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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	angel_n	call_v	zion_n	29	3	8.9194	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85985	The blessed peace-maker and Christian reconciler: intended for the healing of all unatural and unchristian divisions, in all relations: according to the purport of that divine oracle, pronounced by the Prince of Peace himself, Matth. 5.9. By Claudius Gilbert, B.D. minister of the Gospel at Limrick.	Gilbert, Claudius, d. 1696?	1658 (1658)	Wing G701; Thomason E939_3; ESTC R202209	119,212	155

People If it be possible as far as in you lies have Peace with all men this is a Gospel precept obliging us all Only be we sure that it be a good Peace a Peace in Good not an evil Peace a Peace in evil Brethren Live in Peace fare-well be perfect be of good Comfort be of one mind live in Peace and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you This is Pauls Valediction left with Gods Children who are dignified with this Property of blessed Peace-making That is the next point to be considered of Proposition 3. Peace-making is the dignifying Property of Gods Children This Conclusion is considerable in its Deduction and Explication Confirmation and Demonstration towards Application 1. It s Deduction is cleared by viewing the Context Scope and Connexion of the words and sence parts and whole Having set down the Blessedness of Peace and Peace-making he subjoins the Characters of such persons whom God blesses in such a Work They shall be called the Children of God saith Christ they shall be known and distinguished thereby as a man is properly dignified and discerned by his name this shall appear to be the Dignity and property of Gods Children Thus the whole Text is a Divine Enthymeme a contracted Syllogism the first part whereof affords the Consecution and this latter Branch holds forth the Proposition from which as from its Cause by an Apodeictical ratiocination à priori the particle For deduces the said conclusion Gods Children cannot but be Peace-makers and blessed therein Secondly For Explication the genuine Import of this Scripture-dialect is to be minded 1. To be called in the language of Heaven is as much as to be and appear such God cals a Thing by Constitution and Designation by making and appointing it to what that name denotes thus he cals his Children to be Peace-makers he enables and ordains them thereto Man is said to call by Dignification and distinguishing Appropriation acknowledging and discerning it to be thus truly and eminently Thus Peace-making is such a proper Dignity and a dignifying Property of Gods Children that they shall be known and discerned thereby as a Person of Honor is by his Name and Title of Dignity 2. The phrase of Gods Children is variously significant in Scripture First Generally by vertue of an immediate production thus the Angels are called the Sons of God and Adam also bears the Title of Gods Son Secondly More specially by supernatural Regeneration and Spiritual Adoption thus true Converts made new Creatures born of the Spirit by receiving Christ receive the dignifying Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to become the children of God Thirdly Professedly by federal Relation in a visible Ecclesiastical Dignification thus all Church members whether Infant or Adult are called Gods Children though many of them apostatize afterwards from that professed Adoption Thus the Jewish Posterity were called Gods Children all Church-members in Galatia are so dignified thus the Childen of the Kingdom are they called who are cast out at last Fourthly Most especially by eternal Generation thus God the Son the personal Word is the Son of God Fifthly By a transcendent Generation so Christ as the Son of Man with respect to his humanity being conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary was born the Son of God the child of the most High Sixthly This Title is sometimes given by vertue of an eminent function thus Magistrates are called the Children of the most high as they are also on the same account sirnamed Gods by a providential Call to that Office wherein they act as the Lords Deputies The second and third Acception of this express are proper to the Subject in hand and sometimes the sixth The gracious Children of God are eminently discerned by this property which is their Dignity so far as it is visible so far appear they to be Gods Children especially if they be Magistrates Both their Honor and their Happiness flourish wonderfully in the blessed performance of this signal Duty 3. For Confirmation hereof you have the harmony of all Records Divine and Humane subscribed unto by the constant Experience of all men in all places Gods Children have been still remarkably discerned by this singular Work Scripture by such illustrious Actings of the Lords Worthies testifies it most eminently The whole Series of sacred History speaks it aloud In such a multitnde of famous Witnesses a few hints may serve in the name of all That glorious Type of Christ well known by the Title of Melchisedek is as famously dignified with that of King of Salem the City of Peace ●he Apostle presses this notable parallel attended with divers others that the Glory of Gods only Son might be the more observably admired in this dignifying Property of his singular Predecessor Christ himself appeared to be the Son of God most eminently by this very thing He came personally to become our Peace to purchase and procure restore and preserve promote and improve all Peace for us in and through himself His glorious Office called him peculiarly thereto for which he was proportionably qualified by the Fathers Spirit His Sacerdotal his Prophetical his regal Function tended all to Peace and are still conversant about it to Eternity His whole progress from deepest humbling to the highest degree of exalting concurred thereto All his eminent Types and fore-runners were faithfully employed to that end The successive Priests of Aarons Linage pointing at his Priest-hood and holding it forth by ceremonial Rites to believing eyes made this work of his their proper business and dignifying charge for his Honor and his peoples good The many Prophets whom his Spirit sent and qualified from one Age to another still preached Peace in him and by him whom they did represent The famous Princes in their Generations that governed his People were his choise vicegerents upon this very score All those Instruments whom the Lord made use of in bringing his People into the Canaan of Peace and Rest out of Egypt through so many changes to settle them there in their Spiritual and Civil Liberties under his Government acted to the same purpose The whole Contexture of his Providence from Adam to Christ holds forth as much in all the various transactions of it Each passage also of the New Testament whether Historical Doctrinal or Prophetical points at this dignifying property What was said and done more figuratively under the old Testament about this subject is herein more Evangelically as with a Sun-beam expressed to us The Peace of Christs Kingdom so much celebrated by David Solomon Moses and Esay as by all his other Prophets is gloriously expressed and gradually fulfilled in this last Period which began at his first personal coming incoatively and will be perfected by his second coming consummatively The 45. and 72. Psalm the Song of Solomon with the 31 32 33 60 61 65. of Es●ias the 31 32 33. of Jeremy the latter end of

the Text to his Peace-makers 3ly The Reason and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this Point is clearely drawn from the Blessedness of the work it self which cannot but impart a sutable Blessing to the Lords Work-men The Blessedness of Peace hath been already demonstrated in an ample manner This work of Heaven is never destitute of Heavens Blessing What was said of virtue by the Philosopher that its both Work and Wages carrying meat in its mouth is verified of this blessed Peace It s Christs work they are his Work-men he hath a special Interest in them both and a special Blessing for them still in making them a Blessing to others Such Peace-makers enjoy a singular Blessing in themselves as Austin explains it They communicate also a choise Blessing even in Temporals to others as Chrysostom comments on this place Yea They are choise Instruments of Christ to convey saving Mercies by the Gospel of Peace as Basil Interprets the words Peace-making is Christs Work so peculiarly that he is called our Peace in the abstract who breaks down all partition Wals by the virtue of his cross whereon he slew the Enmity to reconcile his people to God and to each other through the application of his Merits to them This Blessed Work removes and prevents all Curses it brings and declares offers and imparts increases and cherishes restores and crowns all Blessings possible So far as he honors any servant of his in making use of them Instrumentally about this work of his so far happiness attends them therein Though he needs no help yet is he pleased to make use of Helpers against the mighty Enemies of Peace He takes kindly and graciously rewards the cordial contributions of his People thereto though never so smal All his Servants are called to Peace and implyed about it in their several Stations His Presence and Blessing cannot be wanting where he sets his friends on work on his account He loves to walk in his wonted Road and to act ordinarily by men and means having to deal with rational Creatures not with blocks and Bruits Wise and good men will not imploy servants but they will help and own them in their work The blessed God employes not his children and servants without his aiding and favouring Grace about this work of his To impose a hard Taske and to refuse straw is the property of an Egyptian Tyrant our gracious God is no such hard Master he reaps not where he hath not sown though idle servants may charge him with cruelty Christ is most benign in his Influence to every Soul that sincerily minds his service He that feeds Aliens and Enemies is not like to neglect or forsake his friends He that bountifully blesses with Temporals the very worst of men that oppose his Peace will not he surely bless with his right hand his peculiar People entrusted by him about peace-making wherein his Honor and his Interest are so signally concerned Vse 1. The Improvement and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this Truth affords a Word of Instruction in two Corollaries 1. We may hence observe the unhappiness of our Age wherein such blessed Peace-makers are so scant Sad lamentations might be justly enlarged over so many unpeaceable Spirits No wonder if we have so little of Gods blessing considering how little we have of his Peace When a mans wayes please the Lord he makes even his enemies to be at Peace with him It is a shrewd sign that our wayes are much displeasing to him when our very friends are not at Peace with us David much complained of his ill Neighbours the ten Nations surrounding Israel whose inveterate enemies they still appeared in allusion whereto the ten Horns of the Antichristian Beast are described in the Revelation whose Character it was to be Haters of Peace and lovers of War It s common and sad to see so much of that Antichristian Spirit breathing among us The most are wilfully and the best unhappily engaged too much in unchristian inhumane janglings Too many we have of a Sa●●m●ndrian Spirit whose Element is fire it self they so love to live among contentions Too much of Hell-fire wofully appears in most of our unhappy contentions Friends too often strike each other in the dark upon mistakes Hereby sport is made for Satan and sorrow for Gods people the Lords Name suffers and his enemies laugh the good are scandalized and the bad hardened Whilst ●any contend unhandsomly for Truth they miss of Peace and the Blessing yea of Truth also To live still in a burning Climate under a torrid Zone of hot dissentions is more sutable to Negroes and Mores then for Christians who are best fitted in a temperate Clime of due moderation How much do Christians wrong themselves and others in every respect spiritual and civil by needless quarrels Are not many of our differences as little weighty as that woful brawl about the time of keeping Easter which continued for so many years between the Eastern and Western Churches in the second and third Century proceeding often to solemn Excommunications The Jars between Epiphanius and Chrysostom Jerom and Ruffin were very doleful and from small beginings rising further to sad Catastrophes It were to be wished that divers eminent Lights of this Age were not so unworthily engaged as those famous ones were about the fifth and sixth Centuries Austins complaint might justly be ours concerning such cases The contentions at Corinthus among those Christians so excelling in Gifts bewrayed a great deal of fleshly Corruption reigning in many remaining in the best do they not so with us Our Sea of glass our reformation-state hath too much of this fire mingled therewith which cannot but prove wofully sinfull Strange fire cost Nadab and Abihu dear though such eminent Persons in such an eminent Work This wild fire so commonly scattered is ominous and pernitious still in Civils and Ecclesiasticals It s a perverse Spirit that doth so judicially divide between Abimeleck and the Sichemites those old confederates though over-ruled by the Lords own hand When utter ruin was threatned to Egypt such a perverse Spirit was to be mingled in the midst of them as the wofull Executioner of Divine Vengeance When the Pride of Babel and its Builders was mounting to the Heavens it was fearfully checked by the confounding of their Tongues Is it not very irrational to think of building Zion in that very way whereby the Lord confounded Babylon This is a sore Lamentation and shall be for a Lamentation 2. Hence also have we a vindication of peaceable Christians They that know the God of Peace and the Peace of God best are most forward to advance Peace-making It is not from a low luke-warm Spirit as many mistake it but from the most rational grounds There is nothing so rational as Grace which makes the best use of Divine Reason which appears herein very eminently They are most zealous after Peace who are most rationally sensible of

Gods Honor and mans good The Apostles would have Christians still to study how to be quiet and to do their own Business with as much calmness as they can Is it not much better to live in a serene then in a tempestuous Air Peace is the Health and due complexion of of Souls and Societies Is it not much to be preferred before a crazy state and jarring distempers The Thebans were a warlike Nation witness their success under Epaminondas and Pelopidas yet was Concord so much esteemed with them that they deified it and consecrated a Temple thereto as the Romans afterwards Those poor Heathens by their dim natural Light saw often farther then many now in the Sun-shine it self It was Satans Policy to carry them to extreams in disguising the Truth with many fables and Idolizing Creatures yet was there much of Truth and Good covered with their many Poetical Vails and Philosophical Mythologies Is it not a great shame that Christians should come short of Pagans in that which they have so frequently still with so much advantage pressed upon them Object But do not those who pretend to be so moderate run often also to the other extream of sinfull Compliance and cowardly betraying the Truth witness the various Cassandrian Syncretisms attempted in Germany France Brittain Poland and other parts again and again Answ 1. It s bad indeed to skip from the Pan into the fire and run upon Scylla in labouring to shun the Rock of Charybdis Extreams are ever nought that forsake the golden Medium of Virtue There was but little reason and religion in that Law of Solon which banished moderation from the Athenian state by ordering that in every Tumult and faction all persons unengaged and neutrally impartial should be banished His pretended ground was but a shadow of policy if not a politick Heresie The middle wherein virtue centers as in its Throne and proper Element between vicious Extreams is a middle of Negation not of participation excluding both the contrary evils and sharing in neither There is a difference between staring and stark mad A sinful neutrality that neglects duty and inclines to evil is very bad But a virtuous neutrality that observes duty in avoiding evil must needs be very good 2. Those Cassandrian Mixtures of truth and falshood Protestants and Papists into a mongrel Hotch-potch are still as they were justly suspected and disowned by judicious Christians What Communion can Light have with darkness What concord hath Christ with Belial what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols What felloship can the people of God have with the man of sin what hath Zion to do with Babylon If any question whether the Roman Papacy be Antichrist let them seriously weigh the Lord Bacons Answer to King James about this question If hue and cry were sent out said he against Antichrist I would surely apprehend Papacy till she had cleared her marks being so many and so notorious The Apostles who were most for loving forbearance and Christian compliance towards the weak that are sound in the main abhorred and still disowned all sinfull closings with persons and Doctrines opposite to the great foundations of our faith Yet among the Papists there is a great difference The Jansenians and Dominicans with many Sorbonists being far more Orthodox about Gods Decrees and Providence Justification and free-Will with divers other points then the rest some of the Jesuits themselves appear more moderate then others 3. Though we cannot comply with such wayes that are fundamentally destructive of our Religion without sin yet may we not neglect any means of convincing them by spiritual and moral Reasonings with all prudent zeal The softest words will best set out the strongest Arguments We are bid to Instruct in all meekness such as oppose themselves If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the Truth that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil that are taken captive by him at his will Therefore should not the Lords servant meddle with foolish and unlearned Questions that engender strife neither should he strive but be gentle to all men apt to teach and patient This Apologie for moderate and impartial Christians can be no Plea for any base deserting of Truth or unworthy lukewarmness in religious or civil affairs The same God that here pronounces Blessedness to the Peace-makers denounces also a most bitter curse upon Meroz and all such Loodicean Spirits who come not freely to the Lords help and do his work deceitfully or negligently in the quarrel of his Covenant for the building of Zion and pulling down of Babylon Vse 2. This point directs a just Reprehension to all that slight oppose and neglect this blessed Peace-making being either strangers enemies or friends 1. Such as are yet strangers to this blessed work should be admonished convincingly both of their folly and misery How many would be found upon Inquiry as much estranged from Peace-making as from Peace it self and from the God of Peace Is not this the fruit and the sad Symptome of a blinded mind and a hardened heart What gross Ignorance and supine carelesness reign among multitudes that neither know nor desire to walk in the wayes of Peace All men naturally before the new Birth are strangers to Christ and to his Righteousness and therefore alienated from his Peace They that have most of notional Knowledge and a gilded Profession yet are found grosly unacquainted with the practical Mysteries and experimental Power of Godliness They speak of such things as blind men of colours and as Geographers of terra incognita and del fuego at random and ghess The Power as well as the Wisdom of a crucified Peace-maker is folly to the Greek and scandal to the Jew There are not many wise not many noble not many rich ones called to this Peace to seek and to embrace it The greatest number of our glorious Professors have but sipped of his Heavenly Gifts and tasted but externally of the good Word of Peace Their partaking of the common Gifts of the Holy Spirit puts for a time a lustre of excellency on them which makes them flourish like the stony and thorny ground among foolish Virgins The unclean Spirit doth upon design seemingly leave their house that they may be trimmed and swept with external formality and morality by the removing of common prophaness Divers may seem to out-strip therein the most precious Christians yet are they but for a time Their painting soon washes away their Gifts decay the unclean Spirit returns with seven worse and such washed swines return again to the puddle of sin in opinion affection or converse or in all together This seems to be an Epidemical disease of this season The Lord awaken every secure self-conceited Hypocrite Such may have a flash and shew of Peace as of Godliness but they are strangers to the substance and solidity of both Presumption