Gods Three Arrows, Section 96 – Title page 3
§. 96. Of peace and the benefits thereof.
*See §. 88.The last concluſion which as a juſt conſequence I inferre from the evills of warre, is this.
VI. PEace is a good thing. Warre and Peace are contrary each to other. As many evills ariſe from warre, ſo many benefits from peace. Good therefore it is, as in the kind of it, ſo in the effects that ariſe from it.
By peace lands are freely tilled: orchards, gardens, vineyards, and other like fruitfull places tended: all manner of cattell encreaſed: all kind of trading followed: inheritances, and what els of right appertaineth to men, quietly poſſeſſed by the true owners thereof: children well educated: old men well nouriſhed: Schooles and Vniverſities maintained: The Goſpell with free liberty preached: all Gods ordinances obſerved: good lawes duly executed: wrong doers ſuppreſſed: men reſpected according to their places and dignities: opportunity afforded for exerciſing ſuch abilities as God beſtoweth on any: mutuall communion made of ſuch good gifts as God in any kind conferreth on ſeverall perſons: poore men ſet to worke, and relieved: plenty procured: meanes for ſickneſſe, and all manner of maladies, afforded: decent buriall performed: and many other like benefits obtained: of all which by warre men are very oft ſpoiled, and deprived.
Peace is the maine end of juſt and lawfull warre. All the benefits *§ 17.before noted to ariſe from warre, are enjoyed in peace; and are therefore attributed to war, as effects thereof, becauſe by warre peace is procured, and ſecured. No marvell then that Chriſtians are ſo much called upon, aRom 12. 18.If it be poſſible, and as much as in them lieth, to have peace with all men. And that bMat. 5. 9.the peacemakers are pronounced bleſſed. And cPro. 12. 20.joy is to the counſellours of peace. And it is an uſuall bleſſing to ſay, d1 Sam. 25. 6. 1 Chro. 12. 18.Peace be to you. Yea eDeut. 20 10. Pax & concordia omnibus hominibus amantur, & omnibus hominibus ſunt neceſſariae. Bern de modo benè viv. Serm. 7.God would have peace proclaimed to enemies before they were invaded by warre.
Peace is it that is loved of all, and is neceſſary for all.
Peace as an eſpeciall bleſſing of God hath in all ages beene promiſed by God to his Church. (Lev. 26. 6. 1 Chro. 22. 9. 2 King. 22. 20. Iſa. 26. 12.)
Prophets have thereupon incited Gods people to pray for peace, as for a bleſſing. (Pſal. 122. 6, 7. Ier. 29. 7.) Yea Angels do deſire peace on earth, Luk. 2. 34.
Peace according to Gods owne promiſe, and his peoples prayers, hath as a bleſſing beene given them, Iud. 3. 11, 30. 1 King. 4. 24. 2 Chro. 17. 10.
Saints have anſwerably been thankfull unto God for peace as for a great bleſſing, Pſal. 29. 11. & 55. 18. & 147. 14. On the contrary, God hath threatned as a judgement to the wicked that they ſhall have no peace, Ier. 12. 1…. & 30. 5. Rev. 6. 4. And as a judgement peace hath been taken away from people, Ier. 16. 5.
Such is the excellency of peace, as the high and great Lord is ſtiled fRom 15. 33.the God of peace: g2 Theſſ 3. 16.the Lord of peace: and his Sonne, hLuke 10. 6.the Sonne of peace, iIſa 9 6.a Prince of peace, kEph. 2. 14.our peace: yea he that was the moſt lively type of Chriſt, lHeb. 7. 2.King of peace: and mGal. 5. 22.peace is reckoned up among the fruits of the ſpirit, and nProv. 3. 17.all the paths of wiſdome are ſaid to be peace, and Gods covenant oNum. 25. 12.the covenant of peace, and Chriſts Goſpell pEph. 6. 15.the Goſpell of peace, and Miniſters of the Goſpell qIſa. 527.publiſhers of peace, whoſe feet in that reſpect are ſaid to be beautifull.
Finally, peace makes an heaven on earth. In heaven it Differamus omnes laudes pacis ad illam patriam pacis. Ibi eam plenius laudabimus, ubi eam plenius habebimus. Aug. Enar. in Pſal. 147.ſhall (without any interruption of warre, or other jarre) be fully enjoyed. Let us therefore put off all further praiſe to that country of peace, where, thorow a more full fruition therof, we ſhalbe enabled more fully to ſet it forth. Only by this that hath been ſpoken of peace, let it be well conſidered how evill warre is, which deprives us of this precious pearle, Peace.
What cauſe have we in this reſpect to praiſe God for the proſperous raigne of bleſſed Queene Elizabeth, who by the warres which ſhe had, procured and ſetled this peace: as alſo for the quiet raigne of that great Peace-maker, King Iames, by whom peace was continued to the time of our now royall Soveraigne, King Charles, whom the God and Lord of peace in peace long continue among us, that we and our poſterity may long enjoy peace, and partake of the benefits of peace, particularly of the Goſpell of peace, and thereby be brought unto eternall peace. Amen, Amen.
As a further demonſtration that the Peace which we have long enjoyed, and the troubles of former ages, are ordered by the divine providence, Hereunto is added, A Treatiſe of the Extent of Gods Providence, ſet outin a Sermon preached the 5. of Nov. 1623. occaſioned by the downe-fall of Papiſts in a Chamber at Black-Friers ten daies before.
THE EXTENT OF GODS PROVIDENCE, Set out in A SERMON, PREACHED in Black-Fryers Church, U. Nov. 1623. On oocaſion of the Downe-fall of Papiſts in a Chamber at the ſaid Black-Fryers, 1623. Oct. 27. ſtilo vet. Nov. 5. ſtilo novo. By WILLIAM GOVGE.
Expaviſcis in minimis? Lauda magnum. Aug. Enar. in Pſal. 148.
LONDON, Printed by George Miller for Edward Brewſter, and are to be ſold at his Shop at the Signe of the Bible, at the great North doore of Pauls. 1631.