An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 26
SERM. XXVI.
A further Diſcovery of the Nature of true Goſpel-Peace, with the Effects of it; and ſome Directions how to attain it.
2 COR. 1. 2.
And Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
WE are treating upon this admirable and unſpeakable priviledge of Peace from God. It is a Peace from God, and it is a Peace with God. You have heard ſeveral particulars going to the conſtitution of it, there yet remain more.
In the next place therefore, This peace here prayed for, is a peace in heavenly conſiderations, becauſe our perſons are juſtified, our ſinnes are forgiven, therefore we have peace. As Rom. 5. 1. there is an external worldly peace, which the natural men of the world only deſire; let them live in peace and ſecurity, let them have the good things of this world, with the peaceable enjoying of them, this is the utmoſt of their deſire, they think this is enough. We ſee this notably, Ezek. 13. 10, 16. where the people deſire ſuch Prophets only, that will propheſie of peace to them. Peace is ſo loved, that therefore wicked men do ſo extreamly hate the faithfull Meſſengers of God, becauſe they proclaim no peace to them; they enform them of Gods wrath and vengeance againſt ſuch; now this cutteth them to the very heart: They delight only in ſuch peacemongers, that though they go on in all wickedneſs and prophaneneſs, yet you muſt tell them all is well, ſow pillows under their elbows, that they may lie down in ſecurity. Men that deſire to ſleep, love not to hear any noiſe; but the Peace in the Text, is not bred from ſuch baſe and low materials. When the wicked man is deprived of his pleaſure, his profits, then all his peace is gone: but the godly doth many times partake in the moſt powerfull manner of this peace, when they are in the moſt afflicted and wretched eſtate, becauſe this peace is within, and upon ſpiritual grounds. And therefore when the godly many times have moſt of outward troubles; they do richly abound with this ſpiritual inward peace. Hence it is that a gracious ſpiritual heart doth only prize it, and pray for it: The natural man not perceiving theſe things, which muſt be ſpiritually diſcerned.
Secondly, Whereas a godly mans trouble may ariſe ſeveral wayes, this peace What are the principal cauſes of a godly mans fears, troubles and diſquietneſſes.hath a proper antidote and cure in all theſe respects, from what cauſes a godly mans diſquietneſſe and fears may ariſe, from the contrary will his peace. As for example, a godly man is very frequently diſturbed, becauſe of the ſenſe of Gods anger for ſinne, becauſe he is not reconciled, ſuch and ſuch iniquities have provoked God to hide his face, and this filleth him with all bitterneſs; he will not be called Naomi, but Marah; but when this peace of God poſſeſſeth the ſoul, then all theſe dark thoughts do preſently flie away, as when the Sunne ariſeth, the night is diſpelled. So that when thou thinkeſt of God, and art troubled; Thy meditation of him is not, as Davids, ſweet, but bitter; this wholly ariſeth from want of this peace, for that will confirm and ſettle the ſoul in all references to God, that will repreſent him to be a gracious reconciled Father.
Again, A mans trouble may ariſe in his ſoul, from the temptations and oppoſitions of Satan, who when he cannot hinder Gods people in the exerciſe of their graces, will in respect of their comforts. So that as the Spirit of God is the Comforter, one great work of his being to aſſure, to enable to call God Father: So the Devil he is the prince of darkneſs, and he counterworks Gods Spirit. As that is an holy Spirit, ſanctifying his people; ſo he is an unclean ſpirit, provoking to all ſinne. Again, as Gods Spirit doth comfort and convince us of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, being the Spirit of Adoption within us, to deliver us from ſpiritual bondage and thraldome: So the Devil he worketh oppoſitely to all this; he filleth the heart with ſad and unbelieving ſuggeſtions; he endeavours to divide between God and us, to make us afraid of him, as being that ſevere Judge, who will not in any wiſe be reconciled. Thus he would perſwade us, that it is with us, as it is with him, and that there is no more hope for comfort and ſalvation for us, than for him. But this peace of God doth abundantly fortifie againſt this temptation alſo; where this peace is, the Devil doth not find the houſe ſwept and garniſhed, but fortified and ſecured againſt him, ſo that he cannot have any entrance. This is the bleſſed effect of this ſpiritual peace, that it overcometh the Devil; he commonly entreth into the good tender heart by unbelief, by fears, by propounding doubtfull and anxious ſcruples, and then draweth us into a wilderneſs farre off from God: But this peace from God doth eaſily quench all his fiery-darts, doth preſently ſtop his aſſaults, and maketh him not care for coming to us to graple with us, while we have this ſpiritual armoury on.
In the third place, Our diſquietneſſe doth many times ariſe from the reliques of original corruption within us. The godly they find many ſad diſcoveries and workings of the root of corruption within them: They find that their hearts are not in ſuch an uniform and heavenly way, as they deſire; they often come ſhort of what they endeavour after. And ſeeing themſelves thus foiled often by their luſts, they begin to be full of fears, and of all doubts; they queſtion their own ſincerity, and what Rock they are built upon; hereupon they are pierced thorow with many wounding apprehenſions; and have no reſt in their bones; but when this peace from God, doth begin to ſtirre in their hearts, then all theſe fears vaniſh: They ſee peace with God, and remainders of corruption may ſtand together, ſo long as they do not make proviſion for the fleſh, or give themſelves up to ſinne willingly, but are captivated therein, ſo long Gods favour and love is not removed from them. This peace (they now ſee) is not bottomed upon a pure and perfect heart, free from any evil at all; for then no David, nor Paul, could have peace, but from the grace of God through Chriſt, mercifully forgiving thoſe failings and imperfections which we are burdened with.
Laſtly, The godly mans peace is many times greatly interrupted from without, becauſe of the hatred and malice of the world: But Chriſts peace is an excellent antidote againſt that alſo, John 14. 27. John 16. 33. Chriſt there bequeaths his peace to them, and from this ground, Becauſe in the world they ſhall have trouble. Let the winds and clouds be never ſo impetuous, yet they cannot moleſt the upper region, that is above their reach: So it is here, Let men and Devils ſet themſelves againſt the godly with all their rage and madneſs; Let them revile them, impriſon them, yea kill them, yet they cannot take away their peace from them. So that unleſs they could as Black would have done, get God to curſe his children: All the curſes and violent oppoſitions of the world, are ſo farre from weakning, that they rather increaſe and ſtrengthen their peace. Thus you ſee what large territories this peace of God hath, that it doth extend it ſelf into large dimenſions. And oh how bleſſed and happy is that man, who hath this peace compaſſing him about in every reſpect! This is not only Peace, peace, as Iſa. 26. 3. but three or four times Peace, peace, from every ſide, from within and without. Why then is not the true believer more folicitous to poſſeſs himſelf of this crown of mercies?
Thirdly, This peace of God, ariſing from Gods favour in Chriſt, hath admirable and ſovereign effects, which may move us to the attainment thereof. What are the effects of this Goſpel-peace.As
1. Where this peace of God is, it will wonderfully compoſe and ſettle the ſoul. This is the genuine, and immediate conſequent of Gods peace in the ſoul; it putteth the whole ſoul into an excellent harmony. There are not thoſe waves and tumults, thoſe diviſions and diſtractions of ſoul, which many times do greatly perplex the godly: Do we not ſee an univerſal want of this peace generally amongſt believers? Whence ariſe thoſe troubles, thoſe concuſſions of ſoul? Why doeſt thou need ſo often to chide and rebuke thy ſelf, ſaying, Why art thou caſt down, O my ſoul? and why art thou ſo diſquieted within thee? Do not all theſe things ariſe, becauſe thy heart is not at reſt and quietneſs within thee? The Heathens ſpeak much of their Socrates, becauſe he was noted to be alwayes; Eodem vultu, of the ſame countenance; if this were true, it did not ariſe from this Chriſtian peace, but from ſome Stoical, or other Philoſophical principles, which did ſpeak much to this tranquillity of mind, but yet pleaſed themſelves with the ſhadow, never enjoying the ſubſtance. David doth notably expreſs the effects of this peace, Pſal. 48. I will both lay me down in peace, and ſleep, becauſe thou Lord alone makeſt me dwell in ſafety. Likewiſe Pſal. 23. we have a large deſcription of a ſerene and pacified mind without any dividing cares of ſoul. As alſo Pſal. 112. 3. his Heart is fixed, truſting in the Lord. Thus this peace of God keeps all quiet, and ſubdueth all troubleſome inſurrections, and motions of ſoul. Hence Coloſ. 3. 15. Phil. 4. 17. this peace of God is ſaid to rule in our hearts, and to keep our hearts, as an Army, Gariſon, a Strong-hold, ſo that none dare make any oppoſition, or reſiſtance. Thus doth the peace of God, it is of ſuch ſovereign dominion in our hearts, that it keeps down unbelief, and all unruly paſſions of ſoul. Doe not then be a Magor-miſſabib to thy own ſelf, when God calleth thee to peace, doe not thou ſet all at variance, and diſcord within thy ſelf.
2. This peace of God worketh as a conſequent from the former, a gracious contentation of ſoul under all conditions and eſtates. So that whatſoever befall him, he is the Lapis quadratus, he is built on a Rock, nothing can overwhelm his peace; grieved he may be, ſadded he may be, becauſe of ſome paſſages even from God againſt him, yet his peace he is never to let go, for that alone makes the ſoul contented. Though his conditions alter, and he is toſſed up and down ſeveral wayes, yet becauſe of peace with God, he can follow the Apoſtle Paul, and though with diſproportion ſay, I know how to abound, and how to want; I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me, Phil. 4. 12. Whereas if this peace of God be taken from the ſoul, then is the heart of a man like one burning in an hot feaver, toſſing from one place to another, hoping to find ſome eaſe, but can obtain none.
3. This peace of God filleth the heart with joy and boldneſſe at the throne of grace. For as when the Sunne ariſeth, the dark clouds they are ſcattered; Thus when the peace of God doth ſhine into our ſouls, then the heart is filled with joy in the holy Ghoſt, 1 Pet. 1. 8. it is called unspeakable joy, and full of glory: Inſomuch that ſuch who live in this manner, have Heaven and eternal life already begun in their ſouls. It is not according to the Spirit of God, that thou ſhouldſt be heaping up ſad thoughts againſt thy ſelf; Gods Spirit is a comforting Spirit, as it doth all in us for holineſs, ſo alſo for conſolation. It is not Spiritus Calvinianus, but Papiſticus, that may be truly called Melancholicus; for the Calviniſt Doctrine preacheth and preſſeth the aſſuring work of Gods Spirit to the ſoul, the certainty of perſeverance to ſuch who have been partakers of the leaſt true grace; but Popiſh Doctrine and others commend doubtings, deny certain perſeverance of the true Saints; and therefore upon this account, as well as for other reaſons, they may be rejected, becauſe they tend to the utter overthrow of the conſolation of Gods children. Oh then know, that a ſpiritual life, is a life ſutable to the Spirit of God, is a comfortable glad walking, as well as an holy, and a ſanctified one.
Laſtly, Where this peace from God is, there is a greater incentive and quickning to all holineſſe and godlineſſe. There the ſoul is carried out with more fervency and activity, ſcruples and dejected thoughts, they are like the taking off the Chariot-wheels; there cannot be ſuch improved godlineſs, ſuch zealous and laborious expreſſions of love and thankfulneſs to God, as when this peace of God ruleth in our heart. The fire doth not more eaſily diſſolve the froſt and ice, then this peace of God in our ſouls doth chaſe away all ſlothfulneſs and negligence; if this grace and peace of God were ſhed abroad in thy heart, thou wouldſt like a Gyant runne thy race of Chriſtianity, whereas now thou art but a Dwarf; feeble hands and weak knees will not go through much work, eſpecially if difficult and laborious. Now the way of Chriſtianity is compared to a race, to fighting and combating: there are thouſands of diſcouragements and oppoſitions in the way; it behoveth thee therefore to have this peace within, that ſo the work of grace begun in thee, may go on more proſperouſly.
But you will ſay, This indeed is a mercy, like that Pearl in the Parable, we may well fell all to have it: But how may we be directed to obtain it?
Take notice of theſe things briefly:Directions how to attain this peace.
Firſt, Diſtinguiſh between carnal preſumption, and this peace from God. Many have been deluded by taking one for the other. The Jews and Phariſees did confidently boaſt in God as their Father, and that they were Abrahams ſeed; the Covenants of Grace did belong to them; yet who were further off from it than they were? When the Phariſees ſaid, Lord, I thank thee I am not like other men, he might have boldneſs and confidence upon his ſoul; but yet here was no true peace. And thus there are many hundreds who have quiet, ſtill, and it may be feared, ſtupified conſciences: Now theſe find no trouble, no aches, or pains of heart, becauſe of ſinne, but thank their good God, all is well with them, when yet alas they are miſerable, being upon the very borders of Hell, in which they may fall every moment.
Secondly, Take heed of living in ſinne, or omitting of thoſe Duties God requireth of thee. For although theſe be not the cauſe of this peace in thee, yet without theſe no peace can either be obtained or preſerved. This is to be throwing water upon the fire, till it quite go out.
Thirdly, Perſwade thy ſelf of thoſe Doctrinal Truths againſt the contrary Errours, which help to eſtabliſh this peace: Such as the Nature of Juſtifying Faith, in the particular application of it; as alſo, not only the poſſibility, but the duty of Aſſurance; the certain, and unchangeable love of God, to all thoſe who are his; as alſo the acceptableneſſe of ſuch a quiet and joyfull ſpirit unto God himſelf.
Fourthly, Regard Gods promiſes as well as precepts. Look upon the Gospel as well as the Law; let not one deſtroy the other, but make them to be ſubſervient in thy whole life.
Laſtly, Pray much for the Spirit of Adoption. For it is not thy own power, or meditation upon all the Rules that Miniſters may give, which will give this peace of God, till the Spirit of Adoption doe reigne in thee.