Sweet meats of this kind will have very sowr sauce Such chuse rather to be the devils fools then the Lords wise friends in the way of Peace 4. The Hypocrites that possess it not but deceive themselves and others with a dissembling Peace Such have a double mantle to cover their juggles of formality and morality towards God and Man External shews of duty they put on that they may brave it in the painted form of seeming piety and charity whilst they deny it the Power thereof They are as far from the Peace of God as they are far from sincerity and Integrity But what good will such fig-leaves do them to the covering of their nakedness though they be gathered stitched and applyed never so curiously This Hypocrisy is either of a single or of a double Dye Some are notoriously and knowingly such as many Pharisees others more secretly and ignorantly as the foolish Virgins It s sad and frequent to be thus cheated in cheating of others to dream of Heaven in the way to Hell 5. The Notionist that regards it not but embraces a fancy in stead of Gods Peace Glorious apprehensions such entertain still of a Peace within while they disdain the only way of Peace Christs satisfaction and Intercession are little regarded for Impetration and application of sure Peace by them They have light and sufficiency within a figment of their brains which they paint out with the name of Christ to please themselves and deceive others whilst the strong man keeps the house within all things are are at peace there That Prince of darkness hath a garment of Light to put on in the play and drive on his Game He can easily being a Spirit fill their phantasie with pleasing Raptures and speak to them as by a voice from Heaven under a Scripture disguise But how far are such poor Wretches from Peace that are thus entangled in Satans Labyrinth This dreaming dead Peace is not much unlike Heliogabalus his pleasing Precipice and the Duke of Clarences Butt of Malmsey or Cleopatras insensible Asp giving a fair dispatch into the Land of eternal woe To pretend Christs name whilst men oppose him in each of his wayes and are still slighting his Word and Ordinances is as direfull a juggle as its common 6. The prophane Wretches who take their swinge in the course of sin swilling it still in the devils trough such who make a trade of lying and swearing tippling and cheating voluptuousness and licentiousness are as far from Gods Peace as they are from his Grace They are at Peace with sin and Satan under whom they fight continually against God His Creatures his Mercies are all turned by them into Arms of rebellious defiance against his Majesty What Peace so long as Jezebels Whoredoms and Witchcrafts Idolatry and Impiety are still multiplied Such may be cheated with a dreaming and diabolical Peace but they still pay dear for it at the last No Peace with God where there is Peace with sin either gross or close open or secret In a word All sinners should be throughly humbled at the sense of this Is it not egregious folly and misery to slight and mistake such a blessed Peace Object But we hope it s not so bad with us we are better friends to God and to his Peace Answ Dost thou hope so indeed it were well if thy hope were but well grounded There is a great deal of vain hope in the world Is thine any thing better It may be thou art not so bad as many others thou thinkest God is merciful Christ is a good Saviour thou doest what thou canst and art sorry thou canst do no more thou seemest troubled at sin sometimes and hast many good words and good wishes for Peace yea may be thou hast many good duties to plead it for thee many good works of piety and charity justice and equity Possibly thou hast had many convictions of Conscience and many resolutions to mend Happily thou hast professed much hast said done and suffered much in the wayes of Christ and hast got thee a good esteem among good men But what of all this Did not Judas and Demas Ananias and Saphira with many more go as far at least Dost thou yet out-strip the foolish Virgins and knowest thou not what 's become of them Doth it not appear thou art as yet a stranger to Gods Peace and a friend to sin what else mean the bleatings of the sheep will not thy vain Imaginations and evil affections testifie so much to thy own conscience do they not often bewray so much by the language of thy lips and life if thou lovest what God loaths and loathest what God loves doth it not speak out thy enmity to him thy secret disdain to the purest Characters of his holiness stamped upon his Word and Worship his Sabbath and servants testifie so much Thy secret Love to some bosome lust and darling corruption whom thou feedest and cherishest in the dark doth express no less Thou wouldst have Peace with God and with sin at once but these two are still incompatible Thou hast not yet learned to pluck out thy right eye to cut off thy right hand and right foot to deny thy self in thy dearest comforts and corruptions for him and therefore art not yet a Disciple of his Peace If thou hast not given up all to Christ to accept of him on conjugal terms at least in affection purpose and endeavour trusting in him alone thou hast little right to his peace as yet If Christ gives not all he gives nothing if he receive not all he receives nothing to saving purpose Vse 3. If Peace be such a blessed thing it should put all upon serious examination of our Interest therein that our case may be weighed in Gods Ballance and our state tried by his touchstone Bring we every one our Peace to the Test and standard of Heaven is it good or evil Is it not a dissembling or dreaming a dead or diabolical Peace Is it a Peace in good and not in evil Doth our Peace with God with conscience and others prove of the right alloy and of the right stamp consider it well as you do your money which you inspect among so much counterfeit Coine Quest How shall I be able to know it aright seeing the mistake is so frequent and so mischeivous Answ The Spirit of Christ gives us in his Word six special Tokens to characterize a good Peace to thee by its Subject and Matter Ground and Rule End and Effects 1. The Subject of a good Peace is good a graciously renewed heart manifested in a gracious life There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made such free from the Law of sin and death Art thou such a person graciously renewed sanctified in the whole man after Gods Image in
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
2. He may not separate from good ibid. 3. Fundamental evils to be wholly abandon'd p. 16 4. Circumstantials to require much caution ibid. 5. Necessitated withdrawing how to be qualified p. 17 6. Divisiâ—â— from the Church Catholick and particular ibid. Use 3. Conviction to all sorts of sinners p. 18 Object Answ p. 20 Use 3. Eâ—â—viâ—ation page 21. In six Characters 1. 〈◊〉 Subject good p. 22 2. Is the Ground good ibid. 3. Is the Matter good p. 23 4. Is the Rule good ibid. 5. Is the End good p. 24 6. Are the Effects good p. 26 Object Answ p. 27 Use 4. Consolation ibid. Object Answ p. 28 Use 5. Exhortation 1. To Nominal Professors p. 29 Question Answ ibid. Object I cannot come Answ p. 30 Object I am unworthy Answer p. 31 Object Many miscarry Solut. ibid. 2. Exhortation to real Possessors p. 32 II. Proposition Peace makers are blessed persons p. 33 1. The sense and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. 2. The Truth and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 34 Object Christ is not alwayes peaceable he brings war and jar Answer six-fold p. 36 3. The Ground and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 38 4. The Improvement and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 39 1. For Instruction in two Consectar 1. Seâ— the unhappiness of our Age. ibid. 2. The Vindication of peaceable Christians p. 41 Object Are not their compliances cowardly and cassandrian ibid. Answ Three-fold ibid. Improv 2. For Reprehension 1. Of strangers p. 43 Object Why do you censure and judge Answ Threefold p. 45 2. Of enemies in Terror p. 48 Object God forbid we should be so vile Ans Four-fold p. 49 3. Of friends p. 52 Object Answ p. 54 Improv 3. For a grand Inquest 1. Personally p. 56 Consult about it 1. With our Judgement p. 57 2 With Conscience p. 58 3. With our will ibid. 4. With our Affections p. 59 5. With our Expressions ibid. 6. With our Conversation p. 60 2 A Relative Estimate p. 62 Improv 4. A Cordial Consâ—ction p. 63 Improv 5. A forcible Excitation to peace-making p. 65 Incentive 1. The season ibid. 2. The work of Reformation p. 67 Question What 's to be dâ—ne Answ p. 72 In each kind of peace two Essentials Vnity Order ibid. 1. Vnity how to be minded specially 1. In the invisible Church p. 73 2. In the Visible Church p. 74 1. As Catholick and Vniversal ibid. 2. As particular and Congregational p. 76 2. Order the next Essential p. 78 1. For a Civil peace p. 79 2. For Ecclesiastical peace ibid. Question What Helps p. 82 Answer 1. By removing all obstructions 1. in Principles ibid. 2. In Practises Verbal Actual p. 85 2. By use of fit Means 1. towards God p. 90 2. Towards Man p. 91 III. Proposition Peace-making is the dignifying Property of Gods Children p. 94 1. It s Deduction ibid. 2. It s Explication ibid. 3. It s Confirmation p. 95 Object Answ p. 98 4. It s Demonstration p. 101. From his Relation importing 1. His Nature ibid 2. His Charge p. 103 3. His Interest p. 104 5. It s Application 1. For Inspection 1. See the ungâ—dliness of our Divisions 2. The mistakes about Profession p. 106 1. Admonition 1. to the Children of this world p. 108 2. To the Children of God p. 109 3. For Discovery of our Christianity in a four-fold Test 1. D we thus act from him as from our Principle p. 111 2. Do we act like him as our Pattern p. 113 3. Do we act for him as our End p. 115 4. Do we act through him as our Strength p. 117 4. Comfort to Peace-makers p. 119. 5. Counsel 1. to the friends of Discord 1. In a rational Dissuasive p. 122 2. In a vigorous Persuasive p. 124 2. To the friends of Peace how to carry it p. 126 1. Towards friends p. 127 2. Towards strangers p. 129 3. Towards enemies p. 130 THE Blessed Peace-Maker AND Christian Reconciler Intended for the Healing of all un-Christian and unnatural divisions in all Relations MAT. 5. 9. Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God CHrist Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness that arises with healing under his wings for the salvation of his people His progress carried the Light of Life in the Chariot of his Humanity round about Israel This Melchizedeck and high Priest of Salem came to procure their peace being sent to be that great Prophet who should speak Peace and that royal Prince who should give it them His Person is eminently set forth by our Evangelist that his Office might appear as illustriously He went up and down in performing of his Mediatory function doing good and speaking Peace to their souls and bodies A famous Sermon of his is epitomized in the context foregoing and following Therein he first describes the Persons to whom he gives Peace and then in our Text sets forth their duty with their dignity The Poor in Spirit that mourn for sin over their Saviour and on his account the meek of the earth that are still hunâ—ring and thirsting after his Righteousness the merciful ones whose heart is purified through his Word and Blood his Spirit and Grace they are the blessed ones whom he qualifies to be Peace-makers and dignifies among his children Blessed indeed are such Peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God Three special parts are signally observable in these words 1. A blessed thing Peace 2. The blessed Persons imployed about it Peace-makers 3. Their blessed Property dignifying them they shall be called the children of God Thence accordingly flow three propositions 1. Peace is a blessed Thing 2. Peace-makers are blessed Persons 3. Peace-making is the dignifying Property of Gods children 1. Proposit Peace is a blessed Thing This point requires Explanation and Confirmation Demonstration and Application 1. Explanation must unfold the Terms the word Peace in Hebrew Shalom is derived from a Root that signifies serenity quiet perfection it imports comprehensively what the Greeks express by various phrases 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the welfare of soul body and estate The Greek Eirene may be deduced 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 knitting into One as the Latine Pax from paciscendo agreeing and joyning Generally it s the mutual Agreement of things and so it s either Good or Evil in Scripture acception 1. There is an evil Peace Peace in evil not meant in our Text which admits of a fourfold consideration It s 1. Dissembling 2. Dreaming 3. Dead 4. Diabolical 1. There is a dissembling Peace a seeming shew an hypocritical appearance of Peace without reality thus wicked men speak Peace to their neighbours but evil is in their heart This Joab like gives a deadly wound with a fair complement this is a cheat a mock-Peace Thus by Peace that Arch-enemy deceives many 2. There is a dreaming Peace frequent among sinners that are lulled asleep in the bosom of their lust as Sampson in Dalilahs lap They cry
peace peace when there is no Peace but sudden destruction like the Dreamer in the Prophet that eats and drinks in fancy but is still empty and wretched Thus many dream themselves into a fools Paradise snorting on the Bed of carnal security till they drop into Hell at unaware 3. There is a dead Peace without sense or smart because without life in such who are Spiritually and judicially dead though they seem to live This was the case of many in Sardis All unregenerate Souls are naturally dead in Sins and Trespasses Divers of them after a temporary flash of profession do apostatize and grow worse then before These are the Trees twice dead plucked up by the root Seared consciences that grow past feeling into all Excess Like the dead Sea once a flourishing soil turned now by divine Vengeance for sin into a stinking puddle that Kils every fish and fowl that come but near it Such like the Ranting Crue have stifled and murdered Conscience by frequent Relapses so that they can commit all iniquity with greediness and without remorse They are dead whilst they live like the wanton Widdow The Peace of a rotten Carrion is their perfection wherein they please themselves till conscience revive to hurry them to their final Execution 4. There is a Diabolical Peace a Combination with Satan and for him in the waies of sin Hell it self hath some kind of Union and Order that Kingdom of Darkness if disordered in it self or divided against it self could not possibly stand There is a Belzebub a Prince of Devils the strong man that keeps all in Peace under his Rule As Satanical spirits do conjure together so are too many wicked Wretches combined with them either directly or collaterally Witches and Sorcerers are become Satans slaves by explicite Compact All wicked Persons are his Instruments though many of them more implicitly Conjunction in sin is a conspiracy though often coloured with specious pretences of good fellowship Many are daily found to do the Devils work in plotting mischief and tempting others to sin The best of their Peace is but conjuration in all sinfull associations Whilst they make a Covenant with Hell and find no trouble in Satans drudgery what Peace can they expect There is no Peace saith my God to the wicked All such Peace is but nominal and aequivocal Our Text excludes all such Secondly There is a good Peace Peace in good which is intended here This is the sweet agreement and harmonious Correspondency of things in conformity to Gods Will their Soveraign Principle Rule and End The Creatures esse and Being is given it in order to its operari and working That working is still to be sutable to their Being according to that Rule which the Being of Beings doth by his pleasure appoint thereto for its proper end Whilst things thus move in their respective Sphere Peace is maintained in a mutual accommodation to each other Man is specially concerned in this Peace and that in a treble respect 1. There is an Eternal Peace Peace with God 2. An Internal Peace Peace in man 3. An External Peace Peace with men 1. Peace with God is made in the Court of Heaven in the Regeneration of Gods Elect when the Soul is first united to Christ by the renewing of the Holy Ghost in the first conversion Then is actual application made effectually of Christs all-sufficient oblation upon conjugal terms whereby Reconciliation between God and Man is actually compleated Thus being justified by faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have access through faith into the Grace wherein we stand The Fathers eternal Purpose and the Sons virtual Purchase is then and not till then effectually fulfilled by the spirits Operation The Elect themselves are by nature before this gracious change alike Children of wrath and enemies to God even as others The sentence of the Law given to mankind in the first Adam abides in force upon all his natural Posterity and upon Gods Elect with the rest till they become by renewing Grace the seed of Christ the second Adam and thereby brought into a state of Reconciliation His Union to Christ that affords communion with him in this as in all other priviledges Thus God wills a change in them positive and Relative though he changes not his will about them His Electing Love of good Will towards them is an immanent eternall Act of his which makes no actual Change in their state till their nature be changed by his sanctifying Grace that his Love of delight may operate about them being a transient Act. The change is not in God but in the Creature wrought upon by such Acts flowing from God Gods Will is indeed but one Intire Act being God himself but the operations manifestations and effects thereof about the Creatures are various many wayes A Traytor is not in Peace with the Prince till actually pardoned and discharged in a legal and orderly way Christ indeed presented an all-sufficent satisfaction to divine Justice whereby Impetration was made of divine Mercy for all Gods Elect but upon the conditions agreed between them to be seasonably and effectually applyed to those Elect of his Till such conditions be fulfilled in them by his sanctifying Spirit they cannot enjoy the actual benefit thereof This divine Peace is the peculiar of the new creature born again by that singular Grace which forms the new man after Gods Image by a supernatural Birth The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the best of the best Man before this spiritual work is enmity against God neither willing nor able to yield subjection towards Peace and Reconciliation But the Soul once married unto Christ and adopted of the Father through the spirits gracious application is made Partaker of true and lasting Peace the debts being paid crimes forgiven and all sins covered with the Wedding Garment of Christs Ri hteousness imputed to him and by Faith received 2. Internal Peace is Peace of conscience flowing from the former by a seasonable and orderly reflexion The Kingdom of God is first Righteousness then Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Thus to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace The Conscience duly purified through faith in his blood is orderly pacified This Peace admits of a various and variable latitude according to the various degrees and conditions of Gods children In some its not perceived sensibly of a good while after conversion admitting of Clouds and Eclipses as the light of the Sun in nature through earthly and airy Interpositions The due sense thereof requires a special Irradiation of Christs Spirit shining upon his gracious Image wrought in the soul to make a due Reflexion thereof That Holy Spirit must witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and if Children then Heirs yea coheirs with Christ This requires a rational discourse formed in the soul by divine Logick whereof
knowledge righteousness and holiness of Truth art thou born again of the water and Spirit made a new creature by the Spirit of holiness giving thee a new heart and a new Spirit taking away thy heart of stone to give thee a heart of flesh sensible and yielding Hath the Lord melted thy heart having broken it kindly to cast thee into the mould of his Will and stamp his Image on thy heart by transforming thee in the inner man the Spirit of thy mind and writting his Law on thy inward parts Hast thou beheld with open face in the glass of his Gospel the Glory of the Lord that thou mightest be transformed into the same Image from Glory to Glory by the Spirit the of Lord there is no Peace saith my God to the wicked yet unregenerate abiding in Unbelief 2. The ground thereof must needs be good also the Righteousness of God hoth imputed and implanted 1. The Righteousness of Christ God-Man imputed by God to Man upon the marriage terms of his gracious Covenant whereby the Soul is united to Christ concludes Peace with God Secondly The Righteousness of God implanted in man by sanctification initial and progressive through the Spirit of Christ grounds internal and external Peace by the Improvement and reflexion thereof Is thy Peace thus grounded Hast thou been drawn to Christ upon conjugal terms to receive him and be fiducially acquainted with him for Peace Dost thou strip thy self of thy own righteousness accounting the same but filthy Rags yea as dross and dung that thou mayest know him and be found in him not having thy own righteousness which is by the Law but the righteousness which is of him by saith Dost thou depend on him alone for Wisdom and Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Hast thou learned thus to know him in the Power of his Resurrection and in the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death Hast thou the reflexion thereof in the witness of a good conscience making thee to rejoyce that in simplicity and godly sincerity thou hast had thy conversation towards God and Man exercising thy self to manifest it in every Relation If not thine own partial polluted Righteousness can give no good Peace 3. The matter is as good if the Peace be good It s Peace in good and not in evil Follow Peace with all men and Holiness it s a holy Peace Is thy Peace so qualified in the matter thereof having still holiness conjoyned Peace as the Athenian said of his Amity is to be extended usque ad Aras as far as is lawfull in all good matters Doth thy Peace converse about good Objects Whatsoever things are holy amiable of good report accompanied with virtue and praise are these thy delight and exercise Peace in sinfull things is war proclaimed against God himself it is rather a conspiration then Peace 4. The Rule of a good Peace must needs be good also The Truth of God is the Rule Adaequate of true Peace Truth and Peace are the lovely inseparable Pair of Gods own twisting They are the Abstract of Gods Mercy and mans duty The Scope of the Law and substance of the Gospel The truth of man conforms all things of man to the mind of God and thence Peace Is thy Peace thus regulated by Truth in the manner and means in the getting keeping and improving thereof Dost thou therefore so love the truth in order to Peace as to give it still its priority and due influence into all thy Peace Is the Scripture-truth of Gods holy word thy study and standard thy golden Rule and measuring line in all the Dimensions of thy Peace Dost thou so love Truth and Peace in their order and conjunction as to love the Truth in Peace and the Peace in Truth Whilst thou art using this Divine pair of Compasses to draw the Lines of thy duty from the Center of gracious Justice to the whole Circumference of thy life doth the foot of Truth stedfastly fix upon the Center to give Being and Proportion whilst the other foot of Peace is carried round to give notion and extent to thy Christian course Are they strongly and surely rivetted in their root and joint to make a clear and perfect figure by the rule of Divine Geometry Doth the foot of Truth incline no further then to give unto the foot of Peace the Rule of its due motion and strength for circular extension Dost thou buy the Truth at any rate and sell it at no rate Peace without Truth is the Peace of Hell dark dead and devilish like that carnal Wisdom mentioned by the Apostle whereas true Peace like the Wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated that the fruits of Righteousness may be sown in Peace 5. The End of a good Peace cannot but be very good likewise Finis dat esse bene esse mediis The End and Scope of things gives a Being and Perfection to the means The Glory of God is the ultimate End as of all things else so of this Peace All are from him and must needs therefore be also for him Our Alpha must needs be our Omega the first cannot but be the last The subordinate End thereto is mans Good both personal and Relative the publike with our particular No man is made for himself alone but most for others The God of Nature taught Wise Heathens so much by their glimmering Light The Apostle would have Christians not so much to mind their own as each others things and please their Neighbour by true self-denial for his good and edification Is it so with thy Peace Is Gods Honor the main scope thou drivest at in every thought word and work of thine Dost thou account it the greatest Honor and Happiness to be any way serviceable thereto Dost thou still take off the Crown of thy best Acts from thine own head to cast it at his feet as those noble Worthies triumphantly do in that glorious Representation of the Lords Kingdom Canst thou delight in thy own abasement as David the Apostles yea Christ himself did so that thy God may be exalted Dost thou contribute thy utmost towards it and is it thy great trouble that he reaps no more Honor from thy self and others Dost thou account his dishonor thine own being more zealous in his case then in thine Is thy Spirit so generous and ingenuous as to scorn all sinfull basness that reflects on his name and thy profession upon his score Do his reproaches still fall upon thee as they did on the typical and the true David Is this the Life of thy life the cream and marrow of thy best desires and delights designs and labours to glorifie him in the doing or suffering of his Will And is thy Neighbours good thy subordinate end thereto still Hast thou a publike and magnanimous Spirit that other Spirit so eminently commended and
with fear and trembling because its God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Strive to enter in at the straight gate and attend still at the posts of wisdoms house all whose waies are pleasantness and all her paths are Peace In your way to Peace mind industriously the Subject and Matter the Ground and End the Rule and Effects hinted at before The Lord gives Peace by the mouth of his servants at his pleasure creating the fruit of the lips Peace Peace all kinds and degrees in all the waies and means of true Peace to him that is near and to him that is far off in healing of them observe his method forbearing what he forbids taking what he gives improve his Promises obey his Precepts follow his directions and be sure to break with sin and Satan as you desire to have Peace with God Conceal no enemy but discover all to your Soveraign that you find plotting Treason within you keep no rebellious arms make no League no Truce with any spiritual Adversaries Be sensibly ashamed and weary of your sinful Peace manifest to all especially to God in his appointed waies that you design and labour through his grace to be wholly and constantly his His Covenant of Peace gives you those Articles of marriage on which you are to embrace his Son conjugally in giving up your self to be wholly his Study the same that you may punctually observe each of them through his Spirits help Take all in Christ and take Christ in all in surrendring up your self unto him so shall you surely enjoy the Peace of God with the God of Peace 2. This Exhortation should also perswade the real Possessors of Peace to make the best improvement thereof Such a blessed Thing should be made use of in every Relation in every Condition in every Occasion according to its worth Men improve their Lands and Estates their Trades and Offices to the best advantage with all diligence Is not this Peace of far greater moment in all Spiritual and Temporal respects Learn to be faithful Stewards of this choice mercy he entrusts you with whom he hath made the subjects of this Peace Keep the Kings Peace that it may keep you in every good thing Observe that Rule and Ground for that end of Peace before signified that the blessed effects of the same may orderly follow Improve with thankfulness and fidelity that Blessed Portion afforded you fcom heaven Beware of every thing that threatens a breach between God and you Keep this Jewel with all watchfulness and industrious care Make much of that which cost Christ so dear Be sure to keep close to the divine Author of your blessed Peace in the due review of its Nature and Adjuncts Peace with God well kept will be of special help to the preserving of Peace in your conscience and both will further your Peace with others too in all the means tending thereto Sin and Satan will be still striving to endanger and disturb the same Keep your eye and heart stedfast on your God in keeping your hand steady on his Work He hath promised to keep in perfect Peace such who thus faithfully rely and trust in him Believe and pray resolve and labour for Peace in all his waies so will the God of Peace give you Peace alwaies and by all means according to his Word The very God of Peace will throughly sanctifie you in soul body and spirit and his Peace shall keep you as with a garrison against all enemies internal and external You must still be receiving help from God that you may still be helpful unto others So shall you be blessed Peace-makers which is the next thing to be considered Propos 2. Peace-makers are blessed Persons This is Christs assertion plainly expressed the sense and truth whereof being made out and made good good Application will be made thereof 1. The sense and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is wrapped up in the words sufficiently cleared when we have but opened how this Peace-making is to be understood The Greek expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports a kind of humane efficiency variously expressed in Scripture dialect God makes Peace as the supreme Agent man as a subordinate Instrument under him God works it as the Primary cause man as a Secundary acted by him in every motion God effects it by over-ruling the minds and hearts of men Man by directing and perswading in offering Reasons and Motives suited to such minds and hearts God can do it without means at his Will but usually by Blessing the means appointed by him Man by the diligent improving of those means whereon the Lord hath promised his Blessing According to the nature of the Peace such is mans way of working towards it 1. With respect to eternal Peace with God Man is said to make his Peace when he follows the Lords directions in order thereto through the efficacious help of Christs renewing Spirit closing with Christ by a lively faith upon Gospel terms receiving of him cleaving to him resting on him and surrendring up himself to him according to the conjugal Articles of his gracious Covenant Thus whilest a man is exercising Faith and Repentance in an obediential love that he may through the Spirit die unto sin and live unto God in Christ he is said to make his Peace with God 2. In regard of internal Peace a man is said to be the maker thereof instrumentally when he observes the Lords instructions through Christs sanctifying Spirit in purging himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit to perfect holiness in the fear of God Whilest he is thus searching of his heart viewing of his waies and washing his conscience in the blood of Christ often that he may behold therein as in a Crystal Glass the Lords image by due reflexion he is then subordinate unto the holy Spirit in the clearing of Peace in his conscience 3. In relation to external Peace both Civil and Ecclesiastical Man is then a Peace-maker when he is carefully diligent to attend and improve the multiplicious means appointed of God thereto according to the variations of his proper state and opportunities through the supplies of the Spirit of Jesus Christ This Peace-making then is a multiplicious Act of the whole man flowing from a gracious principle within whereby all the powers and parts of soul and body are sâ—t on work to promote this Blessed Peace with all possible diligence and care though such cannot alwaies effectually produce what they sincerely and faithfully labour for Such Peace makers are blessed Persons 2. The Truth of this Proposition in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of it that it is so appears sufficiently from the Word and Providence of God made out to man in all successive Generations The God of Peace by his manifold precepts and promises prefigurations and prophesies doth largely make out the Duty and Dignity of his Peace-makers The friends of God were
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
Hath not he at all times testified his wrathfull displeasure against such disorders Is it not shamefull that our eyes should be evil because God is good The Lord will humble us forcibly if we humble not our selves willingly for our many sinful divisions Vse 3. This point should press next to a serious Inquest which should be set up for a due estimate both of our own and others condition The Diagnostick of our present State and the Prognostick of our future Hopes will be hence discerned both personally and relatively by proper Symptoms and various Characters 1. Personally We may take a view of out blessedness by the Dimensions of this Truth explained So far as we appear real Peace-makers so much of real Blessings will appear to be our Portion by Christs own Verdict If ouâ— Peace-making be but external or a seeming one the Blessing will prove much like thereto That our discovery may be righly made enquire we may of our Judgement and Conscience Will and Affections Speech and Behaviour about this Affair of so great moment wherein self-deceit is very common facile and mischievous 1. Consult we with our Judgement What acquaintance have we with this work Do we understand the Nature Author and Adjuncts of Peace Do we know the Subject and Matter the Ground and Rule the End and Effects thereof Do we apprehend what Peace-making imports and requires Do we compare aright the several things belonging thereto Do we reason the case by Scripture-Logick and argue our selves by Divine Arguments into our Duty Are our Principles and conclusions sound about this great work Are we duly sensible of the Necessity and Excellency of the Utility and Equity thereof Do we account it as most pleasurable and most rational so most honourable and most comfortable Are we duly informed of the wayes thereof and of the various means leading thereunto Are we made sensible of those false Principles which prevail with most against this blessed Work Do we perceive the weakness and error of those conceits and consequences that so frequently do oppose the same Are we sound in the Truth that still leads to Peace Doth that Light from above enlighten us within in our whole progress and labour about it Are we studious of all those Rules and Helps that may direct and further us thereto Are we prudently wise in cautions discerning of its counterfeits to avoid the same Are we taught of God the things that make for Peace to prize and esteem them sutably to their worth and use Are we convinced of the vanity and folly of the sinfulness and wofulness of all dividing Principles and Courses Do we count it as honourable to have out will by yielding as by overcoming Would we rather suffer the greatest evil then do the least Do we account none our enemy that is not more his own then ours yea more Gods enemy then ours Do we think it best to do good to all but provoke none as far as we can Do we think it best to erre on the extream of mildness rather then on that of rigor Do we think that Peace cannot be bought too dear but by sinfull Baseness Do we Judge our Good to consist more in the publique then in our own private Interest Do we study to do still to others as we would be done to Do we account another mans good to be our own Do we think it possible for good men to walk peaceably together notwithstanding their various infirmities and mistakes Do we reckon it far more honourable to be giving then receiving good and not to get by strife what by Peace may be obtained Are the Axioms of true Piety the best Maxims of our Politicks Do we duly ponder on all occasions the vast difference between Lawfulness and Expediency Are our Judgements thus poised and balasted that we may still regularly move between all extreams in guiding the whole man into all true peace Secondly Consult we with Conscience in all due Reflexions of our Judgement on our selves as subordinate to Gods own Judgement Doth it check us for our unpeaceableness and excite us against the ill thereof Doth it convince us of our multiplicious Guilt habitual and actual in the neglect of our duty herein Doth it smite us for our smiting of others in the breach of Gods Peace Doth it deal freely and effectually with us about all the particulars hereof whether good or evil Doth it act faithfully the part of a Teacher and Ruler of a Witness and Judge of a Recorder and Executioner within on Gods behalf Doth it prompt us to all peaceable good with encouragement and against all the contrary evils Thirdly Consult with our Will about the said Work in its various motions concerning it This is the Master-wheel the prime Mover and Agent of the soul Doth it act orderly and efficaciously to chuse the proper good and refuse the evil Is our Will therein subservient to Gods Will in its state and actings Are we setled in our resolutions for this Peace-making Are our Purposes fixedly established against all obstructions that would oppose it Do we thus design in the strength of Christ to follow his work with all diligence as becomes his servants so many wayes engaged to him and it Is our heart seasoned with uniting Graces and strongly byassed against all dividing Corruptions Do we still aim at those fruits of the Spirit that may throughly mortifie the deeds of the flesh Are we especially set against darling sins and our dearest bosom lusts through the gracious support and supplies of Heaven Are we moved thereto by all rational considerations drawn from Gods mercy and from mans duty so multipliciously expressed in his Word and Providence Fourthly Inquire we of our Affections How move our souls upon these wings and feet towards Peace-making against all discord and disorder Do we cordially love this blessed Work and whatsoever helps toward it Do we heartiy detest and hate all sinfull jarrings and differences Do we earnestly desire the things of Peace and disdain the contraries thereto Do we much rejoyce in the presence and enjoyment thereof sorrowing as much with unfained grief for the absence and the want of it occasioned by unchristian jars Are our hopes of this mercy cherished by the many promises made by the Lord to be gradually fulfilled in the latter dayes Whilst we despair both of men and means because of their insufficiency do we expect seasonable performance from the Lords gracious All-sufficiency Are we so afraid of our own and others sinful unworthiness and unpreparedness that all our confidence is grounded on the Lords undeserved and inexhaustible Mercy Doth our trusting in his Covenant-Grace engaging all his Divine Attributes increase our filial fear of displeasing him by any sinfull neglects whilst it casts out the many slavish fears that would distract and distemper us Is our zeal inflamed with indignation and increasing still with holy fire against all inward and outward oppositions that
so in America Take but a Survey of the parts of the world most whereof is shared among Heathens Mahometans and Jews See how much of the rest Popery bewitches how many Abyssins Coptits Armenians Georgians Maronits Greeks and Russians stand still engaged to sad Ignorance and gross Superstition though nothing so bad as the Romanists in Africa Europe and Asia How few remain for the Protestant Name yet how many of those very few are sadly divided from God and from each other How numerous are Satans Ingeners and the Jesuited Crue with the various swarms of Friers Monks Priests and Hermits under new disguises in the midst of us as of other Protestants to divide and destroy Do not Germany Poland and Swedland Denmark Holland France and Switzerland testifie it by wofull Tokens Should not we sympathize and unite with them on all rational Grounds of Piety and true Policy Is not their Interest twisted with our own in Christs Interest Are not the Papists now combining in all parts to root out if they can both our Profession and its Professors Have they not kept their late fourty Hours fasting Devotion and their Jubilees and Convocations which are frequently renewed to that end Are we still asleep in the midst of storms Do not their horrid plots so oft revived in our own Bowels sound a loud alarum to every Conscience Shall we still contend till an Enemy come and seize upon all How can we act in Reformation-work unless we mind Peace-making in earnest Hearken to Christs voice calling upon all by the Apostles Pen If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any Comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any Bowels and Mercies fulfill ye my Joy that ye be like-minded having the same Love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife or vain Glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better then themselves Look not every man to his own things but every man also to the things of others Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Doth not he intreat us as he did the Corinthians by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing that there be no division among you but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same Judgement Doth he not press the most cogent Arguments upon us still as he did upon the Ephesians from the Nature and Honor of God from the state and condition of his people from the personal Relation and Benefit of every member thereof sufficient to prevail on the most savage among wild Indians and raging Cannibals did the Lord but afford so much favour to them Shall we still resist such Invitations Intreaties Offers Expostulations Waitings Forbearance Mercies Judgements Warnings Directions and Encouragements from the God of Peace If any do so let them thank themselves for those dreadfull evils that will speedily and surely follow Let all then be throughly perswaded to this grand Duty of true Peace-making in each branch thereof 1. Make your Peace with God instantly effectually Review our former Instructions about it sent unto you from thr Prince of Peace Delay not dissemble not dispute not with him Sinners of all sorts consider your case how sinfull wofull know your unworthyness and insufficiency feel it at you heart bewail it to him open your sores cry loud after him lie at his feet hearken to his Word attend his Spirit neglect none of his wayes embrace his Offers look up to Jesus Christ get acquaintance on conjugal terms make no reservation yield up all to him that your Peace with him may be made sure of In the use of all means trust on him alone 2. Labor also for Peace of Conscience in the right Method The former must precede and help you to this being well improved Ye that have owned Christ thus fiducially for Saviour and Lord by Contract of marriage look still to the cleansing of your own conscience that it may reflect comfortably on you from the Irradiation of his Holy Spirit Walk we in the light as he is in the Light that we may know the things given us of God keep we close to him in every Ordinance in every Providence shunning all sin in doing all good through his gracious Help 3. Attend also Peace Ecclesiastical as the Lord gives ability and opportunity Each of us in our place should do our utmost under Christ our Head for the good of the whole and every member Our duty is fully cleared out and strongly pressed to as by Christ himself so by all his Apostles we learn of them the particulars belonging to us in all homage due to our Soveraign our husband and Master our Lord and King That must direct us in our peaceable care of his whole Body to cherish and honor support and supply it with all Sympathy and due supplications answerable to that Relation we bear to each part and the Church it self Thus every one walking orderly in that Spiritual Calling is bid and bound to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace in the family and Kingdom of Christ 4. Political Peace is carefully likewise to be minded in the Civil State by a due observance of all Superiors and Inferiors therein Our Municipal Laws are the Bounds and Bonds that limit and order manage and maintain it in their due Execution The Laws of Brittain are justly commended among the Learned for their Excellency being the Cream of the best Laws that the best Wisdom of the old Brittains and Gauls extracted out of their own and Ancestors experience King Lucius the first Christian Prince refined them further by due comparing of them with the Scriptures the Roman Government added thereto the flower of their Imperial Laws which had epitomized the Wisdom of Greekish Customs as the Greeks had learned of the Phoenicians and Aegyptians and both from the Hebrews and their sacred Writings set forth with an Italian dress in their twelve Tables further sublimed by successive Governors The Saxons following them brought in the choise of their German Constitutions and the Normans after superadded what their Mothet Norwey and their Nurse France had afforded them All these incorporated into an English frame by their successive Wittagen-Motes and State Conventions made up by the common Laws whereunto have been joyned all the Statute Laws since the solemn Title of Parliament given to such Conventions of State till this day Besides these peculiar to England there are also some proper to Ireland suited to the complexion of this Country by the Wisdom of former and later Rulers which all do yield special Instructions for the due making of a Civil Peace When Magistrates supreme and subordinate give up themselves thus to regulate and execute all such good Orders in subordination to Divine Statutes this Work goes on a main Inferiors also have their share herein in a due observance
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
and stones of offence to discourage Gods People He mis-represents them one to another by Calumniations slanders and mistakes A fair varnish doth he put upon the wayes of discord and disorder to inveigle honest plain-hearted Christians under specious colours of Liberty and Purity Power Profit Pleasure and Credit Many false glosses puts he on Scriptures to wrest them to his Ends by Mis-interpreting and mis-applying them against their genuine scope and sence context and harmony He will often be reformer himself Jesu like and drives on furiously that he may undo all by over-doing whether in Church or State He never wants his Saâ—ballats and Tobias his Samaritan Crue to attempt by Fraud what force could not effect sewing the Foxes tail to the Lyons skin He will build also with Gods Nehemias's and be more forward then the best of them that he may ruin all by undermining and counter-working Emissaries of all modes and sorts he ever entertains among Reformers under various disguises of Souldiers and Scholars Merchants and Trades-men Courtiers and Travellers to scatter his Tares and breed divisions against their Peace and for their ruin Flectere si nequeunt Superos Acheronta movebunt All fair and foul means shall be attempted what ever it cost 5. God himself hath a hand in all this permitting and over-ruling all to his Honour and his Peoples good in the Result He can make straight work with crooked Tools and correct the poison to made it useful in his Providential Confections He thereby discovers to his People their secret corruptions which upon boiling work up like froath to be scummed away His Divine Chymistry knows how to extract good out of the worst dung and vilest kind of Evil. The striking of the steel against the flint will seasonably by his Divine hand bring forth sparks both of Truth and Peace Though there be much noise in the providing of all materials for his house yet will he at last perfect its building in Quiet and Peace Every Grace of his wrought in his People hearts by his holy Spirit he doth hereby furbish and exercise to render them more humble and wise more sincere and self-denying more patient and active more zealous and prudent in the wayes of Peace The noise made at the breaking in of Windows for light will be compensated by the Light come in Our sad Experiences of those sinfull Woes attending disorder and discord will make us all to prize and desire to promote and improve Peace at a better rate Wit so bought will make us wiser for the future then to slight our Peace and to venture it as we have hitherto so foolishly done God will over-shoot Satan in his own Bow and magnifie all his glorious attributes in the creating of Peace for his People Christs coming at night after many storms will be most welcome to his wearied disciples though they did for a while mistake him for a Ghost and mistrust his Peace The chaff of his floor will be winnowed and fanned away by such renewed shakings and after this toil some turning up of his ground his Seed and Planâ—s will take and thrive the better The dross shall be consumed and the Gold refined of his Church and People by those many fires that have been so long kindled among them Fourthly The Demonstration will unfold the Reason wrapped up in the very words of the Text. They are his children and their Relation to him is sufficient ground why such Peace-making should be their dignifying Property That filial relation imports three special Things among many others which strongly engage them to this work of his his Nature his Charge and his Interest Reason 1. His Nature is imparted to them by the Spirit of Grace regenerating them that they may partake of the Divine Nature in quality though not in equality in the likeness though not in the sameness in the similitude though not in the substance The Divine Nature Essentially considered is an infinite unchangeable Being and incommunicable to Creatures as indivisible as incomprehensible Men partake not of that they are not they cannot be deified its absurdity and horrid blasphemy to think or say so The substance of God is one pure entire eternal Act admitting of no parts though it admits of three distinct persons in whom it subsists in a mysterious ineffable manner Yet the Scripture speaks both of the name and nature of God effectively and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to mans capacity to be still understood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a sence becoming such a God He is then said to give his name to men and to call them Gods when he puts an office upon them whereby he is to be represented and served among men in a peculiar way He is likewise said to make them partakers of his Divine nature when he works in them a gracious Resemblance of his perfections according to their created capacity Thus man was at first made after Gods Image in his own likeness and Gods Elect are all in due time created anew after the same Image in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness That which is born of the flesh is flesh so that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Such Heaven-born souls are called new Creatures and must needs be duly qualified in some measure answerable to the God of Peace Their sinful Nature being Satans Off-spring bears still his Image in all the black Lineaments of Hell still indisposed and contrary to Peace still disposed and bent to disorder and discord Gods Holy Spirit uniting them to Christ changes their Nature in their gradual sanctification turning their dung-hill heart into a garden and that unclean Den into a holy Temple for his own habitation So far as the renewing Work goes so far do they learn by this gracious Instinct to move after Peace and against sinfull jars in conformity to the Lord himself They are daily taught by the Spirit of Christ now working in their souls much like as their souls work on their bodies through intermediate Spirits to be of the sume mind that was in Jesus Christ towards all kind of Peace By thus putting his Spirit within them in their adoption he causes them to walk in his Statutes of Peace that they may keep his Judgements and do them So far as the heart of stone is taken away from them so far are their sinfull unpeaceable Spirits mortified and subdued so far as he gives them a new heart of flesh so far are their Spirits made plyable and inclined to all the wayes of Peace Their Sanctification is daily carried on in a gradual manner to the crucifying of sin and vivification of every Grace in them This spiritual growth set forth in Scripture by all sorts of increase in Vegetables and in Sensitives is given to all though not in all alike and must needs render them so far like to him bo h in Dignity and Duty Peace-making is