by his peace The name of the King's Peace is of no small weight as to repress the Outrage of the Unruly It ought to be at least when the Officer cries I charge you in the King's Name to keep the King's Peace God's Sacred Name is greater that is King of Kings and Lord of Lords the greater their Sin that break his Peace at once offending God and the King Exhort Let us not say then we will not have his Peace rule in our hearts as those Ill-bred Citizens that hated their Noble Lord and sent a Message after him saying We will not have this man to rule over us Luke 19. 14. but rather as the men of Israel said to Gideon Rule thou over us both thou and thy son and thy son's son also for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian Judg. 8. 22. And hath made peace in our borders as the Psalmist sings Psalm 147. 14. Let every one of us say with him again and again I will hearken what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people c. Psal 85. 8. To the which also ye are called in one body Now to the Apostle's Reasons why this Peace of God should rule in our hearts which are two First God's calling Ye are called to peace For the meaning whereof it is as much as to say As God when he severe you from the World would lay this task upon you to have peace rule in you for this was the Prophecy of Isaiah concerning the times of the Gospel that cruel and savage Beasts should lay down their fierceness Lions Wolves Serpents learn other manners and become at unity with Lambs Oxen Children c. This purpose of God you must become Instruments to bring to pass The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lye down with the Kid the Calf and the young Lion and the Fatling together and a little Child shall lead them and the Cow and the Bear shall feed their young ones shall lye down together and the Lion shall eat Straw like the Ox and the sucking Child shall play on the hole of the Asp and the weaned child shall put his hand on the Cookatrice den they shall not hunt nor destroy in all my holy mountain For the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea Isa 11. 6 7 8. A great shame for a Minister of outward peace to break the peace A Justice who is the Conservator of the Peace or a Constable who is sworn to see the Peace kent to be a Fighter or maker of Frays Penal it is in a high degree when a man is bound to the Peace to be a Striker So it is surely a shame and a just cause of shame when a Christian who by his Calling is bound to the Peace to be a Quarreller Make-bate Ranter c. Christianus contentiosus was one of the greatest Paradoxes and Scandals in the Primitive Church The Apostle Paul in the Sixth Chapter of his First Epistle to the Corinths reproves the Corinthians for their breach of God's Peace that ought to rule in their hearts for Lawing one with another before Heathen Judges when there was not so much as a Christian Constable in the World which Fault having very sharply reproved and told them of another course by Arbitrement even of the meanest of the Church if there were no other wise or able man amongthem He presseth so far as to say They ought rather to suffer wrong whereas they wronged their Brethren whereupon endeavouring to remedy this matter in the root he appeals to their knowledge if Injustice as many other Sins did not exclude from the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven yes he avouches it and so falling off into a more gentle manner he tells them roundly what they were sometimes but now by the Grace of God otherwise he leaves it to be esteemed then that to those things they ought not to return again that are inconsistent with this Evangelical
Peace of God See 1 Cor. 1. 10. Now I beseech you brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no division among you that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment Exhort Let us then for the better calming of our Passions bethink us and ask our selves these few Questions First Who and what we are and were Our Lord resolveth this Question chiefly in his Epistle to the Church of Laodicea Because thou sayest I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayâ—st be rich and white rayment that thou mayest be cloathed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see Rev. 3. v. 17. 18. Secondly Who it is that calls us When our Lord commanded blind Bartimeus to be called that cried after him Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me And they call the blind man saying unto him be of good comfort rise he calleth thee and he casting away his garment rose and came to Jesus Mark 10. 50. So ought we to cast away all our Animosities and petty Dissentions and admit this sweet and easie Yoak of the Peace of God to rule in our hearts for faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it saith the Apostle 1 Thess 5. 24. And again God is faithful by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord saith the Apostle Peter 1. 2. 9. 2. From the dominion of sin and Satan unto the glorious liberty of the children of God Rom. 8. 21. Gal. 5. 1. From the troubles of this tumultuous World that is like the raging Sea that cannot rest and the Christians are as weary of it as David was of Mesek when he said Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesek that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar my Soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace I am for peace but when I speak they are for war And again he said O that I had wings like a Dove for then would I flye away and be at rest Psalm 55. v. 6. Upon which account our Lord calleth his Church from the World the Seat of cruel men to Heaven in these endearing expressions Come with me from Lebanon my Spouse with me from Lebanon loâ—k from the top of Amana from the top of Shema and Harmon from the Lions Den from the Mountain of the Leopards Cant. 4. 9. Fourthly Unto what are we called God hath called us unto peace 1 Cor. 7. 15. Let our Calling admonish us of our Duty We are called unto Peace saith this Text also Peace peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him Isa 57. 19. Knowing this that we are thereunto called that we should inherit a blessing saith Peter 1 Pet. 3. 9. And what greater blessing than peace that in the bowels of it hath all blessings lodged And our Apostle tells us above Sixteen hundred years ago That the God of peace shall bruise Satan the grand Enemy of our peace under our feet shortly Rom. 26. v. 20. That we may know in this our day the things that belong to our peace that they be not hid from our eyes as our Lord spake when he wept over Jerusalem Luke 19. 42. I will conclude this first Reason Why the peace of God should bear rule in our hearts Because we are called thereunto with our Lords charge to his Disciples in bidding them Beware of offences He concludes his Speech thus Have salt in your selves and have peace on with another Mark 9. 42. 50. Where the Salt of true Grace is it will make the means of peace sweet and savoury and no stain of corruption or the least unsavouriness shall remain to disrelish any squeamish Stomach Let us remember withal That he that is the God of peace that hath called us to peace is also the God of all grace Who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus as Peter speaks 1 Pet. 5. 10. And so an entrance shall be ministred unto us abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. v. 1 1 where we shall enjoy everlasting peace Reas 2. The second Reason why the peace of God should rule in our hearts is this That we are in one body For that this is a distinct Reason appears because he says Not unto our body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in one body This Similitude more fully is as much as to say You Christians with Christ make as it were a body Therefore as it were monstrous if one body should yield members fighting one against another and making as it were a civil war in the natural body So it is if disorder be found amongst you Christians that which Christ makes up a mystical body The resembling Christians to a body is at large exemplified and garnished 1 Cor. 12. and in divers other places of Scripture mentioned Val. Max. Flor. tit 1. P. 27. Yea we read in the Roman History That upon a time there was a great Sedition in the City of Rome the Commons complaining of the Senate and Nobility rose up tumultuously against them One Menenius Agrippa wiser than the rest brought them to peace and unity again by this very Similitude of Members and Body and made such an Oration unto them At what time said he in man's Body the Members did not as now agree in one but each had his several counsel and speech the rest of the parts had indignation that by their care labour and industry and ministry all things were provided for the Belly it being quiet and at ease in the midst did nought else but enjoy the Pleasures that were given it Whereupon they conspired that the Hand should not reach any meat to the Mouth nor the Mouth receive it being given nor the Teeth chew it Whilst thus enraged they would needs master the Belly with Famine The Members themselves withal and the whole Body came to an extream Consumption whereby appeared that the Bellies Service was not the worst nor slackest that it did not less nourish than receive nourishment yielding back into all the parts the life and blood which having digested the meat it laboureth thereout and divideth withal into the Veins and Conduits of the whole Body Such said he is the Civil Discord and Anger of the People against the Senate By this means he perswaded the People to lay down their Arms and so turned their Minds from their intended Hostility and Violence to Unity and Peâ—ace And indeed the Apostle's Speech If ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another Gal. 5. 25. tends to the same
I did it to God's Glory that I might express my Thankfulness to him and the joy of my Heart in doing him Service whom since the rest know not they are not to be respected if they scorn nor is it to be wondred if they be strangely affected with it as above the compass of their Conceit Fifthly How without hope of Requital are all yea the least of God's benefits that call for Thankfulness a cup of cold water only given to drink in Christ's name because ye belong to Christ shall not lose a just and superabundant requital saith our Lord Mar. 9. 41. See the full and final requital of all good and charitable Deeds Matth. 25. 34 35 36. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world For I was an hungry and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prinson and ye came unto me The Wicked he requites here sometimes in their own Coin as Adoni bezek acknowledgeth when his thumbs and great toes were cut off As I have done to threescore and ten Kings so hath the Lord requited me Judg. 1. 7. We are all ready enough to requite Evil for Evil to give him quid pro quo as good as he brings as the Proverb rimes as Sampson served the Philistines As they have done unto me so have I done unto them Jud. 15. 11. But it being impossible to requite God in any thing it is a most heinous Provocation of his justice to render Evil for Good Do ye thus provoke the Lord O foolish people and unwise saith Moses with Astonishment and Abhorrency Deut. 32. 6. 'T is left as a sad blot in Hezekiah's Scutcheon tho' otherwise a good Man and a good King by God's own Testimony He trusted in the Lord God of Israel so that after him there was none like him among all the Kings of Judah nor any that were before him But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him for his heart was lifted up therefore there was wroth upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem 2 Chr. 32. 25. For after the defeat of Senacherib's Forces by an Angel of God that slew in one night an hundred fourscore and five thousand men of war in the Assyrian Camp and after the recovery of his Health confirmed by a sign from Heaven in the Sun's Retrogradation by ten degrees and the addition by Patent from God of fifteen years to his days with exceeding much Riches and Honour yet for all this he was not so careful to please God in an humble and thankful Acknowledgment of such great Favours as God was to pleasure him in them all Sixthly Consider from what odds the Person giving to our baseness have been all his benefits he being the great Independent Jehovah greatness is stampt upon all his Benefits to us and we a Seed of evil Doers a people laden with Iniquity children that are corrupters our spot is not the spot of his Children we are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked and in want of all things as our Lord writes to the Church of Laodicea Rev. 3. v. 17. Lastly Consider with what advantage of time and order in first bestowing have his Benefits been to us No eye pittied thee to have compassion upon thee I said unto thee when thou wast in thy Blood live saith the Lord Ezek. 16. 5 6. we love him because he first loved us saith the Apostle 1 Joh. 4. 19. His love to us is an antecedent love we love him with a consequential love because he hath cast his love upon us first and therefore is no way indebted to us for our love The Apostle asks this question Who hath first given unto him and it shall berecompenced to him again for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Rom. 11. v. 35 36. It is said by some we can never requite our Parents by some also we owe more to our Masters and Teachers than to Parents in as much as one gave being the other well being doubtless in both respects we cannot requite God and Christ First Our Parents begat our Bodies he gave us our senses who is therefore styled by the Apostle The Father of our Spirits Heb. 12. 9. 2. Our Masters and Teachers gave us with God's Blessing Knowledge and Learning Christ teacheth us the way to Heaven who is the Way the Truth and the Life Christ gave himself to us and for us to wash us from our Sins in his own Blood Joh. 14. 6. without which it had been better for us to have been any thing rather than men yea at all not to have been Let us with the Psalmist again and again say What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psal 116. 12. all his benefits are above us even the one also of our former means to express Gratitude here fails us what can we wish or desire to the most absolute and perfect Being Only we may acknowledge the Benefits and the Excellency and Liberality of the Giver which further may desire that all others would do the like this is our utmost unless further to endeavour not to be disobedient to this Heavenly Author of much good to us which yet is our duty otherwise the less we have means to the former the more ought we to be in this and say with the Man after God's own Heart I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live I will sing praises to my God while I have my being my Meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord Psal 103. 33 34. and in another At Midnight will I rise to give thanks to thee because of thy righteous Judgments Psal 119. 62. Let us beg of him as another Benefit that he will give us Grace and a mind to do these things who hath given the ground an occasion of them even the same our Lord Jesus Christ Now because the Apostle Peter saith no Prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation 2 Pet. 1. 20. so neither are all of sole private application but some are of a larger Extent and Compass than others if I should have studied long for a fit Text Psal 119. 16. Thy commandment iâ— exceeding broad and turned the whole Scripture I could not have had a fitter passage or greaâ—◠〈◊〉 in all the Book of God he calls more both for private and publick application than this that is in so strange a manner laid open before us to look into it and yet no more strange than true as the truth is in Jesu before whom I stand for this Doctrin of the Peace of God that ought to rule in the Hearts of all Believers gives great help advantage and admonition to Kings Law-makers Rulers to
or Jehoshaphet you marcht out against the Enemies of God and Man or else he hath none in this World and he in whom ye trusted hath made you more than Conqueror in pacifying Scotland subduing Ireland and preserving the Peace and safety of England and in checking the Pride and Insolency of your sworn Enemies beyond Sea and setting a bound to it that it cannot pass and though the Waves thereof toss themselves yet they cannot prevail tho' they roar yet can they not pass over it Jer. 5. 22. as the Prophet speaks of God's bounding the Sea when he said Hitherto shalt thou come and no further and here shall thy proud waves stay themselves Job 38. 11. Your Majesties Soul is bound up in the bundle of Life with the Lord your God in all your hazardous high and honourable undertakings and the souls of your Enemies them shall he fling out as out of the middle of a sling as vertuous Abigail speaks to King David 1 Sam. 25. 29. For as an Angel of God so is my Lord the King to discern good and bad therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee saith the wiâ—e Woman of Tekoah to the King 2 Sam. 14. 17. Therefore saith he to the God of this Life Draw me not away with the wicked and with the workers of Iniquity which speak peace to their Neighbours but mischief is in their hearts For they speak not peace but devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the Land Psal 28 3. and 35. 20. If the Peace of God rule in your Royal Heart because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him I will set him on high because he hath known my name saith God to David He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him and honour him with long life will I satisfie him and shew my salvation Psal 91. 14 15 16. no richer Promises in all the Book of God than those that are made to God's King and again I will make thy officers peace and thine exactors righteousness violence shall be no more heard in thy Land wasting nor destruction within thy borders Thy people shall be all righteous saith the Prophet Isa 60. 17 18 21. And the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever and my people shall dwell in peaceable habitations and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places Isa 32. 17 18. Again Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee Isa 26. 4. For the King trusteth in the Lord and through the mercy of God he shall not be moved saith King David Psal 21. 7. and therefore he protests thus For my brethren and companions sakes I will now say Peace be within thee Psal 122. 8 But who were these Men whom the King honoured thus to account his Royal Brethren and worthy Companions Not such as the sons of Zeruiah that were his Cousins and were too hard for him 2 Sam. 3. 39. that were bloody Men and Murdererers of Princes nor such as Haman the Agagite Companion to King Ahasuerus that plotted and contrived the murder of all Gods people in one day Esth 3. 8 9. nor such as Doeg the Edomite that at Saul's Command butchered the Priests of the Lord even four score and five persons that did wear a Linnen Ephod 1 Sam. 22. 18. in his eyes all such vile persons were contemned Psal 15. 4. as David professeth he would know no such wicked personss they should not tarry in his sight Psal 101. 4. 7. But he tells us I am companion to all them that fear thee to them that keep thy precepts Psal 119. 63 65. to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Psal 16. 3. why so Because the Law of God is in his Heart what Law The Law of Peace Great peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them Psal 119. 165. Then there shall be no breaking in by foreign Invasion nor going out by domestick Insurrection no complaining in our Streets Happy is that people that is in such a case the Psalmist corrects himself yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord Psal 144. 15. whose peace rules in their hearts My second Address shall be in all due Reverence and Humility to the Right Honourable the High Court of Parliament consisting of Lords and Commons I will with Jeremiah the Prophet get me unto the great Men and speak unto them I hope with better acceptance and Success than he did for they have known the way of the Lord and the judgment of their God Jer. 5. 5. are better acquainted with it having had better breeding and means of instruction than others of meaner Estate Let the Peace of God rule in your Hearts unto which ye are all called in one Body politick That ye all speak the same thing that there be no divisions among you but that you be perfectly joyned together in the same â—â—ind and in the same judgment as the Apostle charges the Corinthians by the name of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1. 10. That there be in none of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Or amongst you a profane person as Esau to sell his bitth right for a Mess of Popery as he did for a mess of Pottage as the Apostle speaks Heb. 3. 12. and ch 12. 16. You are the most solemn Representative of our Church and State our Law-makers and living Laws are the most honourable Assembly of Christians under Heaven at this day an Assembly of Philosophers and Divines yea of Kings and Priests unto God the Father and his Christ Rev. 1. 6. You are our first born that have a double portion of Honour put upon you above your Brethren to be our Rulers and Law-givers to use the Apostle's words You are a chosen Generation a royal priest-hood a holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him that hath called you out of darkness unto his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. As those that sate there before you above an Hundred and Twenty Years ago were like so many Zorobabels that led the people of God from Caldean to Babylon that laid the foundation of our Reformation upon Christ anotheâ— foundation no man câ—n lay 1 Cor. 3. 11. saith the Apostle and his truth and sounded by the Trumpet of the Gospel a fair retreat from Romish Popish Babylon the mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth Rev. 17. 5. the mistress of Witchcrafts that selleth nations through her whoredoms and families through her witchcrafts Nah. 3. 4. as the Prophet speaks so God hath called you together that your Hands may finish it that ye may bring forth the head-stone thereof with shouting crying Grace grace unto it as the Angel speaks Zach. 4. 7. That
she that is your Enemy may see it and shame may cover her Mic. 7. 10. That she may be removed that nothing of her be left amo 〈…〉 of her Idolatry and Superstition 〈…〉 your selves in array against Fren 〈…〉 abylon round about all ye that tred the bow shoot at her spare no Arrows for she hath sinned against the Lord saith the Prophet Jer. 50. 14. Some rubbish that escaped our first Reformers was left in the fall of so ancient and great a Building which remains yet untaken away but incumbers the Ground which in the Prayers that we are commanded to use in our Monthly Fasts run thus namely in the Prayer for the High Court of Parliament That all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours upon the best and surest foundations that Peace and Happiness Truth and Justice Religion and Piety may be established among us from all Generations Now another Foundation of Peace and Happiness can no Man lay than Christ and his Word We need not send to Rome nor any where else for any thing that concerns Religion The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart saith the Apostle Rom. 10. 8. and we are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone Eph. 2. 20. In the Prayer for the reformed Churches Purge all thy Churches from their Dreggs and make them meet for a glorious Deliverance that all the World may see that Salvation belongs to our God In the last Prayer Give us Grace Lord seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy Divisions take away all hatred and prejudice and whatsoever may hinder us from Godly Union and Concord that as these is but one Body and one Spirit and one Hope of our Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of us all so we may henceforth be all of one Heart and of one Soul united in one Holy Body of Truth and Peace of Faith and Charity and may with one Mind and one Mouth glorifie thee O God through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The like Expressions are in the Prayer for the whole State of Christ's Church Militant here on Earth Let us deal plainly with God and our own Consciences and those to whom these Prayers are recommended unless we think to please God and Men with a few fair words of Devotion when our Heart is far from him and the performance of these things we pray for as the East is from the West Be not deceived saith the Apostle God will not be mocked Gal. 6. 6. however we may deceive Men with words smoother than butter but war is in the heart with words softer than oyl yet are they drawn swords Psal 55. 21. Is not this a casting of God's words behind us and taking his name in vain That lays us open to that surprizing expression of our Lord ex ore tuo est have ye not reason to fear the Lords Censure of the Elders of Israel that came and sate before Ezekiel in Babylon concerning whom the word of the Lord came unto him saying Son of man these men have set up their Idols in their hearts and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face should I be enquired of at all by them Exek 14. 3. And that of the Prophet Jeremiah that from the Prophets of Jerusalem hypocrisie is gone out into all the land Jer. 23. 15. If we build continually by our practice that which wont seem to destroy so solemnly by our Prayer what do we make of our selves in the Eyes of the World but Transgressors Gal. 2. 18. Children in whom is no faith Deut. 32. 20. What then are these Dreggs we desire God to deliver us from Are they not the remainder of our natural Corruption and the sin which doth so easily beset us within and of Popery without that have been a snare to us and removed our Souls far from Peace that we may be delivered from them as well as other reformed Churches Again What are these great dangers that we are in by our unhappy Division for the laying of which seriously to Heart we beg God's Grace Are they about matters of no value that in the ballance of the Sanctuary have Tekel written on them as being altogether higher than Vanity Are we like the Man lying in a ditch praying Lord have mercy upon me and yet will not stir Hand nor Foot to help himself out If we will not prevent these dangers when we know what the late attempt to remove the occasion of them cost these Nations that were sore afflicted and sorely tossed with the tempest of a long bloody War and not fully comforted to this day Again Take away all Hatred and Prejudice and whatsoever else may hinder us from Godly Union and Concord And we will part with nothing by our good Will that may please many good people and can never tend to the real damage of any but add more fuel still to the old hatred and prejudice until that be taken out of the way by which the offence cometh that may kindle a fire that will never be quenched and feed a worm that shall never die Mar. 9. 46. from which Judgment the Lord deliver us Lastly All the terms of Union of Peace and Love in Heaven and Earth are mustred up together one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God c. many Vanities that we may with one Mouth and one Mind glorifie God c. Here a Man would think If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort in love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels or mercies if any truth in men Phil. 2. 1. that we are resolved now to fill the Evangelical Prophecy of Zephany to serve the Lord with a pure lip and with one shoulder Zeph. 3. 9. with Uniformity of Doctrine Worship and Discipline that there may be one Lord and his name one according to that of the Prophet Zach. 14. 9. Lord put this heart in those that have commanded us to put up those sweet words to God in truth and simplicity of Heart Amen That we may not be said to have a form of godliness 2 Tim. 3. 5. is an outward delineation of piety of peace and unity denying the power and practise of it as the Apostle speaks or as Jeremiah They have healed the hurt of the Daughter of the my people slighted saying peace peace when there was no peace Jer. 6. 14. and those that are required to make their Addresses to God in these words say Hast thou utterly rejected Judah hath thy soul loathed Zion why hast thou smitten us and there is no healing for us we looked for peace and there is no good and for a time of healing and behold trouble Jer. 14. 19. Then said I ah Lord God surely thou hast greatly deceivid this people and Jerusalem saying ye shall have peace whereas the sword reacheth unto
when there seemed to be but a step between us and ruin which I write not to puff us up with Pride nor Himself whose not the least Praise is that he delights not in the hearing of his own Praise but to make us thankful and to stir us up to pray heartily to God for him that he would keep his Mind in him for evermore and confirm his love to him for ever Bless Lord his substance and accept the work of his Hands for thy Church and People smite through the Loyns of those that rise up against him and of them that hate him that they rise no more which is Moses's Prayer for Levi. Deut. 33. 11. See David's Prayer 1 Chron. 29. 18. O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel our Fathers keep this for ever in the Imagination of the Thoughts of the Heart of thy People and prepare their Heart unto thee that at length our Eyes may behold that joyful sight That Mercy and Truth are met together that Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other Psal 85. 10. as the Psalmist speaks and the full Accomplishment of that Evangelical Promise Violence shall be no more heard in thy Land Wasting nor Destruction within thy Borders that Men may call our Walls Salvation and our Gates Praise Isa 60. 18. that when he rests from his Labours his Works may follow him My next Address is to you my Reverend Brethren of the Ministry of the New Testament to you in a special manner is the Word of his Salvation sent Acts 13. 26. as the Apostle speaks to the Church of Corinth being by nature as hateful to God and hating one another Tit. 3. 3. as those that are embodied with you Let the Peace of God rule in your Hearts into which ye are called not only in one Body Mystical as all Christians are but also into one Body Ecclesiastical and be ye thankful that ye be all of one Mind 1 Cor. 1. 10. We are Embassadors for Christ the Prince of Peace the King of Peace upon whom the Chastisement of our Peace was laid Isa 53. 5. That came and preached Peace to you that were afar off and to them that were near saith the Apostle Eph. 2. 17. and hath left us a Legacy of Peace and hath committed unto us the Ministry of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 19. the Gospel of Peace Rom. 10. 15. O that it might be said of us under the New Testament as he speaks of Levi in the Old He walked with me in Peace and Equity and did turn many from Iniquity Mal. 2. 6. Let us be diligent in our Master's work like faithful and wise Stewards whom our Lord hath made Rulers over his Houshold to give them their portion of meat in their due season Blessed are those Servants whom our Lord when he cometh shall find so doing of a Truth I say unto you that he will make them Rulers of all that he hath Luk. 12. 42 43 44. That we may recover poor Sinners out of the Snare of the Devil who are taken Captives by him at his Will 2 Tim. 2. 25. That when the chief Shepherd shall appear we may be found of him in Peace without spot and blameless and receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 14. That being Teachers sent of God to teach the way of God in Truth may shine as the brightness of the Firmament and by turning many to Righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever as the Prophet Daniel speaks Dan. 12. 3. Now since God by this Text as by the tenor of the whole Book of God calls us to Peace how many of our Profession are counted the greatest Enemies to it in the whole Kingdom as being neither Peace-makers nor Peace-keepers with our Neighbours but by Austerity and Severity exacting our dues to the utmost Farthing with such rigour as the Sons of Eli did use that were Sons of Belial and knew not the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 12. contrary to that Spirit of the Gospel which Christ's own Disciples were ignorant of when they would have consumed the Samaritans with Fire from Heaven as Elijah did the Guards of Ahaziah Luk. 9. 55. and putting their Parishioners into the Court often for very small matters as if they sought not them but theirs so contrary to the Apostle as if Destruction and Misery were in their ways and the way of Peace they had not known as the Apostle speaks of the Gentiles Rom. 3. 17. Hence it is in the first place that Men prosper not under the means of Grace as thinking it impossible that the same Fountain should at the same place or spring-head send forth sweet Water and bitter as St. James speaks Jam. 3. 11. And that Men abhor the Offerings of the Lord as if all soughe their own and not the things which are Jesus Christs Phil. 2. 21. which the Israelites are recorded to have done of old for the vileness of their Priests that with Force and Cruelty ruled over them and many depart from them with Indignation to more peaceable Assemblies of Christians without any purpose to return because their Shepherds have caused them to go astray as the Prophet Jeremiah speaks ch 50. 6. And since our Liturgy that we read daily is so full of good Prayers Collects and Requests for Peace that God who is the Author of Peace and lover of Concord would give to all Nations Unity Peace and Concord Let this Charity begin at home and let us with our Apostle follow after the things that make most for Peace and the things wherewith we may edifie one another Rom. 14. 17 19. and ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord Men shall call you the Ministers of our God ye shall eat the Riches of the Gentiles and in their Glory shall ye boast your selves as the Evangelical Prophet speaks Isa 61. 6. lest the Lord divide us in Jacob and scatter us in Israel as he did Simeon and Levi that were Brethren in Evil but not in any good to their perpetual in famy remembring always that he that soweth Discord among Brethren is one of the seven things that are an Abomination to the Lord as Solomon speaks Prov. 6. 16. Again our Brethren that profess the same Faith of Christ crucified with us yet dissent from us in some Externals and Circumstances about Religion lay to our charge that we hang all our Religion and Ministration upon certain stinted Forms and Canonical Offices upon Persons and Places Times Canonical Hours Vestures Postures and Gestures c. and that under the Fig-leaves of Formality in the worship of God we cover all Iniquity as the Church of Rome doth whose whole Religion is nothing else but a Congeries of such insipid stuff And that of late we were ready upon the advance of Popery to turn Papists rather than part with our Livings perceiving some to be turned aside already after Satan like fallen Stars and others with Demas to forsake us
be hid from their Eyes Luk. 19. 42. they will not only follow Peace with one another but with all Men Assenters and Dissenters as much as in them lies and Holiness without which no Man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. That they may see the travel of their Soul and be satisfied that the work of the Lord is carried along prosperously in their hand Is 53. 11. They will be gentle to their People as another Paul we were gentle among you even as a Nurse cherâ—sheth her Children Ye are Witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe And ye know how we exhorted comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children 1 Thess 2. 10 11. Exhorting them as Fathers Mothers Children Brethren 1 Tim. 5. 1 2. as St. Paul instructs Timothy avoiding Non-residence especially in this State and Time when they are making a Captain to return to Egypt Numb 14. 4. that it may not be said of us That they that lead thy People caused them to err and they that are led by them are destroyed Isa 3. 12. and they that rule over them make them to howl Isa 52. 5. I doubt not but the Prudence and Moderation of the Wise and Learned Men will silence all Controversies Eusebius tells us in the Life of Constantine that he said in the Synod of Nice that the Dissentions of Church-Men among themselves was an Evil beyond all Calamities and any Foreign Wars whatsoever Surely they will not shed the Blood of War in Peace as Joab did that put the Blood of War upon the Girdle that was about his Loins and upon his Shooes that were upon his Feet for which David left him a Bloody Legacy Let not his hoary Head go down to the Grave in Peace 1 Kin. 1. 5. Under Valens the Emperor saith Socrates l. 4. c. 29. by occasion of one Godly Man a grievous and dangerous War that was undertaken against the Roman Empire was extinct The Saracens had made defection from Roman Empire and under the Conduct of their Queen Mavia began an Offensive War and that on a most Advantageous Opportunity when the Goths were wasting all Thracia and therefore all the Roman Provinces towards the East they are the words of Socrates had been over-run and wasted by the Saracens The occasion was this one Moses a Saracen by Nation lived a Solitary Life in a Desert who for his eminent Piety Constancy Faith and Miracles was very famous Mavia the Queen of the Saracens desires the Romans to design this Godly Man for their Bishop and promiseth to lay down her Arms to disband her Forces and to be at Peace with the Romans Dictum factum 't is done immediately and so by the Peace of God ruling in the Heart of this Godly Man and of his Queen a great Fire is suddenly quenched Sozomon tells us l. 7. c. 3. That under Theodosius the Great the People of Antioch had dejected the Statues of the Emperor and Empress and most ignominiously dragg'd them with a Rope through the Streets of the City adding most contumelious and disgraceful words no doubt by the instigation of the Devil Theodosius hearing of this Affront and Disgrace was highly displeased and resolved to be avenged on them for this Insolency whereof the People of Antioch being aware began to relent to leave off their Fury and to repent and to beg with Sighs and Groans Favour of God to turn his Heart that they might not be suddenly destroyed They composed certain mournful Ditties and Funeral Songs which they used in their solemn Prayers at the Throne of Grace and they sent their Bishop Flavianus to the Empâ—ror to appease his Wrath towards them the which that he might effectuate he perswaded and prevailed with the young Men that used to sing at the Emperors Table to sing those mournful Songs by which the Men of Antioch had made their Supplications to God in their fear and dangerous Condition with which the Emperor was so taken and surprized that a Flood of Tears gusht from his Eyes immediately and wet the Cup that was in his Hand and understanding the matter he calls Flavianus and laid aside his Anger and frankly forgave the City Thus ye see how the Peace of God ruled in the Heart of this Prudent and Godly Bishop and his Emperor Theodosius to prevent the Ruin of the great City of Antioch where the Disciples were called Christians first Act. 11. 26. Now If the Son of Peace be in your Houses or Parishes Luk. 10. 6. that is any Men capable of that Blessing and disposed to receive the Doctrin of Peace which you Preach your Peace shall rest upon it then doubtless ye my keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Eph. 4. 3. you may follow Peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure Heart 2 Tim. 2. 22. tho' dissenting from you in a few small Matters Thus shall we procure the love of our Heavenly Father for if Earthly Parents take Comfort to see their Children kind peaceful and helpful to one another it cannot be but he that hath all perfections that are in us in the highest degree shall likewise both approve in this World and reward in that to come our love to and Peace with one another and say Euge serve bone c. Pâ—ssid in vita August c. 17. and upon their Death-Bed say with Ambrose non sic vixi ut me pudeat inter vos vivere sed non mori timeo quia bonum dominum habemus that I have not so lived as to be ashamed to live any longer among you but neither am I afraid to die because we have a good Lord and that of St. Paul I have fought a good fight I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but to them also that love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. 2. If the Peace of God rule in the Hearts of our Hearers they will account the Elders that rule well worthy of double honour especially they that labour in the Word and Doctrin as the Apostle speaks 1 Tim. 5. 17. They will remember them that hath the rule over them who have spoken unto them the word of God whose Faith they follow considering the end of their Conversation and a little after Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you saith the same Apostle Heb. 13. â—7 17. 1. Let them hold such Dear for their Master's sake Now then saith the Apostle we are Ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God 2 Cor.