whom Kings Raign and Princes execute Judgement Righteousness is the Soâ—pier and Basis of his Government So far as his Lieutenants act like him they promote Peace If otherwise they shall die like men and come to account though they be called Gods by Deputation Rulers are the grand wheels that move all the rest either right or wrong They are the Head and the chief Organs of the Body Politick if they be distempered it cannot but fare ill with the whole They are the Loadstones and great Attractives whose Magnetick force draws effectually the hearts heads and hands of all about them They are the Looking-glasses of Court and Country which they most observe in dressing themselves They are as publick Springs that must feed many either with good or evil with the Waters of Siloah or Marahs of Life or of Death 3. Christian Magistrates bear also relation Ecclesiastical to the Church of Christ according as they are real or Nominal professors of his Name therein Their Help is of very considerable use towards Church-peace whilst they observe the Lords Rule about it Though they be not Church-Officers qua Magistrates to Rule in the Church yet are they Officers of Christ to rule for the Churches good Their Power is Cumulative not Privative it is civil not Spiritual it looks after the External not the Internal Man It is to be Ruled by Gods Word not by mans Will it uses civil not spiritual censure and Rewards it aims at Gods honour and mans Good in a godly civil Peace as we have from Scripture sufficiently touched in another Tract Is not Christs Interest the best part of their Work and Interest the finest flower of their Garland the richest Jewel of their Crown Doth not he intrust them by his Providence with his own Power and Authority that they may take most care of that Business which is most dear to him Are not the souls of men incomparably beyond all externals and their eternal state of greatest consequence Are not all Powers ordained of God for terror to every evil work and for Incouragement to every one that doth well Is not the Magistrate appointed to be a Minister of God for mans Good in well doing and an Avenger of every One that doth evil without limitations or exceptions but such as the nature of his Office doth clearly determine by the Light of Reason and Religion Hath not the Lord himself taken care in all Ages to direct excite and strengthen his civil Deputies to this very thing in a special manner Did not he commend such as tended it in proportion still to their care thereof Did he not alwayes brand those Magistrates with Notes of disgrace with heavy threats and stroaks who neglected his work and postposed it to their own and others worldly Concernments Was not the care of Gods House the choice delight of all his Eminent Servants preferred before all and bringing his choice Blessings upon all the rest Was not this the Glory of his Davids and Solomons his Asa's and Jehosaphats his Hezechias and Josias his Zerubbabels and Nehemiahs Did he not honor and reward the very Pagan Princes of the four successive Monarchies so far as they tendered the peace of his Church Hath he not so dealt with the famous Princes of all other Nations to this day Did he not engage his All-sufficiency for the singular advance of his Glory in the later dayes by giving us Kings and Queens for Nursing Fathers and Mothers to his Church Hath not he assured us that all their honour and power shall then yield their best contribution to the procuring and promoting of his peoples Peace on the best account Hath not he promised that when his Spirit shall be most poured out upon all Nations to bring home both Jews and Gentiles to Christ whom they have pierced that they may be saved from all evil by him that then evil spirits and false Prophets shall be turned out and the Rulers of his people shall be most zealous in detecting and punishing them sutably to their deserts Are not those persons most injurous to Princes and people who labour to take off our Noble Governors from honouring and serving of Christ in the greatest Affairs of his peoples welfare Is it not sad that upon mistakes any of Christs friends should be found thereby subservient to the great Design and Interest of sin and Satan Do not all the Titles of Honour bestowed from the Soveraign of Heaven upon Magistrates characterize most eminently their Dignity and Duty in order to the peace and good of his Church Are not such Illustrious Parents most concern'd to tender Gods Family committed to their care Are not such noble Nurses to attend the welfare of such Nurslings as the Lord himself peculiarly owns Are not such choice Stewards to mind their choice charge in a choice manner Should not such excellent Shepherds shew most care of Christs most excellent Flocks Are not such singular Rulers to regulate with singular Industry the Loods chief Work according to his Rule Doth not he afford them Means and Helps answerable thereto Have they not the free disposal of mens persons and estates orderly and legally entrusted with them that they may be fully enabled to provide for all Church-Necessaries Doth the Church of Christ stand in less need now of such assistance then in former Ages Are not our distempers increasing on us so desperately that our condition must needs prove woful if our great Physitians do neglect our cure Are not Church-Officers sundry wayes disabled and frequently disturbed by various Obstructions from accomplishing it Are not their Heads their hearts and their hands so distracted by our Discords and Disorders that they themselves need very much help as well as their people Are not multitudes of seducing and seduced Ones professed enemies to the Church and Ministry of Christ scornfully rejecting and abusing them Who shall deal with them if Rulers do not What if primitive Churches subsisted long without the Magistrates Help So did Moses Elâ—jah and Christ subsist long without bodily food by extraordinary support and supplies from above Will that infer the neglect of any means for soul or body appointed and afforded from God in the course and ordinary road of his Providence What if some Magistrates abuse their Power against their proper Dignity and Duty shall any conclude against the right use thereof What if God hath provided spiritual Ordinances to be used spiritually in his Church for their spiritual good in order to his Glory by his spiritual Officers according to his spiritual Rule which he blesses as spiritual weapons sufficient in their kind to attain his ends shall that exclude the Rulers political help which God requires and promises directs and blesses by his Spirit Word and Providence The Lord needs no help from any creature he will build his house maugre all neglects and oppositions from Earth and from Hell in due time and order That any are called
Charter of our Blessedness Grace and Peace coming from the Father descend likewise from our Lord Jesus Christ He is our Peace in the very abstract both Efficiently and Meritoriously Subjectively and Objectively Originally and Completively by whom the Father speaks and gives Peace still 3. God the holy Ghost is the Author of our Peace also that gives life and strength thereto Peace is the fruit of that divine Spirit who speaks and acts still from the Father and from the Son He shall take of mine said Christ and declare it to you All that the Father hath is mine He is the Spirit of Unity and Order that composes mens spirits to the receiving and promoting of Peace in all the waies he appoints and blesses that the Unity of the Spirit may be kept still in the Bond of Peace Thus the Blessedness of Peace is rationally drawn from the blessed God Reason 2. The next ground is drawn from the Nature of Peace which abundantly demonstrates its blessedness Doth it not consist in an harmonious composure of Things accommodating all their motions to their proper ends in conformity to the Lords will is not such an agreement most pleasant and beautiful most honourable and profitable How excellently appears such a Symmetrie in all things Natural and Artificial how much more in things moral spiritual and divine Unity and Order are the choice ingredients of this Peace the chief materials and integrals thereof and are not these of singular worth indeed the former affords subsistence and strength the latter regulates and improves all in all due motions is not such a correspondence between God and man a most happy thing How blessed is the match that joins earth to heaven and the creature to the Creator Is not the calm seâ—â—â—ity of our souls a singular blessing is not the sociable conjunction of men in the pleasant waies of true Wisdom an eminent Mercy all that excellency which may be found in good things below and above is used often in Scripture Dialect to set out the Nature of this singular Peace This melodious Tuning of Persons and Things cannot but afford a most blessed Musick to judicious ears Peace is truly that eminent good wherein center all other kind of good Platonicians speak of a ravishing melody resulting from the Heavens orderly motions which would fill men with admiration were their ears but tuned thereto Peace is the marvellous consent of heaven and earth the choice result of their United Orderly positions and products That anima mundi and universal Intelligence mentioned by Philosophers doth in a sober sense illustrate the Nature of this Peace which in subordination to Divine Providence composes the creatures into their proper station and disposes of all in regular motions This Symmetry is the perfection of every Fabrick Spiritual and Political giving due proportion to the whole and parts in their well-ordered Union and Communion it is in reality vinculum universi that keeps the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Reason 3. The blessed adjuncts thereof demonstrate the same in an ample manner â—ruth and Righteousness Grace and Mercy Joy and Bliss are the choice companions and Attendants thereof Truth and Peace are the blessed twins that lovingly embrace each other in the Kingdom of Christ When he gives an abstract of his gracious All-sufficiency engaged to hâ—s people on Covenant-terms he reveals to them the abundance of Truth and Peace The summe of mans duty challenged by Gods Mercy is the Love of Truth and Peace This is the divine compass whereby a Christian is to steer his course towards true Blâ—â—â—edness Truth conforms all Beings to the divine understanding and Peace squares their Workings to the divine Will for such ends as his Truth declares to them They are aptly represented by a pair of compasses centred by Truth and moved about by Peace The girdle of Truth is buckled with Peace This golden chain leads all things to God from whom they came by a transcendent way of circulation Righteousness is as dear a Sister to Peace yea as a Mother and a tender Nurse thereto They come down together from the God of Heaven to bless the earth with all desireable good Righteousness indeed is the eldest sister yet inseparably attended with Peace Righteousness gives to God and man their due Peace looks to the orderly preserving thereof When the Lord Jesus appears to men as King of Righteousness he acts also as the King of Peace The work of Righteousness and the effect thereof in his Kingdom of Nature and Grace is assured Peace and lasting quiet The experience of all Persons and Places hath ever found this made good by the righteous God As far as Righteousness did ever extend in Morals or Spirituals so far hath Peace been extended also The Roman and Grecian States for many hundreds of years were made sensible of this The righteous God loves Righteousness his countenance doth behold the upright to bless them with all the blessings of Peace Grace and Mercy bear likewise as dear and near a Relation to Peace and Jointly to Bliss They are coupled together by the hand of heaven in the salutes and valâ—dictions sent to Gods people by the Prophets and Apostles Gods favouring Grace towards them and his renewing Grace in planted in them have still Peace for a blessed Associate They are Imparted and multiplied together as their choise Portion Often is Mercy subjoined to that Grace to denote the undeserved favour of the Lord shewed to his people in misery Thus Grace and Peace Grace Mercy and Peace go hand in hand to excite direct and enable Gods people to every duty in each relation Joy and Blessing do accompany Peace on the same account when the Lord speaks Peace to his he bestows on them the Blessings of Peace Thus the Peace of God which 〈◊〉 all understanding fils them with comfort through the Spirit of Christ Being justified by faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God This Peace of God keeps them as with a Garrison in the sense and comfort of his love to bring forth the fruits of his Spirit Internal Peace begets the like rejoycing in God because the love of God is shed abroad in their heart External peace with men brings an answerable measure of Joy and blessing Thus the Churches having Peace were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord in the comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied The Application of this Point may be improved By way of Information 1. See hence the sinfulness of Sin It is sin alone that is a desperate Enemy to Peace and irreconciliable Before sin came in all things were in a perfect Peace So far as sin is removed so far is there Peace and no farther It was the sin of Angels that broke their Peace irreparably It was Adams sin that brought confusion on
due season order and manner within our respective Relations Thus Gods people are bid to plead with their Mother to contend for the faith to admonish one another with mutual watchfulness c. that they may not be partakers of other mens sins but still keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Christ and his Apostles did so in the Jewish Church though exceedingly corrupt till that ceremonial administration of the Lords gracious Covenant gave way to the Evangelical dispensation thereof 3. The evil that Conscience startles at in the Church is either fundamental or circumstantial as to salvation That evil which destroyes the foundation not holding the Head when obstinately retained after all due convictions renders a Person and Society unfit for Christian Communion deservedly who are to be accordingly dealt with Thus Paul withdrew from the Jews obstinately rejecting Christ and separated the Disciples Thus the reformed Churches did orderly protest against Apostate Rome aad separated from them In this case the Heretical Society is the Schismatick for as in Martyrdom so in Schism it s the cause not the suffering that constitutes it Thus when a rotten member contracts an Heretical Gangrene which makes him fall off or to be cut off from the Church he himself is the Schismatick 4. The circumstantial evil which offends any person in the Church is variously considerable in Doctrine Worship and Discipline according to the weight of that Truth it seems to oppose Some are of far greater moment then others and challenge sutable care and carriage Some circumstantials are Indefinite and indifferent in themselves to be regulated by Christian prudence in every Society and meeting as the gesture of the body length of time spent in the exercise c. where in the general Rules of Order Decency Edification and Expediency are still observable Other Circumstantials are definite and parts of Worship Instituted of the Lord as the keeping of the first day of the week for a Christian Sabbath singing of Psalms solemn Prayer c. which are not indifferent but necessary to be observed according to Scripture Rule He that scruples any thing about such should use the best means of Information private and publike with much humility and sobriety diligence and teachableness If after all he cannot be satisfied he may forbear that particular thing which his conscience cannot meddle with still keeping Communion in the rest This is the Apostles Doctrine as far as we have attained let us walk by the same Rule and mind the same thing if any be otherwise minded the Lord will reveal that unto him also Hast thou faith have it to thy self in such a case that thou maiest give no offence to others 5. If any Christian should find the Church whereof he is a Member growing worse daily and not admitting of any advice help for amendment but obstinately refusing to rectifie what is palpably evil such a man is to be very cautious in that case that in desiring leave to depart to some other society where he may serve God with purity and freedom that all proceedings therein may appear to flow from cordiall Love to Christ to his Ordinances and people with all due respects to those also from whom he departs still owning what ever appears of good in them with hearty grief for what is amiss that he may avoid the stigmatical Brand of a schismatick in the performance of his duty 6. Schism from the Church is either universal or particular Universal when Persons divide from all Christian Societies and People that do not own their particular way Such was the separation of the Donatists besides that of the Arrians Meletians Acesians Circumcellians and many others divers whereof were also heretical Such is the Schism of the Romish Church now apostatized from the very foundations of Christianity which they verbally profess but collaterally and effectively destroy and renounce by their Antichristian additions and Detractions Traditions and Corruptions A particular Schism is a sinfull division from some particular Church whereto a Christian had his Relation or from some Member or Members thereof The former is a Schism from the Body this later in the Body a sad instance whereof appeared in the Church at Corinth which Paul sharply reproves and prescribes a fit cure unto again and again The grudgings and Rudiments of this sad distemper bewrayed themselves by divers Symptoms also in most of the Christian Churches even in Apostolical daies and the succeeding Primitive Times witness the many cautions and hints given in their Epistles and the Relations of Ecclesiastical Records The sad experiences of the Reformed Churches in former and later Seasons especially in these Nations afford numerous Instances thereof sufficiently deplored Vse 2. This speaks conviction to all persons estranged from Peace Is Peace so blessed a thing then should it not sharply reprove multitudes of men As 1. The Ignorant that know it not and will not learn This is the dreadfull brand of the children of wrath the way of Peace they have not known An evil Peace they are acquainted with but the Peace of God they are strangers to Their Peace in sin is wofull presumption which feeds them with deceitfull hopes Quick-sighted they may be in carnal things but they are quiet blind in spiritual matters Christ wept sorely upon such a people wishing they had known the things of their Peace when alas they were hid from their eyes 2. The Negligent that mind it not but are pleasing themselves on the bed of carnal security laying their head on the devils cushion Such Laish like sleep securely in their sluggish course till they awake in the midst of Hellish flames Like Moab and Edom they settle on their lees till Divine wrath do sweep them away Their sleepy Peace feeds them with specious dreams of pleasure profit and preferment till they be rowzed up by the Messenger of Eternity They embrace a cloud in stead of Juno they are of Gallios spirit not caring for the things of their Peace Their sleepy disease is so much the sadder because so sensless 3. The scornfull that own it not but reject and disdain it such can make a Jeaâ— of war and of Peace and turn all things of the greatest weight into a fond jest Such fools make a mock at Sin and at Peace too Their Pregnancy of Parts serves them for a Racket to toss the Ball of a wanton witt from one to another like the mad fellow that throws fire-brands in his jovial mode saying still am not I in sport such as thus abuse Gods Peace in jest are like to go to Hell in earnest far enough from Peace This is the high road to Satans Kingdom wherein many gallop in a full career The seat of the scornfull is the highest degree of advancement in the devils University whereto many ungodly sinners attain per saltum by a trick of youthfull wit
crowned in famous Caleb Canst thou cheerfully sacrifice and venture thy All upon that account rather then the publique should suffer Art thou a Patriot and a Christian of a brave temper of an heavenly resolution Dost thou prefer Jerusalems Weal before thy chiefest Joy Art thou still labouring in thy place to be doing all the good thou canst unto all sorts especially to the houshold of faith Dost thou study news on this chief account that thou maiest sympathize effectually with Christs Interest and friends in all parts whatever Dost thou delight in thy Neighbours good as heartily as if it were thy own Art thou of Timothies noble disposition full of royall Blood from a Divine stock naturally caring for the good of others when the most are still unworthily selfish That Peace is not good whose chief end is not Divine and publique but selfish and low Moses and Paul shewed their readiness to be accounted as cursed on earth in being blotted out of the Lords Church-Book by excommunication or cut off from the living they could not desire to be blotted out of Gods choise-Book of eternal Election it being sinfull and impossible if it might advance Gods Honor and the publique Good Such a Spirit becomes all Christians that profess the name of such a self-denying Savâ—our who underwent the worst of all evil for their good in subordination to Gods Glory 6. The Effects of a good Peace must necessarily be also very good All good is diffusive and communicative in its kind and way What comes from God the cheif good must needs be proportionably active for God in all possible good A blessed Peace cannot but have a spreading Influence into every Relation Condition and Occasion Being the effect of Divine Grace it cannot but act still graciously and produce effects answerable to its stock and nature The seed and the fruit must needs resemble each other As much as our Peace hath of Grace in it so far will it conduce to the preservation and augmentation the Corroboration and excitation of every Grace in our several places It will appear in the way of faith and love sincerity and self-denyal prudence and patience diligence and dependance zeal and courage meekness and lowliness thankfulness and obedience Such a Peace will still be found in that gracious Train of Divine Virtues which still accompany the God of Peace in his progress among the Sons of men Is thy Peace thus actively productive in a gracious way Doth it make thee more humble and wise more faithfull and fruitfull in thy general and particular Calling Doth it still direct quicken and enable thee to do more for men with God and for God with men in every motion of thy proper Sphere Art thou more vigorous and industrious in improving Gods mercy and performing thy Duty according to the Instructions of Gods Will summed up in the first and second Table of his gracious Law Dost thou so acknowledge him in all his wayes and thine in every Ordinance and Providence that he may direct thy paths to the discharge of a good Conscience in honouring and enjoying him Is there no duty thou wouldst willingly neglect no Mercy thou wouldst forget no Temptation thou woudlst not resist no Corruption thou wouldst not mortifie no Affliction thou wouldst not bear no sin thou wouldest not forbear for his sake through the constant supplies of his Holy Spirit Is not thy Peace like the worlds Peace that renders men more secure and selfish sensual and sinfull but like the Churches Peace making them to increase in number and Grace still Dost thou abound more and more in all the fruits of the Spirit often repeated by the Apostles as those famous Christians did whose good Conscience was a continual Feast An evil Peace still makes men worse but a good Peace makes them better in every relation Object But where is that man to be found thus qualified Do not the great Professors turn Apostates and prove Hypocrites Doth not much evil appear in the best of them Do they not come much short of the good they profess An. 1. There are many such described in the word and scattered up and down in the world though their number be comparatively but small in respect of others Christs Flock is little 2. Many Hypocrites creep in among the best Wheat never comes up without Weeds and Tares The one must not be blamed for the other No rich Minerals without Oare 3. The best have much evil remaining in them the Wheat doth not come up without chaff nor grain without hull but they do still observe and bewail it they oppose and mortifie it they abhor it and judge themselves for it 4. Though they come short of the good they profess yet do they still desire it and delight in it it s their purpose and endeavour still they grieve for the want of it esteeming it in others and are restless till they attain thereto The case of graceless hearts is quite different Vse 4. If Peace be such a blessing it must needs speak singular Consolation to all the children and friends of Peace This Blessedness is their grand Portion both free and full choise and sure My Peace saith Christ I leave with you Peace I give unto you and not as the world gives it Let not your heart faint nor be troubled for in me you shall have Peace though in the world you meet with trouble This precious Cordial should be carefully laid up that it may be orderly laid out A broken Heart is the best vial that should receive and will best preserve this Elixiâ— and Liquor of life Such a heart is fitted by the hand of heaven for such a spirituous Extract and Quintessence The God of Peace and the Peace of God delights to visit and to dwell with such This Specifick Antidote will prove of wonderfull use against all Temptations and Corruptions all Tribulations and Desertions The best will find abundant need of it in their pilgrimage through this wilderness of sin and sorrow Object This is comfort indeed were it but mine I should for ever rejoyce but I cannot see my right thereto being so full of evil and empty of good My heart is still dark and dead cold and stiff bent to evil backward to good Ans 1. Is it so indeed Art thou not mistaken thy distemper may occasion thee to mis-judge thy self They that have most Grace do most feel and bewail corruption They are most secure that are most graceless They that know Peace best do most long for it and are most eager after the same 2. Thou must distinguish to prevent and remove mistakes 1. Between the presence and the sense of Grace as likewise of Peace There is Peace with God made sure to Gods weakest children though they be not alwaies assured thereof The Sun continues still in his Light and course above though many Inferiour things often interpose to cloud and eclipse it
alwaies the friends of his Peace and were still blessed of him so far as they cordially promoted the same Thence the royal Prophet by the Spirit of Christ gives such a charge unto all Gods people Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee Subjoyning his Prayer Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy Palaces And his gracious purpose to use all possible means thereto For my Brethren and companions sake I will now say Peace be within thee Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good The New Testament is as full of the like expressions as the firmament of stars All the Typicall oblations presented from man to God by a Mediatory hand representing Christ signified and shadowed this forth in a way suited to that dispensation Their renewed Trespass-offerings Sin-offerings and burnt-offerings ceremonially set forth the way oâ— Peace-making with God by Christs all-sufficient sacrifice to be offered once for all Their meat and drink-offerings with all Eâ—charisâ—icall oblations did set out that way of making Peace in man and among men as well as for man which the grace of God carries on gradually by rendring man serviceable thereto Every one therefore was by the Law of God to bring his oblation to the door of Gods house laying his hand thereon giving it to the Priest that it might be set on Gods Altar and sent up to heaven with the mixed perfume of the Lords providing Thus the Gospel-Law expressed to their faith how every one should contribute his best and bring all to Christ on whom and through whom access to God and acceptance with God was peculiarly to be looked for in order to all kind of Peace and Good The Lord is therefore said to have smelled therein a sweet savour of Rest which the noisom smoak of so many creatures burnt on the Altar could not of it self afford to testifie his being well-pleased in and through Christ our true Peace and rest He therefore appointed that the blood of sacrifices should be frequently sprinkled on the people by the hand of the Priest to testifie the communication of all through the Lord Jesus our singular High Priest imparted to all his He likewise ordered that part of the Sacrifice should still be eaten of by the Offerer in a Festival mannner to represent their participation in the blessings of Peace procured by Christ Yet he excepted the whole Burnt-offering whereof none was to eat that they might understand how that in the business of satisfaction and meritorious impetration no creature should have any share with Christ whose arm alone brings Redemption by his own intire and sole oblation All Sacred Persons Things and Actions then did still represent Evangelicall truths concerning this blessed Peace and the blessedness of true Peace-makers That Mosaicall Law cloathed the Things of Christ with a vail and Garment well becoming the Churches infant-age By the personal coming of Christ the vail was removed to give unto all a more plain discovery thereof in this new edition of his gracious Covenant The Gospel therefore speaks most fully to this very point pressing all Gods people to the great Duty of such Peace-making and demonstrating the choice Blessedness attending thereon The fruit of righteousness is thus sown in Peace of them that make Peace What Christ himself declared with many Arguments was further promoted by all his servants in their Ambassy from the God of Peace that a good Peace might still be followed by the friends of God and Blessedness improved thereby Their feet were beautiful who published Peace and promoted it Object Christ it seems was not alwaies a friend to Peace Did not himself say he came not to bring Peace but the sword to set one man at variance with another Yea to send fiâ—e on the earth and desiring it might be kindled c. Answ 1. Christ ever was a friend to true Peace though never to a false Peace He came to convince men of their evil Peace their Peace in sin that they may be driven out of it into a good Peace true Peace in good 2. Christ properly is the cause of Peace and accidentally the occasion of War by reason of mens lusts and Satans power enraged thereby Though Christ in himself be altogether lovely and most precious to them that believe yet he proves also a Rock of offence and a stumbling stone unto the greatest part whose corrupt principles and waies he comes to discover and destroy 3. Christs Method is to work by contraries that he may best appear like himself shewing most of himself where least of man and means doth appear He carries his people through war into Peace through the gates of Hell into the Kingdom of Heaven Like â—ampsons Lyon the Lyon of the Tribe of Juda he gives to his friends meat out of the eater sweet out of the bitter His way is to carry still through a Wilderness out of Egypt into a Canaan of Rest and Peace his true Israel He loves to be seen in the Mount of straights and to make mans Extremity his Opportunity 4. No wonder if Christ threaten fire and sword to the world which is so directly opposite to him There is still a sworn Antipathy between the womans and the Serpents seed The one being from heaven the other from hell they cannot but be diametrally set against each other The Person and Office the Spirit and Grace the Word and Law the Service and Saints of our blessed Peace-maker are so contrary to this sinful world and the Prince thereof that we cannot look for any thing else but a deadly feud between both parties till the one be utterly destroyed 5. Christ is no more the cause of sinful jarrs then the Sun of darkness though sinful jarrs do still attend the interposition of self and Satan between Christ and man as darkness is still the consequent of a cloudy and accidential iâ—terposition between the Sun and us Men must thank themselves for any trouble attending Christs waies for directly all the waies of wisdom are waies of pleasantness and all her paths are Peace 6. Because Christs interest is still to meet with opposition here he therefore redoubles his cautions and warnings very frequently to all his servants to shun discord and to promote Peace to their utmost Power Peace is his proper and his blessed Work that he comes for and sends his people about If it be possible saith he by his Apostle and as much as in you lies have Peace with all men He would have them to be of Davids mind and therein after his own heart to be still for Peace in the midst of an hostible Generation He bids them pray for their enemies and be peaceable towards the most perverse that by kindling such fire on their heads they may either be dissolved or destroyed that he may still encourage to Peace He declares and assures Blessedness in
which may gradually unite our Hearts and Hands till our Minds may be further united sutably to the Precepts and Promises of the Soveraign Peace-maker We read of two Springs in Palaestina near the famous Castle of Machaerus one whereof is extreamly hot and sweet the other as excessively cold and bitter Whilst they run at distance they are little usefull and much offensive but their uniting makes a Soveraign Bath for internal and external distempers The choise Composure of those medicinal waters gives name to the pleasant streams of Callichoc in their further progress What a mercy were it if the excess of our prejudiced Spirits that have been hitherto so pernicious might be thus harmoniously corrected into a sweet and saving compliance Such a blessed correspondency would then be of singular advantage towards the great Business of this Generation Some have been too hot and others too cold some appear too mild and others too bitter Labor we to better one another by Christian readiness to receive and give the right hand of fellowship for mutual Assistance Two eyes may discern the Truth better then one Two hands may help and heal one another Two legs are still mutually serviceable Have not divers Persons and Societies found the Benefit of some attempts this way in several Counties and Parts of these Nations Do not forraign Ministers and Churches reap the many Emoluments thereof Let each of us â—ay most blame on our selves for what hath been amiss and be more industrious to avoid those rocks that so many have often split on Beware we must of those corruptions that will still be obstructing Gods Work Pride and self love Jealousies and Prejudices pre-engagements and all other Lets must be removed The many causes of our distempers must be taken away to perfect the cure Self-denyal and all other Graces must be very active towards Peace-making in the Catholick Church Could all Christians meet together in one as the Primitive Church did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it were most desireable But seeing their increase hath occasioned distinction of Churches they should all labor to unite still to the utmost degree and to maximum quod sic The many Shephards and Flocks of Christ may be thereby a mutual comfort and Help This greatt Family may live in one House though not in one Room This great Garden may have many Beds dressed variously This Kingdom of Christ may unite many Corporations into one entire Body though diversified in Circumstantials This great Army of the Lord of Hoasts this Mahanaim may compose many Soldiers into Union under their General though otherwise variously distinguished What we get by strife and by our distance will never quit cost Whilst we walk together as far we may Christ will meet and walk with us also according to his Word to lead us further into his wayes of Peace Secondly The Church Political visible as considerable in each particular Congregation cals for Unity towards Peace-making The various debates about this also we meddle not with and would rejoyce to see all such unhappy differences Scripturally composed by a judicious Moderation Enough is granted by wise Christians to help every one unto Peace-making in all the Churches of the Saints That all such Christians who live near one another should join together as far as they can for Divine Worship is unanimously owned It should not be any slight matter should keep them from it Christs Sheep should not be as scattered Lambs wandring in the wilds and among the rocks but unite sociably for their own safety guidance and helpfulness Though Stones and Timber be of some use when standing alone yet is it not much better to have them knit together into a Fabrick for Beauty strength and usefulness An Arch Building closely cemented by united force is made serviceable to singular uses carrying with it a singular comliness Strength and Grace united increase wonderfully in vigorousness How efficacious prove the Sun-beams though weak if dispersed when united into a Burning-glass How infirm deform and unserviceable are the members of any Body when dislocated broken or luxated by inward distempers or outward accidents What pitty is it that any Christian should neglect his Duty and hinder his own good by needless scruples or inconsiderable doubts Wo to him that is alone saith Solomon upon good reason Such loose Christians are still exposed to Foxes and Wolves Deceits and Snares Security and self-conceitedness yea to all kind of evil Satanical Spirits and Instruments prevail easily with solitary Persons Man is a sociable Creature saith the Philosopher much more the Christian Many Duties of Christianity cannot be performed without Christian Communion whereto we are so frequently directed and quickened There can be no Communion without some coupling and uniting Bond to knit and cement those Things and Persons that were sundred before The consent of rational creatures is the Bond of Union that glues them together whether virtually oâ— actually implicitly or explicitly In Baptism Christians were virtually by a Parental consent given up to the Lord and united to his people When they grow up to years of discretion is it not expedient they should solemnly ratifie the same in an explicite actual manner as they intend to enjoy the priviledge and perform the Duty of belonging to Christs family and Kingdom However this expression be made whether by discourse writing or otherwise is it not needfull in these times of so much distraction and revolt The expediency thereof hath been cleared by sundry learned Pens The Churches of Christ in all ages and places have had some way for their adult members to testifie their homage to Christ in their proper stations As Providence disposes of mens abode are they not bound to own Gods people and close with them there in the best manner that may be most usesul and satisfactory Should not a Christian be alwayes ready to give an Account or Reason of his hope to any that ask him much more to Church Guides as there is occasion Doth not a Christians Baptismal Covenant engage him to use all possible means conducing to Peace-making in the Church Is not Union towards Communion a special help thereto How can he pretend to the universal Church that regard snot the particular Church where Providence hath cast his abode Is it the mark of a friend of Christ to neglect or slight Communion with his people If there be doubts or offences either given or taken about persons or things there is a due course appointed of Christ to give and receive satisfaction meet All inded are obliged to keep themselves pure and Purify themselves whether personally or Ecclesiastically but this duty doth not intrench on others that obliges all Christians to use all diligence for Christian Union and Communion All Church-Officers are indeed peculiarly concerned to look to their charge yet doth not that absolve any private Christian from attending the duty of his place and making
good his Christian Profession How many Unities doth the Apostle press upon the Ephesians that he might powerfully quicken them to use all diligence towards this peaceable way Should not each of them have a strong Impulse upon our Spirits in these unpeaceable Times 2. Order is the next Essential requisite unto Peace-making What Unity doth constitute and strengthen Order manages governs and preserves Such as the Peace is such is the Unity and such the Order that lead thereto and act about it Peace with God requires an orderly way of agreement with him through Jesus Christ The Lords Spirit works methodically about that great matter as also about Peace of conscience He convinces the world of sin of Righteousness and of Judgement in order to comfort when he comes to be their Paraclete The God of order will be observed orderly by every Christain in his and their wayes Thus towards a civil and Oeconomical Peace doth he proceed orderly and requires his people to do the like His Providence sets every man in his proper station and his word gives exact directions how they should act therein His Spirit qualifies all his people for every motion sutable to their Sphere by continual supplies out of Christs fulness That Almighty God who tels the number of the stars calling them by their names calls all Persons and sublunary Things to their proper work Whist they keep his Orders they further that Peace whereon depends the Blessedness of the Universe and of it several parts Superiors have most influence herein moving in their places as Superior Planets in their higher Orbs. As their motion proves regular or irregular so is their Aspect benign or malign Christ the King of all the Sun of Righteousness moves still orderly and regularly Wh lst by him Kings reign and Princes execute Judgement spiritually as well as providentially those mountains of his Kingdom then bring forth Peace and the little Hils by Righteousness Inferiors also are taught their Duty in orderly working towards Peace-making There is none so poor and despicable but hath somewhat to do towards it Their Faith and Prayer their Gifts and Graces are alwayes of use in each Relation civil and Spiritual Often they that think meanest of themselves have most influx into this great work It s sometimes the poor unregarded Person that saves the City from eminent dangers The feet are helpfull to the whole Body and the smallest Toe doth not want its work nor could it be spared Propriety and Subordination are the Appointments of the God of Heaven That whimsey of men that would level all to bring confusion appears to come from confused Spirits not from the God of Order Though men often mistake and miscarry both in higher and in lower places yet doth the Lord still over-rule all their disorders to his orderly ends What we cannot redress in mens ill Motions he would have us bewail and look to him for help with all orderly motions in our own places towards Peace-making As for Civil Peace so likewise for Ecclesiastical Accord due Order is specially observable He is in this case very peculiarly the God of Order not of Confusion All things would he have to be done decently in Order and to Edification in every Church of his He hath therefore left upon Record all Instructions necessary thereto to be applyed as there shall be cause He leaves more to humane Prudence in civil Affairs then in Ecclesiastical matters There he leaves men to more general Rules about the kinds and means of Government but here he gives more pnnctual directions in those the external man is chiefly concerned but here the internal The matter and manner of Civil Government he doth often providentially alter but the dispensations of Ecclesiastical Rule are fixed by him Though he formerly spoke sundry times and manners to the Fathers yet having once spoken to us by his Son he alters no more this Evangelical Administration but curses any that pretends to bring an other Gospel The Matter and Substance abides still the same though some Circumstantials may admit of change pro hic nunc according to Rule still and in Order to Peace New Officers and a new Power may be by men constituted in the State not so in the Church In that Christ rules chiefly as King of Nations but here as King of Saints In both he would have all ordered to his Glory according to his Word which appoints every one the proper limits of their general and particular Calling As in the Body natural whilst all the parts move orderly in their proper place there is harmonious Peace in a healthfull Temper so is it in the Body Politick and Ecclesiastical As the strings of a Lute being orderly set wound up and touched make a sweet Musick of different Accords so doth it appear in the right tuning of the several strings in each Instrument Civil and Spiritual A confused heap of stones and rubbish is unseemly useless and weak It s the orderly fitting of materials both to each other and to the foundation that makes a building strong and durable pleasant and usefull It must needs appear so in Ecclesiastical as in Civil Fabricks It should then be the care of all Church-Officers and of Church-members to study and observe the Orders of Christ appointed for his family and Kingdom in their respective capacities that Peace may be had and the blessings thereof Warning the unruly supporting the weak watching over each other mutual sympathy comforts and supplies are frequently inculcated on us and therefore to be as carefully performed Rulers and ruled must walk exactly with accurateness as upon Tip-toes both in Doctrine Worship and Discipline All differences of lesser moment are to be soberly humbly prudently prevented and cured as far as may be What good may be done or evil redressed by any gentler means must not be handled in a rougher way It were absurd to struggle and sweat about a feather or any light matter All means must still be proportioned to our designed end according to the various cases in hand Thus wise men act in all their affairs of temporal Import much more should they in heavenly things All have special need to beware of their Lusts which are still unteachable and disorderly The seed of the Serpent reigning in the most remaining in the best will still bear a mortal fewd against the seed of the woman both personal and spiritual That Antipathy is a dreadfull enmity natural and constant universal and perpetual whence the breach of Peace both in Church and State 'T is therefore most needfull that all sorts should study and attend that excellent Order which our Soveraign doth proportion out to every Person in each relation Lustre and vigor will still attend it and render thereby the fellow-members of each Society singularly helpfull to each other singly and jointly Whilst all the wheels and weights of this Clock or Watch keep their due
and fit Medicines for all our distempers He must make Peace within our Borders and he bids us to look up to him as the sole Arbitrator both of Peace and War All means must be used to make Peace with him by closing with Christ and subjecting to him on conjugal terms trusting in him alone according to his Word for the Peace desired Great Peace have they that love his Laws and nothing shall offend them He will then make our Officers Peace and our Exactors Righteousness Hath not he engaged himself to his People by his Word and Oath by Covenant and Promises by his hand and Seal to communicate all Peace to them in due season and order Observe we the method prescribed to us and we need not doubt of a Soveraign Cure Whilst we are carefull in an Obedience of Faith to obey his Preceps he will not fail to fulfill his Promises Every Ordinance and Institution of his is a special Help which he hath promised to bless unto his People In every Providence he will be also duly acknowledged to direct our feet into the way of Peace The wayes of his Wisdom are all pleasantness and all her paths are Peace The Lord Jesus is the great Peace-maker both in Heaven and Earth His coming brings still with Glory to God on high Peace on earth also and good will towards Men. Promote his Interest and you promote Peace whether in Church or State whether in publique or private Relations According as his entertainment is so is our Peace like to be internally and externally whether real or hypocritical Machiavellians that do neglect him and put him off with Idol-worship and Obedience shall find a sutable Peace and Attendance They that give him but an empty shell are like to receive little better from him The true Politicks are still to be learned in the school of Christ under the Teachings of his gracious Spirit They that are enemies to his Word of Peace and Instructions given to his servants about Peace-making may sadly repent it when it s too late As without him we can do nothing so through his help we may do all Things through Christ strengthening us Peace made in his way will be a good Peace otherwise it will prove but a counterfeit one He it is that will give Peace unto his People and will give to them all the Blessings of Peace Let him have the Honor we shall have the Comfort he will bless us whilst we are blessing him Believe and pray waite and endeavour for a blessed Peace in due attendance on the blessed God whose Purposes and gracious Thoughts of Peace are seasonably executed by him in speaking and creating Peace to them and for them Secondly Towards men also should fit helps be used in reference thereto He that hath made us rational Creatures appoints us means to be rationally used All his Creatures have their Instinct from him which leads them steadily to their proper Center for Rest and Peace Mans Reason is his proper Instinct that moved him aright to his Rest in God and so long had he Peace with all the Creatures But by his Rebellion as he broke with God so they all broke with him and his own self became his own enemy The Lord hath appointed means for recovery through Faith in Christ the promised Seed for spiritual Peace and through Obedience both of Faith and Love answerable to each kind of Peace in each relation All the Vertue and Power of the means depend on Gods appointment and Blessing as in Naturals so in Spirituals He deals with Men by Men after the manner of Men. Thus all diligence should be used in and about the means but our dependency should be on him alone whether he do grant or deny any means that Peace may be made and duly maintained restored and improved in an Eccelesiastial Political and Oeconomical Way Unity and Order must be with all care still looked after as was before hinted All the means that direct and help thereunto should be exactly studied and managed The Physicians rules are to be observed in taking all things by him appointed towards Health and Cure All Superiors in their several charges have their proper work cut out to their hand and so have Inferiors in each condition private and publique that they may be blessed in making of Peace We should therefore consider one another to provoke one another to love and good Works in all the wayes of Peace All our Principles and our Practices should be animated with that gracious Spirit which is directly opposite to all those sinfull Principles and Practices formerly mentioned Our Thoughts Words and Actions should still manifest the fruits of Christs Spirit in Love and Joy long suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance which are the noble Attendants of Peace In dying to sin and living to God we should attend our generation Work among the Sons of Men. Every Grace hath its peculiar work and use to be improved still towards true Peace Gifts and Endowments internal and external should be made all subservient thereto Every opportunity is to be redeemed in the right use of all Abilities for effecting of it Each of us a part must study and know his own Station well therein to maintain and to promote Peace We must be content to allow their grains to the best of Men and consider them as subject still to much infirmity that we may avoid all offence-giving and offence-taking in order to Peace Observe what is good either morally or naturally in the very worst of Men to make the best of it that we can towards Peace Mind what evil remains even in the best that it may be checked and mortified to the same purpose Make the best construction that you can possible of others thoughts expressions and carriage till clear evidence demonstrate the worst Forgive others much and your self nothing Be content to bear and forbear very far for the Blessing of Peace Use no foul means where fair ones will serve a dextrous gentle hand is the best Bone-setter Be very faithfull in all your dealings in love to the person and hatred to sin Be as favourable to men as you can so their sores be effectually searched and dressed toward a sound Cute Avoid extreams mind the vertuous middle which unites all good and separates from evil To do much good and to hear much ill is that property of a Peace-maker observed of old by a famous Prince out of experience What you cannot mend with your best labors bewail in secret as gracious Austin did till the Lord open you a door of Hope to enter into Peace The God of Peace himself give you Peace alwayse and by all means was the signal request of the great Apostle that choise friend of Peace Seek Peace and pursue it when it seems to be lost and flying away was the solemn Charge given by the Psalmist to those that wish well to God and his
made throughly sensible of their guilt and shame How far are the best from an exact performance of this great Duty How unlike are we to this dignifying Property of Gods People How short come we of that peaceable Spirit and Carriage that should teâ—tifie ouâ— gracious acquaintance with the Nature Charge and Interest of Christ the great Peace-maker Le ts all be humbled deeply before him at the sight and sence of so much unworthiness Let the conviction of our foolish mistakes and woful miscarriages awaken and shame us Doth the Lord suffer so much in his Cause Credit and Charge through our sinful jars and shall we not mourn Have we been such peevish and perverse Children and not judge our selves Have we so basely slighted such a Father in that which is so dear unto him and shall we not grieve Have we abused our Brethren and Fellow-servants so unworth ly and shall we not express the regret thereof Is not the fault of a child of a near Relation much more provoking then of any stranger Hath not our God used all possible means to teach us manners and press us with all might to Christian Peace-making Are not our wretched distractions much more provoking now to him and to all because of all the great cost and care he hath been at on a better account Have we lost our ingenuity have we forgotten our Duty and Interest so desperately as still to be senceless of our folly and misery herein Hath Satan so far deluded us hath sin prevailed so to the hardening of us that we see not the apparent ruin of all publique and personal Good following close our unnatural divisions our uncivil disorders All our miscarriages reflect on the Lord who will not alwayes bear with our frowardness His dearest people of old were frowned on and chid threatned and smitten very heavily for lesser faults then ours Their renewed Crimes after much indulgence from his fatherly hand forced him to turn them out of doors and disinherit them He bids us all go to his Shiloh where his presence dwelt and learn by the desolations thereof to observe the fruits of disorders and divisions in his Kingdom and Family All his dispensations to them were for Types and Examples to us to shame us all for those many sins wherein we so far exceed them The woful Ruins of so many Churches once so flourishing in each part of the World should prove a powerfull warnning to us all If we be indeed the children of God let it appear by our ingenuous shaming of our selves for our unchristian abusing of him in abusing his Peace his People and our selves so groundlesly and so frequently so sinfully and so wofully Vse 3. This Truth may be improved by way of Discovery Hence may we enquire into our own State and take a Prospect of the Posture of Affairs within and without us Doth this character of Godâ— children dignifie us and others Is it ouâ— eminent property to be Peace makers Do we act herein in a way becoming the children of God This is a needfull and usefull enquiry for all sorts of persons in this self-deceiving and hypocritical Age so full of mistakes and distempers Bring we the case to the Lords own Test measure it by the line of the Sanctuary Do we act about Peace from him and like him for him and through him as becomes his Children 1. Do we act from God about all the matters of his Peace Is he our Principle and source of all spiritual activeness Is he the Supreme efficient of all good in us and to us Are we born again of his gracious Spirit to make us new creatures that we might walk in newness of Life As we have born the Image of the earthly do we now bear the Image of the heavenly Adam Do we receive from Christ the second Adam the Root and seed of spiritual Life as we received from the first Adam the Spawn and Beginnings of natural Life We naturally grow wild as the timber in the Forest as stones in the Pit and rock Hath the Lord hewen and digged us down by the hand of his Spirit with the tools of his Word and Providence to square and polish us for his spiritual Edifice Hath he translated us from death to life that were naturally dead in sins and trespasses Hath he by his Gospel-salve opened our eyes to turn us from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan to God Hath he poured clean waters upon us that we might be effectually cleansed from all our filthiness and from all our dividing Idols A new heart also hath he given us and a new Spirit hath he put within us Hath he taken away the stony heart out of our flesh and given us a new heart of flesh Hath he put his Spirit within us to cause us to walk in his Statutes that we may keep his Judgements and do them Hath he washed us in the Laver of Regeneration through the renewing of the holy Ghost shed on us abundantly according to his gracious Promises Hath the Lord thus begotten us again unto a lively hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that we might enjoy and promote Peace Have we put off the old man which is corrupt after its deceitfull lusts and put on the new man which afâ—er God is created in Righteousness and true holiness Have we learned in his school to strip us of self that we may put on Christ for our Garment Have we received his effectual Call to obey it efficaciously in order to his Peace Hath his Spirit convinced us applicatively of sin of Righteousness and of Judgement Hath he brought us into to the wilderness that he might speak to our hearts therein words of Grace and Peace Hath he given himself in giving us his Son upon conjugal terms by his sanctifying Spirit and have we thereby been enabled to surrender up our selves unto him by a lively faith of his own working Do we through faith partake of those gracious Promises which make us Partakers of the Divine Nature to escape the pollutions that are in the world through lust Doth Christ thus dwell in our heart by faith that being grounded and rooted in him we may thence receive out of his fulness Grace for Grace in order to Peace Doth he draw us so powerfully by the inward cords of his Spirits motions and the outward Bands of his Word and Providence as to make us to run after him and follow him fully in all the wayes of Peace Is he the Load-stone that draws our Iron-hearts by Magnetical virtue into all sutable operations Is he the Treasure the Magazin of all our supplies the Ground and foundation of all our desires delights designs and labors about all kind of Peace Do we thus receive and act all from him not from any Creature within or without us to manifest our selves his Children Secondly Do we act like him in
Orient Sun with all due respect Are his Greatness and Goodness his Mercy and Truth his Justice and Holiness his Wisdom and Power so precious to us that we recommend still the Majesty thereof to the choisest observation of others about the affairs of his Peace Are we mainly given up to the magnifying of God in his Son that through his Spirit we may still give to him that Glory of his due unto his name in every Ordinance and Providence Do we subdinate all our Interests all things whatever to the manifesting magnifying of his great Interest Is it our chief Care Delight and Design to further our own and others Peace that the God of Peace may reap the Honor whilst we wiâ—h others share in the benefit of all his Goodness Can we be content to be abased so he be exalted and to be his foot-stool to get into his Throne Do we imitate that heroical Posture of the famous Worthies mentioned in Rev. 4. and 5. chap. the Prophetical Embleme of Christs Kingdom in these latter dayes by casting the Crowns of all our Endowments and Atchievements at the feet of the Lamb who alone is worthy to win and wear the Crown Have we learned to post-pose our best self at the train of his Highness accounting it our highest honour and happiness thus to honour and enjoy him in the service of his Peace Is it our desire and endeavour that all our selfish lusts may be daily crucified with shame and violence for all the disgrace and disadvantage that their rebellions do still reflect on him and his Peace Do we still with utmost industry search out our darling sins and bosome corruptions that all such arch Traytors may be sacrificed in a burnt Offering by the hand of zealous Indignation to God and his Peace Are we moved towards the publique Good of all his People still with a single eye towards his Honor so dear unto him Are we labouring with sincere self-denyal and diligent prudence to promote their Peace that the Lords Interest may be thereby promoted Do we thus prefer still Jerusalem before our chiefest joy having it still written upon our hearts and hands on our brains and tongues Are we such faithful Remembrancers of God for Zion and of Zion for God as to be restless both with God and Man till he give Zion rest and establish her his Praise in the earth Do our souls bleed at the sight and sence of his peoples divisions and disorders whereby his great Name is wounded to death Is it mainly upon his account that we bewail our own and others follies and treacheries that betray h s cause and honor as the Jews his person into the hands of the common enemy so skilful to destroy Are our hearts inflamed with the zeal of his house to the consuming of what offends it and inflaming others with sublimed Affections towards it upon his score â—â—ill Do we appear to be his true servants by taking pleasure in the stones of Zion and favouring the very dust thereof though so much scorned and abused by others Are we afflicted in his peoples sufferings and sympathizing with all his Mourners Do we for his sake earnesty contend for Truth and Peace Righteousness and Peace against all error and unrighteousness and all other desperate euemies of his Do we therefore attend with diligence the proper work and extent of our several Callings that all things within our compass may be still managed to the best advantage in order thereto Do we manifest such a property of Gods Children to others whether friends strangers or enemies in our Respective transactions that we make it appear by real demonstrations that Peace-making is reckoned of us upon Gods account to be our singular Duty and Dignity 4. Do we likewise still act through him in our motions for Peace Is he ouâ— Soveraign strength as well as our Principle Pattern and End Doth the sence of our unworthiness and insufficiency drive us still out of self unto himself Are we strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might against all the enemies of his Peace In our greatest straights Do we as David strengâ—hen our selves in the Lord our God the Lord our Peace Do we by Faith take hold on his strength that we may make Peace with him untill through his Spirit and Grace our Peace be compleated with him in Christ Do we run into that strong hold of his as the Conies to their Burroughs upon any noise for Quiet and Peace Do we cry to him as the Disciples often to awaken Christ sleeping in the storm that he may still our â—ears in calming winds and waves Do we still as ingenuous Children depend on him for support and supplies whilst we attend with carefull diligence that Study and Work allotted to us Do we daily bewail the folly of our selfish dependency in bemoaning our selfish Principles selfish Rules and selfish Aims with effectual compunction of heart Do we find still more emptiness and weakness wretchedness and nothingness in our own selves that we may solely rest upon Jesus Christ for Wisdom and Righteousness for Sanctification and Redemption Doth our daily discovery of the creatures van ty and vexatious deceit wean our hearts more effectuâ—lly still from all kind of creature-dependency that the Lord alone may be our strength our El-shaddai Omnipotent and All sufficient Jehovah Do we expect Peace only from his creating Word for the fulfilling of all his Promises whilst we are observing of all his Precepts concerning the same When we and others have endeavoured our best about this Work do we still cry out on our Leanness our Leanness and acknowledge our selves both unprofitable and insufficient Servants coming still short of our duty and unworthy of the least acceptance Do we therefore cast our selves still with all our duties at the feetof Christ as we desire still to trust in him and rowl our selves on him for strength and acceptance through his Mercy and saving mediation Do we like his children of Old place the strength of all our hopes on him that he may ordain Peace for us because he hath wrought all our work in us Is the stress of all our desires and delights our designs and endeavours recumbent still upon his Al-efficient Grace that he may please still to fulfill with his hand what he hath spoken with his mouth according to the sure purposes of his heart Is he our Rock of Ages our sure City of Refuge to whom we do continually resort to procure and settle to maintain and restore to promote and preserve Peace Do we remember the many experiences given us thereof both in personal and publique Occasions as so many Ebenezers set up for Monuments and Memorials that hitherto the Lord hath helped us Do we proclaim his Title of Honor and exalt his Arms in all necessities as Moses and Israel did with this Inscription Jehovah-Nissi
The Lord my Banner Is it h s Presence and Blessing in every Ordinance and Providence that we wholly rest upon to conclude and effect all our Treaties and Matters of Peace either with God or Man Have we none in Heaven but him none on earth in comparison of him When our flesh and our heart fail us is he then most the strength of our heart and our Eternal Portion Do we account it our great dignity to be nothing that he may be All to do nothing through self that he may do all in us by us for us Do we find his Grace so sufficient for us that his strength is still perfected in our weakness so that we may cordially say with the great Apostle When I am weak then am I strong Are we found active in this great duty of Gods Children in imitation of Abrahams Faith to trust him in the mount of Straights in mans extremity not staggering at the Promise through unbelief but being strong in faith to give him Glory in the diligent use of all appointed means or in want thereof Are we thus through his Grace carried on in his Work with dextrous zeal and watchfull dependance that we may demonstrate in our respective Spheres that we are his Children by this signal dignifying property of Peace-making on all occasions Is the joy of the Lord thus our strength continually Vse 4. Singular Consolation flows from this Point also to all faithfull Peace-makers seeing this gives out the proper dignity of Gods Children Such may happily meet with many Reproaches and be slandred opprobriously for Neutral Spirits and timerous Ones They may be accused of luke-warm indifferency and unworthy Compliance Satan will be sure to set out Vertue with the dress of Vice as he still labors to put on Vertue 's Apparel on the contrary Vice But true Peace-makers fare no worse herein then Christ himself and his Apostles did so often mis-judged of and mis-called Honor aud Comfort will never be wanting unto Gods Children whilst they manifest such a dignifying property What is defective to them on mans part shall be surely made good on Gods part with greatest advantage Those that honour him will he still honor but such as despise him shall become vile as base as the dung The Lord will seasonably give strength to his People the Lord will surely bless his People with Peace What ever we bestow on this precious jewel will prove to be of admirable Increase The cost and care bestowed on Gods Work will orderly return with an hundred-fold augment The Children of God are best Merchants their Commodities Trade and Venture Facturage and Gain are all incomparable in all their dealings with him and for him Much study and care much labor and toil will this Work require much self denyal and yielding to others The Market of Peace is often inhanced to very high terms It cost Christ dearer then it can possibly cost us The more we venture the more shall return Such a precious grain will duly afford a plentiful Harvest Our own bosoms shall be the Granaries thereof if others be still estranged from it If we cannot meet with Sons of Peace abroad our Peace like Noahs Dove will return home safe with a surplusage If others cannot be perswaded to come along with us yet shall we not fail to enter into Peace the glorious Palace of Eternal Rest That Rest and Joy of our Master shall be the Portion of all faithfull servants It shall comprehend us that are not able to comprehend it It will entertain those that promoted it If men will not help but discourage us the Lord himself will be our Encouragement Our Peace with him will be best ensured by that Spirit of Peace which he gives us to animate us about his great Work Peace within we shall most enjoy when we have laboured for Peace among Men. What ever men take this Peace and joy of the holy Ghost none can take away Our heavenly father will keep it for us and keep us thereby through faith to Eternal Peace Great Peace have they that love his Laws in order to Peace nothing shall offend them Their work of Faith their Labor of Love and Patience of Hope will not be so succesless as to themselves or others The Lord will speak Peace in the best way and season to his People and Saints that they may not return unto folly If our seed come not up so soon as we wish yet will it appear towards its ripeness as soon as God wils We must not limit nor anticipate him He likes not our Post-dates nor Antidates The Vision of Peace is for an appointed Time It will come and not lie Though it seems to tarry we should wait for it because it will come and not tarry But the just must here exercise his faith whilst others are swelling and sowring through unbelief Our comfort is that our endeavours shall contribute to the Foundation if not to the finishing of the Lords building The deeper and wider he layes his Ground-work the slower yet surer will the Structure of Peace attain to perfection Gods Time is still best so is his Method He is still a God of Judgement blessed are they that so wait on him in the wayes of Peace The meek of the earth that work his Judgements seeking Righteousness and Meekness still in order to Peace shall be sure to be hid under his Covert whilâ—â— his wrath is falling on others All his Promises shall be orderly made good to all his Children He will in due time make their Officers Peace and their Exactors to be Righteousness The turnings of his hand and overturnings of Persons and things will be subservient to the taking away of our dross and purely purging out of our Tin that our Judges may be as at the first and our Counsellors as at the Beginning Zion shall thus be saved with judgement and her Converts in Righteousness Then shall he extend Peace to us as a River and the Glory of the Gentiles as a mighty stream Then shall the Lord be One and his name One throughout the earth Then will he turn to the People a pure Language that they may serve him with one Consent The Lion then shall dwell with the Lamb the Envy of Ephraim shall depart that they may not hurt in his holy Mountain but be filled with the Knowledge of the God of Peace as the waters cover the Sea The King of Peace is nearly concerned in the making good of these and all other Engagements He wants no Skill no Power no Will to the perfect compleating thereof Tout vient a point a qui peut attendre is a Maxim ever verified among all Nations All things conclude well to such as can but wait Patients need Patience under the Physicians hand Gods Children cannot but do well whilst their own Father looks so to them and their elder Brother is their
and employed by him as Zerubbabel was to lay Foundations and rear up the Top stone of his Temple it s his favour dignifying them in the noblest way All the great Mountains of obstructions and difficulties shall become plain before such Instruments That any Nehemiah-like are honoured by him to repair the ruines of his house and Kingdom to restore his Temple City and Worship to fence both Church and State with a defensive Wall and setled Orders for each Relation it s of his Grace and for his Glory If any Samaritans without or false Brethren within discourage his servants in so great a work they shall have little credit or thanks for their labour If any Sanballats and Tobia's Geshems and Rehums gain now so much upon our Shemaias Noadiahs and other professed Reformers by their Impostures affinities and Baits as by false Prophesies and Insinuations to weaken our Rulers hands and debauch any of our Helpers their Judgement slumbers not What pitty it is that the glory of our Reforming Worthies should be so unworthily impaired and ecclipsed Hath not the Lord promised they shall be Repairers of our Breaches and Restorers of Paths to lead all his people into the wayes of Peace Should they not use all means in each Relation as becomes his eminent Instruments to fulfil his will and promote his end They shall fare no worse then Nehemiah's who are still active for God and his people as Nehemiah was through the help of Heaven Secondly The Ministers of Christ are also peculiarly concern'd in the great matters of a blessed Peace They are signally called thereto and employed about it by the God of Peace whose Embassadors they are Their Office and Commission challenges from them all possible diligence and care to the producing and preserving the restoring and propogating thereof All their Insignia and honorary Titles import clearly so much All their Gifts and Graces should concur still harmoniously thereto Their various functions qualifications and Operations should unite still in this one Center as they all flow from one and the same God Lord a nd Spirit that blessed Trin-Vnity So far as they labor to agree with him and with each other in him so far hath he promised that he would create the fruits of their Lips to be Peace Peace to him that is near and to him that is far of whether Jew or Gentile within or without Should not therefore such Messengers of Peace be most active and self-denying about their Masters work Should not all our Spirits be mightily inflamed with the Zeal of Gods House for his Glory and his peoples Peace How can we take a view of his Sacred Word and not be strongly moved thereto by so many Precepts and Promises prefigurations and Presidents so full of vigour and efficaciousness Have we not been too long followers of Levi joyning with Simeon in his former part to dishonour God and disgrace our selves by sinful mistakes and miscarriages the breeders of dismal wranglings and jars both with God and man though often coloured with Religion and conscience Is it not time to imitate Levi in his best and later part whilst our God is proving of us about our Massah and Meribbah in our wilderness and hour of tempting Contentions Should not we Levi-like be so sensible of our former provocations as to execute a holy Revenge by an impartial hand upon our rebellious and dividing Lusts that his Urim and Thummim the burning Lights of his Perfections may rest on us and animate us to his blessed Work and End Should it not be our industrious study and scope desire and delight design and labour to advance this in our respective charges and occasions Should we not with renewed vigour pray and believe wait and endeavour with mutual helpfulness till all Gods Promises be effectually fulfilled in all parts Is it not pitty that any of us should still entertain a selfish and dividing spirit which hath been found so wofully sinful in all sorts of men and especially among Ministers Should not the many Conjurations of the common Enemy quicken us the more into orderly Associations upon Christs account according to his Word Should not the sad experiences of our own and others follies teach us that Wisdom which coming from above is first Pure and then peaceable gentle and easie to be entreated that the fruit of Righteousness may be sown in Peace by such blessed Peace-makers Why should we not priZe an Act of Oblivion among all Christs friends and bury in Christs Grave all those Names and causes of Division that have crucified the Lords Name and Cause in the crucifying of our Peace Why should one be said to be of Paul another of Apollo another of Cephas May it not suffice us to be called Christians whilst we agree in the faith and holiness of Christ Why should circumstantial differences among Christs servants make such material distances and partition walls as long as we agree in the substance and main of Christianity Why should not we bear with each other as we would be born with that we may the better unanimously oppose the Fundamental enemies of his Truth and Grace that would destroy our Peace Why should we not own each other and walk together in all possible correspondency as far as our light reaches that we may the more amicably and efficaciously be helpful to each other through the Lords blessing in other things not so clear to us The Lord so teach us this mysterious Act of blessed Peace-making that we may still be practising thereof to the rolling away of our Reproach and Israelsshame that the Prince of Peace may own us in his Work and setle among us whilst we are labouring to own him and his in all the wayes of Peace All private Christians should likewise be moved to attend this Grand Interest of theirs wrapped up with Christs own in such a blessed Peace from his Divine Oracle speaking to all his in the following Tract The Contents THe Coherence of the Context page 1 The Text opened p. 2 I. Proposition Peace is a blessed thing The explanation thereof ibid. What an evil peace peace in evil means ibid. What a good peace peace in good imports p. 4 Eternal peace with God what ibid. Internal peace in man what p. 6 External peace with Man what ibid. Ecclefiastical peace Political peace p. 7 Confirmation ibid. Demonstration in three Branches 1. Reason from the blessed Author considered Essentially p. 8 Personally p. 9 Reason 2. From the blessed Nature of it p. 10 Reason 3. From the blessed Adjuncts thereof p. 11 Truth and Grace Righteousness and Holiness Joy and Bliss the happy Companions of Peace p. 12 Use Application 1. Information in two Corollaries 1. The sinfulness of sin ibid. 2. The wofulness of Division and Discord p. 13 Schism Characterized p. 14 Object Is not separation commanded and commended Answ 1. A Christian must separate from evil p. 15