The Christians Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace, Treatise · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII. Of Peace of GOD.
SECTION I. Of Peace in generall, and of the kindes of it.
THat you may be perſwaded to walke before GOD in uprightnes in all wel-pleaſing, and to live without taking thought about any thing, caſting your care on GOD according to the former directions: God hath aſſured you that peace ſhall be upon you, even that peace of God which Gal. 6. 16. Phil. 4. 6, 7paſſeth all underſtanding, which ſhall keepe your heart and minde through Chriſt Ieſus, if you thus doe.
Peace and quiet is moſt deſireable. Al things that have motion deſire it as their perfectiō; bodily things enjoy it by their rest in their places: reaſonable things enjoy this peace in the quiet of their minde and heart, when they have their deſires ſatisfied, being freed from ſuch oppoſition as might diſquiet them.
Peace is a true agreement andWhat peace i…. concord betweene perſons or things, whereby not onelyonly all enmitie is laid downe, and all croſſing and doing each other harme is forborne; but all amitie is entred into, and all readineſſe of communicating, and doing good to each other is ſhewed.
Naturall peace, conſiſting of the harmony and good agreement of the ſeverall parts of mans body, Domeſticks and Civill peace, conſiſting of amitie and good agreement of perſons in a familie or State, is of great price, and very much to be deſired, for the exceeding great benefit which it bringeth to the body, family, and ſtate. But the peace of which I am to ſpeake, (which is promiſed to all which walk with God according to the aGal. 6. 15, 16.rule of faith, and of the new creature, caſting their care on God) exceedeth all other peace, as far as the ſoule, heaven, and eternitie exceedeth the body, the earth, and a moment of time. Which will eaſily appeare, if you ſhall obſerve by what motives and arguments the holy Ghoſt doth commend, and ſet this forth unto you, Phil, 4. 7. It hath its commendation above all other peace in three reſpects.
Firſt, In reſpect of the excellency Phil 4. 7. Opened, wherein the peace of God is explained and magnified.of the perſon, with whom and from whom it is, namely, God, therefore it is called peace of God; It is ſo called (1) Becauſe it hath God for its obiect; it is a peace with God, (2) Becauſe God by his Spirit is the author of it; it is peace from God, a peace which bIoh. 14. 2…God giveth, ſuch a peace which the world neither can, nor will give.
Secondly, this peace is commended in reſpect of the unſpeakable, inconceivable, and ſurpaſſing goodneſſe and worth that is in it. It paſſeth all underſtanding, and this it doth, not onelyonly becauſe unſanctified men are meere ſtrangers to it, and underſtand it not: but becauſe regenerate men, to whom it belongeth, and in whom it is, even they (when God giveth them any lively feeling of it) finde it to bee ſuch a peace, as they could not imagine it to be before they felt it. For they cannot ſo diſtinctly, and ſo fully conceive and comprehend the ſurpaſſing excellency of it, as by any meanes fully to expreſſe it. It rather taketh up the minde into an holy rapture, unto admiration of what it ſeeth, and of what it perceiveth is yet to be known beyond full comprehenſion, then poſſibly can be taken up, and bee diſtinctly and fully comprehended or expreſſed by minde or tongue. It fareth with them that feele it in any ſpeciall degree, as it did with the Queen 1 King. 10▪ 4, 5, 6▪ 7of the South, when ſhe ſaw Salomons Wiſdoms. Shee had a great opinion of Salomons Wiſdome by that which ſhe received by heare ſay, but when ſhe ſaw it, ſhe was ſtricken with ſuch admiration, and was ſo taken up with it, that it is ſaid, ſhee had no more ſpirit in her; his Wiſdome was not only more than her expectation, but more than her ſpirit was able throughly to comprehend, in ſo much that ſhee giveth over to ſeeke to finde the depth of it, but breaketh out into words of admiration, ſaying, the halfe was not told her of Salomons wiſedome, it exceeded the fame thereof; So doth the peace of God. It being like the dimenſions of the love of Ephe. 3. 18 19Chriſt, (the root thereof) and like the raviſhing ioy of Chriſtians (the effect thereof) paſſing all full, and diſtinct knowlege, and paſſing all meanes of full and cleare expreſſion, being as the holy Ghoſt alſo ſaith, unſpeakeable. 1 Pet. 1 8.This peace is included amongſt thoſe other graces and gifts accompanying the Goſpell, which are ſuch as eye hath not ſeene, nor eare heard, nor hath1 Cor. 2. 10 entered into the heart of man, ſo as clearely to perceive them, or fully to expreſſe them.
Thirdly, This peace is commended in reſpect of the excellent effect thereof, which is a proofe that it paſſeth underſtanding, namely, it keepeth the heart and minde in and through Christ Ieſus.
This is a rare and moſt uſefull effect on mans behalfe: For it ſupplieth the place, and office of a Caſtle or ſtrong Garriſon (as the2 Cor. 11. 32. foreign Greeke word ſignifieth) to keep the principall Forts of the ſoule from being ſurpriſed, or annoied either by invaſiō from without, or by inſurrection from within.
The parts of man, which are kept by this peace of GOD, are the heart, and minde; by heart is meant the will and affections; by minde, the power of thinking and underſtanding. For true peace of GOD doth fill the heart with ſuch Ioy, Patience, Hope, and Comfort in beleeving, that it keepeth it from heart-eating, and heart-vexing griefe, feare, diſtruſt, and deſpaire. It likewiſe filleth the mind ſo full of apprehenſion of Gods favors, fidelity, and love, that it maketh it reſt ſecure in God, and to forbeare to plod and beat the brain unneceſſarily about any thing, keeping out the dominion of all carking and diſtruſtfull thoughts.
The ſtrength which this peace hath, whereby it keepeth the heart and mind as w…th a Garriſon, is impregnable. It is derived from Chriſt, it hath it in & from Chriſt; The Text ſaith through Chriſt, that is, throgh the power of Chriſts Spirit. For as wee are kept by a1 Pet▪ 1. 5Faith (from which this peace ſpringeth) as with a ſtrong Garriſon, by the power of GOD to Salvation, readie to be revealed in the laſt time: ſo, by the ſame power of Chriſt, our hearts and mindes are kept by the peace of God, as with a Garriſon, from diſcouragefull, diſtractfull, diſtruſtfull, and diſcomfortable thoughts in the meane time. For what is this peace elſe but a parcell of the object of our Faith, as wee apprehend it in God to usward, and the fruit of Faith, as wee feele it wrought in us by God.
This peace of GOD is twofold, or one and the ſame in different degrees.
The firſt is an actuall entring into, and mutuall imbracing of Peace betweene GOD and man.
The ſecond is the Manifeſtation and Expreſſion of this Peace.
The firſt is when God and man are made friends: which is, whenThe different ſorts of peace of God. GOD is pacified towards MAN, and when man is reconciled unto God, ſo that now God ſtandeth well affected towards man, and man hath put off Enmitie againſt God: which mutuall* Attonement and Friendſhip, b1 Tim. 2▪ 5Chriſt Ieſus the onelyonly Mediator betwixt God and man, hath by his ſatiſfaction and interceſſion wrought for man, and by his Spirit applieth unto, and worketh in man. For untill this Attonement be made and applied, God, in his juſt Iudgement, and cPſal. 5. 5 Rom. 5. 10Hatred, is an Enemie unto man for ſin; and man in his evill minde, and unjuſt Hatred, dCol. 1. 2…is an Enemy unto GOD and unto all goodneſſe through ſinne.
This firſt Peace, is Peace of God with man inherent in God, working the like diſpoſition of Peace in man towards God; and is the fountaine from which the ſecond ….
The ſecond kinde (or rather further degree) of Peace of God is the operation and manifeſtation of the former Peace, which is a peace of God in man wrought by the Spirit of God, through the apprehenſion that God is at peace with him.
This Peace is partly and moſt ſenſibly in the Conſcience, which is called Peace of Conſcience, and may alſo be called peace of Iuſtification, according to that; eRom. 5. 1Being iuſtified by faith, wee have peace with God, &c. And it is partly in the whole reaſonable man, whereby the will and affections of the ſoule agree within themſelves, and are ſubiect to the inlightned minde, conſpiring all of them againſt the commonadverſary the fleſh, which yet remaineth in everypart, this may be called peace of Sanctification; according to that of the Apoſtle, fRom▪ 6. 22Being made free from ſinne, and become ſervants of God, you have your fruit in holineſſe, This is the agreement of all the members to become ſervantsRom. 6. 19. to righteouſneſſe unto Holineſſe. Not but there will be warring alwayes in our members, but it is not the warring ſo much of one Member againſt another, as the warring of the Fleſh in every member againſt the Spirit, which alſo warreth againſt the fleſh in every member. Which luſting and fighting of fleſh againſt the ſpirit beginneth in man, as ſoone as the Spirit hath wrought the former peace of Holines, in ſetting each member into dueframe and order.
Moreover, this peace of Sanctification conſiſteth in this, that albeit a Sanctified man muſt never be, nor ever is at peace with ſin, ſo that it doth not aſſault and moleſt him, or that hee ſhould ſubject himſelfe to it, or have it abſolutely ſubject to him in this life, yet hee hath a peace and quiet (after a ſort and in compariſon) from ſinne, is ſo much that he is freed from the gRom. 6. 14. 22dominion and power of ſinne to hurt him, or to reduce him to his former bondage unto ſinne: Now, ſo farre as a man getteth a conqueſt over his luſts, that they are kept under, and forbeare to aſſault and moleſt him, ſo farre he may be ſaid to have this peace of Sanctification.
The Conſcience when it is awake and ſtirring, and in the Act of enquirie, and of Inditing, accuſing, & condemning man for ſinne, doth withall hAct. 2. 37 Pro. 18. 14Pricke, Laſh, Gripe, Sting, and Wound the heart with unutterable & unconceiveable griefes, feares, and terrours, through the apprehenſion of Gods infinite, eternall and iuſt Wrath for ſinne.
Now, when GOD by his iRom. 5. 1. 5Spirit giveth any true hope and aſſurance unto a man, that his lustice is ſatisfied concerning him through Christ, and that now all Enmitie and Wrath is done away on Gods part; and that hee loveth him in Chriſt with a Free, Full, and Everlasting love, herebyRom. 8. 16 he speaketh peace to the Conſcience, having done away all the guilt of ſinne which before moleſted it through ſenſe of Gods anger, and feare of puniſhment. Hence ariſeth peace and comfort in the Conſcience, which therefore is called Peace of Conſcience. Thus the mind ceaſeth to be perplexed, and, by faith in Chriſts death through the Spirit, becommeth quiet with an Heavenly tranquility, reſting on the Word of promiſe, and according to the meaſure of cleare apprehenſion of Gods love in Chriſt, in the ſame meaſure the minde is at ſweet agreement within it ſelfe, without kIoh. 14. 27feare or trouble, and in the ſame meaſure hee hath peace of Conſcience, flowing from the aſſurance of Iuſtification.
As ſoone alſo as a man beginneth Actually to be at Peace with God, his luſts doe beginne to be at Warre with him, rebelling againſt the law of his minde, which yet may by little and little be ſubdued and conquered, though not all luſts at any time, nor yet any one fully in this life; yet by vertue of the peace now made with God, if he wil improve it by ſeeking helpe of God, if withall he take to him the lEph. 6. 10Compleate armour and doe fight manfully under Chriſts bāner, he may ſo prevaile againſt them, that he ſhall be aſſaulted with fewer Temptations from his owne concupiſcence than hee was wont; in ſo much that they do not ſo oft, nor ſo ſtrongly aſſault him as in former times. Now ſo farre forth as the powers and faculties of man agree in their fight againſt ſinne, and doe ſo ſubdue it, that it doth not aſſault and moleſt him, hee may be ſaid to have the peace of ſanctification.
The firſt peace whereby God is pacified, and is become propitious and gracious to man, is abſolutely neceſſary to the very being of a Chriſtian.
The ſecond, which riſeth from the manifeſtation of this Peace unto a man, and the ſenſible feeling of the operatiō of this Peace in man, is not neceſſary to the being of a Chriſtian (at leaſt in a ſenſible degree of it) but to the well-being of a Chriſtian it is neceſſarie. For a man may be in the favour of God, and yet be without the ſenſe of this Peace in himſelfe: Becauſe this peace of Conſcience doth not flow neceſſarily from the being in GODS favour, but from knowledge and aſſurance of being in his favour.
Now a man in many caſes may looſe for a time his ſenſe of Gods favor, his faith being over-clouded with feares and unbeliefe, asPſal. 51. 11 12 it was with David, after his adultery with Bathſhebath and murther of Vriah, who yet was upheld ſecretly by his right hand, (mPſa. 73. 23 as the Prophet was in another caſe) by vertue of that firſt peace of GOD; yet, untill GOD did give him the ſenſe and feeling of His loving Countenance, hee was without the ſecond Peace, the peace of Conſcience. Yea, though God by Nathan in the outward Miniſtery of his Word had given him aſſurance of Gods loving kindneſſe, (ſaying) The LORD 2 Sam. 12. 13hath put away thy ſinne, thou ſhalt not dye.
That firſt peace is abſolute, and admitteth of no degrees.
The ſecond, which floweth thence, both in reſpect of peace of Conſcience, and in reſpect of good agreement of the powers & faculties of man within themſelves, and of freedome from aſſaults and moleſtations either of Sathan from without, or from luſts within, is not abſolute; but admitteth of ſeverall degr… the life to come this latter … ſhall be perfect: for then all beleevers ſhall be perfectly freed from all trouble of Conſcience, & from all moleſtation of temptations; their victory ſhall be compleat. But in this life their Peace is but imperfect: It is true for Subſtance, but is more or leſſe, …s the light they have received is more cleare or more dimme: and as grace in them is more ſtrong, or more weake.
For although mans Iustification is abſolute, and admitteth not of more or leſſe; yet the aſſurance of it, whereby a man hath peace of Conſcience, is more, or leſſe, according to the meaſure of his …leare ſight and evidence of his …aith. Hence it is that the deare children of God have interruptions and intermiſſions in their peace, having ſome times much peace, ſome times little or no peace; according as they have in …ſſions in their aſſurance o… Gods favour.
Thus it was with David and Aſaph, ſometimes his heart was quiet, and aPſal. 16. 9his ſoule was glad in aſſurance that his ſoule ſhould reſt in Hope▪ at other times bPſ. 42 11.his ſoule was caſt down and diſquieted in him, thinking that he was cPſ. 31. 22caſt out of God, ſight, fearing that dPſal. 77. 7God would ſhew no more fauour. Yea, he was ſo perplexed that hee did almoſt faint, ePſal, 69. 3and his eyes failed with waiting for God. For ſith the beſt aſſurance of beleevers is exerciſed with Combating againſt doubting, their trueſt and beſt peace muſt needes be aſſaulted with diſquiet. And as it is with a Ship at anchor, ſo is the moſt ſtable peace of a Chriſtian in this life, who hath his *Heb. 6. 19Hope as an anchor of his ſoule, ſure and ſtedfaſt: who though he cannot make utter Ship wracke, yet hee may be grievouſly toſſed and affrighted with the waves and billowes of manifold temptations & feares. Likewiſe though peace of Sanctification be true, yet it muſt needs be more or leſſe according as any man groweth or decreaſeth in holineſſe, and as God ſhall pleaſe to give reſtraint toſpirituall enemies, or power to ſubdue them more or leſſe.
Now the whole peace of God, both in him to man, & from him manifeſted and wrought in man, doth paſſe all understanding, and ſerveth to keep the heart & minde of him that walketh with GOD and reſteth on him through Chriſt.
This Peace is it which you muſt ſeeke for, and imbrace in beleeving, and if you would have true comfort and tranquillity in your minde, laboreſpecially to get and keepe the peace of a good Conſcience, which ſeemeth to be the peace that is chiefly, though not onelyonly, intended in this Text.
SECTION 2. Concerning the excellencie of the Peace of God.
THat you may be induced to doe your beſt to obtain this Peace: Conſider the excellency of it; you may conceive much of it by that which hath beene ſaid in the opening of that Scripture, and by ſhewing the nature of the Peace, conſidering likewiſe the object, author, and uſe of it. But that you may betterReaſons ſhewing the excellency of the peace … of God. perceive that this Peace of God for worth and uſe paſſeth all underſtanding; Take theſe reaſons in particular.
Firſt, That muſt needs be an excellent Peace which GOD will pleaſe to take into his holy Title, calling himſelfe aHeb. 13. 20God of Peace, calling bIſa. 9. 6.Chriſt the Prince of Peace.
Secondly, That peace muſt needes bee of infinite value, paſſing all underſtanding, for which Chriſt gave himſelfe, paying the price of his owne moſt c1 Pet. 1. 18, 19precious bloud for it.
3. Thirdly, This peace cannot but paſſe all Understanding, becauſe the cauſe from whence it commeth, namely, dEph. 3. 18 19Chriſts love, and the effect which it worketh, namely, e1 Pet. 1. 8ioy in the holy Ghoſt, doe as the Apoſtles affirme, paſſe knowledge, and are unſpeakeable.
4. Fourthly, This peace was that fLuk. 2. 10 11, 14firſt congratulation, wherewith the holy Angels ſaluted the Church at Chriſts birth, giving her joy in her new borne Huſband, and Saviour. And it was that gIoh. 14. 27ſpeciall legacy which Chriſt …eſus did bequeath to his Church, …aving that as the beſt token of his love to it, a little before his Death: Saying, My peace I …ave with you.
5. Fifthly, This peace is one of the principall parts of the kingdome of GOD, which conſiſteth, as the Apoſtle ſaith, of Righteouſneſſe, *Rom. 14. 17.Peace, and Ioy in the holy Ghoſt.
6. Sixthly, By as much as the evils and miſchiefes that come to a man by having God to be his enemie, which draweth upon him Gods Wrath, iuſtice, Power, and all Gods creatures to be againſt him: And by as much as Pro. 18. 14the … vouſneſſe, and intollerable anguiſh of a wounded Spirit paſſeth Vnderſtanding; by ſo much the Peace of GOD, which freeth him from all theſe, muſt of neceſſity, paſſe all Vnderſtanding.
Now that it is a fearefull thing to have God to be an Enemie, it is ſaid, hHeb. 12. 29.He is a conſuming fire, and iHeb. 10. 31.it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the living God. It appeares likewiſe by Chriſts compaſſion and griefe for Ieruſalem who neglected the time of making and accepting of peace with God; for he Wept over it and ſaid, If thou hadſt knowne, even thou, atleaſt in this thy day,Luk. 19. 41 42. the things which belong to thy Peace; but now they are hid from thine eies. But what it is to have GOD to be an Enemy, is ſeene moſt fully by Chriſts trouble and griefe in his Paſſion and Agony in the garden, and in the Extremitie of his conflict with Gods wrath on the Croſſe, when God ſhewed himſelfe to be an Enemie, and did for mans ſin powre on him the fierceneſſe of his wrath. It made him, though he was God, being man, to ſweat for very anguiſh, kLuk. 22. 44.as it were drops of bloud, and to cry lMat. 26. 39.If it be poſſible let this cup paſſe, and mMat. 27. 46.My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me?
Moreover; If you doe obſerve the complaints of ſuch diſtreſſed ſoules that have had terrour of Conſcience, (if you have not had experience thereof in your ſelfe) how that they were at their wits end, oAct. 2. 37pricked at heart as it were with the point of a ſpeare, o… ſting of a Serpent, pained like men whoſe pPſa. 51. 8bones are broken and out of ioynt, making them to qPſa. 32. 3rore▪ and to conſume their ſpirits for very heavineſſe, then you will ſay that peace of conſcience doth paſſe all underſtanding.
Seventhly, When God and a mans owne conſcience is for him, and Gods grace in ſome good meaſure, hath ſubdued ſinne and Satan in him, this draweth with Hoſ. 2. 18, 19. 20it aſſurance that all other things (whoſe peace are worth having,) are alſo at peace with him. For, if Rom. 8. 31, 32God be for us, who can be againſt us. This peace muſt of neceſſitie bring with it all things which will make us happie, even all things which pertain to life, godlineſſe, and glory.2 Pet. 1. 3
Laſtly, adde this, that as the worth and ſenſe of peace of God is unutterable, and unconceivable, ſo the time of it is indeterminable,Iſa. 9. 7. it is everlaſting, and hath no end. Conſider this with the former, and it cannot be denyed, but that the peace of God doth every way paſſe underſtanding.