An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 25
SERM. XXV.
Of the Nature of true Goſpel peace, and wherein it chiefly conſisteth.
2 COR. 1. 2.
Grace be to you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
VVE are now come to the ſecond thing, which the Apoſtle doth ſo cordially wiſh theſe Corinthians, and that is Peace. Grace is the Cauſe, Peace is the Effect. Grace is the fountain, Peace is the ſtream.
This word Peace among the Hebrews, comes from a root ſignifying, to be whole and ſound, becauſe by Peace they did mean all good and proſperity, as by Warre, the Hebrew word coming from a root, ſignifying to eat and devour, they meant all miſery and deſtruction. And among the Hebrews this was their ordinary ſalutation and greeting, Peace be to you, intending thereby all proſperity and happineſs: And ſo ſome expound it here by Peace, underſtanding a proſperous and ſucceſſefull proceeding of all their affairs: But though this is not to be excluded; yet we take Peace in the ſame ſphere with Grace; and as that did relate chiefly to ſpiritual things, ſo alſo muſt this Peace in the Text.
By it therefore is meant, the fruit of Gods grace and favour, viz. a quiet, ſerene, and calm, joyfull frame of ſoul ariſing from the ſenſe of Gods peace through Chriſt, whereby we walk comfortably, boldly, and not daunted under ſinne, afflictions, or death it ſelf. A moſt bleſſed and choice mercy it is, putting a believer into an Heaven, while he is on this earth, his heart keeping (as it were) a perpetual Sabbath and reſt within. So that whenſoever the godly find diffidence, fears, diſquietneſs, perplexities, troubles and dejections of ſoul; all this ariſeth becauſe this peace doth not prevail, and keep all under in our hearts. This foreign, this Peace and tranquillity of ſpirit, ſome philoſophers, eſpecially the Stoicks, did greatly aim at, and accounted it the chiefeſt good; but being ignorant of Chriſt and faith in him, they took the ſhadow of it for the ſubſtance. Obſerve,
That peace from God and Chriſt, is earneſtly to be prayed for, as a ſpecial and Peace from God and Chriſt is earneſtly to be prayed for, as a very choice mercy.choice mercy.
To have an heart ſo evangelically affected through the apprehenſion of Gods love, as a Father in Chriſt; that as the young child can ſleep ſweetly and ſafely in its mothers arms: So can we as boldly and comfortably by faith throw our ſelves into the boſom of our heavenly Father. Oh, why are there ſuch tormenting fears, ſuch tumultuous conflicts, ſuch warres and confuſions in thy ſoul, when ſuch a priviledge as this may be obtained at Gods hand?
But to direct you to this Peace, which is a ſpiritual Philoſophers … turning all into gold; if we have this peace, then they are afflictions of peace, exerciſes of peace; yea death is peace then. This quiets and compoſeth all.
Let us firſt take notice of the nature of it briefly. And
Firſt, This peace lieth in the favour and grace of God, ſo that his anger and Wherein this peace conſiſteth.wrath, becauſe of ſinne, is wholly removed. For where Gods wrath is upon a man, where his face is ſet againſt him, that man hath no peace, Iſa 57. 21. There is no peace, ſaith my God to the wicked. Therefore though wicked men are for a while in carnal jollity, and in much ſecurity, crying, Peace, peace to themſelves, as 1 Theſſ. 5. 3. even then deſtruction ſhall ſuddenly ſurprize them. The very Heathen could ſay of a wicked man, That though he might be ſecurus, yet he was never tutus: Though he might caſt away all care and fear, bidding his ſoul, as Dives, to take its eaſe, yet he is never ſafe; for in the midſt of this ſecurity, he heareth that dreadfull voice, Thou fool, this night thy ſoul ſhall be taken away. Let then the wicked men tremble and quake like Belſhazzar, for they may ſee, not one, but many hand-writings, not in a wall, but in the word of God, fore-telling them without repentance of their certain damnation. This peace therefore begins firſt in Heaven, and ſo deſcends into a mans heart. God removeth his anger, becauſe of our ſins; he is become a gracious and reconciled Father, and hence we have peace. Therefore Rom. 5. 1. it is called, Peace with God; inſomuch that if we had peace with all the Potentates of the world; if we had peace with the world, which yet Chriſts Diſciples ſhall never have, yet this is nothing to peace with God. For how many have ventured to obtain outward peace, as Spira and others, by breaking this peace; and thereupon have plunged themſelves into a very Hell? What peace can any in the world give thee, if God cauſe his anger to break out againſt thee?
Secondly, This peace, as it doth conſiſtin reconciliation with God; ſo alſo it hath the ſenſe and perſwaſion of this, it brings a man to ſome comfortable knowledge and evidence of this. For although Gods anger be removed, our ſins be forgiven, and on Gods part all controverſies are removed againſt us, yet if we do not know this, if we are not aſſured our hearts are us much troubled and diſquieted, as if God indeed were our adverſary. Hence it is that the Spirit of God is ſent into our hearts, enabling us to call God Abba, Father. For if we could not do ſo, it would be as the Sunne, though it caſts forth glorious beams of light, yet a blind man, becauſe he cannot ſee it, it is all one, as if it were midnight: ſo unleſs the Spirit of God doth make thee to diſcern thoſe gifts of the Spirit in thee, as by the light of the Sunne we come to ſee the …e: ſo alſo, though God be our Father, though we be his dear children, yet if we are not aſſured of this, ſtill this peace is not in our hearts; it muſt be therefore in Gods favour, and our aſſurance of this faith.
Thirdly, This peace therefore is not procured or wrought by our own ſtrength. If we would give ten thouſand worlds, when our hearts are ſeorched and burn like hell through the ſenſe of Gods diſpleaſure, we are not able to refreſh our ſouls with one drop of it. That as all the men of the world are not able to make the Sunne ariſe, if God forbid it; Neither can the parched wilderneſs water it ſelf, till God prepare clouds to empty themſelves upon it: Thus it is with it …umble contrite heart, praying, groaning, crying out for this bleſſed peace in ſoul: Alas it cannot come, till God command it. Therefore he is ſo often called, the God of peace, Rom. 16 20. Heb. 13. 20. And peace is made the fruit of Gods Spirit, Gal. 5. 22. Hence it is, that the Apoſtle in this Text prayeth for it unto God, as knowing the Corinthians can never have it, unleſs it be given them from above. This therefore ſhould o… us of our ſelves; think not to have it by any works thou doeſt; think not outward advantages can help then to it: No, it muſt be by a lowly humble dependance upon God, Deſcendendo, in Coelum aſcenditur.
Fourthly, As it is wrought by God, ſo it is purchaſed by Chriſt our Mediatour. For although he be alſo the efficient cauſe of peace, called therefore Iſai. 9. The Prince of peace, and The King of peace, Heb. 7. 2. yet he is chiefly called our peace, becauſe by him our peace is purchaſed, Epheſ. 2. 14. Coloſ. 1. 20. Hence it was, that upon Chriſts birth thoſe Angels ſang, Glory be to God on High, and peace on Earth, good will towards men. So that had it not been for Chriſt living and dying to remove the curſe of the Law from us, there had been no more hope of peace for us, than the Devils and damned in Hell. Though with Dives we had called but for a drop of water, yet the gulph being not removed between God and us, we could not have enjoyed it. It's then a peace through Chriſts bloud; we have it at a very dear price: Hence Iſai. 53. The chaſtiſement of our peace is ſaid, to be upon him, that chaſtiſement and wounds which brought peace to us. And truly this is much to be meditated on. For what man conſidering his ſinfulneſs, his unworthineſs, can perſwade himſelf, that God will have any peace with ſuch as he is? Do we not ſee what a laborious work it is to bring the troubled and loaden ſoul to Chriſt for eaſe? How many times ready to deſpair? What conſtant qualms and ſwoons of ſoul? How often with the Diſciples crying out, I periſh, I periſh? And is not all this, becauſe they think their ſinnes have ſo offended God, he is ſo provoked againſt them, that they can never obtain reconciliation? Doth not this proneneſs to unbelief and deſpair, ariſe from not conſidering, that the chaſtiſements of our peace are upon Chriſt? Were we with our tears or graces, to work our peace, then our eſtate would be incurable? But Chriſt is our peace-maker; and if peace-makers among men are bleſſed, How bleſſed is our Lord and Saviour Chriſt, who made peace between man and God?
Fifthly, Faith is the hand to receive and imbrace this peace; by believing we come to have this heavenly tranquillity. Thoſe that are ſtrangers to this life of faith, are alſo ſtrangers to this life of peace. Rom. 5. 1. Being juſtified by faith, we have peace with God. It's faith that prepareth the way for peace, Iſai. 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee in perfect peace, peace; peace, as in the original, full and univerſal peace. But how ſhall he thus be kept? By truſting and ſtaying his mind on God. So Iſai. 27. 5. God there inviteth men to believe, which is emphatically called, a laying hold upon God, Let him take hold on me, that he may make peace with me, and he ſhall make peace with me. Take hold, as we do upon a man that is turning away from us, and ſeemeth to be offended with us; but we lay hold on him, intreating him to look upon us. This doth faith; and therefore by it we are ſaid to have boldneſs. Oh then acquaint thy ſelf more with this life of faith! If you ſee a tree wither in all its branches and boughs, it is becauſe it dieth at the root: So if you ſee a Chriſtian abating in his peace, in his joy, in his conſolations, it is becauſe faith is weak within. This is the breaſt that gives ſuck (as it were) to all the ſerenity we enjoy.
Sixthly, This peace, as it is thus wrought by God in us, and received by faith; ſo it is conſerved and preſerved by an holy and diligent attending to the exerciſe of all grace. For although a godly life be not a cauſe of this peace, yet it is alwayes conjoyned with it; and our negligence and ungodlineſs will be like an Eclipſe to this Sunne, it will darken and obnubilate the whole ſoul. Hence this peace, and a wilfull courſe of wickedneſs can no more ſtand together, than the Sunne and night. The Apoſtle Peter, 1 Pet. 1. biddeth us, Give all diligence to make our calling and election ſure, which is, by adding of one grace to another. Hence Rom. 8. 6. To be ſpiritually minded, is ſaid to be life and peace. No wonder then if Gods own children do ſo ſeldom attain to a calm and peaceable frame; they are doubting and diſcouraged often; they are caſt down and hopeleſs often; they are full of tormenting fears often; for whence is this? but becauſe Gods own people are ſubject to dulneſs, ſlothfulneſs, they break their peace, they interrupt this communion, they do not keep the oil alwayes ready to keep the lamp burning. Oh then ſay to thy ſoul, why am I a man of ſo little peace within me? Why do I find like Rehekkah two ſtrugling within me, faith againſt diffidence, joy againſt ſadneſſe, hope againſt fear? Is not all this from my own folly and vanity? The way then to keep this bleſſed peace, is to walk with all diligence in the whole courſe of all godlineſs.
Seventhly, This peaceable calme, and joyfull dispoſition of the ſoul, is the proper effect and fruit of the Gospel. This is the fi…al and Evangelical temper we under the Goſpel, and the Spirit of Adoption, ought to walk in. We may ſtand and wonder to ſee, what great expreſſions Paul uſeth, Rom. 8. and in other places, concerning the love of God in Chriſt; how conſident and aſſured of it, how triumphing over all difficulties, as if he were in Heaven already. For the glorified Saints can ſcarce ſay more than he doth. And this he ſpeaketh, not in his own behalf, but in the name of all the children of God, they ought to have ſuch peace, aſſurance, and filial perſwaſions, as he hath. Now alas, we are like worms crawling on the ground in compariſon of him! We ſpend our dayes in tumults, fears and diſquietneſs of heart: We are toſſed from one temptation to another, and have not this peace, this joy unspeakable, this Evangelical perſwaſion, and why? but becauſe the Goſpel hath not had its full work upon us. Doth not the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 3. and in other places, ſpeak of the Miniſtration of the Law, killing and condemning? Doth he not ſpeak of a ſpirit of bondage, and of ſervants as oppoſite to children? And as the immediate contrary to this, he tels us of the Miniſtration of the Gospel, and the Spirit of Adoption accompanying it, which Spirit we are to pray for; and are to be transformed more and more from glory to glory, by beholding of the glory of God revealed in the Gospel. Therefore Epheſ. 6. 15. We are to have our feet ſhod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; We tread among thorns and briars. Now this Goſpel munition is the only defence againſt all hinderances in our way to Heaven. Oh beloved, let us at laſt know, that the Goſpel doth not only conſiſt in an holy, exact, and humble walking, but in a chearfull, peacefull, and gladſome converſation, ariſing from the ſenſe of Gods grace to us in Chriſt. The Apoſtle ſpeaketh fully to this, Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdome of God is not meat or drink, but righteouſneſſe, peace, and joy in the holy Ghoſt. You ſee here the Kingdome of God is not onelyonly in righteouſneſſe, but in this peace and joy. Did the children of God poſſeſs their ſouls with this truth, they would no more let in unbelief and diſcouragements into their ſoul, then they would the prince of darkneſs, and his Angels? Know therfore, that though thou haſt lived ſo many years under the Goſpel, yet till thou obtaineſt this peaceable calm frame of ſoul, coming from the love of God in Chriſt, thou haſt not the Goſpel-work in its full upon thee. Do not live as if thou hadſt only received the Spirit of bondage to fear, but the Spirit of adoption and conſolation alſo. And know this aſſuredly, That the more any Chriſtian groweth under the Goſpel, the more this diſpenſation affects him, the nearer in communion, and lovely imbracements by faith, he cometh unto God as a Father, being able to ſay with the Church, I am my Beloveds, and my Beloved is mine. And Cant. 8. 10. I was in his eyes, as one that found favour, or peace. being conducted from one room of conſolation unto another. As therefore thou deſireſt to anſwer the Law of God in holineſs, and a godly walking; ſo conform thy ſelf to the Goſpel, by a peaceable and joyfull diſpoſition. The Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 10. 15. How welcome are the feet of thoſe who pre…ch the Gospel of peace? And certainly, there cannot be any truth in the world more precious and welcome to this indebted priſoner of ſinne, who groaneth under the burden of it; then this year of Jubilee, this year of peace, and of a general releaſment. Matth. 10. 6. Our Saviour inſtructs his Diſciples, as they did go from houſe to houſe, preaching the Kingdom of Heaven, if they did meet with a Sonne of peace, Peace ſhould reſt upon that houſe. Oh that in our Goſpel-Sermons, we did meet with theſe ſonnes of peace, thoſe hearers of peace, that ſo it might reſt upon them! How can you be under the hot beams of this Sunne of righteouſneſs diſplayed in the Goſpel, and yet be ſo chill and frozen with fear and unbelief? How can ye be in the ſhop of this precious ointment, and you not be full of the ſweet ſavour of it? Though the Antinomian abuſe this precious Doctrine, crying down the preaching of the Law, and make all that do it to be legal Preachers: Shall we therefore cry down a Goſpeldiſpoſition? Neither of theſe is to be preached to the prejudice of the other.