Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, Chapter 5 · Verse 9
Verse 9.
Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Here is the seauenth Rule and precept of Christ touching true happinesse; wherein obserue first, who are blessed; secondly, wherein this7. Rule. blessednesse consists: The parties blessed are Peace-makers. By peace Peace.we must vnderstand concord and agreement betweene man and man: Now peace is two-fold, Good, or Euill; Good peace, is that which stands with good conscience and true religion. This was among the conuerts in the Primitiue Church, xAct. 4. 3.who liued together, and were all of one heart, and one soule. Euill peace, is an agreement and concord in euill, as in the practise of any sinne against Gods commandements: in a word, euill peace is such, as cannot stand with true Religion and good conscience. Hereof Christ spake, saying, yMat. 10. 34I came not to send peace, but the sword: that is, diuision by meanes of the doctrine of the Gospel. Now in this place, good peace is the qualitie of those parties that be blessed. Further, by Peace-makers, two sorts of men are to be vnderstood: first, all such as hauehave care, so much as in them lieth, to hauehave peace with all men, good and bad: secondly, such as not onelyonly themselues be at peace with others, but also doe labour to reconcile parties at variance, and to make peace betweene man and man; both these sorts are blessed, that is, they are in a happie state and condition, because this gift of Peace-making, is a grace of Gods spirit in them alone who are blessed: for where Gods spirit worketh peace of conscience towards God in Christ, there the same spirit doth mooue the partie to seeke peace with all men; as also to make peace betweene those that are at variance, so farre forth as it may stand with Religion and a good conscience. Yet here are certaine questions to be scanned touching peace, which will giuegive great light to the better vnderstanding of this Rule.
Quest. I. Seeing Peace-makers are blessed, why should they be blamed which seeke to make peace betweene Papists and Protestants, by reconciling these two religions? Answer. Because this is not good peace, for there is no more concord betweene these two religions, then is betweene light and darkenesse. Whereas it is said, they differ not in substance, but in circumstances, both hauing the same word, the same Creede, and Sacraments; we must knowe, that notwithstanding all this, yet by necessarie consequent of their doctrine and religion, they doe quite ouerturne the foundation of the Bible, of the Creede, and Sacraments: as in the points of Iustification by workes, of humane satisfaction, of worshipping Saints and Images, and their massing sacrifice, and Priesthood, may soone appeare. But they hauehave the same Baptisme with vsus? Answ. Baptisme seuered from the true preaching of the word, is no sufficient note of a true Church; for the Samaritans had circumcision, and yet the Lord saith, zHos. 1. 9.they were not his people. Againe, they hold the outward forme of Baptisme, but they ouerturne the inward power thereof, by denying Iustification by faith alone in Iesus Christ. Thirdly, Baptisme is preserued in the Church of Rome, not for their sakes, but for the hid Church which God hath kept to himselfe, euen in the middest of all Poperie: so that if they returne to vsus, we shall accord; otherwise we may not goe to them, lest we forsake the Lord.
Quest. II. If Peace-makers be blessed, how can any Nation with good conscience make warre? Answ. The Lords commandement to hauehave peace with all men, doth not binde men simply, but with this condition, aRom. 1… ▪ 18.if it be possible, and as much as in vsus lieth: but when there is no hope of maintaining peace, then the Lord alloweth a lawfull warre, such as is for iust defence, or claime of our needfull due and right: for herein the case standeth with the body politicke, as it doth with the naturall body; while there is hope of health and safetie, the Physition vseth gentle meanes; but when the case is desperate, then he vseth desperate meanes, and sometimes giues ranke poyson, to trie if by any meanes life may be saued. And so may the fafetie of a State be sought by warre, when Motions of peace will not take place.
Quest. III. How can suit in law be maintained with good conscience, seeing it can hardly stand with this blessed peace? Ans. So long as meanes of agreement other waies may be had between man & man, suits in law should not be taken vp; for Paul blameth the Corinthians, not onelyonly b1. Cor. 6. 6.for going to law vnderunder heathen Iudges, but because they lawed for light matters vponupon small occasions: why rather (saith cVers. 7.hee) sustaine ye not harme? But if by priuate means we cannot get or holde our right, we may vse the helpe of law.
Quest. IV. How farre forth may one man, or one people bee at peace with another? League or societie betweene man and man, people and people, is twofold; either of concord, or of amitie: The league of concord is, when men binde themselues in peace one with another; and this may be had betweene all men, beleeuers or vnbeleeuers, good or bad; dRom. 12. 18hauehave peace with all men (saith the Apostle.) League of amitie is, when men or people binde themselues one to another in speciall louelove, beside their outward concord: and this kind of peace ought onelyonly to be had with true beleeuers. Good king Iehosaphat is greatly blamed of the Lord, for making this speciall league with wicked Ahab, Wouldest thou helpe the wicked (saith e2. Chr. 19. 2▪the Prophet) and louelove them that hate the Lord? for this thing the Lords wrath is vponupon thee.
Whereas Peace-makers are blessed, we are to be admonished, if it bevses. 1▪ possible to hauehave peace with all men, as much as in vsus lieth; and within the compasse of our callings, to auoyd all occasions of contention and strife: Saint Pauls exhortation must here take place, fEpes. 4. 3.we must hold the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace. To the effecting whereof, three vertues are there propounded for our practise; Humilitie, Meekenesse, Vertues preseruing peace. 1. Humilitie.and Long suffering. Humilitie is a vertue, whereby one man thinkes better of another then of himselfe; for this makes a man thinke basely of himselfe in regard of his owne sinnes and corruptions, whereupon he is content to giuegive place vntounto others, and to yeeld of his owne right, for the maintaining of peace: when as on the other side, pride causeth men to seeke for more then their due, and so causeth contention: as Salomon saith, gPro. 15. 10. … Meekenes.onelyonly by pride doth man make contention. Meekenesse is a vertue, whereby a man is gentle in behauiour towards eueryevery person, good or bad: this causeth a man to put vp iniuries, and to forbeare wrongLong suffering., when occasion of reuenge is giuen him. Long suffering is a vertue, whereby a man doth beare with other mens wants, as morositie, and hastinesse, and in bearing yeelds of his owne right, for the maintenance of peace: thus dealt Abraham with Lot, when their heardmen were at variance, though he were the superiour both for age and place; yet for peace sake, he put Lot hGen. 13. 8. 9to chose the place of his abode, whether on the right hand or on the left. Besides these, there are many other vertues propoūded in the writings of the Apostles, for the maintaining of peace; to wit, Humanitie, when a man can so carrie himselfe towards4. Humanitie all others, that he can take well all indifferent sayings and doings, and construe them to the best part, if it be possible: This is a most needfull vertue for Christian peace, which we must follow, and hereunto frame our nature and affections, which are crooked and rebellious of themselues, that so farre as is possible, we may hauehave peace with all men; for peace is the bond of eueryevery societie, of families, townes, and common wealths, without which no state can endure; and Christian religion cō mends the same vntounto vsus, Iam. 3. 17. The wisedome which is from aboue, is pure, gentle, peaceable, full of merciemercy, and good fruits.
Secondly, if Peace-makers betweene man and man be blessed, then much more happie are they, who make peace betweene God & man; and these are the faithfull ministers of the Gospel, which set themselues wholly to reconcile men vntounto God: so Paul (speaking as a Peace-maker) saith, i2. Cor. 5. 20we beseech you as the Embassadours of Christ, that ye bee reconciled to God: and therefore all those, that by Gods grace are set apart for this worke, must in sinceritie set their hearts, and imploy thē selues diligently for this ende, to reconcile men vntounto God, and to bring them to peace with God; and in their owne conscience, this shall bee a seale of the Lords merciemercy towards them, whereby they may assure thē selues that they be blessed: for howsoeuer vntounto some, their miserie may be the sauour of death, yet they are alwaies a sweete sauour vntounto God in Christ.
Thirdly, hereby wee may see, what a blessed thing it is, in the day of Gods wrath against his people, to stand in the breach, and by earnest praier to staie his hand, and so to make peace betweene God and his people by praier. This was Moses practise many a time, for which hee is renowned with all posteritie, Psal. 106. 23. Exod. 32. 10, 11. And so did Aaron, Numb. 16. 47. 48. Dauid, 2. Sam. 24. 17. and many others. This dutie concerneth vsus, for God hath a controuersie with our Land, for the innumerable crying sinnes hereof, as blasphemie, oppression, cō tempt of Religion, adulteries, and such like: now when we see the great mortalitie of our brethren, or heare of treasons and conspiracies, and rumors of warres by enemies, who threaten our ouerthrowe; then must we knowe that God shakes his rodde at vsus, and then especially is eueryevery one to intreat the Lord more earnestly for merciemercy and reconciliation; for this is a blessed worke of peace, to staie the Lord from the destruction of his people: Read Isay kIsay 59. 16 and 63. 5., Ieremie lIer. 5. 7. and 12. 11., and Ezekiel mEzech. 2…. 30. 31., sundry times God complaines of the want of such, as should stand in the breach before him for the Land, that he should not destroie it. Behold the waight and worth of this dutie, in Abrahams intercession for Sodome, for hee so farre preuailed with the Lord, nGen. 18. 32that if there had beene tenne righteous persons in Sodome, the whole citie had beene spared for their sakes: but because there were none, so soone as righteous Lot was got out, it was burned with fire and brimstone from heauen, Gen. 19. 23, 24.
Lastly, if Peace-makers be blessed, the Peace-breakers are cursed: many there be of this sort, but aboue all, they are most notorious, who disturbe the peace of the Land, which by Gods mercy we hauehave for many yeares enioyed. It may bee thought wee hauehave none such among vsus, but onelyonly traitors, and such as plot with forraine enemies; but the truth is, all those doe disturbe our peace, that walke after their hearts lusts in sin and wickednesse, as idolaters, blasphemers, oppressours, drunkards, & such like, these are peace-breakers, who cause the Lord to take away the blessing of peace: see Ierem. 16. 5. the Lord saith, Hee hath taken his peace from his people: the reason is, vers. 12. because eueryevery one walked after the stubbornenesse of his wicked heart, and would not heare him: and Leuit. 26. 23, 25. The sword of the enemie is sent of God, to auenge the quarrell of his couenant. It is then our transgression and rebellion against God, that will bring warre and rebellion into our Land; if this were not, our peace would continue for euer: for oIsay 32. 17.the worke of iustice shall be peace, quietnesse, and assurance for euer. And againe, pIsay 54 14in righteousnesse shalt thou be established, and be farre from oppression. This therefore should mooue all vngodly persons to repent, and to breake off the course of their sinnes; vnlesse they will continue professed enemies to the peace of the state, vnderunder which they liue.
The second Point, wherein this blessednesse of Peace-makers consists; namely, in that they shall be called the children of God: that is, they shall be esteemed and reputed for Gods children in this world, of God himselfe, and all good men; and in the world to come, fully manifested so to be. That this is true happinesse will soone appeare, by the view of the state of eueryevery childe of God; for they are vnited vntounto Christ by the spirit of grace, by which they are regenerate, and in Christ they are adopted for sonnes and daughters, and so enioy Gods speciall grace and fauour. Now hereupon they are Kings children, hauing God for their Father, who loues them more tenderly, then any earthly Parents can louelove their owne children: secondly, they hauehave Christ for their brother, and so are heires annexed with him, hauing heauen and earth for their possession: qReu. …. ….In him they are made Kings and Priests vntounto God: and shall be r1. Co…. 6. 1.iudges of the world at the last day: yea, they hauehave the sHeb. … 14.holy Angels for ministring spirits to attend vponupon their persons, for their defence from the power of the enemie, which farre surpasseth the dignity of any guard of men on earth whatsoeuer: all things worke together for the best vntounto them, their crosses and afflictions are no curses, but fatherly trialls and chastisements; yea, their sinnes are turned to their good: to them death is no death, but a sweet sleepe vntounto their bodies, and a straite passage for their soules into eternall glorie: yea in the acte of death, they hauehave the comfort of life in the ioy of the spirit, and the Angels readie, when breath departeth, to carrie their soules to heauen.
If this be true happinesse, to be called Gods children; then they thatThe 1. vse. liue after their owne wicked lusts, voyd of all care to keepe a good cō science, are miserable and accursed; for they are the children of the diuell, seruing him in the workes of sinne, and expressing his image in vngodlinesse and worldly lustes. It stands them therefore in hand, if they hauehave any care of true happinesse, to labour after regeneration; whereby, forsaking the lusts and courses of their former ignorance, and embracing and obeying sincerely the word of life, they may become Gods children, and so happie.
Secondly, hast thou receiued this grace of Gods spirit, whereby thou2 art inclined to hauehave peace with all men, and to seeke for peace between God and thine owne conscience, yea betweene the Lord and others? then comfort thy selfe, thou art the childe of God, these motions come from grace, flesh and blood brings forth no such fruits: labour therefore to maintaine these good motions, with all other pledges of thine adoption, and so shalt thou growe fully assured of thine own happines. In this age men make much adoe to get good assurance of earthly purchases; but what madnesse is this, so greatly to regard momentanie things, and to hauehave no care, in comparison, of our eternall inheritance, which we shall hauehave assured vntounto vsus, when wee become the children of God?