The Spouse of Christ Coming Out of Affliction, Sermon 2
John 14.27.
Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you, not as the World giveth, give I unto you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
AFter ſo many Conſolations and Promiſes of the Comforter, as the Lo…d Jeſus had armed his Diſciples with againſt his departure; in theſe words he takes his leave or farewel of them, leaving this his Legacy with them, namely, The bleſſing of peace, telling them what peace, ſaying, My peace I give unto y…u, not as the World giveth, and the fruit of Chriſt peace, was to ſtay their hearts againſt all trouble and fear, as ver. r. Let not your Hearts be troubled, but my peace I leave with you as my bleſſing, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, …pheſ. 6.23, Peace be to the Brethren, and love with Faith from God the Father, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 5.14. Peace be with all that are in Chriſt Jeſus Amen; and it is a frequent Farewel in the Scripture, as alſo in Salutations; the ſcope of our Saviour in theſe words or valediction, is the ſame he began withal, ver. 1. to ſtay their hearts againſt all fear and trouble; it was no doubt a great trouble, and tryal to the hearts of the Diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt, to looſe ſuch a Maſter and Teacher as he was, and that by ſo painful and ſhameful a death, as the death of the Croſſe; and ſo it was notwithſtanding all that he had ſpoken to them, therefore he leaves peace with them, My peace I give unto you.
To open the words, My peace I leave with you, as if our Saviour had ſaid, I am now about to part with you, I muſt leave you, but I will leave this Legacy, My peace, and that not an ordinary peace, but my peace, and that I give unto you, you ſhall have; peace is uſually taken for, or …mplies protection from all evil, and the enjoyment of all good: but that they may know what peace this is, he tells them, it's my peace, Chriſt is the Prince of peace, the Attonement, the God of peace, all peace comes from him, he it is that gives all manner of peace.
Firſt, He gives peace with God, you will ſay what manner of peace is that; the Apoſtle tells us, Phil 4.7 The peace of God that paſſeth all underſtanding, unſpeakable and unutterable, ſuch a peace that even thoſe that have it cannot conceive the excellency of it, much leſs can they expreſs it; God is an Enemy againſt ſin, and ſinners and they are at enmity with God, and for a ſinner that hath offended, and provoked God, and that therefore hath no hope in God, now for ſuch a ſinner to be at peace with God, who can conceive what it is, you may ſee the excellency of it if you conſider the perſons that are now at peace, for a poor, wretched, miſerable, condemned ſinner to be at peace with God, and that this ſhould flow from the love of God, in pardoning all his ſins, and to account him righteous in his ſight; that he that was an enemy to the Great and Holy God, even in his minde by evil works, and had God himſelf, the Holy Juſt God an enemy to him, that will avenge himſelf on his enemies by Eternal puniſhment, yet now to be at peace with God, and that God will own him as a Friend, forgiving all his ſins, accepting him as juſt & righteous to ete…nal life, & take him into his high favour, as a Son and Heir of Heaven, and all this through the Blood of his own Son, yea, by the blood of his Croſs is this peace made, ſo juſtifying his Law and Juſtice, a great price muſt be payed to purchaſe it, and the tearms is free grace, in a covenant of grace to all that believe, it is free grace in God to accept of a ſatisfaction in Chriſt, he might have exacted it of the ſinner himſelf, and the tearms of this free grace are only to believe and accept of it; the new Covenant is eſtabliſhed upon better promiſes then the old, wherein God hath promiſed to take away a hard and ſtony heart, and to give a heart of fleſh; now for a ſinner to be at peace with God, through the merit and righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and upon the tearms of the covenant of grace, and what follows, God now takes them into the ſtate of Sons, ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, ſaith the Lord God Almighty, and they are made Heirs of the Glory of Chriſt, for a ſinner thus to be at peace with God, I ſay who can tell what it is to be Heirs of God, and co heirs with Jeſus Chriſt, this is Chriſts peace which he gives to his Diſciples.
Secondly, This peace is the inward peace of a good Conſcience, the ſence of that peace which a Soul hath with God, through Jeſus Chriſt, being prinkled from an evil Conſcience, we have boldneſs, and acceſs with aſſurance of Faith unto the holieſt of all, and confidence towards God, 1 Joh. 3. God ſending his Spirit the Comforter, to witneſs that we are at peace with God, yea, he ſends his Spirit to ſeal up this peace with God, and this breeds joy unſpeakable and full of glory, it fills the Soul with all joy in Believing, Rom. 15 13. Now the God of hope all you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghoſt, ſo that we may boldly go to the Throne of grace, yea even to the holieſt of all with confidence to wards God, and have liberty before him, this is a ſingular part of this peace, to be perſwaded that we are at peace with God, and that we are the Children of God, and that we are partakers of all the priviledges of the Sons of God.
Thirdly, Chriſts peace is a peace with men, and ſo uſually taken in Scripture, and eſpecially with the Saints, Epheſ. 2.14. For he is our peace who hath made bath one, and hath broken own the m…dd…e wall of partition between us, that we m…y be all o…e…a Ieſus Chriſt, both J…ws and Gentiles.
Fourthly, This peace comprehends peace with the Creature, even with the Beaſts of the field, Job 5 23 For thou ſhait be in lea…ue with the Stones of the field, and the Beaſts of the fi…d ſhall be at peace with thee: It we be at peace with the King, we are at peace with all his people, if we be at peace with the Commander of the field, we are at peace with all the Army; all creatures are at peace with the Saints, and ſerve all for their guard, yea this peace of Chriſt is protection from all evil, 2 Tim. 4 18. And the Lord ſhall deliver me from every ev…l work, and preſerve me unto his Heavenly Kingdome, Rom 8.28. And we know that all things w…rk together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called, according to his purpoſe.
And this peace Chriſt promiſes, and this peace he gives, but not as the World giveth give I unto you, ſome may ſay, why? wherein is the difference? I ſhall briefly note the difference in two or three particulars.
1. The peace which the World gives, is more in words then in realities, it is oft times only in words, Pſal 28.3. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of Iniquity, which ſpeak peace to their neighbour, but miſchief is in their heart, as we may ſee in the Example of Joab and Abner, 2 Sam. 3.27. If the Lord ſpeaks peace, who ſhall ſpeak trouble, and if the Lord ſpeaks peace he ſpeaks from the very heart to the heart, and not in words of courſe or complement as the World uſe to do.
2. The peace which the world gives, is peace outward to the outward man, they may give outward peace, and fill you with the good things of the world, but it reacheth not the principal part of the man, it reacheth not the heart, but the peace which Chriſt gives, it reacheth the heart, it reacheth the ſoul, and the peace that reacheth the Soul reacheth the Body alſo; but the peace of the world reacheth the Body, but not the Soul; Chriſts peace ſecureth the Soul and inward man, it guards the heart, Phil. 4.7. And the peace of God which paſſeth all underſtanding, ſhall keep your hearts and minds through …eſus Chriſt, or as it is in the Original, ſhall guard your hearts.
3. The peace of the World is very uncertain, and ſhort, when they ſay peace, peace, then oft ſuddain deſtruction comes upon them, as the Example of Haman in his great Honour and ſuddain downfall doth prove, Eſth. 5.11, 12. And Haman told his friends of his great and ſingular favour with the King and Queen, but the next day, Chap. 7.10. He was hanged upon the Gallows he had prepared for Mordecai; and the ſtrongeſt league of friendſhip amongſt men of the World, is ſoon broken, when mens own intereſt… ſuit another way, but the peace which Chriſt gives, is a firm, laſting, everlaſting peace, …ai. 9.7. Of the increaſe of his Government and peace, there ſhall be no end; once at peace with God and ever at peace, God and that Soul will never fall out any more.
This being the fruit and effect of this peace, their hearts ought not to be troubled, let not your hearts be diſquiet, let them not ſink in any affliction that can befal you in this world; here is that peace that may bear up your hearts under any trouble or tryal that at any time you may meet withal, nor need they be afraid what ever tidings they hear, or what ever dangers approach as Chriſt had told his Diſciples of many troubles, as wars and rumors of wars, yet ſaith Chriſt, be not afraid with ſuch a fear as ſtands not with Faith and hope in God,: this peace that I leave with you, it is enough to defend your hearts from fear of any troubles whatſoever, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, I will not be afraid though the mountains be removed and caſt into the Sea, and therefore though others fear, yet be not you afraid, as the Prophet ſpeaks, Iſai. 8.12, 13. neither fear you therefore, nor be afraid, Sanctifie the Lord of Hoſts himſelf, and let him be your fear & dread, as if Chriſt ſhould ſay, I give you that true peace that may quiet your hearts under any trouble … diſtreſs, or whatſoever you may meet withal in this World.
The Doctrine from theſe words is, that
Doct. That that peace which Ieſus Chriſt hath purchaſed, and given to his true Diſciples, is ſuch as may ſtrength them againgſt all distracting troubles and fears in this world.
The truth of this appears, Pſal. 37.11. But the meek ſhall inherit the Earth, and ſhall delight themſelves in the abundance of peace, and ver. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace. Pſal. 119 165. Great peace have they which love thy Law, and nothing ſhall …ffend them, they do not ſtumble at any thing as other men do, Pſal. 125.1. They that trust in the Lord ſhall be as Mount Sion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. ver. 2. As the Mountains are round about Ieruſalem, ſo the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth even for ever. Pſal. 112.7, 8. Surely he ſhall not be moved for ever, he ſhall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord, his heart is eſtabliſhed, he ſhall not be afraid: Rom. 8.1. There is therefore no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Ieſus, &c. they are out of all fear of Condemnation, Joh. 16.33. Theſe things have I ſpoken to you, that in me ye may have pea…e, in the World you ſhall have tribulation, but be of good chear I have overcome the World, Rom. 5.1, 2, 3▪ Therefore being ju…ified by Fa…th, we have peace with God, through our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, by whom alſo we have acceſs by Faith to this grace wherein we ſtand, and r…joyce in hope of the glory of God: and not only ſo, but we glory in tribulations alſo, Phil 4.7. And the peace of God, which paſſeth all underſtanding, ſhall keep or guard your hearts and minds through Ieſus Chriſt. Pſal. 43.5. Why art thou caſt down Oh my Soul, and why art thou diſquieted within me, hope in God for I ſhall yet praiſe him, who is the health of my countenance and my God; the like ſee in Paul and Sil…s, Act. 16.24, 25. who ſang praiſes unto God in Priſon and in the Stocks.
Reaſ. 1. From the unſpeakable, unconceivable and excellent worth of this peace, it will out bid all other things in the world; Oh how this helps a man in all ſtraits, what need he fear what man can do, what need he fear what devils can do; as David when in great trouble and diſquiet Pſal. 43.5. Why act thou caſt down O…m, Soul, and why art thou diſquieted within me, hope in God for I ſhall yet praiſe him, who is the he…th of my Countenance and my God, this made, him confident, he chides himſelf becauſe he was now diſquieted, ſo Pſal. 42.5.11. as alſo elſewhere, The Lord is my light and my ſalvation, of whom then ſhall I be afraid; if an Host ſhould compaſs me about, in the Name of the Lord I will deſtroy them, this peace with God takes away not only all fears and dangers of condemnation, as Rom. 8.1. but alſo the ſting of ſin and death, 1 Cor. 15.55. Oh Death where is thy ſting, Oh Grave where is thy Victory?
Reaſ. 2. Becauſe this peace is in the hand of Chriſt, who payed a great price for it, and he will maintain it, that although we ſin yet he is our Advocate, and preſerves our peace with God; this peace is the peace of Chriſt, he hath purchaſed it with his Blood, he freely giveth it, therefore ſurely he will maintain it, he will not take it away, as the World gives peace one day, and taketh it away another; this peace is an everlaſting peace.
Reaſ. 3. Becauſe this peace does not only ſet the Soul free from fear of wrath, but it makes every thing eaſie, and it takes away the poyſon and venome of ſin, and alſo the …ting of death and hell is taken away, ſin is a poyſon in every cup & poyſons every thing, but this peace takes all away, and doth aſſure a Believer, that whatever he meets withal…n this World, ſhall be to his advantage, it makes proſperity to be ſafe and ſweet to them, and makes all afflictions to work for their good.
Reaſ. 4. Becauſe all troubles and dangers ſhall not hurt this peace, but ſhall work together to the furtherance of their everlaſting peace, for this peace is ſo far above all evils and fears that can befal ſuch as have it that in compariſ…n t…ereof they are all light and momentany, not worthy to be compared with that glory to be revealed, their great hopes ſwallow up all their fears, …ob 19.25. For I know that my Rede…mer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the Earth.
Queſt. 1. But here ſome may ask a Queſtion; If Chriſt gives ſuch peace, how then comes it to paſs that many a gracious Soul meet with ſv much trouble, and that not only trouble in the World, but trouble in ſpirit, that the Soul hath loſt his peace and ſenſe of the favour of God?
Anſ. This Legacie was given more eſpecially to the Ap…ſtles that were called to ſo great a work, and were to out face all the Tyrants in the World, and endure ſo great afflictions and per…ecutions, ſo that we may conceive it was alwayes conſtant and full with them; but ordinary Chriſtians have not ſo full and conſtant peace in themſelves their peace may be interrupted for a time, through ſin, or through temptations, yet their peace doth hold, though they may looſe the ſenſe of it for a time, but they may be ſure of this, that peace will return again to them, God hath not forgot to be gracious.
Anſ. 2. Their peace with God is everlaſting, and never fails; this peace is the peace of God, and in the concluſion will never fail, but the wicked mans peace will fail, and never come again, but the righteous and merciful man ſhall enter into peace, they ſhall reſt in their beds, as Iſai. 57.27.
Anſ. 3. Their diſſertions and temptations are alwayes turned to their good, and their peace return…d with advantage of greater peace and joy, their end is alwayes peace, though they ſhould and may go out of the World in the want of the ſenſe of it, yet God doth often return to the Soul at death.
Ʋſe 1. Inſtruction: Hence take notice of the wonderful care and love of the Lord Jeſus to his Di…ciples, to eſtabliſh their hearts againſt all the troubles, afflictions and fears that might befal them in this world, and therefore he ſaith, let not your heart be troubled, this was the farewel ſpeech of Jeſus Chriſt, my peace I leave with you, he delights in the proſperity of his people, as we may ſee Heb. 5.17, 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to ſhew to the Heirs of promiſe the immutability of his counſel, confirmed it by an Oath, that by two immutable things, in which it was impoſſible for God to lye, you might have a ſtrong conſolation, who are fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope ſet before us, alſo the Lord ſaid unto the Prophet, Iſai. 40.1. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people ſaith my God, ſpeak you comfortably to …eruſalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accompliſhed, and that her Iniquity is pardoned; I ſpeak this to this end, becauſe there are ſome good Souls that thinks aſſurance of Gods love, and ſtrong conſolations and joy in the Holy Ghoſt is too high a favour for them, being ſuch ſinners as they are; to attain to, but let all ſuch conſider, that God give, as a God, he gives as becometh ſuch a great God as he is, he gives according to his greatneſs, and not according to your ſinfulneſs and unworthineſs; this peace is the gift of Jeſus Chriſt, and he hath purchaſed it, therefore if the Soul be never ſo unworthy, yet Jeſus Chriſt is moſt willing to beſtow this precious everlaſting peace upon you, to magnifie the exceeding riches of his grace, refuſe not the conſolations of the Almighty, diſhonour not grieve not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt by your unbelief; when Chriſt freely gives his peace, it is your duty thankfully to embrace it, with all acceptation.
Ʋſe 2. Conviction: We may hence be convinced of the great folly of all ſuch poor Souls as do reſt in ſuch a poor peace as the World gives, and look not after that true, moſt excellent and everlaſting peace which the Lord Jeſus Chriſt does freely offer and give; Alas how many Souls are there that reſt themſelves in that peace which the world can give, carnal peace, carnal mirth, it is a poor peace you can have from the world, you may have the worlds peace, and yet have a ſad heart and conſcience, that will tell you for all this you muſt come to Judgement, the very beſt peace the world can give, will leave the Soul in unſerable fear and diſtreſs, in fear of the wrath of God, which will come upon the Sons of diſobedience; in the midſt of laughter the heart will be ſad, all you that thus content your ſelves, do not your Conſciences often tell you of your great and many ſins, and woful ſtate to Eternity? when Paul preached of righteouſneſs, temporance and judgement to come, Felix trembled, Act. 24.25. that is a poor peace that the world giveth, that is only an outward peace but gives no inward peace and comfort to the Soul, when Betſhazzar was in his greateſt jollity, when he was drinking in his Cups, his mirth and joy was ſoon gone, and the Handwriting upon the wall cauſed his knees to ſmite one againſt another, as Dan. 5.5, 6. in that peace that the world gives, Conſcience ſometimes will fly in the face, and tells them of thoſe things, ſins that they are guilty of, and that God is angry with ſinners every day, and that there is a Hell prepared for ſinners; Oh the fearful expectation of wrath, and fiery indignation that oft ſeizeth upon the heart of ſuch as are in the greateſt peace and proſperity that the world can give; but now where the peace of Chriſt is, there is no fear of Hell, for there is no condemnation to ſuch a Soul now: Again this peace that the world doth give, how ſhort and uncertain is it? it is but a ſhort peace that the world giveth Solomon ſaith, if a ſinner live an hundred years, and his dayes be prolonged, yet I know it ſhall go well with thoſe that fear God, yea, that is the thing to know how it ſhall be with the Soul, Haman may go home and boaſt of his greatneſs, and of the favour he was in with the King, and that the Queen alſo ſuffered none but him to come in with the King to the Banquet; but poor man! he could not foreſee that the next day he muſt be hanged upon the Gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai; and ſo it is many times, a man in favour to day, and utterly out of favour to narrow; although the peace of the world be but a ſlighty peace, yet a man is not ſure of it one day, when the world ſaies peace peace, then ſuddain deſtruction comes upon them as a Whirl wind, were this well conſidered, would any man reſt contented with that peace which the world can give; one would think they ſhould not be contented without that true durable peace which Chriſt gives, and not with that poor peace which the world gives, which is ſo ſhort and uncertain that laſts not, but thoſe comforts they are gone as a Whirlwind, and their places know them no more, as Solomon ſaith, and will any reſt in ſuch a peace.
Ʋſe 3. Tryal: This may put every one of us upon the tryal, how nearly doth it concern every Soul to conſider and examine whether his peace be the peace of Chriſt, or of the world, truely, if the peace you have be the peace the world gives, it is not worth a ruſh; we are a ſecure people, and live in peace, but conſider what true peace you have for your Soul to depend upon, and to this end conſider:
1. It's a certain truth, That there is no peace to the wicked ſaith my God, Iſai. 57.21. what peace can a Soul have that lives in a courſe of ſin and enmity againſt God? as Iehu ſaith to King Ioram, what peace ſo long as the Whoredoms of thy mother Iezabel and her Witchcrafts are ſo many? ſo long as the Soul goes on in the wayes of any ſin, loves it, and favours himſelf in it, it is impoſſible to have any pence with God, that infinitely hates all ſin & iniquity; the wicked muſt forſake his wayes and thoughts, repent and turn to the Lord, before he can be at peace with God; but now, that Soul that can truely ſay, that be hath turned from every known ſin, & he mourns for ſin, it's his grief and burthen, it is a good ſign that that Soul is at peace with God, but when we live in any way of ſin, in a way of lying, or any other known ſin, it is impoſſible that he ſhould be at peace with God.
2. This peace is the gift of Chriſt, he only can make peace between God and ſinners, 1 Joh. 5.12. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life; therefore make out your intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt by Faith without which you can have no true peace, but if you take up comfort and expect peace from any duties of your own, or any thing of your own, yea, if you take up comfort from the mercy of God, or from the promiſe, without Chriſt in the promiſe, if you take not hold of Chriſt in the promiſe, your comfort will not hold, becauſe you lay hold of peace without true right to it, is Chriſt moſt precious and ſin moſt hateful.
3. Where Chriſt gives peace he gives grace; grace, mercy and peace goes together, Chriſt Jeſus never juſtifieth but he alſo ſanctifieth that Soul, as Rom. 8.1. There is now no condemnation to thoſe that are in Jeſus Chriſt, but who are they? thoſe that walk not after the fleſh but after the ſpirit, as alſo ver. 13. For if ye live after the fleſh you ſhall dye, but if through the Spirit ye mortifie the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live: Oh where is your mortifying and purging out of ſin by the Spirit? where is your delight in the wayes of Holineſs and Sanctification? 1 Cor. 1.30. Jeſus Chriſt is made (not only) wiſdome and righteouſneſs, but Sanctification and Redemption; conſider what power of Grace you have received, to mortifie the deeds of the fleſh by the ſpirit, 2 Cor. 7.1. Having therefore theſe promiſes, dearly beloved, let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting Holineſs in the fear of God; If you can make it out that it is thus, then you have this peace, otherwiſe you have none of it.
4. I might add alſo, that this peace that Chriſt gives, diſpoſeth the heart to a peaceable diſpoſition, he will love to be at peace with others, as Iſai. 11.6, 7. the Kingdome of Chriſt is thus diſcribed, the Wolf alſo ſhall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard ſhall lye down with the Kid, and the Ca…f, and the young Lion, and the fatling together, and a little Childe ſhall lead them, the wiſdome that is from above is firſt pure, then peacable, and eaſie to be intreated; conſider what love there is in you to peace, do you not delight, do you not love to be at diſtance from any of the Saints of God? but love peace, ſeek peace and enſue it.
Ʋſe 4. Exhortation: 1. To every Soul that yet hath not this peace which Chriſt gives, breathe after it, labour for it; Oh conſider and look about you, and think whether it be not needful to get this peace which Chriſt gives; conſider theſe following particulars.
1. The poor uncertain peace that you now have in the World, that the World can give, you have heard what it is, now will you content your ſelves with the Worlds peace? can you go from day to day with this peace? will you riſe and go about your buſineſs with this peace? will you with the Drunkard ſleep upon the top of a Maſt? On awake, awake, and conſider what a peace all your worldly peace is.
2. Conſider what a dreadful Enemy you have, whiles you have only that peace that the World can give, you have God for your Enemy, the great and dreadful God, that will certainly be avenged of his Enemies, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, Nahum 1.2. God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth, the Lord rerengeth and is furious, the Lord will take vengeance on his Adverſaries, and he reſerveth wrath for his Enemies; Ye would tremble to ſal… into the hand of a cruel Enemy, much more into the hand of God, whom you have juſtly provoked to be your Enemy, what cannot he do, he hath prepared inſtruments of death; yea, Iſai. 30.33. Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the King it is prepared, he hath made it deep and large, the pile thereof is fire and much wood, and the breath of the Lord like a ſtream of Brimſtone doth kindle it:
Oh Conſider what God is, and what a ſtate and condition every ſinner is in that is an Enemy to God, and it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; if you were ready to fall into the hands of a cruel Nation, Oh what fear would there be! what care and endeavour to eſcape it, God is not cruel, but he is a juſt revenging God.
3. Conſider, how willing God is to be at peace, ſee how the Lord expreſſes himſelf, Iſai. 27.5. Let him take hold of my ſtrength, that he may make peace with me, and he ſhall make peace with me:
Many a poor Soul queſtions whether God be willing, they think it is in vain for them to go about to make peace with God; why do you ſay ſo? you hear the Lord here by the Prophet ſay, if he will make peace he ſhall make peace; the queſtion therefore is not whether God be willing to be at peace with you, but whether you be willing to be at peace with him; the Lord hath given his Son to make peace, and ſends the word of reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5.20. Now then we are Embaſſadors for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Chriſt, ſtead be reconciled to God.
Oh what evedent Demonſtrations are there, that God is willing to be at peace with poor ſinners; would God ever have given his Son, and the Son have given himſelf, if he had not been willing to be at peace, ſurely no; and alſo as was before alledged, he hath ſent Embaſſadors to beſeech and intreat you to be reconciled, our peace and all good is ready in Chriſt, but here is the miſery, men will not be at peace, Chriſt complains, you will not come to me that you might have life, who is it that is now at peace with God, that was not once in the ſame eſtate with your Selves, therefore you may be at peace only delay not, but as Chriſt adviſes agree with thine adverſary quickly; while thou art in the way with him; if you delay you will dye in your ſins, therefore if ever you intend to make your peace with God at all, do it now, really, ſpeedily, and without delay.
4. Laſtly, Lay down your enmity, if Rebels will be at peace with their King, they muſt lay down their weapons, Iſai. 55.7, 8, 9. Let the Wicked forſeek his way, and the Ʋnrighteous man his thoughts, and … him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your wayes my wayes; for as the Heavens are higher then the Earth, ſo are my wayes higher then your wayes, and my thoughts then your thoughts; there is joy in Heaven at the converſion of a ſinner, if you would but come in and accept of peace, there is a way of peace yet for that ſinner that hath lived in the peace of the World all this while, if you will turn from all your ſins unto God, & ſubmit to the Government of the Lord Jeſus.
2. Exhortation: To ſuch as have received this great and wonderful gift of Chriſt, this our bleſſed peace; Oh prize it highly, be exceeding thankful for it, and labour by all means to cheriſh, preſerve, and increaſe the aſſurance thereof, think what a ſingular mercy it is to be at peace with God by Jeſus Chriſt, how unſpeakable and full of glory it is; this peace is a continual peace, as Rom. 5.2. By whom alſo we have acceſs by Faith into this grace wherein we ſtand, and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God; this I ſay, that thoſe that have this peace, ſhould labour ſo to walk, as that they may perſevere in it, and to this end conſider what the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, Pſal. 85.8. I will hear what God the Lord will ſpeak, for he will ſpeak peace unto his people, and to his Saints, but let not them turn again to folly; have a care you break not your peace, remember Davids broken bones, beware of ſin, and ſee that you walk humbly before God; you have ſin and corruption, and you may meet with temptations, Satan is your Enemy, and he cannot abide you ſhould have this peace, therefore be watchful, and be humble, Iſai. 57.15. For thus ſaith the High and Lofty one, that inhabiteth Eternity, whoſe Name is Holy, I dwell in the High and Holy place, with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones; theſe are the Souls that ſhall have peace, but take heed of an evil and unbelieving heart, in departing from the living God, take heed you doat not upon the peace of the World, and grow ſecure by it.
3. Exhortation: Make uſe of this peace, as it is intended by Chriſt, Let not your heart be troubled, Pſal. 125.1, 2. they that truſt in the Lord, ſhall be as Mount-Sion that cannot be removed, but abideth for ever, as the Moun…a…n… are round about Jeruſalem, ſo the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth even for ever, Pſal. 27.1, 2, 3. The Lord is my light and my ſalvation, whom ſhall I fear, the Lord is the ſtrength of my life, of wh…m ſhall I be afraid, when the wicked even my enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my fleſh, they stumbled and fell, though an Hoſt ſhould encamp againſt me, my heart ſhall not fear, though War ſhould riſe againſt me, in this will I be confident, Pſal. 46.1, 2. God is ou… refuge and ſtrength, a very preſent help in trouble, therefore will not we fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the Mountains be carried into the midſt of the Sea, why ſhould ſuch a Soul fear, for any evil tidings; ye have that peace that the Gates of Hell ſhall never prevail againſt: Oh ſhew your peace by your boldneſs in God, by your glorying in tribulation; do you meet with outward loſſes, what need that trouble you when you have ſuch a God as you have? do you meet with painful afflictions? you may well bare them patiently, ſo long as the Soul enjoys Chriſts peace, do you meet with ill Neighbours, or diſquiet in your Families? all the…e are but light afflictions, not worthy to be compared to the Glory that ſhall be revealed; nay, doth Death look you in the face? you may tryumph over it, for the ſting of Death is taken away, thanks be to God that hath given us the victory, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, and therefore let the peace of God guard your hearts againſt what ever you may meet withal: If you conſider the reaſons of the point.
1. The glorious excellency of this peace.
2. That it is the gift and purchaſe of Chriſt, and kept in his hand.
3. Becauſe this peace do not only ſet the Soul free from fear of wrath, but takes away the poyſon and venom of ſin, and alſo the ſting of Death and Hell is taken away.
4. Becauſe all troubles and dangers ſhall not hurt this peace, but all ſhall work together to the furtherance of their everlaſting peace; this peace will guard your hearts againſt all evil whatſoever, you have cauſe to be quiet, therefore let nothing diſmay or diſquiet the hearts of thoſe that Chriſt hath given this peace unto, whatever you hear of in the World; we hear of many troubles and diſquiets abroad in the World, and the cauſe of God ſuffers much, we ſhould lay it to heart, but not to be troubled, diſquieted or diſmayed in the ſoareſt troubles; in a word, Faint not, for we look not at things …reſent which are temporary, but at thing to come which are Eternal.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Allin, The Spouse of Christ Coming Out of Affliction (1672)