Of Peace
Having spoken of the first fruit of sanctification, assurance, I proceed to the second, viz. Peace, “Peace be multiplied.”
Quest. What are the several species or kinds of Peace?
Ans. Peace, in scripture, is compared to a river, Isa. lxvi. 12., this river parts itself into two silver streams.
lsL There is an external peace, and that is, 1. CEconomical, peace in a family. 2. Political, peace in the state. Peace is the nurse of plenty, Ps. cxlvii. 14., “He maketh ]iciicc in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.” How pleasant is it when the waters of blood begin to assuage, and we can see the windows of our ark oj)en, and the dove returning with an olive branch of peace! 3. Ecclesiastical, peace in the church. Unity in Trinity is the greatest mystery in heaven, and Unity in verity the greatest mercy on earth. Peace ecclesiastical stands in opposition to schism and persecution.
2dlf/, A spiritual peace, which is twofold, — peace above us, or peace with God, — and peace within us, or peace with conscience. This is superlative; other peace may be lasting, but this is everlasting.
Quest. 2. Whence comes this peace?
Ans. This peace hath the whole Trinity
for its author, 1. God the Father is “the God of peace,” 1 Thess. v. 23. 2. God the Son is the “Prince of peace,” Isa. ix. 6. 3. Peace is said to be the “fruit of the Spirit,” Gal. V. 22. j
1. God the Father is the God of peace. As he is the God of order, 1 Cor. xiv. 33., so tlij God of peace, Phil. iv. 9. This was the form of the priest’s blessing the people, Numb. vi. 26., “The Lord give thee peace.”
2. God the Son is the purchaser of peace. He had made peace by his blood, Col. i. 20., “Having made peace through the blood of his cross.” The atonement Aaron made for the people when he entered into the holy of holies with blood, was a type of Christ our high priest, who hath by his sacrifice pacified his angry Father, and made atonement for us. Christ purchased our peace upon hard terms; his soul was in an agony, while he was travailing to bring forth peace to the world.
3. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. He seals up ])eace to the conscience. The Spirit clears uj) the work of grace in the heart from whence ariseth peace. There was a well of water near Hagar, but she did not see it, therefore wey)t: a Christian hath grace, but doth not see it, therefore weeps. Now the Spirit discovers this well of water, t enables conscience to witness to a man that liatli the real work of p-ace, and so peace Hows into the kouI. Thus you see whence; this peace comes: the Father decrees it, the Son purchaseth it, the Holy rJhost applies it.
Quest. 3. JVIielhcr such as are destitute of grace may hax’e peace
Ans. ]S’<». Peace flows from sanctification, but they beings unregenerate, have nothing to do with peace, Isa. lvii. 21., “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” They may have a truce, but no peace. God may forbear the wicked a while, and stop the roaring of his cannon; but though there be a truce, yet no peace. The wicked may have something which looks like peace, but it is not. They may be fearless and stupid; but there is a great difference between a stupified conscience, and a pacified conscience, Luke xi. 21., “hen a strong man armed kee])eth his palace, his goods are in peace.” This is the devil’s peace; he rocks men in the cradle of security; he cries, ’ peace! peace!’ when men are on the precipice of hell. The seeming peace a sinner hath, is not from the knowledge of his happiness, but the ignorance of his danger.
Quest. 4. JVhat are the signs of a false peace?
Ans. 1. A false peace batb much confidence in it, but this confidence is conceit. The sinner doth not doubt of God’s mercy; from which presumptuous confidence ariseth some kind of quiet in the mind. The same word in the Hebrew {cassal) signifies both confidence and folly. Indeed a sinner’s confidence is folly; how confident were the foolish virgins?
A. 2. False peace separates those things which God hath joined together: God joins holiness and peace, but he who hath a false peace, separates these two. He lays claim to peace, but banisheth holiness, Deut. xxLv. 19., “I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst.” The wicked are loose and vain, and yet thank God that they have peace, — a delusion. You may as well suck health out of poison, as peace out of sin.
A. 3. False peace is not willing to be tried; a sign they are bad wares which will not endure the light; a sign a man hath
stolen goods, when he will not have bin house searched. A false peace cannot endure to be tried by the word. The word speaks of an humbling* and refining work upon the soul before peace; false peace cannot endure to hear of this; the least trouble will shake this peace, it will end in despair. In a false ])eace, conscience is asleep; but. when this lion of conscience shall be awakened at death, then it will roar upon a man, he will be a terror to himself, and be ready to lay violent hands upon himself.
Quest. 5. IJow shall we know that ours is a true peace?
Ans. 1. True peace flows from union with Christ. Communio fundatur in unione. The graft or scion must first be innoculated into the tree before it can receive sap or nourishment from it; so we must first be ingi-afted into Christ, before we can receive peace from him. Have we faith? By holiness we are made like Christ; by believing we are made one with Christ, and being in Christ we have peace, John xvi. 33.
A, 2. True peace flows from subjection t(» Christ; where Christ gives ])eac(‘, there he sets up his government in the heart, Isa. ix. 7., “Of his government and peace there shall be no end.” Christ is called “a priest upon his throne,” Zech. vi. 13. Christ as a priest makes peace; but he will be a priest upon his throne, he brings the heart in subjection to him. If Christ be our peace, he is our prince, Isa. ix. G. ^Vlienever Christ pacifies the conscience, he subdues the lust.
A. 3. True peace is after trouble. First, God lets loose a spirit of bondage, he convinceth and humbleth the soul; then ho speaks ])eace. Many say they have ])eace, but is this peace before a storm, or alter it.’’ True peace is after trouble. First there was the earthquake, and then the fire, and then the still small voice, 1 Kings xi. 11. Thou who never hadst any legal bruisiiigs, mayest sus])ect thy peace; (Jod ])iairs tho golden oil of peace into broken hearts.
Quest. 6. JVhether have all sand fad persons this peace?
Ans. They have a title to it; they have the ground of it; grace is the seed of peace, and it will in time turn to peace, as tluj blossoms of a tree to fruit, milk to creara. They have a promise of it, Ps. xxix. 11.
“The Lord will bless his people with they spoil the sweet music of peace in their
peace.” They may have peace with God, souls. As the fire decays, so the cold inthoufjh not peace in their own conscience; creaseth; as fervency in duty abates, so our
they have the initials and beginnings of peace cools.
peace. There is a secret peace the heart hath in serving God; such meltings and enlargements in duty as do revive the soul, and bear it up from sinking.
Quest. 7 But ichy have not all believer a the full evjoyment and possession of peace? Why is not this flower of peace fully ripe and blown?
Ans. Some of the godly may not have so full a degree of peace. 1. Through the fury of temptation. The devil, if he cannot destroy us, he will disturb us. Satan disputes against our adoption; he would make us question the work of grace in our hearts, and so troubles the waters of our peace: Satan is like a subtle cheater, who, if he cannot make a man’s title to his land void, yet he will put him to many troublL’- some suits in law. If Satan cannot make us ungodly, he will make us unquiet: violent winds make the sea rough and stormy; the winds of temptation blowing, disturb peace of spirit, and put the soul into a commotion. — 2. The godly may not enjoy peace, through mistake and mi.sapprehension ab(mt sin. They find so much corruption, that sure, if there were grace, there would not be such strong working of corruption: whereas this should be so far from discouraging Christians, and hindering their peace, that it is an argument for them. Let me ask. Whence is it that you feel sin? No man can feel sin, but by grace. A wicked man is insensible; lay an hundred weight upon a dead man, he doth not complain, but the being sensible of corruption argues a gracious principle, Rom. vii. 21. Again, Whence is it that there is a combat with sin, but from the life of grace? Gal. V. 17. Dead tilings cannot combat. Whence is it that the saints weep for sin? what are these tears but seeds of faith? The not understanding of this, hinders a Christian’s peace. — 3. The godly may not enjoy peace, through remissness in duty; they leae their first love. When Christians abate their fervency, God abates their peace; if you slacken the strings of a viol, the music is spoiled, if Christians slack in duty,
Use 1st. Labour for this blessed peace, — - peace with God and conscience. Peace with neighbour-nations is sweet, Pax una trinmphis inuineris melior. The Hebrew word schalom, ’ peace,’ com])rehends all blessings, it is the glory of a kingdom; a prince’s crown is more beautiful when it is hung with the white lily of peace, than when it is set with the red roses of a bloody war. O then, how sweet is peace of conscience! It is a bulwark against the enemy, Phil. iv. 7., it shall keep you as in a garrison; you may throw out the gauntlet and bid defiance to the enemies; it is the golden pot and the manna; it is the first fruits of j)aradise. It is still music; for want of this a Christian is in continual fear, he doth not take that comfort in ordinances. Hannah went up to the feast at Jerusalem, but “she wept and did not eat,” 1 Sam. i. 7. So, a poor dejected soul goes to an ordinance, but doth not eat of the feast; he weeps and doth not eat. He cannot take that comfort in worldly blessings, health, estate, relations; he wants that inward peace, which should be a sauce to sweeten his comforts. O therefore labour for this blessed peace! Consider the noble and excellent effects of it: 1. It gives boldness at the throne of grace; guilt of conscience clips the wings of prayer,~-it makes the face blush, and the heart faint, — but when a Christian hath some lively apprehensions of God’s love, and the Spirit whispering peace, then he goes to God with boldness, as a child to his fiither, Ps. x.w. 1., “Unto thee, O Lm-d, I lift up my soul.” Time was when David’s soul was bowed down, Ps. xxxviii. 6., “I am bowed down greatly;” but now the case is altered, he will lift up his soul to God in a way of triumph, whence was this? God hath spoken peace to his soul, Ps. xxA’i. 3., “Thy loving - kindtiess is before mine eyes.” — 2. This divine peace fires the heart with love to Christ. Peace is the result of pardon; he who hath a pardon sealed cainiot choose but love his prince. How endeared is Christ to the soul! Now Christ is precious ineed. * O, saith the soul, how sweet is this rose of” Sharon! Ilatli Christ waded through a sea of blood and wrath, to purchase my peace? Hath lie not only made peace, but spoke peace to me? How should my heart ascend in a fiery chariot of love! How willing should I be to do and suffer for Christ!’ — 3. This peace quiets the heart in trouble, Mic. v. 5., “This man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land, and tread in our palaces.” The enemy may invade our palaces, but not our peace; this man Christ shall be the peace. When the head .iches, the heart may be well; when worldly troubles assault a Christian, his mind may be in peace and quiet, Ps. iv. 8., “I will lay me down in peace, and sleep.” ‘Twiis now a sad time with David, he was fleeing for his life from Absalom; it was no small aflliction to think that his own son should seek to take away his Father’s life and crown; David wept and covered his face, 2 Sam. XV. 30., yet at this time, saith he, “I will lay me down in peace and sleep.” He had trouble from his son, but peace from his conscience; David could sleep upon the soft pillow of a good conscience; this is a peace worth getting.
Quest. 8. U’/iat shall we do to attain this blessed peace?
Ana. 1. Let us ask it of God. He is the God ot peace, he beats back the roaring lion, he stills the raging of conscience; if we could call all the angels out of heaven, they could not speak peace without God. The stars cannot m.ike day without the sun; none can make day in a dark deserted soul, but the Sun of Righteousness. As the wilderness cannot water itself, but remains dry and parched till the ch)U(ls drop their moisture: so our hearts cannot have peace till he infuse it, and drop it upon us by his Spirit. Therefore pray, “Lord, thon who art the God of poace, create peace: thou who art the Prince of peace, command it. Give me that ])eace which may sweeten trouble, yea, the bitter cup of death.”
A. 2, If you would have peace, make war with sin. Sin is the Achan that troubles us, — the Trojnn horse, — 2 Kings ix. 22.,” When Joram saw Jehu, he said, Is
It peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy uiothcr Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” What peace, so long as sin remains unmortilled? If you would have peace with God, break the league with sin, — give battle to sin, it is a most just war, God hath ])roclaimed it, nay, he hath promised us victory, “Sin shall not have dominion,” Rom. vi. 14. No way to peace, but by maintaining a war with sin. Pax nostra helium contra da;>noncm, Te ut. W hen Samson had slain the lion, there came honey out of the lion: by slaying sin, we get this honey of peace.
A. 3. Go to Christ’s blood for peace. Some go to fetch their peace from their own righteousness, not Christ’s; they go for peace to their holy life, not Christ’s death; if conscience be troubled, they strive to quiet it with their duties. This is not the right way to peace; duties must not be neglected, nor yet idolized. Look up to the blood of sprinkling, Heb. xii. 24. That blood of Christ which ])acified God, must pacii’y conscience; Christ’s blood being sucked in by faith, gives peace, Rom. v. 1., “Being justified by faith, we luive peace with God.” No balm to cure a wounded conscience, but the blood of Christ.
A. 4. Walk closely with God. Peace flows from purity, (»al. vi. Ifi., “As many JUS walk according to this rule, peace be on them.” In the text, grace and peace are put together; grace is the root, and peace is the flower. As balm-water drops from the limbec, so divine peace comes out of the limbec of a gracious heart. Walk very holily: (lod’s Spirit is first a refiner before a comforter.
Use 2d. You who have this peace, — j)eace above, — pe.’ice within, — labour to keepit; it is a precious jewel, do not lose it; it is sad to have the league of national peace broken, but it is worse to have the peace of c()nscience broken: Oh preserve this j)eace! First, take heed of rolaj)ses. Hath God spoken peace? do not turn again to folly, Ps. lxxxv. 8. Besides the ingiatitude, there’s folly in relapses. It was long ere God was reconciled and the breach made up, and will you agjiin eclipse and forfeit your peace ‘’ Hath God healed tho
OF JOY.
wound of conscience, and will you tear it open again? Will you break another vein? Will you cut a new artery? this is returning indeed to folly. Wli.it madness is it to meddle again with that sin, which will breetl the worm of conscience! Secondly, Make up your spiritual accounts daily; see how matters stand between God and your youls, Ps. lxxvii. 6., “I commune with my own heart.” Often reckonings
keep God and conscience friends; do with your hearts as you do with your watches, wind them up every morning by prayer, and at night examine whether your hearts have gone true all that day, whether the wheels of your affections have moved swiftly toward heaven. Oh call yourselves often to account; keep your reckonings even, and that is the way to keep your peace.