Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 4 · Lecture 83
LECTVRE LXXXIII.
PHILIP. 4. Verſe 7.
And the peace of God which paſſeth all vnderſtanding, ſhall preſerue your hearts and mindes in Chriſt Ieſus.
THeſe words, as we hauehave already heard, diuide themſelues into three branches: firſt, a dehortation, in theſe words, Be nothing, &c. ſecondly, an exhortation, in theſe, But in all things, &c. thirdly, a conſequent or effect which wil follow vponupon both, in theſe, And the peace of God, &c.
Another thing there is which I would obſerue from the words of the exhortation of our Apoſtle in this place. The chiefe ſcope and drift of his exhortation we hauehave alreadie heard, which is, that the Philippians would caſt their care on God, and in all things runne vntounto him by prayer, pouring out ſuch prayers vntounto him as may be accepted with him, for his bleſſing vponupon what they do and deſire, & for deliuerance from ſuch euills as preſently they ſuffer, or feare to follow. Where note that the Apoſtle would hauehave their requeſts to be ſhewed vntounto God by praier and ſupplication, ſo that withall there ſhould be ioyned giuing of thankes. Whence I obſerue, that as prayer and ſupplication, ſo giuing of thankes alſo is a neceſſary ſeruice of God, a neceſſary duty of a Chriſtian. For, as there are many cauſes of our often approching vntounto the throne of grace by prayer and ſupplication for bleſſings in good things, and deliuerance from euill, ſo are there many cauſes of pouring out our ſoules before God in humble praiſe and heartie thankeſgiuing for bleſſings in good things, and deliuerance from euill. Neither is there any whoſe wants or miſeries vrge them vntounto prayer and ſupplication, which hauehave not alſo ſuch proofes of Gods mercies and louing kindneſſe towards them, as may and ought to prouoke them vntounto thankeſgiuing. Many are the bleſſings and graces for the bodie, for the ſoule, for this life preſent, for that that is to come, which enforce our prayers vntounto God that we may obtaine them. Many are the euills touching the body, touching the ſoule, touching this life preſent, touching that that is to come, which enforce our ſupplications vntounto God that we may be deliuered from them. And are there not as many bleſſings and graces corporall and ſpirituall, temporall and eternall, which the Lord hath already vouchſafed vntounto vsus? as many euills corporall and ſpirituall, temporall and eternall, from which the Lord hath deliuered vsus, which ſhould enforce our praiſe and thankſgiuing vntounto God? Yes verily, but that rather we looke vntounto the things which we would hauehave, then vntounto the things which already we hauehave receiued, we might as wel ſee the one as the other. And hereupon it is, that as well praiſe and thankeſgiuing are commanded by the holy Ghoſt in the Scripture, as prayer and ſupplication, and that the godly in al ages hauehave poured out their ſoules before God as well in praiſe and thankeſgiuing, as in prayer and ſupplication. I exhort (ſaith the Apoſtle vntounto Timothie) that firſt of all ſupplications, prayers, interceſſions, 1. Tim. 2.1. 1. Theſſ. 5.16 17.and giuing of thankes be made for all men. And to the Theſſalonians, Pray (ſaith the Apoſtle) continually, and in all things giuegive thankes. And looke into the practiſe of the godly in all ages. Iacob praying vntounto the Lord to be deliuered from the hand of his brother Eſau, Geneſis 32.10 11firſt prayſed him for the riches of his mercies towards him. The Songs and Pſalmes of thankſgiuings which Moſes and the Iſraelites, Deborah and Barak, Hannah and Marie, Dauid and Iehoſaphat made vntounto the Lord, are not vnknowne vntounto them that hauehave knowledge in the booke of God. Paul likewiſe witneſſeth of himſelfe almoſt vntounto all the Churches he wrote vntounto, that ſtill in his prayers he gaue thankes to God for them. And of him and Silas it is ſaid,Acts 16.24.25. that when they were caſt into priſon, and their feet made faſt in the ſtockes, they prayed and ſung a pſalme vntounto God. Nay, how often do we reade that Chriſts owne mouth was filled with the praiſes of God, giuing thankes in his miracles of feeding certaine thouſands with ſome few loaues and fiſhes, giuing thankes when he inſtituted the holy Supper, giuing thankes becauſe his Father had heard him, giuing thankes for opening thoſe things vntounto Babes, which were hid from the wiſe, and men of vnderſtanding? Generally this note hath ſo well tuned at all times in the mouthes of all Gods children, that they hauehave euer bene ready to giuegive thanks vntounto him in all things, euen as ready to offer vntounto the Lord the ſacrifice of praiſe and thankſgiuing for benefits and bleſſings receiued, as to poure out their praiers vntounto him for ſuch graces of his Spirit as they ſtood in need of.
But is it ſo with vsus? HaueHave our mouthes bene filled with the praiſes of the Lord, and with thankeſgiuing vntounto our God? When our wants hauehave enforced vsus to prayers, hauehave we remembred to praiſe the Lord for ſuch mercies as we had receiued? Or hath not the Song of praiſe and thankeſgiuing bene eyther as a ſtrange and daintie Song vntounto vsus which we could not tune, or as an harſh and vnpleaſant Song wherein we hauehave had no delight? HaueHave we not bene as thoſe ten Lepers,Luke 17.18. which being cleanſed, neuer returned to giuegive God praiſe? When famine, or ſickeneſſe, or the ſword are vponupon vsus and our Land, it may be that we will call an aſſembly and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker, and crie, and ſay, Spare thy people, O Lord, and deliuer vsus from this ſickeneſſe, or famine, or ſword: it may be, I ſay, we will do ſo, though to too ſeldome we do ſo: But when the Lord in merciemercy hath remoued any of theſe his plagues from vsus, what ſacrifice of praiſe and thankeſgiuing do we offer vp vntounto him? Let the yeare 1588 witneſſe againſt vsus, at which time the inuincible Army as they called it, roſe vp to make warre againſt vsus. When that mighty and cruel enemy was vponupon our coaſts, and in the ſight of our Land diſplayed his banners againſt vsus, thinking to deuoure vsus at once, and to ſwallow vsus vp quicke, then we called an holy aſſembly, and humbled our ſelues before the Lord, and praied vino him for deliuerance out of the hands of our cruell enemies. But when he had wrought a mightie deliuerance for vsus, euen ſuch a one as the world wondered at, and for which we might very well take vp that of the Prophet, and ſay,Pſal. 124.2. If the Lord himſelfe had not bene on our …ide, when thoſe enemies roſe vp againſt vsus, they had ſwallowed vsus vp quicke, when their wrath was kindled againſt vsus; 3.4.the waters had drowned vsus, and the ſtreame had gone ouer our ſoule, yea the deepe waters of the proud had gone ouer our ſoule: when, I ſay, the Lord had wrought ſuch a mightie deliuerance for vsus, how many of vsus like vntounto good▪ Iehoſaphat and his people aſſembled our ſelues, eyther the fourth day after, or at all after in the valley of Berachah or bleſſing, to giuegive thankes vntounto the Lord? in how many places did we meete together, to praiſe the Lord in the midſt of the great Congregation? whatſoeoer were done in other places, no ſuch matter here. We indeed of this place whence others ſhould hauehave all good example, are ſo much afraid to ſeeme forward in good things, that we are hardly or neuer drawne vntounto it in time of common danger to faſt and pray, or after deliuerance from ſuch danger to praiſe and giuegive thankes. Our prayers for Prince, for people, for peace, for proſperitie, for raine, for faire weather, in time of famine, in time of warre, in time of common ſickeneſſe, and the like which we vſe, are good, and very good. And were it not well that our requeſts were ſhewed vntounto God in prayer and ſupplication with giuing of thankes? If euerie man ſhall looke into himſelfe, we ſhall all of vsus finde a great defect in our ſelues this way. For if the hand of the Lord be any way vponupon vsus, then we call vponupon him, and pray vntounto him; as for example, if we be ſicke, then we poure out our requeſts vntounto God for health, and for deliuerance from that paine wherein we lie. But how many of vsus do then remember to praiſe the Lord, either for that health which before the Lord gaue vntounto vsus, or for other good graces and bleſſings of the ſoule and of the bodie, wherewith euen then we do abound? Nay ſurely the paine of our ſickeneſſe takes ſuch hold on vsus, that onelyonly we remember it, and pray to be deliuered from it, forgetting the praiſes of the Lord for other his mercies vntounto vsus. And afterward, when we are reſtored vntounto health, how many of vsus do ſing a new Song vntounto the Lord for it? We commend our Phyſition, or ſuch a potion that we tooke, or ſuch a medicine that was applyed, or ſuch a diet that we kept; but not many of vsus ſing the praiſes of the Lord, by whoſe onelyonly bleſſing vponupon thoſe meanes we hauehave recouered our health. I do inſtance onelyonly in this one example. But the like is to be ſaid of other croſſes. If we be in pouerty, in impriſonment, in baniſhment; yea if our head, or tooth, or toe do ake, and the like, we poure out our complaints before God, and make our prayers vntounto him. But how ſeldome are our requeſts ſhewed vntounto him with giuing of thankes?
I diſpute not the point, whether together with our praiers and ſupplications ſhould alwayes be ioyned praiſe and thankeſgiuing. Sure it is, that there is none of vsus all, in any ſuch need or neceſſitie, in any ſuch miſerie or affliction, but we hauehave many bleſſings of the Lord, for which we ought to be thankfull. So that as we hauehave need to pray vntounto the Lord, ſo we hauehave cauſe alſo to giuegive thankes vntounto the Lord euen then when we pray. But this is it which I vrge, that as we are to pray vntounto the Lord for ſuch things as we neede, ſo we are to giuegive thankes vntounto the Lord for ſuch bleſſings as we hauehave receiued. For this is true, that whatſoeuer it be that we aske, we are not worthie new bleſſings and graces, vnleſſe we be thankefull for the old. And this is as true, that ſo our payers are accepted with God, as we are thankfull vntounto God. Our vnthankefulneſſe ſhuts out our prayers that they enter not into the eares of the Lord God of hoaſts. And amongſt other our ſinnes, in my iudgement, our vnthankfulneſſe is one great cauſe why the hand of the Lord now a long time hath bene, and yet is ſo heauie vponupon vsus. Of late, euen by the ſpace of a twelue monethmonth, he hath giuen vsus great hope of remouing one of his plagues of dearth and famine from vsus by ſuch ſeaſonable ſeaſons as he hath granted vntounto vsus. But hauehave we ſung ſongs of thankſgiuing for this merciemercy of the Lord towards vsus? No ſurely: and therefore now again he hath filled the clouds with raine, and threatneth vsus with vnſeaſonable weather. Let vsus therefore now at length returne from our vnthankfulnes, and ſing new ſongs of praiſes vntounto the Lord. Whenſoeuer we hauehave need, let vsus pray vntounto the Lord, but withal let vsus remember the louing mercies of the Lord towards vsus, and let vsus giuegive him thanks for them. Otherwiſe our requeſts wil ſooner turne into murmuring complaints, then vntounto acceptable prayers. As therefore the Apoſtle exhorteth the Coloſſians, ſo do I you, Whatſoeuer ye do in word or deed, Coloſſ 3.17.do all in the name of the Lord Ieſus, &c. and as our Apoſtle here ſaith, Let your requeſts, &c.
And the peace of God, &c. This is the conſequent or effect which wil follow vponupon it, if we hearken vntounto the exhortation. If we ſhall be too too carefull for nothing, but in all things flie vntounto God by prayer, giuing him thankes for bleſſings receiued, and powring out our prayers and ſupplications vntounto him for ſuch things as are neceſſarie: what then? then this wil follow, the peace of God which paſſeth all vnderſtanding, ſhall preſerue your hearts and minds in Chriſt Ieſus, that ye fall not away from Chriſt Ieſus by any inordinate affections, or wicked cogitations, through impatience or deſpaire, but that ye hauehave a quiet mind and conſcience in all things whatſoeuer do befall vntounto you. Now for the more particular explication of theſe things, we muſt vnderſtand, that where the Apoſtle ſaith, the peace of God, he meaneth not that peace which is in God, and which is himſelf, but that peace which he communicateth vntounto vsus. Which yet is two fold: one, which ſignifieth our reconciliation with God through Chriſt, whereof the Angels ſpake in their ſong, when they ſung,Luc. 2.14. Glorie be to God on hie, and in earth peace; and whereof the Apoſtle ſpeaketh when he ſaith, that Chriſt came, Eph. 2.17.and preached peace to them which were a farre off, and to them which were neare. In both which places, by peace is meant our reconciliation with God through Chriſt, and of this peace of God, the Apoſtle here ſpeaketh not. Another peace there is which God communicateth vntounto vsus, which is the peace and quietneſſe of our mind and conſcience through our reconciliation with God by Ieſus Chriſt, whereof the Apoſtle ſpeaketh when he ſaith, that being iuſtified by faith, Rom. 5.1.we hauehave peace towards God, through Ieſus Chriſt. Where by peace is meant that quietnes of mind and conſcience which we hauehave through our iuſtification by faith in Chriſt Ieſus. And of this our Apoſtle here ſpeaketh, and ſaith of it, that it paſſeth all vnderſtanding, that is, that this inward peace of our mind and conſcience, wrought in vsus by the power of the Spirit through our reconciliation with God, and iuſtification by faith in the bloud of Chriſt Ieſus, is ſuch a thing as all mans vnderſtanding cannot reach vntounto or comprehend. This peace of God then, which thus farre paſſeth all reach of mans vnderſtanding, the Apoſtle tels the Philippians if they hearken to his exhortation, ſhall keepe their hearts and minds, that is, their whole ſoules, both the vnderſtanding and the ſenſitiue part, in Chriſt Ieſus, ſo that neither through inordinate affections which are ſeated in the heart, nor through wicked cogitations in the mind, they ſhould fall away from the faith of Chriſt Ieſus in their heart, or from the knowledge of Chriſt Ieſus in their mind. The ſumme of all is this, that if they will hearken vntounto his exhortation, to be nothing carefull, but in all things to ſhew their requeſts vntounto God in prayer and ſupplication, with giuing of thankes, then they ſhall hauehave ſuch a peace and quietneſſe of mind and conſcience, as farre paſſeth all reach of mans vnderſtanding, which ſhall keep their hearts and minds, euen their whole ſoules in Chriſt Ieſus, ſo that they ſhall not fall from him, either through inordinate affections, or wicked cogitations. I cannot ſtand vponupon the ſeuerall obſeruations which were hence to be made; I will onelyonly point at ſome of them, as time will giuegive leaue.
Firſt then hence I obſerue, what the fruite or conſequent is which followeth the laying aſide of ouermuch carefulnes, and the repoſing of our ſelues in God by prayer in all our matters. The conſequent or fruit which followeth vponupon it, is, the peace of God, the peace which God giueth vntounto our minds and conſciences to keepe as with a garriſon our hearts and minds in Chriſt Ieſus. For whileſt we are choked with the cares of this life, and thoughts do boyle within our breaſts as in a fornace of lead, whileſt it is ſo that we cannot perſwade our ſelues to depend vponupon God for the euent and ſucceſſe of our matters, vnleſſe our owne cares alſo be continually employed about them, what peace or quietnes can we hauehave in our minds and conſciences? The peace of our minds and conſciences indeed conſiſteth in our reconciliation with God through Chriſt, in our iuſtification by faith in the bloud of Chriſt, as the Apoſtle witneſſeth in the place before alledged, where he ſaith, that being iuſtified by faith, we hauehave peace towards God, Rom. 5.1.through our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. But what reconciliation with God, where the louelove of the world ſo ſwayeth, that his thoughts are altogether ſet vponupon it, his cares are wholly employed about it?Iam. 4.4. Know ye not (ſaith Iames) that the amitie of the world is the enmitie of God? Whoſoeuer therefore maketh himſelfe a friend of the world, maketh himſelfe the enemie of God. As good communion betwixt light and darkneſſe, as good concord betwixt Chriſt and Belial, as good agreement betwixt the temple of God and idols, as betwixt the louelove of God and the louelove of the world. And therefore Iohn ſaith, If any man louelove the world, 1. Ioh. 2.15.the louelove of the Father is not in him. So that where there is this exceſſiue louelove of the world, as to carrie all our cares and thoughts after it, it is a ſigne that there is no reconciliation with God, and therefore no peace of conſcience. But if we ſhall lay aſide all worldly and diſtruſtfull carefulnes, and caſt our care vponupon the Lord; if we ſhal walke as we ought, and commit our wayes vntounto the Lord; if we ſhall pray vntounto the Lord for his bleſſing vponupon that we do, and depend on him for the euent and ſucceſſe, hence will follow this peace of God, this peace of conſcience which God giueth, which our Apoſtle here ſpeaketh of. For albeit theſe things be not preciſely the cauſe of our peace of conſcience, but our reconciliation with God, yet we ſee the promiſe of the holy Ghoſt, that this peace ſhall follow theſe things, to keepe our hearts and minds in Chriſt Ieſus. Which fruite to hauehave followed that practiſe in the godly at all times, might eaſily be proued, if time would giuegive leaue.
But for this time let vsus make this vſe hereof, to abandon ouermuch carefulneſſe for any thing, in all things to flie vntounto God by prayer, to commit all our wayes vntounto him, and to depend vponupon him for all things we hauehave to do or deale withall For what is more to be deſired of man in this world, then the peace of God which paſſeth all vnderſtanding? then to hauehave our hearts and minds kept in Chriſt Ieſus? S…eing then this is the fruite which the Lord maketh to follow thereupon, let vsus hearken to the exhortation of our Apoſtle, let vsus be nothing carefull, but in all things, &c. and then the peace of God, &c.
Secondly, in that this peace is called the peace of God, hence I obſerue the author of our peace of conſcience, which is God through Chriſt. Whereunto the Apoſtles giuegive witneſſe in eueryevery of their Epiſtles almoſt, when they pray for grace and peace vntounto the Churches to which they write, from God the Father, and from the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that is, from God who giues it in, through, and for the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And hereupon it is that God is often called the God of peace, becauſe he is the author of our peace; and that Chriſt is called our peace, becauſe through him we hauehave peace. And why is God ſaid to be the author of our peace through Chriſt? Euen becauſe by Chriſt he hath reconciled vsus vntounto himſelf; as the Apoſtle witneſſeth where he ſaith,2. Cor. 5.18. that God hath reconciled vsus vntounto himſelfe by Ieſus Chriſt. For God (ſaith he) was in Chriſt, and reconciled the world vntounto himſelfe, not imputing their ſinnes vntounto them. This is it that makes our peace of conſcience, euen our reconciliation with God; we know that Gods wrath is appeaſed towards vsus, that the partition wall which was betweene God and vsus is broken downe, that God hath receiued vsus into grace and fauour through Ieſus Chriſt his Sonne, and therefore all is at peace within, our ſoule and conſcience is quiet and free from all feare and care. There is a peace of the world, when we are quiet and free from troubles, warres, and the like: but what is this peace vntounto that other? Though we want this outward peace, and hauehave that inward peace, we hauehave the greateſt peace and quietneſſe that may be: but if there want this inward peace, what outward peace ſoeuer there be, what peace is there? Surely where the want of this peace of conſcience is, there is alreadie a torment of hell.
If then they of Tyrus and Sydon made ſo great account of that outward peace,Act. 12.20.24.2.3. that by all meanes they deſired it of Herod: and if the Iewes hauing obtained great outward quietnes through Felix, acknowledged it wholy, and in all places, with all thankes; what prayers ought we to make vntounto our God for this inward peace of conſcience; and feeling it in our owne ſoules and conſciences, how thankfully ought we to acknowledge it vntounto our God? Surely for this grace and peace, we ought to offer vp the calues of our lips in a ſacrifice of praiſe and thankſgiuing, yea to giuegive vp our whole bodies a liuing ſacrifice, holy and acceptable vntounto God, which is our reaſonable ſeruing of God. Seeing then that we hauehave this peace of all peaces through our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, let vsus acknowledge it wholly, and in all places, with all thankes.
Thirdly, hence I obſerue the excellencie of this inward peace of conſcience which God giueth vntounto his children, it paſſeth all reach of mans vnderſtanding. For in mans reaſon and vnderſtanding, who more wretched then the children of God? With whom is God more diſpleaſed then with his owne children? They are hated, reuiled, perſecuted, afflicted: they are ſcorned, impriſoned, baniſhed, and made the worlds wonder. So that as it was prophecied of Chriſt, that he ſhould be iudged as plagued, and ſmitten of God, and humbled; ſo the world iudgeth of faithfull Chriſtians, that they are plagued and puniſhed of God for their ſins and their iniquities. And they thinke they hauehave good reaſon ſo to iudge. And if it be anſwered, that though their outward man be diſquieted yet in that they hauehave peace of conſcience, they hauehave quietnes enough: they cannot skill of this, what this inward peace ſhould be which ſhould giuegive them ſuch quietnes. That a man when he is reuiled ſhould bleſſe, when he is perſecuted ſhould ſuffer it, when he is euill ſpoken of ſhould pray, when he hath nothing, ſhould be as if he poſſeſſed all things, when he may ſeeme to hauehave cauſe of deſpaire, ſhould abound in hope, when he is in tribulation ſhould reioyce in tribulation, and all through the inward peace of their conſcience by their reconciliation with God, this is a thing which ſeemes as abſurd to them as any thing can be, this knowledge is too wonderfull and excellent for them, they cannot attaine it: it is without the compaſſe of their vnderſtanding, they cannot tell what to make of it. And therefore ſaith our Sauiour vntounto his diſciples,Ioh. 14.27. Peace I leaue with you, my peace I giuegive vntounto you, not as the world giueth, giuegive I vntounto you. Nay, the world knoweth not that peace which God giueth vntounto vsus, but calleth that peace which indeed is no peace, crying, Peace, peace, when their deſtruction haſteth vponupon them.
Let this then teach Gods good children to ioy and reioyce in that peace of conſcience which God hath giuen them through Chriſt. It is a grace of God which the wicked of the world feele not, nor know what it meaneth, and which the world neither can giuegive, nor take away from vsus. If we hauehave this we hauehave all, howſoeuer we ſeeme to want all: and if we want this, we want all, howſoeuer we ſeeme to hauehave all. If we hauehave this peace within vsus, we hauehave God with vsus, and therefore howſoeuer the diuell rage, and all the world ſay all maner of euill ſayings, and practiſe all maner of wickednes againſt vsus, yet herein we may reioyce, and herein let vsus reioyce.
Laſtly, hence I obſerue a teſtimonie and a plaine proofe for the perſeuerance of Gods children in the faith and knowledge of Chriſt Ieſus. For the peace of God ſhall keepe their hearts and minds in Chriſt Ieſus, as ſaith the Apoſtle. If we our ſelues were left vntounto our ſelues to keepe our ſelues in Chriſt Ieſus, quickly might we fall from Chriſt, and depart away from our liuing God. But not we our ſelues, but the peace of God and the God of peace ſhall keepe vsus in Chriſt I…ſ…s. How then ſhall he fall, that is thus kept from falling? Againe, if it were onelyonly ſaid, that we are kept in Chriſt Ieſus, the queſtion might haply be the greater; albeit it be in truth out of queſtion, that he whom the Lord keepeth ſhall neuer fall: but it is ſaid, that the peace of God ſhall keepe vsus as garriſon ſouldiers keepe their Citie from the inuaſion of any enemie. So that the peace of God and the God of peace ſhall be vntounto vsus as a garriſon of ſouldiers to keepe vsus in Chriſt Ieſus, that we fall not away from him. And being thus kept, how ſhall we fall? Againe, what is it that not we our ſelues but the peace of God ſhall keepe, and that thus ſtrongly? Is it our bodie, or our goods? No, theſe are not the things wherein our ſaluation conſiſteth. For though theſe periſh, yet our ſaluation may be ſure with our God. But the peace of God ſhall preſerue our hearts whereby we beleeue vntounto ſaluation, and our minds, the ſubiect of the knowledge of Chriſt Ieſus, he ſhall keepe them in Chriſt Ieſus, that we fall not from him. He ſhall preſerue our hearts free from inordinate affections, that we may truſt perfectly on the grace of God: he ſhall preſerue our minds from wicked cogitations, that we may abound in the knowledge of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: he ſhall preſerue euen both in Chriſt Ieſus, that in neither we fall from him. For if either our hearts onelyonly be ſound, and our minds corrupt, then is our faith in vaine; or if our minds onelyonly be ſound, and not our hearts, then our knowledge is in vaine. But he ſhall preſerue euen both in Chriſt Ieſus, that neither there be zeale without knowledge, nor knowledge without zeale, but that we abound and continue. Shall then not our ſelues, but the peace of God preſerue and keepe as ſtrongly as may be, not our bodies or goods, but our hearts and minds in Chriſt Ieſus, that we fall not away from the faith and knowledge of Chriſt Ieſus? And is not here euidence enough for our perſeuerance in grace, if we be carefull for nothing, but in all things, &c? Theſe things ſhould and might hauehave bene enlarged.
The comfort which hence may ariſe vntounto the godly, paſſeth the tongue, or pen, or vnderſtanding of any man. I muſt leaue it vntounto the meditation of eueryevery godly ſoule. OnelyOnly with the Apoſtle now I ſay vntounto you, be nothing carefull, &c. and then aſſure your ſelues of the conſequent, that the peace of God, &c.