Gospel Reconciliation, Chapter 6
CAHP. 6.
ƲSE 1.
Wherefore in the firſt Place: From hence it muſt needs follow, that if there be ſuch a bleſſed peace between God, and a true Chriſtian as hath been opened: Then he muſt needs be very peaceable in the world, he muſt needs be of a very peaceable diſpoſition before men. You wil ſay, How doth this follow? Thus. There is ſo much ſweeteneſs in this Peace with God that it muſt needs ſo quiet the ſpirit of that man in whom it is, that whatſoever is without ſhal never be able to make any great diſturbance in his Spirit, ſo great, and ſo excellent is the ſweetneſs of this Peace. A Merchant that hath al his eſtate in one Bottom, he is upon every ſtirring of the winds, or upon the hearing of any ſtorme, afraid that all is caſt away. But if he hear news, that the Ship is ſafe, and that al is come ſecurely into the Haven, his Spirit that was afraid before, wil be now ſo quieted, and ſattisfied with this newes, that it wil not be a very eaſie matter at ſuch a time to anger ſuch a man. There is nothing that is more able to keep the heart of a man from paſſion, and frowardneſs, and diſturbance, than a ful ſattisfaction within ones own ſpirit. Now, if there be any thing in the world that is able to ſattisfy the ſpirit of a man; ſurely it is the Peace with God, it is Reconciliation which is made between a man, and God. The Scripture ſaith, that a good man ſhal be ſatisfied from himſelf. Prov. 14.14.Ex ſeſe, at Mercerus, expreſſeth it, i. e. from himſelf. Although he meeteth with thoſe without that are troubleſome, and wil not ſattisfy him, that he hath ſo much within, that he ſattisfies, and quieteth his own ſpirit: Therefore a Chriſtian needs not be beholding to the world for Peace, for he hath Peace enough within his own boſome. That which is the greateſt Jewel in the world, a Chriſtian hath the ful pofeſſion of within his own heart. Al the Storms, and tempeſts that are abroad in the world can never make an Earthquake if there be not ſome vapors within to do it. So, that which doth ſhake the hearts of men, and make a Combuſtion in their Spirits, it is more the inward diſturbances that are there, than any thing from without. We may Complaine of outward things, and of this matter, and of this occaſion, and the like; But the truth is, if al be examined, and the true ground of our diſquietneſs ſearched into, we ſhal find, that the Cauſe of al our diſturbance is rather from within, than from without; and if al were wel within, we ſhould never be troubled with any thing which doth befal us from without. Now then if any thing in the world wil make al quiet within, if any thing in the world wil beget a ſerenity, and Calmneſs in the ſpirits of men, it is this Reconciliation with God. No marvel then that the Goſpel ſpeakes ſo much of the peaceable diſpoſition of thoſe that entertaine it, that it tells us of the Wolſes dwelling with the Lamb, of the Lyons eating ſtraw with the Oxe, that is, though men were formerly of ſuch Wolfiſh, and Lyon-like natures, yet having received the Goſpel, and accepted of the tearmes of Reconciliation with God, they ſhal be as Lambs, they ſhal agree one with another. And the reaſon is becauſe there is ſo much in the Peace of the Goſpel as wil quiet the heart, ſo that a man may wonder when he Conſiders of the excellency of the Peace that is between God and man, how it is poſſible for a Chriſtian to be put into a paſſion? You Complaine of the troubles you meet withal in your world, that your Husband is froward, or that the Wife is froward, that you have perverſe Neighbours; but, is God at Peace with thee? is not he froward towards thee? and ſhal your ſpirits be diſturbed with thoſe things when you are at Peace with God? is there not enough in this peace to ſwallow up all thoſe diſturbances? I have obſerved, that it is a frequent complaint of thoſe that are taken to be godly men, they wil ſay, ſuch a one is a very good man, but he is very paſſionate, and froward: truly it is a an extream blot to profeſſors: and the truth is, if we duly conſider all things, a man would think there ſhould be nothing more oppoſite to the ſpirit of a Chriſtian, than frowardneſs, and paſſion is, nothing more oppoſite to true grace; for when grace comes, when Faith in Chriſt comes, it breedeth ſuch abundance of peace in our hearts, that one would think that frowardneſs, and paſſion with any in the world ſhould be inconſiſtent with the Reconciliation here ſpoken of, with true grace, and with Faith in Chriſt. When men are of ſuch ſpirits that they are ſoon put into a paſſion, and being in a paſſion cannot be Reconciled, it is a dangerous ſign that there is not that peace made between God and your ſouls that you ſpeake of. And Certainly this is the reaſon why many Chriſtians are ſo paſſionate as they are, becauſe they do not maintain their peace with God: there is uſually ſome breach in their peace with God which makes them ſo froward, and ſo paſsionate as they are with men. And to ſhew, that the more our peace with God is broken, the more froward wil our ſpirits be. You have a notable example for that in Saul; Saul when he came firſt to the Crown, he ſeemed to be of a very low, and meek ſpirit, he counteth his family to be the leaſt of the Tribes, and himſelf to be of the leaſt of that family. And when there were ſome Children of Belial that ſpaek againſt him, and ſaid, Shal this man be King over us? The ſcripture tels us that he held his peace: and when ſome would have had thoſe that ſpake againſt him before to be put to death, no, ſaith Saul, there ſhal not any man be put to death this day. At firſt you ſee Saul was of a quiet ſpirit, of a very meek diſpoſition, but after Saul had departed from God, and God was departed from him, he was then of a very froward, and ſurly, and rugged and harſh diſpoſition, and he that was before of a peaceable, and quiet diſpoſition to his enemies, yet afterwards he was of a froward, and croſs diſpoſition, even to his own Son, to Jonathan who was a good Son, a gracious, and godly Son, a Son of a ſweet nature, and yet even to him, how harſh was he, O thou child of a perverſe woman ſaith he, and he would have ſlaine him in that pasſion, if the people had not prevented him. And how froward was he likewiſe when he was but croſſed of his wil, when he heard that the Prieſts had but let David paſs away with ſome ſmal ſupplies, they muſt be al put to death, man, woman, and Child, and fourſcore and five of the Prieſts of the Lord that wore a ſinnen Ephod muſt al be preſently murdred, ſuch a froward, croſs, rugged, and harſh nature was Saul of, and what was the reaſon of this? Becauſe he had departed from God, and God was departed from him. You therefore that are of froward, and pasſionate Spirits, have cauſe to look into your own hearts, and examine your ſelves wel whether this be not the ground of it, even that you have broke your peace with God, and now you are at peace with no body, not with Husband, nor with Wife, nor with Neighbors, whereas if you did keep cloſe with God, and maintained but the ſweetneſs of your hearts in the injoyment of peace with him, it would not be eaſy for you to be diſturbed with any thing that befals you from without. This is the firſt thing that followeth from the ſweetneſs of our Reconciliation with God, that a gracious heart who knows what that meaneth, muſt needs be of a ſweet, and lovely, and meek diſpoſition towards others.