The Disabled Debtor Discharged, Part 54
In Peace. Text. ]
Peace is twofold. Firſt, there is Pax apparens, a bad and appearing Pace; Secondly, Pax vera, a true and ſincere Peace.
Bad Peace is threefold. Firſt, Pax inquinata, a defiled and polluted Peace, as is that we find mentioned, Pſ. 2.1, 2. & 9.21. & 83.4, 5▪ 6. ſo Ephraim againſt Manaſſes, Manaſſes againſt Ephraim; and both againſt Iudah: Herod againſt Pilat, Pilat againſt Herod; and both againſt Chriſt. Eſt Daem…num legio concors, there is ſuch a peace as this amongſt the Divells, ſeven could agree well together in Marye's heart,Mark. 5.9. yea a Legion we read of were in another. If a houſe be divided againſt it ſelfe it cannot ſtand.
Secondly,2 Sam. 3.27. & 13.28. Mat. 26.49. Pax ſimulata, a diſſembled and coun…erfetted Peace, when a man pretends Peace, but intends miſchiefe. So Ioab ſpake peaceably to Abner when he ſtab'd him: Abſolom invited Ammon to a Feaſt when be intended to murther him. Iudas kiſſed Chriſt when he went about to betray him.
Thirdly,Gen. 3.6. & 13.9. Pax inordinata, an inordinate Peace, which is, when the greater and better obeyes the leſſe and inferiour. So Adam obeyed Eve; Abraham yeelded unto Lot, &c.
None of theſe kindes of Peace are here meant: That Peace which our Saviour ſpeakes of is, true and ſincere Peace, which S. Bernard thus tripleth.
Firſt, Externall, which ſome call Pax temporis, this is that Peace we have with men for the time we live in this world, Rom. 12.18. and this is firſt in the Church, when it hath reſt from Hereſies, Schiſme, Tyranny and Perſecution, Acts 2.31. Pſalme 122.6.
Secondly, In the Common-wealth, as when we are free from civill warres within; and forreigne enemies without, Ier. 29.7.
Thirdly, In the Family, or ſpeciall places where we live, of which Peace S. Peter, 1 Pet. 3.12. and our Saviour, Mark. 9.50.
Secondly, Internall, which is Pax pectoris, the Peace of conſcience, proceeding from the aſſurance we have of Gods favour through Chriſt. In this S. Paul placeth the Kingdome of Heaven, Rom 14.17. Phil. 4.7.and calls it Peace which paſſeth all underſtanding, Phil. 4.7.
Thirdly, Eternall, Pax numinis, which is that perfect reſt and happineſſe, which the Saints ſhall enjoy in Heaven with God hereafter, Iſay. 57.2.
The Peace that our Saviour here ſpeakes of to this woman is, that Internall or Pectorall peace, that ſtable and comfortable tranquility of conſcience, not accuſing, but excuſing, and freeing from the terrors of Hell and death; oppoſed to feare, griefe or any kind of perturbation, which might breake the ſweet conſent, and harmony of mind.
Doct. Our Obſervation is, Peace of conſcience is the fruit of juſtification by Faith.
Col. 1.20. Epheſ. 2.21. Rom. 5 1. Theſe Texts of Scripture make ſtrongly for the truth delivered.
Nor can it otherwiſe be; For upon our apprehenſion of Chriſt by Faith; followes his ſatiſfaction for us; upon ſatiſfaction we have remiſſion; upon remiſſion, reconciliation; upon reconciliation, Peace will certainly follow.
Vſe Alas for Sinners! the miſery of ſuch as are not reconciled unto God, there is no peace to the wicked ſaith my God, Iſay. 57.21.
The ſentence would not be ſo grievous, were it not ſo generall. If at any time; in any place; any wicked man, might have any kind of peace (that good is) there were ſome comfort. But the Propoſition is an univerſall Negative: There is no Peace, in no place, at no time, to no wicked man, to be had.
No Peace, none with God, none with Angels, none with Men, none with the Creatures. They are like unto Iſhmaell, whoſe hand was againſt every man, and every mans hand againſt him: they may well feare with Cain, every one that findeth mee will ſlay mee. All creatures being Gods executioners, and ready preſt to do his will.Pro. 19.13. 2 King. 7.4. Fugit ab agro ad civitatem, a publico ad domum, a domo in cubiculum & ecce hoſtem ſun̄ invenit, quo cō ſugerat ſeipſum quò …ugiturus eſt, Aug. in Pſ. 45.
In no place Peace; what Salomon ſpeakes of an ill wife, may aptly be applyed to an ill conſcience, It is a continuall dropping: whereſoever a man goes his conſcience accompanies him, and that yells againſt him, in dom…, in f…o, in menſa, in lecto: In all places where he comes. So that as thoſe Lepers ſpake one unto another; If we enter into the citie the famine is in the citie, and we ſhall die there, if we ſit ſtill we ſhall di… h…re, &c. Sinners may ſo ſay unto themſelves, If we goe to Gods Houſe there is no Peace: His word threatens us. If wee ſtay at home, there is no Peace, our Conſciences condemne us, what ſhall we doe?
At no Time Peace. They are like the ſurging and raging waves of the Sea ſtill caſting up mire and dirt: Or like Euripus which ever boyleth and is in continuall agitation, Iob 15.20, 21. and 27.20, 21. There Conſcience is like an aking tooth; he that hath it eates in paine, drinkes in paine, ſleeps in paine. So is it with a ſinner, he is pained with Conſcience continually.
nor can any wicked man have Peace: Be he never ſo great or mighty; let his coat be made of what cloth it will,Rom. 2. God is no reſpecter of Perſons; Hee bids defiance to all ſuch as ſinne againſt him of malitious wickedneſſe.
Doe you aske your watchmen (then) as Iehoram asked Iehu, Is it peace Iehu, is it peace? We muſt anſwer, what peace when as the witch-crafts and Adulteries of thy mother Ieſabell are yet ſo many? Art thou a wicked one, a lewd Liver, a Drunkard, an Adulterer, &c. Come behind, what haſt thou to do with Peace.
Ob. But who ſees not that Sinners have Peace. Read Iob 21.9. And there we ſhall find that there is a Peace in the Tents of wicked ones; they live at eaſe, have what their hearts can wiſh, their conſciences are quiet, and they die like lambs?
Reſp. This Peace in them, is not, Pax conſcientiae, but ſtupor conſcientiae, you may call it rather ſtupidity than Peace: The habit of ſin hath taken away the ſenſe of ſinne, ſo that they are become paſt feeling; their conſciences being ſeared with a hot yron, 1 Tim. 4.2. Seared may the Conſcience be, but not ſafe; quiet, but not good.
Iob compares this Peace unto a dreame and affirmes that it is but for a moment. Job 38.17. Eccleſ. 7.6 Spinae dum ardent ſonant, & atò exurantur, ut nullus caloris ſit effectus, Amb de hortat. ad virginitatem. Dan. 5.5, 6.Salomon reſembles it to the crackling of thornes under the Pot. Now (ſaith S. Ambroſe) thornes when they burne, they make a noyſe and quickly are conſumed; ſo that there is no effect of their heat: So ſinners make a noyſe of Peace, but it is ſoone gone, and they have little comfort by it. It is in their Face, not in the Heart (as Salomon ſhews, Prov. 14.13.) In laughter many times the Heart is ſad, in the midſt of their mirth, their thoughts are troubled as were Belſhazzers, the joynts of their loynes are looſed, and their knees ſmite one againſt another.
This that former reſemblance of Thornes under the Pot intimates The flame lifts up it ſelfe in an exulting braving way, yet it is kept downe and ſuppreſſed by the Pot over it: So this Peace of Sinners is under many troubles: That ſeething Pot ſpoken of, Ier. 1.13. checks and ſubdues it: Still there is a Thorne at the breaſt of this Nightingale; and as the Prophet ſpeakes, In pace amaritudo mea amariſſima, Iſay. 38.17, In peace I had great bitterneſſe, thus may they ſay: Sure I am they have juſt cauſe; for their peace is like the Sea, called, Mare mortuum, which (they ſay) is ſmooth on the top, but deadly at the bottome.
Queſt. But how doth this Seeming or falſe Peace of ſinners differ from that Peace which ariſeth from Aſſurance of GODS Favour, through Faith in Chriſt?
Reſp. By what hath bin already ſaid, this may bee in part diſcerned, but to anſwer you more fully.
Firſt, the Conſcience of a ſinner is quiet, for that it hath no ſight nor ſence of ſinne. He is like that preſumptuous Carrier, who travelling in the night and being told of many dangerous pits in the way which might indanger both his Horſe and Himſelfe, deſperately anſwered, Oculos comprimo & omnia ubi que plana ſunt: I ſhut mine Eyes and all things are to me alike plain. They are ſecure through the darkneſſe and ſenſeleſnes of their conſciences. But a good Conſcience waſh d in the blood of Chriſt is quiet becauſe it ſo feeleth ſin, as that it believeth all is forgiven, and that the whole debt (wherof it is very ſenſible) is diſcharged through Chriſts blood.
Secondly, A benummed Conſcience, though it be quiet yet it comforteth not. There may be indeed, a naturall livelineſſe, and a joy taken in things pleaſing to nature, but ſpirituall Comfort in the Conſcience there is none at all. Now the true pacified conſcience hath great joy and refreſhing in it; it cheareth up the Soule of a man, as one that is cheared at a Feaſt; in which reſpect it is ſaid to bee a continuall Feaſt.
Thirdly, A dead or benummed Conſcience feareth not ſin, nor Gods wrath for ſin: But a Good Conſcience is very fearefull of giving God the leaſt offence: As it was ſaid of Hezekiah, that he feared God greatly; So is it with the Godly. And thus you ſee however there be ſome agreement and likeneſſe betweene the true peace of a good Conſcience and the falſe peace of a bad one in regard both are quiet, and free from trouble, yet in other reſpects there is a wide difference betwixt them; and therfore be not deceived with appearance. You know the Sea doth not alwayes rage and roare: No Conſcience makes ſo rough weather as at no time to admit a calme. And when a Sinner ſhall tell you all is well and quiet at home: If you give him the hearing let that be all. Many a dying man you may heare to ſay that he feels no pain: And yet you like him never the better for it. After the draught of Milk that Siſera took, he was not ſenſible of Iaels hammer.
Vſe 2 next, this ſets forth unto us the excellent eſtate of a Beleever to whom true Peace belongs as their inheritance,Pax …areditas Chriſ…i avorum Aug de temp. Scr. 200. they being the Sonnes of Peace, Luk. 10.6. There is much peace (ſaith David) to them that love thy Law, Pſal. 119.164. To the Sinner there was none; there is much Peace to theſe; having Peace with God, we have Peace with his Angels, Pſ 34.7. Heb. 1.14. Peace with men, Luk. 2.14. Iſay. 11.6, 7. Peace with Gods ordinances, Iſay. 11.4 & 57.19. Peace with our ſelves, Coloſ. 3.15. Peace with the creatures, Hoſ. 2.18 Peace with our Croſſes, Rom. 8.28. Thus we have much Peace.
Ob. But do we not ſee it evidently that none have leſſe Peace then theſe? who are more inwardly afflicted, outwardly moleſted, 2 Cor. 11.23-30.
Reſp. The Church of God is Militant here in this world and ſo no perfect Peace may be here expected. In the world (ſaith Chriſt) you ſhall have Affliction, but in me peace. Though we have much Peace (as I ſaid) yet not full and perfect Peace; for there can be no Peace with the Powers and Principalities of the world, Epheſ. 6.12. Nor with the Luſts of the world, 1 Pet. 2. Nor with the men of this world,Pax noſtra bellum contra Satanam. Iohn 15.8. But this warre is our Peace, as Tertullian ſpeakes.
2. God doth not ever ſpeake peace to his own; but that comes to paſſe through their owne folly, Pſal. 85.8. David knew this by his owne deare bought experience: But if they be carefull to abſtaine from ſin; they cannot be without inward Peace in all their outward troubles, Act. 5.41. They are like a Rocke in the Sea, than which nothing is more quiet becauſe it is not ſtirred, and yet nothing more unquiet, becauſe it is ever aſſaulted.
3. This Peace is but begun in this world and as yet imperfect (as all other Graces be) The mind and will is ſubdued unto Gods mind and will but in part. And the fleſh is ſubdued but in part to the Spirit; whence ariſeth a combate within them, but a good Conſcience they have which is therefore peaceable, becauſe it outſtandeth corruption, and in ſome meaſure ſubdues it.
Vſe 3 In the laſt place let us all be ſtirred up to ſeeke after this bleſſing of Peace, by thoſe wayes and means which you have bin acquainted withall in this Parable from this Penitents practice; which the better to provoke you unto J might ſpend time (and that not unprofitably) in diſcovering unto you the excellency of this Grace.
Firſt, In that it was the firſt Congratulation wherwith the holy Angels ſaluted the Church at the birth of Chriſt.Luk. 2.14. Joh. 14.27. Pſal. 34.12. 1 Theſ. 3.14. Rom. 14.19. Nor is there any thing, which Chriſt the Head of men and Angels did more carefully bequeath to his Church than Peace: It was that bleſſed Grace which Chriſt did leave as a token of his Love to his Church a little before his death, nor is there any duty that Gods Servants do call on us more to ſeek after than Peace.
Secondly, from the great account that hath bin and is made of it, both by God and Man. God takes it into his own holy Title, as Hebr. 13.20. Iſay. 9.6. Were it not an Orient Pearle, or a Diamond of unſpeakable worth he would not have it in his Crown: Yea the very blood of his Sonne he gave to purchaſe it: Now how precious that blood was Saint Peter ſhews, 1 Pet. 1.19. In which reſpect it is called, the Peace of God, Phil. 4.7. Coloſ. 3.15. 2 Theſ. 3.16.
And as God doth thus highly prize it ſo do all the Godly (who have in them the ſpirit of diſcerning:) How bitterly have they bewayled the want of it? What ſighes and groanes have they ſent up to Heaven for obtaining it? Pſal. 51.8. And having procured it, they would not willingly take ten thouſand worlds for it.
Yea the wicked themſelves ſet a high price on it,Gen. 4.13. when their conſciences are awakened: How have they wiſhed any other paine or torture ſo they might have peace, what would Caine have given for it, think you? What would Iudas? What Belſhazzar? When horrours, feares, terrors have ſeaſed on them, then Peace hath bin in requeſt with them.
Thirdly, from the unſpeakable Benefits that true Peace brings along with it: What is it that can make a man happy, but attends on Peace? It comprehends in the very name of it all Happineſſe, both of Estate and Diſpoſition. That Mountaine wheron Chriſt aſcended though it abounded with Palmes, Pines, and Mirtles, yet it carried onelyonly the name of Olives (an ancient Emblem of Peace) So though many mercies belong unto a Chriſtian, yet all are comprized under this one little word which is ſpeld with a few letters, Peace; whence it was that the Hebrewes wiſhed nothing but Peace unto their friends, underſtanding therby all proſperous ſucceſſe, Mat. 10.13. Luk. 10.5. Iohn 20.21, 26. Luke 24.36.Phil. 4.7. Coloſ. 3. This fils the heart with Patience, Ioy, Comfort in believing: It preſerves the Soule, as in a ſtrong Garriſon, ſo that a man is as quiet there, as Eliſha in Dothan, and guards the principall forts from being ſurprized, as the city of Damaſcus was guarded by the King, 2 Cor. 11.32. It paſſeth all underſtanding, ſurpaſſeth all commending. Therefore as S. Auſtin ſpeaking of the excellency of this grace, and not being able to ſet foorth the happineſſe therof ſaith (ſo muſt I crave leave to ſpeak) Differamus omnes laudes pacis, Aug. in Pſ. 48.ad illam patriam pacis, ibi enim pleniùs laudabimus, ubi pleniùs habebimus. Let us deferre all the praiſes of Peace untill we come into the proper Country of Peace; For there we ſhall praiſe it more fully, where we ſhall poſſeſſe it more fully.
I have a word or two of advice for you before I end: If in caſe it be your happineſſe to be ſet into the way of Peace; Heb. 12.13, 14 Duae ſunt amice, juſtitia & pax, tu fortè unam vis & alteram nō facies. Nemo enim eſt qui non velit pacem, ſed non omnes volunt operari juſtitiā. Interroga omnes homines vis pacem? uno ore reſpondebit tibi genus bumanū: opto, cupio, amo, volo Ama juſtitiam quia duae amicae ſunt juſtitia & pax, ipſae ſe oſculantur, ſi amicam pacis non amaveris non te amabit ipſa pax, nec veniet ad te, Aug. in Pſal 84.have a care to keepe that way and ſee that you make ſtraight pathes for your Feet. Let Righteouſneſſe be your guide. Theſe are two friends that will not part (as St. Auſtin ſhews excellently) But if Righteouſneſſe take one way, Peace will take another. Let S. Paules dayly exerciſe be yours; Study in all things to keepe a good Conſcience voyd of offence both towards God and towards man. I ſay in all things: For it is with Conſcience as with the Ice, breake it in one place, and it will ſoone breake in many. Some deale vvith their Conſciences, as they deale with a new ſute which at firſt vvearing they are afraid of ſoiling, they looke where they ſit; they looke where they leane, &c. But when the gloſſe begins to fade and it begins to be a little old, they have little care vvhere they beſtow it: There are who are like ſome new married husband; for a while his Love may not be out of his ſight, in nothing croſſed; the wind may not blow on her, the Sunne muſt be ſhaded from her beauty, &c. But within a while this fond dotard grows weary of his choice: And if he be ſo kind, as to give good words and kind looks abroad, yet he can (for a need) chide his wife at home: Have you not known ſome upon the ſuddain turne zealous Profeſſours who have ſtrained at a Gnat, and ſhortly after ſwallowed a Camell? At the firſt ſcrupeld an honeſt innocent Ceremony, and yet ſoone after made no bones of Drunkenneſſe, Adultery, and the like? If you never knew any ſuch, I pray God you never may.
Ob. But true Peace is everlaſting Peace, of that there ſhall be no end, Iſa. 9.7.
Resp. Though true Peace cannot be loſt, yet the Counterfeit of Peace may; that cannot abide.
2. Though the Peace of Iustification cannot be loſt, yet the peace of Sanctification may be loſt (which is the peace of Conſcience and within your ſelves) and that either by ſome groſſe ſinne of Commiſſion or Omiſſion, or by ſome ſtrong fit of Temptation: Whilſt the Tennant pa…es his Rent all is well, but if that be long neglected then ſtreſſe is taken, the ground driven; ſo is it here: And in ſuch a caſe there is no other way but ſpeedily to make our Peace with our Land-Lord, R…pentance will do it. Thus you have had the way of Peace chalked out unto you, with direction how to keepe the way.2 Theſ. 3.16. Now the God of Peace give you peace allwayes and by all meanes. The Lord bee with you all, Amen.
FINIS.