fruit of Righteousness is sown in Peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them that make Peace Jam. 3. 18. Alas How many have been Praying for Peace when they have been making of bate and blowing the Trumpet of Warr at the same time when they have been Praying for Peace And when with their Lips they have cryed out Peace Peace the Prophet's character was but too fitly appliable to them The way of Peace they have not known They had the words of Peace but not the way of Peace Let us have both or we were as good have neither Live in peace saith the Apostle and the God of Peace shall be with you 2 Cor. 13. 11. 3. Be sure to keep up a continual Warr with your sins as ever you do expect a continuance of your Peace Sin is the grand Troubler of Israel the great Disturber of all our peace External Internal and Eternal These Lusts of ours are great Fighters great Warriours if you will believe St. Peter 1 Pet. 2. 11. Dearly Beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which warr against the Soul They warr against the soul but they warr against the State and the Kingdom too Is it Peace Jehu said Joram 2 King 9. 22. But see his answer What Peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezebel and her Witchcrafts are so many It is indeed the wonderful mercy of God considering the gross Abominations Prophaneness and Impieties that the Land groans under that we have any peace at all Do we live like a People that have been lately Redeemed and so miraculously redeemed that the World stands amazed at it Do we behave our selves like a People that have seen miracles that have seen the Red-Sea dryed up and the Egyptians drowned and have our selves gone through on dry foot Or rather are we not like those Israelites who were no sooner out of the Red-Sea but they forgat that ever they were in and fell to tempting of God afresh Psal 78. 17. 106. 13 14. and sinned yet more and believed not his wondrous works The Trojans when they thought the Grecians were gone home Invadunt urbem somo vinoque sepultam were all drunk for joy and that same night the Grecians came back again and cut all their throats Let us fear lest God find out if not the same yet new scourges for us if we continue still in our old sins or add new sins to those old ones And may we not fear it when instead of the old we have a new Generation of Atheists risen up Out of the Serpents Root is come forth a Cockatrice Isa 14. 29. and what can the fruit of it be but a fiery flying Serpent Men that that when they swear do now and then call themselves Christians and when they pray do usually desire God to damn them but when they are serious do question whether there be any such thing as Damnation at all any Resurrection of the Body or Life Everlasting and you may be sure they live accordingly The Sadduces are put to silence Mat. 12. 34. and lo the Epicureans take their turn against the Word of God Act. 17. 18. and the Apostolical Doctrin Italian spirits right who think A Christian and a Fool are terms convertible And what is the difference betwixt a seduced Quaker that would serve God if he could tell how and a prophane Epicure that is satisfied how he ought to serve God but will not O kill this Atheism these gross Abominations that will else undoubtedly be the Disturbers of our Peace 4. And lastly In all our Prayers for Jerusalems Peace there are four things in this Psalm that must not be forgotten 1. Forget not the Throne of David Pray heartily for his Majesty that his Crown may flourish on his Head that his Sword may prosper in his Hand having Charles the Great 's Motto upon it Carolus Custos decem praeceptorum Charles Lord Keeper of the Ten Commandements Our Life is bound up in the King's Life our Peace in his Peace And therefore let not any uncircumcised Lips pray so for the King as some Male-contents did heretofore whose very Prayers for him were very Libels against him Which being so worded that the Law might not spell Treason out of them were poured into the Ears of the People under a pretence of offering them up to God Whether God heard such Prayers or no it mattered not they were sure the People did and it was from that great Idol they principally expected an answer to their Petitions Let me shew you a more excellent way out of Tertullian who gives us the substance of the Primitive Christians Prayers even for Heathen Emperours and what would they have done if they had had the happiness to live under Christian Kings They did pray for them Vitam prolixam Imperium securum domum tutam Tertul. Apolog. cap. 30. exercitus fortes senatum fidelem populum probum orbem quietum Long Life a secure Government a safe House valiant Armies wise Counsellors a Loyal People a peaceable World Not a word of Libel in all this Pray let there be no more of it amongst us Psal 89. 51. Good Subjects cannot endure to hear the Foot-steps of the Lord 's Anointed slandered and good Christians should not make Religion a Cloak for Disloyalty 2. Forget not the Seats of Judgment that they may be filled up successively with faithful couragious conscientious Magistrates such as fear God Exod. 18. 21. men of Truth hating Covetousness that Judgment may run down as Waters Amos 5. 24. and Righteousness as a mighty stream My Lord it would be presumption in me to undertake to teach your Lordship your Duty which I doubt not you know and practise better than I can teach you but I would willingly teach the People their Duties to you of which Prayer for you is not the least The Apostle wills that Prayers and supplications be made for Kings and for all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2. 2. And as we are to submit our selves to the King as Supreme I wonder how that Title came to give offence so likewise unto Governours that are sent by him for the punishment of evil Doers and for the praise of them that do well 1 Pet. 2. 14. As therefore our Saviour tells his Disciples Luk. 10. 16. He that despiseth you despiseth me because they had their Commission from him so by the same Reason he that despiseth you despiseth him that sent you that is his Majesty Pray then for the Magistrates Pray for the Judges that God would assist them and give them a measure of his Spirit proportionable to their work 3. Forget not the Testimony of Israel that is the Church And what can we pray for in her behalf more seasonably than That God would heal all our Breaches and unite if not all our Heads yet all our Hearts and fill up every Candlestick that is empty with burning and shining Lights and let his People have evermore Pastors after his own Heart such as may be Patterns of holiness in their Lives as well as Preachers of Truth in their Doctrine 4. Last of all Forget not the Tribes of Jacob Pray for them the whole Body of the People that they may be 1. Unanimous not any longer divided in principles and practices in hearts and affections but all as one man standing up in the Cause of God and the King 2. Religious that Prophaneness may not put forth her Horns in the Land now the Horns of Rebellion are pulled in but that we may be unto God a Kingdom of Priests a holy Nation Exod. 19. 6. 3. Prov. 24. 21. Loyal fearing God and the King and not medling with those that are given to change Not tempted by the smooth words and flattering kisses of a disloyal Absalom nor encouraged by the Trumpet of a Rebellious son of Bichri to turn again unto Folly And then to this which hath been spoken I need add no more but only the words of the Psalmist Happy is that People that is in such a case yea happy is that People whose God is the Lord Psal 144. 15. FINIS
An Exhortation to PRAYER FOR Jerusalems Peace IN A SERMON PREACHED At Dorchester at the Assizes holden there for the County of Dorset March 19. 1662. By HENRY GLOVER Rector of Shroton in the same County Rom. 12. 18. If it be possible as much as lyeth in you Live peaceably with all men Orare Cleri Caesaris Pugnare LONDON Printed by E. Cotes for William Church-hill Bookseller in Dorchester 1663. To the Worshipful WOLLEY MELLER Esq High Sheriff of the County of Dorset Mr. Sheriff WHen you first engaged me to preach the Assize-Sermon I little thought but that when the Pulpit-work was done my Notes might have gone quietly to sleep among their Fellows I never dreamt of my Lord the Judge his Invitation nor your Injunction nor the Desires of many others to have them made Publique i. e. to expose both my self and them to Censure Nor am I ignorant of the disadvantages that a plain Sermon receives by the Press There 's many an ordinary Face that at a glance appears lovely and hath something in it that pleases but when it is gazed upon and exactly pryed into discovers its own disproportions So it is with many Printed Sermons they may please in the Pulpit but are more laid open to view by the Press I suppose this will be one of them But this is my Comfort that though I was never so fond upon it as to think it a Beauty yet I am satisfied that it is very honest And some ingenuous dispositions may like it for that for its simplicity and well-meaning and others that are more censorious may yet for its moderation and general aim not be so rude as to fall foul upon a harmless Creature which intended no more hurt but only to perswade men to Peace and according to its little strength endeavour a Reconciliation at least a Mitigation of our never enough to be lamented Divisions And so being protected by its own Innocency as harmless Children are in less Danger in a Fray than quarrelling Ruffians I hope it may quietly go up and down the World a little while I am sure it cannot be long and at last dy in Peace However it speed you see I have at your Request overcome those difficulties which made me loath to venture it abroad And since you would not be denyed my Notes I have made choice of this way to transmit them to you rather than deliver them over to the Tormentors I mean Unskilful Scribes 〈…〉 of whom St. Hierom once complained that they did write Non quod inveniunt sed quod intelligunt dum alienos errores emendare nituntur ostendunt suos I confess I was loath to have my Notes mangled by many written Copies and therefore had rather trust to the Curtesie of one Press than many Pens If it may tend in the least to God's glory the Churche's Peace and the Satisfaction of your self and other worthy Persons that set me upon it I have all I aim at and shall remain Sir Your humble Servant in Christ Henry Glover An Exhortation to PRAYER FOR JERVSALEMS-PEACE PSALM 122. 6. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem THe Author and Pen-man of this Psalm was David in the Title the Time and Occasion of Penning it conceived to be at the Removing of the Ark to Jerusalem 2 Sam. 6. 5. when David danced before it and as some think snng this Psalm to the Harp in that solemnity The Parts of it are Principally Two viz. David's Joy and David's Devotion 1. David's Joy in the first five verses and it ariseth from several Springs or Heads 1. From the Readiness and forwardness of Worshippers in that solemn Religious Transaction Vers 1 2. I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the House of the Lord Our Feet shall stand within thy Gates O Jerusalem The People encouraged one another to go up with the Ark and even animated the King to use no delays about it They brought It up with shouting and with the sound of the Trumpet 2 Sam 6. 15. The good King was glad to see his Subjects so forward in that pious service And indeed it 's matter of great Joy to see a joyful harmony of Worshippers in the Service of God to see Families and Housholds encouraging one another to serve the Lord to hear Neighbour calling to Neighbour and Friend to Friend and Family to Family as Isai 2. 3. Come and let us go up to the House of the Lord this is matter of great Joy 2. From the Unity and Concord of the Church of God at that time in matters of Worship and Religion Jerusalem was Conjuncta sibi pariter Vers 3. at unity with it self 2. Sam. 5. 7. The Jebusites were now driven out and the people of God were of one heart and mind They had not divided Churches and Worship and Worshippers as it fell out afterward when the Kingdom was divided but they could all joyn together in the same service Here was Uniformity without an Act. Thither the Tribes went up even the Tribes of the Lord unto the Testimony of Israel to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord Vers 4. All the Tribes went up thither Deut. 12. ◠according to God's own appointment This was their happiness and O that it might be ours As long as one is for Paul another for Apollos and a third for Cephas it must needs make a Rupture in the Church and the dividing into parcels is the weakning of the whole By reason of which many are left in the case of which Melancthon once complained Quos fugiamus habemus quos sequamur non intelligimus they know whom to avoid but scarce whom follow God Almighty pour down a Spirit of Peace and Love amongst us that if we cannot come fully up to the Primitive temper of minding and speaking all the same things yet at least small differences in Judgment may not being heightned with animosities make eternal breaches in the Affections of Christians 3. From the due Administration of Justice in that Religious City Vers 5. There were set Thrones of Judgment the Thrones of the house of David Justice and Religion Piety and Policy went here hand in hand Exod. 4. 16. And this is matter of great Joy when Moses and Aaron go out and in together Moses Aaron's hand and Aaron Moses mouth These two I mean Justice and Religion are the two Pillars upon which the Fabrique of a Kingdom stands and therefore the Sampsons of Sedition do usually set their shoulders to both of them at once Though indeed the fall of either of them makes way to the Ruin of the other pull down one and you pull down both These two as they stand opposed to the Flouds of Belial on the right hand and on the left are like the Banks of a great River no sooner beat down or over-born but in comes a whole Sea of Atheism Heresie Violence and Injury to the utter Ruin and Desolation both of Church and
State And so much for David's Joy next we come to his Devotion He first exhorts others to pray Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and then he prays himself and withal prescribes them a Form or Method of Prayer to this purpose Peace be within thy Walls and prosperity within thy Pallaces I am to meddle with nothing but the Exhortation and there you have 1. A Duty enjoyned Pray 2. The Blessing to be prayed for Peace 3. The specification of this Peace The Peace of Jerusalem And so we have three things to insist upon Here is Peace the choisest earthly Blessing here is the Peace of Jerusalem the choisest earthly Peace and here is Prayer the choisest heavenly Means to procure it Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Now in handling of these I shall 1. Speak a word or two for the Explication of the Text. 2. A word to each Branch in particular and so shut up all with all with a short Application 1. Jerusalem must be taken here in a twofold Capacity 'T is a trite Observation and I shall but touch it As it was now that the Ark was brought thither and placed in the Tabernacle that David had pitched for it the place of Gods Worship 2 Sam. 6. 17. The place he had chosen out of all the Tribes to put his Name there as it had the Tabernacle and Oracles of God the Ordinances and Divine Service Heb. 9. 1. so it must be taken for the Church Thither the Tribes went up the Tribes of the Lord unto the Testimony of Israel i. e. to the Ark of the Covenant which contained the Testimony of Gods presence with the Israelites Exod. 25. 21 22. But then as it was the Metropolis of the Kingdom and had the Thrones of Judgment where publique Justice was administred to the Nation vers 5. so it must be taken for the State Joyn both together and to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem is to pray for the Peace both of Church and State in which we live 2. Peace in the Hebrew Idiome is usually taken for all manner of Prosperity And this is an Observation as common as their Vulgar Salutation Peace be unto you which is equivalent to that of ours I wish you all happiness Peace being such a voluminous Blessing that it contains all other blessings as it were in its belly And hereupon they used the word upon all occasions insomuch that it is sometimes put by a Catachresis to signifie the prosperous success even of Warr it self So 2 Sam. 11. 7. David demanded of Uriah How Joab did and how the People did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Concerning the Peace of the Warr that is as our Translators render it How the Warr prospered But here the Blessing of Peace must keep correspondence with the subject of it under its twofold notion viz. Jerusalem as referred both to the Church and State The Peace of Jerusalem under the first sense is the publique tranquillity and quiet State of the Church when it is not rent by Schisms and Heresies within nor torn in pieces by Persecuters and Tyrants without The Peace of Jerusalem under the second sense is the tranquillity of the Weal-Publique when it is free from intestine broyls and civil commotions at home and from forrain Invasions and Warrs abroad 3. It will not be amiss to take notice of a twofold Elegancy in the Text it self which carries in its own bosom a secret but serious Invitation to this Excellent duty 1. Jerusalem whose peace we are exhorted to pray for doth signifie The Vision of Peace At first it was called only Salem Peace Melchisedech King of Salem that is King of Peace Heb. 7. 2. But afterward when Abrahams 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jireh was prefixed to Melchisedechs Salem Gen. 22. 14. it became Jerusalem a Vision of Peace And so the Text runs thus Pray for the Peace of the Vision of Peace Blessed be God our Jerusalem is now become a Vision of Peace again it hath been an Aceldam◠a field of Bloud a Vision of Division and Confusion but now it is a Vision of Peace we see it and bless God for it O then Pray for the peace of this Vision of Peace that is Pray for the Continuance of it that it may be long and ever so And cursed be he that riseth up again to build Jericho who ever he be that takes the Sword to that intent let him perish by the Sword That 's the first Elegancy and so farr we can trace it in our own Language Pray for the Peace of the Vision of Peace 2. But the other Elegancy lies deeper in the Native words of the Text and is not renderable in another Tongue Each word in the Original doth as it were Eccho to his fellow in such a delightful Paronomasia that a learned man affirms There is scarse such another piece of Rhetorique in the whole Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Methinks the elegancy of the words do as it were bespeak the excellency of the Blessing Jerusalems Peace and the excellency of the Duty of Praying for it And so I come now from the Explication in General to the Particulars of my Text Pray and Pray for Peace and for this Peace especially the Peace of Jerusalem 1. Pray The effectual fervent Prayer of a Righteous man availeth much saith Saint James ch 5. 16. And the Apostle in that place shews us the soveraign vertue and efficacy of Prayer which for me to enlarge upon here would look as if I thought I were preaching to an Heathen Auditory and seem to intimate that these I talked to did not know it Prayer is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the words of Damascen the soul 's climbing up by Jacob's Ladder into heaven and by it we converse chiefly with God while we are on Earth A duty so incorporated into Christianity that Prayer is that to Christians which breathing is to other creatures Qui per fidem vivunt spirant per preces saith one they that live by Faith do breathe by Prayer otherwise it is sign they are dead in sin It is a Christians wrestling with God and prevailing Hos 12. 4. Such pious Lips drop Balm upon the Countreys and places where they live and such healing tongues as Solomon calls them are a Tree of Life Prov. 15. 4. And when Christians do thus break their Alabaster-boxes to anoint their Saviour's feet the smell of the persume fills the house and the odours of these golden Vials ascend up before God Rev. 5. 8. with 8. 4. Now then if God alone can give Peace and he is the Author of it I make peace and create evil saith God Esa 45. 7. and Thou Lord wilt ordain Peace for us saith the Church Isa 26. 12. then certainly Prayer is the great Engine to draw down Peace to procure such a blessing from Heaven and continue it to us when procured They are praying Christians that pump hard and stop the leaks to save the Vessel
from drowning whilest prophane ones are fast asleep in the midst of a storm What meanest thou O sleeper arise and call upon thy God c. But every one that calls is not answered Prov. 1. 28. There is a holy Art in Prayer which none but the truly spiritual Christian is acquainted withall There must be Fire put to the Incense to make it smoak and this Fire must come from Heaven If God do not kindle his own Sacrifice as he did Elijah's it will not accepted 1 King 18. 38. The great Art is to fetch fire from heaven As the Phoenix they say by fluttering and clapping her Wings sets her Aromatique Rest on fire so should a Christian by rouzing his Affections inflame his Devotions It is not the talking Tongue but the flaming Heart that God regards To pray and say ones prayers are two things though they may be done both at once Look what the difference is between a Parrots and a faithful Christians saying of his Creed and that is the difference between a prophane and a pious person's Prayers The words may possibly be the same but by Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain Heb. 11. 4. To make Prayer effectual St. James saith it must be fervent and that is reckoned by one among the four hard labours D◠exel viz. a Woman in travel a School-master in the School a Commander in Warre and one that prays in the Church There 's many a cold earthly-minded Petitioner that deals by Prayer as a child that snaps in a Fire-lock and quarrels because it will not go off when there is nothing but Ashes in the Gun Their hearts are charged with Ashes and they want heavenly Affections to drive their Supplications into Heaven For want of this it may possibly be that some complain they are not edified and find fault with our Prayers when they should lay the blame upon themselves One and the same Duty may be like the Pillar Exod. 14. 20. that conducted Israel out of Egypt towards Israel a bright flame towards Egypt a black clowd But let Prayer be fervent and what wonders will it do Men may think there are nearer wayes to Peace than by Prayer the Arms of the mighty the Counsels of the wise may do more good But certainly it is much to be feared that if Prayer be laid aside Psal 76. 5. the Men of might will not find their hands nor the men of wisdom their heads When Theodosius fought that famous battle against Eugenius in which the very Heavens and Winds and Elements assisted him De Civ Dei lib. 5. cap. 26. St. Augustine saith that Magis orando quà m feriendo pugnavit He prayed more than he fought 2 King 6. 12. 18. 20. Elisha's Prayers did the King of Syria more mischief than the King of Israel's Sword 2 Chron. 31. 20 21. and Hezekiah's Prayers defeated Senacherib's whole Army Moses upon the Mount did more against Amalek Exod. 17. 11. than Joshua in the Field he held up his Hands and Israel prevailed He held them up not to fight but to pray Et de hostibus quos non contigerat Amb. Offic. lib. 3. cap. 1. triumphabat saith St. Ambrose And he triumphed over those Enemies which he never touched When Simon Magus pretended to fly to Heaven as the story goes St. Peter sent a Volley of Prayers after him and fetched him down again making it appear as the same Father hath it that Oratio longiùs vulnerat quà m Sagitta Prayer will do execution further than an Arrow The thundering Legion in Antoninus his Army did more by their Prayer than all the Army could do by their valour they prayed down Water from Heaven for the Souldiers to drink when they were all ready to perish for thirst And holy Bernard professed 〈…〉 that in every thing he undertook magis fidebat Orationi quà m Industriae propriae he trusted more to Prayer than to his own endeavour Well then Pray that 's the first thing it is an excellent Duty 2. And pray for Peace 't is an excellent Blessng a blessing worth your praying for The Lord will bless his people with Peace saith the Psalmist Psal 29. 11. that's laid down as a choise blessing there Hezekiah preferred Beace and Truth before all other blessings whatsoever Beside it shews a peaceable temper of spirit which should be in all the Children of God Heb. 12. 14. How many Injunctions have we in Scripture Jam. 3. 18. to follow peace and make peace Zech. 8. 19. and love peace and seek peace to leave no stone unturned for peace 1 Pet 3. 11. And the Lord of Peace give you Peace alwayes by all means saith the Apostle 2 Thes 3. 16. How affectionately doth the Holy man pray for Peace there Salamanders may love to live in the Fire and there are some fiery spirits that can live best in the Flames of Dissention But remember Christians Our God is the God of Peace Heb. 13. 20. our Mediatour is the Prince of Peace Isa 9. 6. our Gospel is the Gospel of Peace Eph. 6. 15. and therefore our Hearts Lives Lips our practises and devotions should all breathe Peace Of all others Ministers especially should be frequent in this blessed Duty for this blessed Gift Let me speak a word or two to those of mine own Tribe We are or should be both men of Peace Ambrose and men of Prayers Preces sunt arma sacerdotis Prayers are Clergy-mens Swords Our Weapons are Prayers and our Message is Peace Let me then for Jerusalems sake request two or three things of you 1. Let all that are in this Sacred Office study Peace and preach Peace and practise Peace which we can never do unless we study and preach and practise Obedience Never more then let the Alarum be sounded out of the Pulpit nor Fire-balls thrown out of this Mount 1 King 19. 12 13. where God loves to be heard in a soft still voyce They forgat their Errand much and were indeed the Wens and Blemishes of the holy Function who did preach Swords and pray Granado's and curse Meroz and lift up their voyces too well like a Trumpet thundring Anathema's and calling for fire from Heaven against all Dissenters as confidently as if they had all been gotten into the infallible Chair It was the breath of these sons of Thunder these fighting Preachers that like a pair of Bellews blew up the Flames of our civil Dissentions to so great a height and their hands threw on fresh Fewel every Sermon for fear it should go out too soon We may see by the Foot-steps of these men of Warr I mean the Ruins and Desolations that they have left in the Land that theirs were not the beautiful Feet of those that did preach the Gospel of Peace Rom. 10. 15. 2. Let not the Pulpit be made a Stage to vent any Man's Jeers or revilings on Will a
Sarcasm do our work or are a few Satyrical flashes or Jerks of Wit likely to heal our Breaches or would you keep them open for ever Men of this Temper and Mettal do pour Vinegar instead of Oyl into our Wounds and carry Mortar to the Tower of Babel whi'st they would be thought to be repairing the Breaches of Sion A witty Jesuite in a Poem doth thus bewail the distempers of Christendom â—man Thesaur Poemat Scommata ludit Alter in alterum ridetur Alter ab altero Veritas falsis petitur duellis Jam Calamus gladio mutatur pagina peltis They begin saith he with Scoffs and end with Cuffs the Pen grows up into a Sword and the Paper to a Buckler the Warre begins in the Pulpit which must be ended in the Field And the misery of all is Christians doe not only call each other Names but cut each others Throats for Christ's sake as if the Great Commandment of Love one another were now to be expounded by Kill one another Kick down these unworthy passions out of the Pulpit And if I can be but heard in this then I should make bold to beg a third thing viz. 3. Let not prejudice or humor or discontent or desire to please a prejudiced Party keep any persons at a distance whose Consciences would otherwise be content to close I speak not of all but some such there are whose Passions were they but once down their Scruples would be much abated and Conscience might be satisfied if Contention were away It is for want of Christian Charity that men are ready to catch up a Sword to cut every little knot which a gentle touch of Love would easily unty Let none be offended my only aim is to leave the Impressions of this blessed word Peace as deep as I can upon all your Hearts Ruffia hist Eccles lib. 2. c. 9. And it was an Argument how much that great man Gregory Nazianzen was affected with it when in the midst of the Tumults that were raised at Constantinople about him he cryed out God forbid that there should be any Quarrels or Dissentions raised in the Church for my sake If it be for me that this Tempest is raised Tollite mittite me in Mare Throw me into Sea that the storm may cease And let me commend to you the practice of a late Reverend Divine of our own Church Dr. Steward who dying in France would have nothing written on his Tombe but this Quòd vivens assiduè oravit pro pace Ecclesiae A Monument I take it of greater Honour than any that could be fastened on the Tombes of Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great or any of the World's Warriours He lived and dyed Praying for the Peace of the Church which minds me of my third Particular The specification of this Peace viz. 3. The Peace of Jerusalem Private Peace is lovely but publique Peace much more It is good to have Peace in a Family but much better in a Kingdom And indeed our private Peace is bottomed on the publique Peace Our Countrey is the Ship and we the Passengers if the Ship dash against a Rock we must not look that either our Persons Estates or Religion will escape without wrack And then the Peace of Church and State is involved and incircled one in another like Ezekiel's Vision there is a Wheel within a Wheel they move one in another and one with another so that if you disturb the Peace of one you destroy the Peace of both 1. If you pull down the Gates of Sion the Wall of Jerusalem will fall after it It was the grand Policy of the late Anti-monarchical Faction to secure their own Interests by laying Sion in the dust No such way they thought to keep the Swine out of their own Inclosures as to turn them all into the Lord's Vineyard And because the Height of Sion stood principally in their Light they cryed out with the Children of Edom in the day of Jerusalems distress Down with it Psal 137. 7. Down with it even to the Ground But God hath turned the Wisdom of those Achitophels into Foolishness and others if they please may now learn from them That the Peace of Jerusalem is centred in the Peace and Prosperity of Sion 2. And as the Temple must not be pulled down to build the Town-wall so on the other side Jerusalems Walls must not be demolished under a pretence of repairing the Temple King Jesus never intended such a Fanatical fifth-Monarchy as to destroy the Kingdoms of the Earth to make way for the setting up of His but took care so to have his own Rents paid him that nothing which is Caesar's Right might be taken from him Mat. 22. 21. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's So that whoever they are that part what God hath joyned together disturbing the Peace of the Church whilest they would seem solicitous for the Peace of the State or disturbing the Peace of the State whilest they pretend to be endeavouring the Peace of the Church they are but Troublers of Israel though they would be thought to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem And now but a few words more to set the Doctrine on and make it practical Since Jerusalems Peace is so great a blessing and Prayer so powerful a means for the continuance of it That we may not pray in vain let us observe these few Rules 1. Do not pray for the continuance of your Peace for sinful ends O do not pray for Peace to consume it on your Lusts lest ye ask and not receive Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that ye may consume it on your Lusts Jam. 4 3. I am afraid that many pray for Peace upon no other account but that thay may grow rich wax fat and wanton and sinne the more securely That they may have Peace What to do Why To walk after the stubbornness of their Hearts and to add drunkenness to thirst Deut. 29. 19. Thus doe men proclaim Warre against Heaven even while they are Petitioning Heaven for Peace Whereas the great work of a Christian is to improve temporal peace to spiritual advantages and in a time of Peace to make sure of that Peace Col. 1. 20. which was made for us through the Bloud of the Cross The Jews usual Salutation was Bish Davenant on Col. 1 2. Peace be unto you but the Apostles Salutation is Grace and Peace Let us pray for not a bare Jewish Peace without grace but an Apostolical Peace with grace annexed unto it If we could but make a Match betwixt these two Grace and Peace we were the happiest people in the world 2. Act in your several Stations for Peace as well as Pray for Peace Christians should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peace-makers as well as Peace-wishers Blessed are the Peace-makers Mat. 5. 9. for they shall be called the Children of God And the