Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon 7

Scripture Light the Most Sure Light · Sermon 7

p. 1THE GOOD MAN'S PEACE.

Sermon I.

PSALM, 42.11.Stepney, April, 16. 1648.

Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul? and why art thou diſquieted within me?Hope thou in God, for I will yet praiſe him, who is the health of my Countenance, and my God.

IN theſe Words, ye read of the ſad Diſcouragements of a gracious Spirit, with thoſe Remedies that he applied and uſed againſt them. The Diſcouragements are expreſt in Two Words, under Two Similitudes; Caſt-down, Diſquieted. As a man is bowed or caſt down, under the weight of ſome heavy burden; ſo art thou caſt down, O my ſoul, ſaies David. And as the Sea in the time of a ſtorm, is much diſquieted; ſo art thou alſo diſquieted wi…hin me, O my Soul. The Remedies that he uſeth againſt theſe Diſcouragements, are Two: Self-Reprehenſion, and Self-Admoni ion. Firſt, He doth chide himſelf for his diffidence and diſtruſt in God. Why art thou caſt down, p. 2O my ſoul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? He chides, and rebukes himſelf for it. Secondly, He doth admoniſh and call upon himſelf for to wait upon, and hope in God. Hope thou in God. Why? Firſt, Becauſe I ſhal yet be delivered: For I ſhall yet praiſe him. Secondly, Becauſe Salvation belongs unto him alone: He is the health of my Countenance: Or, the Salvation of my Countenance. Thirdly, Becauſe he is in Covenant with me, and I with him; He is my God: The health of my Countenance, and my God.

I begin with the former part of this Verſe; wherein you may obſerve theſe Three things.

Firſt, That there is an inward Peace, and Quietude of Soul, which the Saints and People of God, ordinarily are endued with. This is implyed.

Secondly, It is poſsible that this Peace may be interrupted, ſo far, as Gods People may be much diſcouraged, caſt down, and diſquieted.

Thirdly, That the Saints and People of God, have no reaſon for their Diſcouragements, what ever their Condition be. VVhy art thou caſt down? and why art thou thus diſquieted within me? thou haſt no reaſon for it.

The latter of theſe being the main, is that indeed which I ſpecially aim at: But becauſe the two former will give the better riſe unto this laſt, and they are alſo profitable for us to conſider, I ſhall take them in their order, and ſpeak only unto the firſt at this time; which is this: Doct. 1 There is an inward Peace, and Quietude of Soul, which the Saints and People of God ordinarily are endued with.

Therefore David ſaies here, Why art thou caſt down, and why art thou diſquieted within me? It ſeems then that this was not his ordinary temper, his Pulſe did not alwaies beat thus high in this way of Diſcouragement; but ordinarily he had Peace and p. 3quiet within. So that I ſay, There is an inward peace, and quietneſs of ſoul, which the Saints and people of God ordinarily are endued withal. Ordinarily they are arrayed in white, ſo they are brought in. Rev. 7.13.14. verſes, What are theſe which are arayed in white robes? (at the 13.) They are ſuch as have waſhed their robes, and made them White in the blood of the Lamb, verſe 14. this book of the Revelat…on, doth attend much unto the Jewiſh cuſtomes, and among the Jewes, they had their Mourning, & their Rejoycing garment; the Mourning garment, was a black garment: and therefore when a man is brought in, in a mourning way, he is brought in, in a black garment as ye find in the next Pſal. the 43. & the 2. verſ. why go ye in mourning? the word foreign Signifies Black. Why goe ye in Black, becauſe of the oppreſſion of the enemy? So that the mourning garmen… was the Black garment; the Black garment, was the mourning garment. And the white garment, was the Reioycing g…ment; therefore Eccleſ. 9.8. it is ſaid, let thy garments be alwayes white and, let thy h ead lack no oyntment. Upon which …ccount the nobles amongſt the Hebrewes were called foreign becan… they were clothed with white rayment. Eccleſ. Martinus de R…a. ſing. S. Script. Lib. 2. Cap. 1.10.17. b…eſſed art thou, O land, when thy king is the ſon of nobles, Heb. foreign the …on of princes, or of thoſe that are in white. I confeſs this phraſe do…h ſomtimes note the purity and holineſs of the perſon, ſo Rev. 3.4. Thou haſt a few names, even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they ſhal walk with me in white, for they are worthy; but ordinarily it notes the joy fulneſs and comfortableneſs of our ſtate, ſo in: Rev. 7. the Saints are brought in, in white, not onelyonly becauſe of their purity and cleaneneſs but becauſe of their rejoycing. I ſay then ordinarily the Saints and people of God go in white, they have a peace, and a reſt within. Great peace, have they that love thy law (ſaies the Pſalmiſt) and nothing ſhal offend them. Rom. 2.10. But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew firſt, and alſo to the Gentile. Let him be what he wil be, if he be godly, if he work that which is good; Glory, Honor, and Peace, ſhal be upon him: not onelyonly an outward, but an inward peace he ſhal have.

And indeed, how can it be otherwiſe? For the Saints and people of God, do walk with God, they converſe with God, they do acquaint themſelves with God. Now if ye look into Job, 22.21. ye ſhal find, that this acquaintance bringeth reſt & peace. Acquaint now thy ſelf with him, and be at peace. The Saints and people of God, are (as I may ſo ſpeak) of Gods ſpecial acquaintance, and ſo they have peace, for they do walk with God, and have communion with him. They have communion with the Father; and he is the God of al conſolation; they have p. 4communion and fellowſhip with the Son; and he is the Prince of peace; they have communion and fellowſhip with the Spirit, and he is the Comforter: they have communion with the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit, in and by the Goſpel; and that is the word of peace, the Goſpel of peace. How can it therefore be, but that the Saints and people of God ordinarily ſhould have peace within?

But to make out this more fully unto you. Conſider I pray, How the Father, the Son, and the Holy-ghoſt (with whom the Saints and people of God have communion and fellowſhip) are engaged for their peace.

1I. The Father is engaged to give peace unto them. He is engaged by his Prerogative, by his Commandement, by his Promiſe, by Chriſts Purchaſe, and by the Saints Chaſtiſements.

1He is engaged by his Prerogative. Kings and Princes wil ſtand (ye know) for their Prerogatives. And this is the great Perogative of God the Father, to give peace, inward peace. I create the fruit of the lips, Iſa. 57.19.Isa 57:19peace, peace. And he is called, …he God of peace; the God of Conſolation: not the God o… Indignation, not the God of War, but the God of Peace. This is the great Prerogative of God the Father, to give peace unto his people.

2He is engaged alſo, by vertue of his Commandement. And therefore if ye look into Iſay. 40.1.2. Ye ſhal find, that he commands the Prophets and Miniſters, to preach comfort, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, ſaith your God: verſ. 1. Speak ye comfortably to Jeruſalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accompliſhed, that her iniquity is pardoned, for ſhe hath received of the Lords hand double for al her ſins. Suppoſe a mans Affliction, or Temptation, be very great or much; he hath commanded us to comfort, and comfort twice; Comfort ye, comfort ye: not once, but twice, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people ſaith the Lord. But there are divers comforters, that are indeed like Jobs comforters, like Jobs friends, they ſpeak hard words unto poor diſtreſſed ſouls. Wel, ſaies he therefore at verſ. 2. ſpeak ye comfortably, ſo ye read it; but in the Hebrew, ſpeak ye to the heart, foreign ſpeak ſoft and ſweet words, ſpeak to the heart of Jeruſalem. O! but my Temptation is ſo great, that I am not able to hear thoſe that come to comfort me. Mark what follows; Speak ye to the heart of Jeruſalem, and cry unto her, lift up thy voice and cry, if a poor ſoul be diſtreſſed, tempted, and cannot hear eaſily; you that are Miniſters, lift up your voice and cry: not onelyonly ſpeak to the heart, but cry; lift up your voice and cry unto her. Wel, but what are they to ſpeak and cry? There are three things which wil comfort a poor diſtreſſed ſoul, p. 5and they are here to be ſpoken. Say, 1. That her warfare is accompliſhed; Affliction and Temptation is at an end, it ſhal be no more. 2. That her iniquity is pardoned. Her ſin is forgiven fully and freely, 3. That ſhe hath received at the Lords hand double for al her ſins, God hath no more againſt her, no quarrel, no controverſie, no further Puniſhment to inflict upon her, ſhe hath ſufficiently born the puniſhment of her iniquity. thus the Lord hath commanded Miniſters for to preach peace, and to preach Comfort; And what God hath commanded us to ſpeak, he hath ingaged himſelf to work. Thus I ſay, the Father is ingaged by vertue of his Commandement.

3He is ingaged alſo, by vertue of his promiſe. And therefore if ye look into Pſal. 29. ye ſhal ſee what the Lord hath promiſed. verſ. 11. The Lord wil give ſtrength unto his people: the Lord wil bleſs his people with peace. Here is the promiſe, the Lord wil bleſs his people with peace. Yea, if ye look into Iſa. 26. ye ſhal find there, that the Lord hath promiſed to keep the peace of his people for them, verſ. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee. So ye read the words, but according to the Hebrew, …hey ought to be read thus;foreign Thou wilt keep peace, peace; twice peace. Thou wilt keep peace, peace, for him whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee. So that the Lord is not onelyonly ing…ged to g…ve peace unto his people, but he is by promiſe alſo ingaged to keep their peace for them

4Yea, the Lord is ingaged by Purchaſe. Chriſt hath purchaſed peace for his people: and what Chriſt hath purchaſed for them, God the Father is ingaged to give unto them. Read the purchaſe in Eph. 2.13.14. But now in Chriſt Jeſus, ye who were ſomtimes afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Chriſt. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wal of partition between us. Having aboliſhed in his fleſh the enmity, even the law of commandements, for to make in himſelf of twain, one new man, ſo making peace. verſ. 16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the croſs, having ſlain the enmity thereby; and came and preached peace unto you that were a far off, and to them that were nigh. So that thus ye ſee its the purchaſe of Jeſus Chriſt: this inward peace and quietneſs of ſoul, it is Chriſts purchaſe; and what Chriſt the Son hath purchaſed, God the Father is engaged to give.

5Yea, the Father is engaged to give peace unto his people, by al thoſe Chaſtiſements that they do meet withal. And therefore in Iſa. 40. (which I named before) The Lord commands us to comfort, and ſpeak comfortably unto his people, upon this account, For ſhe hath received of the Lords hand double for al her ſins. Even becauſe a fullneſs of Chaſtiſement had been upon p. 6them. Thus I ſay, God the Father, by vertue of his Prerogative, by vertue of his Commandement, by vertue of his Promiſe, by vertue of Chriſts Purchaſe, by vertue of Chaſtiſements that are laid upon his people, is engaged to give peace unto his children.

2II. But now proceed a little, and ye ſhal ſee, That as the Father is engaged, So the Son alſo is engaged to give peace, inward peace, and quietude of ſoul unto his Servants.

1He is engaged by thoſe Qualifications, and endowments that he received from God his Father, for this end and purpoſe. The ſpirit of the Lord is upon me (ſaies he) and he hath anointed me; Iſa. 61.Isa 61Why? that I might comfort thoſe that mourn. That is one end. But I pray look into Iſa. 50. and conſider the 4. verſ. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I ſhould know how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. They are plainly the words of Chriſt, as wil appear to you, if you read but the following words, The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned I away the back; I gave my back to the ſmiters, and my cheekes to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from ſhame and ſpit…ng. So that theſe are the words of Chriſt. Wel, what do…h Chriſt ſay hear? He tells us, that he hath received the tongue of the learned, to comfort thoſe that are diſtreſſed and troubled in conſcience, for to help poor wearied ſouls. Why doth he ſay, the tongue of the learned? The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned. All men deſire to hear the Learned: and it is the greateſt piece of learning in the world, to ſpeak a word in due ſeaſon by way of comfort to thoſe that are weary; this is the greateſt piece of Miniſterial learning, and ſayth Chriſt, he hath given me the tongue of the learned. Wel, but al learned men have not Wiſdom to ſpeak in ſeaſon. Mark what follows. He hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I ſhould know how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary. But hath Jeſus Chriſt ſuch skil at this work, in comforting thoſe that are troubled? Yes! He wakeneth morning by morning. As a Maſter is early up in the morning to teach his Schollers, So hath God the Father been teaching of Chriſt from al eternity this great skil, morning by morning. He wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learn'd. This is the piece of learning (ſaies Chriſt) which I have been learning morning by morning of my Father from eternity and this is that great learning which he had attained unto. So that in regard of this endowment which he hath received from the Father, he is engaged to give peace unto his people, for he hath received the tongue of the learned for this end and purpoſe, that he might ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to them that are weary.

p. 72He is engaged alſo, by his own Diſpoſition; his ſweet, loving, and tender diſpoſition. He is a Lyon (indeed) of the Tribe of Judah; but not that roaring Lyon, ſeeking to devour. He is a King (indeed) but he comes meekly, riding upon an Aſſes Colt. He doth not lift up his voyce in the ſtreets. When our Lord and Savior Chriſt left the world, he ſaies unto his Diſciples, My Peace I give unto you; my Peace I leave with you: Joh. 14.27.John 14:27not as the world gives Peace, but my Peace I give unto you. And aſſoon as ever Chriſt roſe from the dead again, and met with his Diſciples, what doth he ſay unto them? When they were all met together, Peace be unto you. Joh. 20.19.John 20:19As it was his laſt words when he left them, ſo it is the firſt word that now he uſeth when he ſeeth …hem again. But, O Lord, we have ſinned greatly ſince we ſaw thee. Be it ſo, yet Peace be unto you. But, O Lord, here is Peter among us, that hath denied thee ſince thou ſaweſt us. Be it ſo, I know it very wel, yet Peace be unto you. Peace when he went away, and Peace when he came again: this is his Language, and this is his diſpoſition ſtill. Thus he is engaged.

3Yea, He is engaged by Office to give Peace unto his People. Ye know the Apoſtle calls him our great High-Prieſt. It was the work of the High Prieſt in the Old Teſtament, to bleſs the People; and when he did bleſs the People, What did he ſay? But, The Lord bleſs ye, and give ye Peace. Now then, If Jeſus Chriſt be our great High-Prieſt, and it be the Office of the High-Prieſt to bleſs, and to give Peace; then Chriſt by vertue of his Office alſo, is engaged to give Peace unto his People. Take all theſe Three together; Chriſt the Second Perſon is engaged: By his Endowments he received from the Father: By his own Diſpoſition: By his Office. And it appears plainly that there is a great engagement upon Jeſus Chri…t to give Peace unto his Servants.

3III. As the Father and the Son are engaged to give Peace, and quietude unto the Saints and People of God: So alſo the Spirit, the Holy Ghoſt is engaged to give peace unto them. For (as I may ſo ſpeak with Reverence) he is, as it were, the great Executor of Jeſus Chriſt When Chriſt died, he made his Will, and gave a Legacy to his Diſciples, My Peace I give unto you: and then he ſent the Comforter, the Spirit from Heaven on purpoſe to beget peace within their ſouls.

Yea, The Holy Ghoſt is not only this Executor, to ſee this Will of Chriſt fulfilled; but he is, as it were, our Advocate. Indeed we have but one Advocate, that is Chriſt: But I ſay, we have, as it were, two Advocates; One in Heaven above, and one in our boſom. When a man ſins, a godly man ſins, Satan accuſes him in Heaven: And therefore ſaies John, If any man ſin, 1 John, 1.2.we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous. p. 8But if a godly man ſin, Satan doth alſo accuſe him to himſelf. And therefore ſaies the Apoſtle, We have the Spirit within us, making interceſſion. John, 14.16 foreign. Et ſic tranſlat. Syriac.And ſaies our Savior Chriſt, I will ſend another Comforter: So ye read it; but it is the ſame word that is tranſlated, Advocate; I wil ſend you another Advocate. Yea, the Spirit of the Lord is our Witneſs alſo: For the Spirit ſhall bear witneſs with our Spirits, that we are the Children of God. Now when the Spirit bears witneſs with a mans ſpirit, that he is …he child of God, then he hath peace and quiet. So that, if you conſider al the…e Ingagements; the Father ingaged, the Son ingaged, the Holy Ghoſt ingaged, for the peace and quiet of Gods Children, Muſt you not needs conclude this Point and Doctrine, and ſay, Sur…ly, there is an inward peace and quietneſs of ſoul, which ordina…ily Gods People are endued withal?

Object. But our Experience ſeems to ſpeak the contrary: for …here are many of Gods own People, that have not Peace and Quiet within them; but are full of Doubts and Fears about their everlaſting condition.

Anſw. The Second Doctrine therefore ſpeaks to that, It is poſſible this peace may be interrupted.

Object. But ſome never had Peace all their daies; O! ſaies one, I have been a long while afflicted, troubled, two, four, ſix yeers, and never yet had Peace and quiet within me: Either therefore this Doctrine is not true, or elſe I am not Godly.

Anſw. All that may be which you ſpeak of, and yet this Doctrine may be true. General Rules have alwaies ſome exceptions. Though the Garment that the Saints do ordinarily wear, be white, yet here and there ſome do go in black, and go ſo a great while. But that there may be no ſtumbling concerning this matter, I ſhall deſire you to conſider with me, ſome few Diſtinctions.

1Firſt: Ye muſt know, That there is a Fundamental Peace, which the Saints and People of God have; and there is an Additional Peace. A Fundamental Peace, which does Naturally ariſe and ſlow from their Juſtification: Being juſtified by Faith, we have Peace with God; Rom. 5. And then there is an Additional Peace, which ariſes from the ſence of their Juſtification. Poſſibly a Child of God may for a long time loſe the latter, but the former he ſhal never loſe. As a Woman that hath a great Joynture, goes abroad ſome Journey, and meets with Theeves, and they take away all the money that ſhe hath about her; but yet (ſaies ſhe) though they have taken away my ſpending Money, they cannot take away my Joynture, I have not loſt my Joynture. So now the Saints ſomtimes, may loſe their ſpending money, they may loſe the peace that ariſes from the ſence of their Juſtification; but as for the Peace that ariſeth and iſſues from their Juſtification p. 9it ſelf, the firſt Peace, that they ſhall never loſe. Peace is the Churches Joynture, and that Peace they ſhal never loſe.

2Secondly: Ye muſt know, That there is a great difference between Peace, Comfort, and Joy. A man may have Peace that hath no Comfort; a man may have Comfort that hath no Joy: one is beyond the other, one a degree above the other. As now, it may be day-light, and yet the Sun may not ſhine forth; the Sun may ſhine forth, and yet not noon-day. Poſſibly a man may have Peace, and yet not much Comfort, only ſtayed upon God; poſſibly a man may have Comfort, and yet not much Joy. But now, many a poor ſoul thinks, becauſe he hath no Joy, therefore he hath no Comfort; and becauſe he hath not much Comfort, therefore no Peace. Labor to know the difference between theſe.

3Thirdly: Ye muſt know, That there is a Peace, which lies in oppoſition to what one hath been; and a Peace, that is in oppoſition to what one would be. A godly man, a weak Chriſtian, when he conſiders what he would be, and what he would have, he hath no reſt nor quiet: But now, come unto the ſame man, and ſay thus, You remember what a wicked life once you led; ye were a Drunkard, or ye were a Wanton: What ſay ye? would you be in that condition again? Oh no, ſaith he then, I would not be in that condition for all the world. Here now the Soul hath Peace in oppoſition to what it hath been, though it hath not Peace and Quiet in oppoſition to what it would be.

4Fourthly: Ye muſt know, That there is a Secret, Dormant Peace; and there is a wakened and Apparent Peace: Peace in the Seed, and Peace in the Flower. As it is with many a wicked man, for the preſent he hath great Comfort; but when affliction comes, and the day of death comes, then he hath trouble; trouble in regard of ſin; Why? the ſin, and guilt was in his heart before, only it lay ſleeping there, but now it is riſen. So with a Godly man in regard of his Peace: poſſibly for the preſent, he may be full of trouble; but when affliction comes, and the hour of death comes, then he hath Peace and Comfort; Why? it was there before, it was at the bottom, only he was not aware of it, he did not know of it. For now, ask ſuch a weak Chriſtian who is thus full of fear for the preſent (ye ſee there is a Drunkard, a Swearer, a Wanton) Would you be in his Condition? would you be contented to be in that mans condition? O no, ſaies he, I would not be in ſuch a condition for all the world. And why doth he ſay ſo, but becauſe there is a peace and quietude at the bottom, although he be not aware of it? It is true, the Saints grieve, but then, dolent et de dolore gaudent; they rejoyce that they can grieve: they are troubled for ſin; and they have reſt and quiet in this, That they can be troubled for their ſin: they have no Peace p. 10in their ſin; but they have peace in this, that they can have no peace in their ſin. For ſay now unto them, are ye troubled that ye are troubled; you are in ſome meaſure grieved for ſin; and are ye troubled that ye are grieved? No, wil they ſay, I am glad that I am grieved for ſin; and the Lord knows, it is my trouble that I can be grieved no more; I have quiet and peace in that I am troubled. Some have peace in the direct act, and ſome have peace in the Reflex act, Some have it more at the firſt hand, and ſome have it more at the ſecond hand. But conſider al theſe diſtinctions, and you wil find, that there is no godly man, but more or leſs in ſome of theſe reſpects, he may be ſaid to have peace within. But ſuppoſe it be ſo, What is the iſſue of this Doctrine? what doth it tend and lead unto?

Applic.The iſſue is thus much. Then behold! what a bleſſed condition the Saints and people of God are in? Is it not a bl…ſſed thing to have peace within; to have quiet, peace, and reſt within? If ye have peace within; though ye want peace without, you wil be able to hear al your burthens,Pro. 18.14Prov 18:14 The spirit of a man wil ſuſtain his infirmities. But a wounded ſpirit who can bear? Some bear Agues and Feavers; ſome bear Stones, and Collicks, Rackings and Tormentings; but a wounded ſpirit who can bear? O but the ſpirit of a man wil ſuſtain his infirmities, if he have peace within; if he be Heart-whole, as they ſay, if he have peace within then wil he be able to bear al his burthens. Ye ſee into what times we are now fallen; we cannot promiſe our ſelves peace for a day together; ſuddenly a cloud may ariſe, in a night, and al our comforts laid in the dark; How good a thing is it then, to have peace within, to have reſt and quiet within! If I have peace within, I can relieve my ſelf here againſt al calamity. What though I have trouble from my friends? yet I have peace within: what though I am thus reproached? yet I have peace within; I am wet indeed, my garment is wet; but I am not wet to the skin, I am dry within,Math. 5.4.Matt 5:4 I have peace within. Bleſſed (ſaies our ſavior) are thoſe that mourn for they ſhal be comforted. Are thoſe bleſſed for the preſent that ſhal be comforted? how bleſſed are thoſe then that are comforted, and that have peace, and quiet already.

This Doctrine lookes wiſhly, both upon the ungodly, and upon the Godly. It looked once ſo wiſhly upon a great man in Germany, that it was the beginning of his converſion and turning to God: I mean Galeacius Carracciolus. He was a Papiſt, a prophane perſon; and coming occaſionally to hear Peter Martyr preach, he heard this expreſſion or ſimilitude, When ye ſee men at a diſtance skipping, leaping and dancing, ye think the men are mad; but when ye draw near to them, and hear what muſick they have then ye do not wonder; but ye rather wonder at your ſelves that p. 11ye ſhould wonder at them. So (ſaid Peter Martyr) when ye look upon the Godly at a diſtance, and ſee them …unning after Ordinances, and frequenting the means and rejoycing in the ways of God, you think the people are mad, and ye ſay they are mad, but if you draw near to a Godly courſe, and perceive what muſick theſe people have within, you ſay not they are mad, but you rather wonder at your ſelves, that you ſhould wonder at them. Hereupon the Marqueſſe hearing this ſimilitude, was ſo ſtric…e … withal, that he began to look into his condition, and it was the firſt occaſion of his converſion. I ſay no more. You that are ungodly ye hear what muſick the Saints have within, peace and quiet within, ordinarily, though here and there, there may be ſome exception; yet ordinarily, …hat muſick they have within; O! who would not be Godly.

Object. But this Doctrine alſo, looks wiſhly upon you that are Godly. And it calls for your thankfulne…s, that you ſhould praiſe the Lord for the peace and quiet that you have. You wil praiſe God for your outward peace, eſpecially if it be a peace after War, eſpecially if the war were a Civil war, and ye have felt the ſmart of it, then ye wil praiſe God …or peace. You that are Godly, and have peace, have had a war within, a Civil war within your own boſomes, and ye have felt the …mart of trouble of conſcience, and now ye have peace; and wil ye not be thankful? wil ye not prai…e the Lord, that hath given you this peace, and reſt.

I confeſs indeed, it is the Duty of al thoſe that have reſt, and peace, and quiet within to be very thankful: but there is one thing that hinders my thankfulneſs, that I cannot praiſe the Lord for the peace and quiet that I have, and that is; I fear my peace is not right; for there are many that have a counterfeit, and a falſe peace, and I fear that my peace is ſuch, and therefore I cannot praiſe the Lord, or be thankful for it.

Anſw. Firſt, I grant ye, there is a falſe and counterfeit peace, that wicked men have; even an inward peace. And if ye look into Deut. 29.19. ye may read as much. And it come to paſſe when he heareth the words of this curſe, that he bleſſeth himſelf in his heart, ſaying, I ſhal have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to ad drunkenneſs to thirſt. So that a man may be in a moſt curſed way, adding drunkenneſs to thirſt, and yet he may have peace, and ſay in his heart, it ſhal go wel with me. Queſtionleſs, there is a peace of ſecurity; there is a peace and a reſt of ſleep, as wel as of health. A man that is wounded and ful of aches and paines, feels them not when he is aſleep: but the reaſon why he doth not feel them, is not becauſe of his health, but becauſe he is aſleep. So a man may be freed from the trouble of aches and paines within, becauſe he is aſleep, as wel as becauſe he is in health. p. 12But there is alſo a peace that is the fruit of the Holy-ghoſt; as ye read in Gal. 5. The fruit of the ſpirit is Love, joy, peace. Queſtionleſs, there is a falſe and a true peace. But ſhal I ſay, that al my money is counterfeit, becauſe there is counterfeit gold abroad?

But to help a little in this; I wil ſpeak ſomething of the difference of true and falſe peace; and yet very briefly, thus.

1True ſaving peace is the child of Grace, and the mother of Grace. There is a peace th…t ariſes from the apprehenſion of Gods common goodneſs; which is common peace. And there is a ſpecial peace, that ariſes from the apprehenſion of Gods ſpecial favor, and free Grace, true peace is the Daughter of that Grace, yet it is the Parent of inherent Grace, or of Gracious actions, I ſhould rather ſay the Nurſe,Phil. 4.7.Phil 4:7 for ſayes the Apoſtle, The peace of God that paſſes all underſtanding, keep, or guard your minds and hearts. This ſaving peace, is a Guard unto al our Graces. As fal…e peace is a guard to our ſins; ſo true peace is a guard unto al our Graces.

2True ſaving peace, is ſuch a peace as is wrought by faith. Being juſtified by faith, we have peace. Rom. 15. The Lord give you peace in beleeving, (ſaies the Apoſtle) It comes in a way of Faith: true ſaving peace, is wrought by faith. Falſe peace, is ſuch as is either born with us and was never interrupted, being the offſpring of nature onelyonly: or the Emanation of a natural Conſcience; or ſuch as is wrought out by time, time working out ones trouble.

3True ſaving peace, wil live in the ſight of ſin. Falſe peace doth not indure the light of ſin; A Godly man, the more he doth ſee his ſin (unleſs he be under temptation,) the more peace he hath: a wicked man, the more he doth ſee his ſin, the leſs peace he hath; and al his peace ariſes from a not ſight of his ſin.

4True ſaving peace, loves to be examined, is willing to be examined, it loves to be tryed. But falſe peace, cannot indure examination, it flyes from the light, it doth not love to be tryed.

5True ſaving peace, is ſpoken by God. I wil hear what the Lord wil ſay, Pſal. 85.8.Ps 85:8for he wil ſpeak peace; ſaies the Pſalmiſt. When God ſpeaks peace, he ſpeaks it to a ſoul under or after temptation. When God ſpeaks peace, he ſpeaks it with a ſtrong hand: giving ſuch peace, as no creature in the world is able to give. When God ſpeaks peace, it is a peace beyond al expreſſion; The peace of God that paſſeth al underſtanding, it cannot be uttered. Now though a wicked man have peace, and much peace and quiet within, yet God doth not ſpeak it; for it was not ſpoken to him in or after temptation, it was not ſpoken by a ſtrong and unreſiſtable hand; it is ſuch a peace, as may be wrought by time, p. 13time working off the trouble; or the pleaſures and contentments of the world may beget the like; it is not a peace that is beyond al expreſſion, a peace beyond al underſtanding, but a low peace, which you may eaſily expreſs. But now as for you that are Godly, that make this Objection, and have this fear and ſcruple in your hearts; I wil here appeal unto your own ſouls; you know and remember your former trouble; now ye have peace, and ye have reſt within, I appeal to you (I ſay) whether yea or no, when ye were in that trouble, ſuppoſe I, or another Miniſter, or ten others of your own chuſing, ſuppoſe a hundred ſhould have come to you with one promiſe after another; had we been able to have ſpoken comfort to you? O no, if the Lord had not ſpoken comfort to me, it had not been in the power of al the Miniſters in the world, to have ſpoken comfort unto my ſoul, but the Lord certainly hath done it. Yet I appeal to you; Are you not willing to have your peace examined? are you not willing to have your peace, your inward peace …ryed? yes, withal my ſoul I would have my peace tryed: and truly, I could not hope that my peace were right, if I were not willing to have it examined. Wel, yet I appeal to you further; And do not you find that you have peace, even then when you do ſee your ſins? and the more you ſee your ſins upon the back of Chriſt, the more peace you have? yes; And do not you find this, that your peace came in, in a way of Beleeving? from the ſight of Chriſt? laying hold on the Promiſe? by the proſpect of free Grace? yes, I muſt needs ſay ſo, Had I not had a promiſe to ſtay my ſoul upon; had I not had a view of tree Grace; had I not ſeen the Lord Jeſus, I had never had any peace in my poor ſoul; but the Lord knows, that thus I attained my peace. Wel then, be of good comfort, Man or Woman, I tell thee from the Lord, thy peace and quiet is right. I know what the danger is of ſewing pillows under mens Elbows, and ſpeaking peace, where none ought to be ſpoken: but (I ſay) if it be thus with thy ſoul, notwithſtanding al thy ſins and fears; from the Lord, I ſay unto thee, thy peace is right; go in peace, and the God of peace tread down Satan under thy feet.

Object. But I fear that my peace, my inward peace is not right becauſe it doth not laſt and continue.

Anſw. The Second Doctrine anſwers to that Objection; for the ſecond Doctrine ſaith, That a Godly mans peace may be interrupted.

Object. But one thing yet troubles me, and makes me fear, that my peace and quiet it not good, and that is becauſe I came ſo lightly and ſlightly by it, I ſee how it hath been and it with others of the people of God; ſome that have been long afflicted and wounded p. 14and have lien troubled a great while, and ſo they have had peace: but as for me it is not ſo with me, I came lightly, and ſlightly by my peace and quiet, and therefore I do even fear that the Lord never ſpak peace yet unto my ſoul.

Anſw. Doeſt thou ſay Lightly? how lightly? haſt thou ſtollen thy peace? or have others bought their peace? for you ſay, others have been much afflicted and troubled, and had a great deal of heart-ſmart. But I pray tel me, did thoſe who have had al this trouble, did they purchaſe, or buy their peace at the hand of Chriſt withal this trouble? or did Chriſt give them that peace and comfort freely? Buy it! no ſurely, they did never purchaſe it, never buy it, but Chriſt gave it them freely. Why, if Chriſt gave it them freely after al their troubl…; why may he not give it thee freely after leſs trouble? I have read, and ſo have you, in the Goſpel, a Parable of two that came into the Vineyard to work; the one in the beginning of the day, who bare the heat of the day; and the other at the latter end of the day: and both had a penny; When they were both paid, he that was there at the beginning of the day, murmurs, ſaying I have been here al this day, and I have born the heat of the day, and I have but a penny; and the other that came in at the latter end of the day, hath a penny as wel as I: the man that had been there working at the beginning and heat of the day, he murmurs; but he that came at the latter end, he did not murmur; nor ſay, ſurely, my penny is naught, becauſe I have a penny given me, as wel as he that hath born the heat of the day. If any ſhould complain, thoſe that have born the heat of the day, that have been ſo much troubled ſhould in reaſon be the perſons, but hath the Lord taken you, and given you a penny, the ſame peace with him who bare the heat of the day; and wil you complain and ſay, ſurely, my penny is fal…e coyn, and my peace naught, becauſe, I have not born and indured ſo much trouble as another hath? you know, ſome children are born into the world with more pain than others, ſome with leſs pain: ſhould the Child that is born with leſs pain, ſay, I am a Baſtard, becauſe I was not born with ſo much pain as the other was? When Chriſt is formed in the ſouls of men & women, ſome are regenerate and born again with more pain, ſome are regenerate and born again with leſs pain: ſhould he that is born with leſs pain, ſay, I am a Baſtard, and not a true Son, becauſe there was not ſo much pain at my firſt regeneration as ſuch a one had? you know how it was with Zacheus; Chriſt comes unto his houſe, and the ſame day that he came, he ſaid to Zacheus, This day it Salvation come to thy houſe. He had aſſurance the firſt day. But Paul is converted; and he lyes troubled, and is three dayes blind. Should Zacheus now ſay, Surely, I am not Converted, for I never lay three dayes p. 15blind, nor was ſo much troubled as Paul was? No ſurely, no more may you ſay, that your Peace is falſe becauſe you have not ſuch abundance of trouble as others have; you are not to make anothers Meaſure, your Rule: God goes ſeveral waies with his People, as well in regard of Peace, as in regard of Grace. This therefore I ſay unto you; Look unto your Peace it ſelf: Have you peace and quietneſs of ſoul? Then bleſs and praiſe the Lord for that peace of yours: Yea, do not only praiſe the Lord for your peace and quiet; but praiſe the Lord that ye came ſo ſweetly by it, in a way of Free-grace; and if for any thing you are to be troubled, it is for this, That you ſhould nick-name the Grace of God, and call it little, or falſe: Chriſt calls it free, and you call it falſe. O be humbled for this, and praiſe the Lord for any meaſure of quiet and peace that he hath given unto thee.

Object. But (wil another ſay) All this doth not come up to my caſe; for I have no Peace, nor Quiet in my ſoul to be thankful for: Some there are that have Peace and Quiet indeed, and they (no queſtion) ought to be very thankful for it; but my poor ſoul hath been long afflicted, troubl…d, and I never yet had aſſurance of Gods Love in Chriſt; I have not this Peace and Quiet within: What ſhall I d…, that I may attain unto it? or what ſhould a poor ſoul do, to get and attain this Peace and Quiet within?

Anſw. Ye know what the Pſalmiſt ſaies, I will hear what the Lord will ſay, for he will ſpeak Peace unto his People, Pſal. 85.8. It is not in my power, or in the power of any poor Creature, to ſpeak Peace unto you; but it is the Lord only that muſt ſpeak Peace unto thy ſoul; and the Lord ſpeaks Peace in the way of an Ordinance.

Queſt. But what does the Lord ſay? what does the Lord speak from his Word in the way of an Ordinance, that I who was never yet ſetled, may attain unto this inward Peace and Quietude of ſoul?

Anſw. 1 Firſt, He wills you to ſtudy and conſider much the Death, Sufferings, and Fulneſs of the Satisfaction made by Jeſus Chriſt; Go down into the Grave of Chriſt; Chriſts Blood is the Object of Faith, and Faith brings Peace: Unbelief is a painful ſin, and Faith is an eaſing and quieting Grace. Being juſtified by Faith, we have Peace, &c. Rom. 5.1. The more you ſee the free and infinite Love of God, the more will your heart be at reſt and quiet within you. And where ſhall you ſee the Love of God, but in the Death of Chriſt? By ſeeing Chriſt on the Croſs, you ſee Divine Love in triumph. All true Peace within, ariſes from ſight of Peace made without: Where ſhall you read of that, but in Chriſt's Death? And therefore ſaies the Prophet, The Chaſtiſement of our Peace was upon him. In Pſal. 41. ye have a Promiſe p. 10duplicate page p. 11duplicate page p. 12duplicate page p. 13duplicate page p. 14duplicate page p. 15duplicate page p. 16made of great Bleſſing unto him that conſidereth the Poor, Bleſſed is he that conſidereth the poor. Who is this poor? Tarnovius tels us, from the 10. verſe, That it is Chriſt in his Sufferings: for (as he obſerves) this Pſalm, is a Pſalm of Chriſt, verſe 9. Yea, mine own familiar friend in whom I truſted, which did eat of my bread, hath lift up his heel againſt me. They are the words of Chriſt, and Chriſt ſpeaks this Pſalm; and this poor to be conſidered, is Chriſt in his Sufferings: Saies he, I will not here debate the truth of this Interpretation; but if true, the Lord promiſed here a bleſſing to him that doth wiſely conſider the Death and Sufferings of Chriſt: And wherein doth that bleſſing he and conſiſt?Pauper hic Chriſtus eſt: et beatos iſtos predicat qui dolores et cruciatus ipſius quos pro nobis ſuſtinuit, grato et fideli animo recte conſiderant. Tarnovius in Pſalmum 41. The Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble, foreign: In the evil day, or in the day of evil, ſaith the Chaldee Paraphraſe: In the day of vexation, ſaith Symmachus. Now the day of Temptation, Doubts, and great Fears, is an evil day, and a day of vexation: This Day will God deliver him from, who doth wiſely ponder on the death of Chriſt: Could we ſee the heart of Chriſt, we ſhould doubt no more, and in his death you may ſee his heart, in his Blood you may ſee his heart. Ye know what the Prophet Iſaiah ſaies, Lord, wilt thou not ordain Peace, who haſt wrought all our works for us? And where ſhall ye find that God hath wrought all our works for us, but in Chriſts Grave and Death?

2Secondly: Ye muſt not only go unto the Grave of Chriſt, and ſtudy his Death; but you muſt go unto Chriſt Himſelf for Peace, He is the great Peace-maker, hath a Commiſſion to take up all Differences without us, and within us. Ye know his words, The Lord God hath given me the Tongue of the Learned (ſaies he) that I may ſpeak a word in due ſeaſon to him that is weary. Go then to Chriſt, and preſs this engagement, and ſay, Lord, thou haſt therefore received the Tongue of the Learned, that thou mayeſt ſpeak a word in due ſeaſon to him that is weary. And O Lord, I am one of thoſe wearied ſouls; wearied with my Temptations, wearied with inward trouble; now Lord ſpeak a word in due ſeaſon to this poor, wounded, and wearied ſoul. Thus go to Chriſt.

1Only in your Addreſſes to Chriſt; Be ſure that ye go in Uprightneſs. Take heed that you do not deſire peace meerly for the comfort of it, but as an help unto your Grace: He will give Grace and Glory, and no good thing will he with-hold from him that walks uprightly. Good men ſeek Peace for Grace ſake; but wicked men, and Hypocrites, ſeek Grace for Peace ſake. When you do make your Addreſſes for Peace, be ſure you come to Chriſt in uprightneſs; and take heed that you do not deſire peace only for the Comfort of it, but as an help unto your Grace.

p. 172. And when you go unto Chriſt for peace, Carry the Promiſe with you, go in the way of the Promiſe. 3. Go and waite long on Chriſt, wait upon him onelyonly, and k…ep his way. Some ſay they do wait on God, but they do not keep his way, they throw up their Duty if they have not comfort preſently: but in your addreſſes to Chriſt, go and wait long on him; and in caſe that peace and comfort doth not come preſently, lay by that great queſtion a little, Whether you be in Chriſt or no, whether you be the child of God or no. The great trouble is this, O! I am affraid I am not the child of God, if I did but know that I am the child of God, I ſhould have peace. If peace and comfort therefore do not come preſently, lay that queſtion aſide a little, and in due time, Chriſt wil anſwer that queſtion too, onelyonly now for the preſent wait on him, and keep his way.

3But, becauſe it wil be ſaid, ſhould not we be humbled for ſin committed?Oportet te ſaepe agere quod non vis et quod vis oportet relinquere. and is not Humiliation a good means to get peace within? therefore in the Third place. In al your Humiliation, carry Chriſt along with you. When you go to mourn for ſin, begin aloft with Chriſt: and do not alwayes think to begin below with ſin, and ſo to come up to Chriſt; but begin aloft with Chriſt, and ſo by your Humiliation, fal down upon ſin. You ſay, O! but, I would be firſt Humbled before I do go to Chriſt, but I pray tel me, Can ye be Humbled and not ſee your ſin? and where can ye have ſuch a proſpect of ſin, as in the death of Chriſt? is there any thing in the world, that can ſhew you the miſery, uglineſs, and damning nature of ſin, as the death of Chriſt? If you begin with Chriſt, then you wil certainly come down to your ſin and be Humbled for it; but if you begin with ſin you wil not certainly come up to Chriſt. There is many a poor ſoul that hath ſaid, I wil be firſt humbled for my ſin, and then I wil go to Chriſt; but he hath ſtuck ſo long in the legal work that he hath never come at Chriſt. And if you be humbled before you do come to Chriſt, you wil have no great peace and comfort in your Humiliation: but if you firſt come to Chriſt, and then carry Chriſt along with you to your Humiliation, then you wil have much comfort and peace therein, would you therefore be ſo Humbled as you may have peace thereby; Be ſure of this, that you carry Chriſt with you unto that work, do not begin alwayes with ſin to go up to Chriſt, but rather begin at Chriſt, and ſo fal down upon ſin.

4In the Fourth place, labor to Mortify your affections, and to get your will melted into the wil of God: As the winds are to the Sea, ſo are the affections to the ſoul of man; ſo long as the Sea is hurryed with the wind, it hath no …eſt or quiet; and what is the reaſon that our hearts are no more calmed and quieted, but becauſe p. 18wee have not yet reſigned up our wils to the wil of God? tis our own wil that troubles our peace;Propria voluntas turbat pacem. get but your wil Mortifyed into the wil of God, and you'l ſay, Lord, I would fayn have peace; yet not my wil, but thy wil be done; I would have peace preſently, yet I have no wil but thine; therefore Lord when thou wilt, and as thou wilt, not my wil, but thine own wil be done. Thus do, and you are at reſt preſently.

5Fiftly, Doeſt thou want peace and comfort and quietude of ſoul? Take heed how you walk with doubting company; take heed how you walk with thoſe that are ful of fears and doubtings. As one drunkard doth make another, and one ſwearer doth beget another, and one oppoſer of Godlineſs doth draw on another, and one adulterer doth make another; So one doubting Chriſtian doth make another. You that are weak, and ful of doubtings, ſhould go and lean upon thoſe that are ſtrong and have ful aſſurance; and you that have aſſurance, ſhould give the ſhoulder to thoſe that are weak, and ſay, come, and lean upon me, and I wil be an help unto you. You know how it is with the Ivie and the Vine; the Ivie leans upon the Oak, and the Vine upon the Poſts or the houſe-ſide; the Ivie and the Vine, do not lean one upon another; if the Ivie and the Vine, ſhould come and lean one upon another, what twiſting would there be; and both would ſal to the ground: but the Ivie leans upon the Oak, and the Vine upon the Poſts or the houſe-ſide. So a weak Chriſtian ſhould go and lean upon a ſtrong Chriſtian: but if one doubter leanes upon another doubter, both wil fal to the ground. I have read, of a woman that was under great temptations; and meeting with another in the ſame condition ſaid to her, I am affraid I ſhal be damned, ſo am I too, ſaid the other, O but ſaid ſhe again, I do not onelyonly fear, but I am ſure of it, certaynly I ſhal be damned; I but ſaid the other, yet my condition is worſe, for I am damned already. Here was damned, and damned: O! ſaid one, I ſhal certainly be damned; O! ſaid the other, I am damned already. O! what communion is here; is this to build up one another? Do you therefore want Comfort, and peace? You that are weak, go and lean upon thoſe that are ſtrong, and have ful aſſurance; and you that have aſſurance, be not unwilling to give forth your ſhoulder unto thoſe that are weak, and are ful of doubtings.

6And to end al. Doeſt thou want peace, and inward quietude of ſoul? Whenſoever the Lord then doth but begin to ſpeak the leaſt peace unto thine heart, take heed that you do not refuſe it, but rather improve it, and ſtir up your ſelves then in a way of beleeving; praiſe God for every ſmile, and rejoyce in the leaſt: If a bowed ſixpence (as it were) be ſent you from Heaven, lay it up, even every love-token. Peace is a tender thing. Doth the p. 19Lord begin to ſpeak peace to any of your ſouls? now ſtir up your ſelves in a way of beleeving; and then Chriſt wil give you more.

Ye know how it was with Nathaniel: When Nathaniel beleeved upon what Chriſt had ſpoken, ſaies Chriſt unto him, Beleeveſt thou, becauſe I ſaid unto thee, I ſaw thee under the Fig-tree? I wil ſhew thee greater things; thou ſhalt ſee the Angels of God aſcending, and deſcending upon the ſon of man. So wil the Lord Chriſt ſay to a poor ſoul, I have ſpoken a word unto thee, and I gave thee a little peace, and doeſt thou beleeve becauſe of the word I have ſpoken unto thee? thou ſhalt ſee greater things, and I wil give thee abundance of peace. Look into Iſa. 48. verſ. 18. and there you ſhal find the Lord ſpeaking thus, O that thou hadſt hearkened to my Commandements, then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteouſneſs as the waves of the Sea. When the Lord ſpeaks, and cals upon people to beleeve, if then they do hearken to him, then ſhal their peace be like a river. And when does the Lord cal in a ſpecial manner upon people to beleeve? When he gives out a word, and when he gives them a little peace, then he is calling upon them to beleeve, now return, and now beleeve, ſaies the Lord. Ye know how it was with Eliah; when they wanted rain, and had wanted rain for a long time, Eliah ſends his ſervant towards the Sea, to ſee if he could perceive any rain coming, and Eliah fals down upon his face in prayer, his ſervant goes, but no ſign of rain, he goes again, and no ſign of rain; and the ſeventh time Eliah's ſervant perceives a cloud, of the bigneſs of an hand, and he comes down unto his Maſter, and tells him, he had ſeen a cloud, the bigneſs of a mans hand: Whereupon Eliah concludes and ſaies, Come, let us up, I hear the noiſe of many waters. So ſay I, you have been upon your face, and have been much diſcouraged, yet if you have been at prayer, and a little refreſhment comes, though it be but the bigneſs of an hand: yet conclude and ſay, ſurely, there is more rain a coming, Come, O my ſoul, Why art thou caſt down? and why art thou diſquieted within me? hope in God, and wait on him, I hear abundance of rain a coming. When our Savior Chriſt ſometimes ſpeaks peace, he doth at the firſt ſpeak by a ſmal word, and if that be improved, then he ſpeaks more. Ye know how it was with Mary; ſhe was at the Sepulcher, and had been enquiring after her Lord, and ſaies ſhe to the Angells, they have taken away my Lord: and the Angells, talked …o her and could not comfort her. But at laſt comes our ſavior Chriſt, and he ſpeaks to her and then ſhe was comforted. But what does he ſay to her? onelyonly one word, Mary, ſo when a man is in p. 20trouble, the Lord comes ſometimes and ſpeaks but a word, he takes a promiſe it may be, and ſets on a word thereof upon the ſoul, and the heart anſwers Rabboni, my Lord. Doth the Lord therefore ſpeak but one word unto thee, yet ſtir up thy ſelf in beleeving and hearken to him, for he wil ſpeak yet more fully and playnly, onelyonly when he ſpeaks liſten, hearken diligently unto him and improve what he ſayth, ſo ſhal your peace be as a River and your righteouſnes as the Ocean.

And thus I have done with the firſt Argument.