Expositions Upon Matthew 1-10, Treatise · Chapter 5 · Section 16
Motives to Peace.
1 Peace is a bleſſing that comprehends all bleſſings under it, Pſalm 29.1…. The Lord will give his people the bleſſing of peace. What is our joy but the peace of our conſciences? What is our health but the peace of our humours? If a man were in heaven and could not have it in peace, it would not be comfortable. Everlaſting peace is part of our joy in Heaven.
2 That which is the excellenteſt life every one deſires to live. Such is a life of peace, not onelyonly in that the moſt flouriſhing Commonwealths have lived it, but God and Angels: that which is the worſt life devils and wicked men live, ſuch is a lite of contention. Hence Chriſt the Prince of peace lived this life; called the Prince of Peace, Eſai 9.6. gave it for a legacy to his Diſciples, John 14.27. Eſai 11.6, 7, 8.
3 The univerſal peace that is among all creatures. The heavenly bodies, Sun, Moon and Stars keep their courſe; the Sea keepeth within the girdle of the Sands and doth not invade the earth; the Windes blow not together but ſucceſſively; the contrary qualities in the world, heat and cold, drought and moiſture, are ſo tempered together, that like muſical diſcords they make a perfect harmony: Woods of trees, fields of corn, grow without moleſting one another, creatures not onelyonly of the ſame kinde but of different kinde feed peaceably one by another. If peace be among all bodies, let it be much more among the myſtical body of Chriſt, Pſalm 133.1. How good a thing is it for brethren to dwell together in unity.
4 The common enemy ſhould ſet us at peace; I mean the Popiſh and Prelatical combinations. So that the queſtion is not ſo much, what kinde of government we ſhall have in Proteſtant Churches, but whether we ſhall have any Proteſtant Church at all? At the Battle of Lepanto when there was great differences and animoſities betwixt the three generals, Don John and Venereus and the third general, yet when the battel came to be fought they united againſt the Turk and got a mighty victory againſt his navy, the like whereof hath hardly been heard of. Phil. 1.20. Jude 3. contend for the common ſalvation.
5 Herein conſiſts the form of charity, not in this, that we are all of one minde, for that is kept for heaven, but that we are peaceably affected in our hearts, and wiſh well one to another. When Luther had vented ſome hard ſpeeches againſt Calvin, ſayes he, though Luther count me a dogge, yea a devil, yet I'le count him a famous ſervant of God.
6 The ſmalneſs of matters which cauſes a breach of peace: many are as angry for rejecting their opinions as Jonah was for his gourd. I know the ſmalleſt thing in Religion ought to be made conſcience of, yet thoſe points without the knowledge whereof many have come to heaven, though they may obſtruct publick communion, yet know I no cauſe why they ſhould hinder peace and private communion among thoſe that fear God. Learn we of the Romiſh Churches (if it be expedient and lawful ſo to call them) among which there are controverſies of far more moment, viz. of the infallible judge in all points, of the Chriſtian faith; the Spaniſh and Italian Churches defend the Pope to be the ſupreme judge, affirming him ſo to be inſpired with the ſpirit of truth that in all his decrees and determinations he cannot erre, on the other ſide the French cry him out of his infallible chair, and conclude him ſubject to errour, and depoſable by a general counſel; yet in this brawling there's no univerſal breaking of communion, why then ſhould not private communion be granted among thoſe that fear God?
7 The multiplicity of relations that tyes Chriſtians to peace, worſhip of the ſame God, profeſſion of the ſame faith, expectation of the ſame hope, ſuffering for the ſame cauſe, begotten by the ſame word, children of the ſame father, have the ſame comfort of love, the ſame fellowſhip of the Spirit. Phil. 2.1.
8 The benefits that come by it, 1 The kingdome of God conſiſts in it, Rom. 14.17. Some Chriſtians thought that others could not come to heaven if they did not eat ſuch meats as they, but Paul tells them, The kingdome of God conſiſts not in meat and drink, but in righteouſneſs and peace, and joy of the holy Ghoſt. 2 It's the way to a long and an happy life, 1 Pet. 3.11. 3 The fruit of righteouſneſs is ſown in peace, Jam. 3.21. q. d the crop of grace and glory is not reap'd of proud and contentious perſons, of ſuch as make rents in Churches, and would be many maſters, of which he ſpeaks, v. 1. nor of thoſe who boaſting of themſelves and their opinions would alone ſeem to be wiſe; but it will be reap'd of peaceable Chriſtians, who being of a peaceable ſpirit themſelves endeavour to make peace among others, and ſow the ſeed of peaceable diſcourſes in order thereto.
4 By peace we reſemble God, for when in God there are three ſubſiſtences, yet there is one will, one love, and one conſent, whereas in contention wereſemble the Babel builders.
5. Peace is the way to have the preſence of God with us, 2 Cor. 13.11. Live in peace and the God of love and peace ſhall be with you. Some creatures are by artificial means invited, as Pigeons by looking glaſſes, and Larkes by the reſemblance of the Sun in a looking glaſs, by peace the God of peace is invited, who unites thoſe one to another that are united to him, John 17.21.
Ile conclude with Bernards Diſtich Nullum turbavi, diſcordes pacificavi: Laeſus ſuſtinui, nec mihi complacui.
6 The peaceable carriage of you to others will cauſe others to carry peaceably to you, Judg. 8.3. Gideon peaceably anſwering the men of Ephraim (who did unjuſtly in proud wrath chide him) their ſpirits abated towards him.
For they ſhall be called the children of God] that is, they who evidence their Chriſtianity (out of conſcience of the command) by ſtabliſhing peace among them with whom they live, are and ought to be acknowledged among men as regenerate, and thereupon called Gods children: 1 They are his children in likeneſs; as God ſent his Son into the world to make peace, 2 Cor. 5.19. ſo do they. 2 They are like Chriſt, who being God and man made peace with the blood of his croſs, Eph. 2.14. Col. 1.20. and took away all enmity betwixt God and us.
3 They ſhall be called the children of God in heaven, though ſometimes in this world they are not ſeen nor acknowledged; 1 John 3.1.
4 They ſhall be ſo called, becauſe having firſt made peace with God, they, feeling the ſweetneſs of it, make peace with men.
Ob. But how can ſuch as make peace with men be called Gods children, ſeeing we find many carnal men good arbitrators and make-peaces among neighbours?
Anſ. 1 Such perſons do it not out of conſcience of the command, but either out of vain glory, or to keep themſelves imployed in buſineſs, and ſo to keep off their conſciences, or at moſt out of a principle of good neighbourhood, whereas Gods children do it from the command.
2 They make peace, not out of the ſence of inward peace they have with God, but out of the beneficial concernment of neighbourly peace.
3 Carnal men making peace, it's uſual in matters of claim betwixt man in meum and tuum, but peace-makers to whom the promiſe belongs make peace where there are heart boylings, and ſiniſter conceptions, and heart grudges betwixt man and man
4 Carnal peace makers are ſtir'd up to do what they do upon ſollicitations, and intreaties; but thoſe to whom the promiſe is made, are ſtirred up to their duty by the belief of the promiſe, and it is done many times in ſecret where no man knows what they aime at, but themſelves know that they aime at a right underſtanding betwixt neighbour and neighbour, Chriſtian and Chriſtian in order to peace.
Uſe. Exhort to peace-making, that this promiſe may belong to you, as God is called the God of peace, Rom. 16.20. 1 Cor. 14 33.2 Cor. 13.11. Phil. 4.9. 1 Theſſ. 5.23. 2 Theſſ. 3.16. Heb. 13.20. So by endeavouring after peace you ſhall be like unto him.
V. 10. Bleſſed are they which ſuffer perſecution for righteouſneſs ſake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In this verſe 3 things, 1 The ſuffering, its perſecution. 2 The cauſe, not for wickedneſs, but for righteouſneſs ſake. 3 The crown, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Queſt. What is meant by righteouſneſs?
Anſw. Neither univerſal or paticular morral righteouſneſs, for many of the heathens ſuffered for honeſt intereſts, and for righteous cauſes, but ſpiritual righteouſneſs is here meant, as for the profeſſion of their faith, for conſcience towards God, 1 Pet. 2.19. This is thank worthy, if a man for conſcience towards God ſuffer wrongfully and endure grief: So that righteouſneſs ſignifies obedience to all the commands of God. Here is inrightment to bleſſedneſs, when we will rather ſuffer then tranſgreſs the commandment of God.
Obſerv. They that are perſecuted for Chriſt, and his cauſe and commandements, are bleſſed perſons. Jam. 1.12. Bleſſed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he ſhall receive the crown.
For Application. 1 Be exhorted to ſuffer perſecution,
1 For Chriſt's ſake, 1 Hereby thou wilt prove thy ſoundneſs of heart, Dan: 3.17, 18, Shadrach, Meſhech and Abednego, and Daniel cap. 6, ſhewed their ſincerity herein: unſound men will not ſuffer Perſecution, Gal: 6.12, The denying of Circumciſion was the Object of Perſecution, hence the falſe Teachers would have the Galatians circumciſed leſt they ſhould ſuffer Perſecution, Matth: 13.21. See it in the Stony Ground.
2 This is the principal difficulty in Chriſtianity, to witneſs truth before Kings, Pſalm 119.46, and Councils, Matth: 10.17, To reſiſt to Bloud, Heb: 12.4, and not to love our Lives ſo much as our Duty to God, Luke 14.26, 27, Rev: 12.11, 17,
3 In all Perſecutions for Chriſt thou ſhalt have wiſdom to anſwer the Perſecutour, Luke 21.15, Ile give you a Mouth and a Tongue, that your Adverſaries ſhall not be able to gainſay. Acts 6.10, They that reaſoned againſt Stephen, were not able to reſiſt the wiſdom and ſpirit in Stephen.
4 Thou ſhalt have ſtrength to overcome the Perſecutours, 1 John 4.4, Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the World. Iſai 43.1, 2, When thou goes through fire and water the Lord will be with thee. Rom: 8.37, We are more than Conquerours. How? We are ſure of Victory before we fight. 1 Cor: 10.13,
5 There's a day coming when God will reckon with all Perſecutours, Pſalm 9.12, When he maketh inquiſition for Bloud he remembereth them. God will inquire who ſlew Hooper, Bradford, &c. who articled againſt ſuch and ſuch, who brought them before Eccleſiaſtical Courts, High-Commiſſions, Committees, Aſſizes, Seſſions, Pſalm 12.5, For the ſighing of the Priſoner will I ariſe, 2 Theſſ: 1.6,
6 A great deal of good comes to Chriſtians by ſuffering Perſecution. 1 Hereby affections come to be looſened from the World, and to be faſtened upon God, Pſalm 142.4, 5,
2 Chriſtians formerly looſened one from another, come now to be faſtened. The Children of one Father that fall out among themſelves are ſoon united againſt a common Enemy.
3 Perſecutions tend to the furtherance of the Goſpel, Phil: 1.12, 1 By propagation or ſpreading of the truth. Upon Stephen his Perſecution many of the Brethren preached the Word of God far and near, Acts 11.19, and the hand of the Lord was with them, v. 21, to convert many.
2 By confirmation of thoſe who are weak in faith, Phil: 1.12, Many of the Brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to ſpeak the Word without fear.
3 Hereby the World ſees that God hath Worſhippers who do not cleave unto him for worldly advantage: Whiles for the hope of Iſrael they are bound with Chains, Acts 28.20, and will not accept of Deliverance out of moſt painfull ſufferings in hope of a better Reſurrection, Heb: 11.35,
7 Conſider the cauſe for which thou ſuffereſt, ſet down 1 By the goodneſs of it, Acts 5.41, Rejoycing they were counted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for his Name, Rom: 8.36, For thy ſake we are killed all the day long. Revel 1.9, John was in the Iſle of Patmos for the Word of God, and for the teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt. This cauſe is more worth than thouſands of my Life.
2 By the clearneſs. It is not wrapt up in conſequences, and muſt have Sophiſters to fetch it out, but it's clear, Dan: 3.16, the three Children ſaid, O Nebuchadnezzar we are not carefull to anſwer thee in this O King, as if he ſhould ſay, We deſire no clearer cauſe to loſe our Bloud in. It's a comfort in ſuffering clearly to ſee our way.
3 By the fewneſs of Witneſſes and multitudes of Adverſaries, 2 Tim: 1.15, 4.16, when Paul came to witneſs before Nero all thoſe of Aſia forſook him at his firſt Anſwer.
8 Conſider the wofull condition that will befall Perſecutours,
1 Their ſtrokes and malice falls on Chriſt, Zach: 2.8, He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine Eye. Acts 9.6. Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me?
2 They have extreme horrour of conſcience, Jer: 20.2, 3, Paſhur was a Perſecutour, he ſmote Jeremiah and put him in the Stocks, and God threatens to make him a terrour to himſelf and to all his friends. Zedekiah who ſmote Micaiah, 2 Kings 22.24, in a day of trouble goes from chamber to chamber to hide himſelf. Herod was tormented with John's death.
3 Such perſons as perſecute have upon them at preſent an evident token of perdition, as you that ſuffer perſecution have of ſalvation, Phil: 1.28,
4 The people of God every where are imploring God againſt Perſecutors, Luke 18.7, Shall not God avenge his own clect that cry unto him daily? I tell you, he will avenge them and that right ſpeedily. Herod might have lived long had it not been that the Church was imploring God againſt him, Acts 12.5, Lam: 5.59, 60, 61, &c.
5 Perſecutors come to fearfull ends, Acts 12.23. Herod was eaten up of worms, Jezabel thrown out of a window and eaten up of dogs, why? She ſlew the Prophets of God, Revel. 6.9, 10, 11.
6 They are branded with infamy to poſterity, 2 Ti. 4.14. Alexander the Copperſmith did me much evil and greatly withſtood my words. Elimas, Acts 13.10. there's preſent information given among the godly who perſecute.
7 All godly men rejoice at the downfall of perſecutors; the Jews teaſted when Haman was hanged. When the wicked periſh there is ſhouting, Prov. 11.10. Let not this joy be out of perſonal hatred, but becauſe juſtice is glorified, the Church delivered, and Satans kingdome weakned.
9 Submit to the providence of God in all perſecutions, and look to it, for, 1 If the hairs of our heads are noted by God, much more our lives, Matth. 10.29, 30. 2 Perſecutours cannot touch the ſoul, Matth. 10.28. 3 Our times, Eberties, eſtates are not in the hands of perſecutors, but in Gods hand, Pſal. 31.13, 14, 15.83.4.5. Revel. 2.10. for it is God gives us our cup to drink, John 18.11. as maſtiff dogs fall upon men when their chain is unlooſed, ſo do wicked men upon Saints when God unlooſes his cham of providence.
4 As in active obedience we labour that what we do may pleaſe God; ſo in paſſive obedience endeavour that what God doth may pleaſe us, 2 Sam. 15.25, 26. Behold here I am, let him do to me as ſeemeth him good. Mark 14.36. Take away this cup from me, nevertheleſs not my will but thine be done, 1 Sam. 3.17. It is the Lord, let him do what ſeems him good.
5 In all perſecutions and ſufferings commit thy ſoul to God, deſire him to take care of that, ſo Chriſt, Luke 23.46. Father into thy hands I commit my ſpirit, ſo Stephen, Acts 7.59. As in times of extremity we commit our jewels into the hands of truſty friends; when houſes are on fire and there are combuſtions, men have principal reſpects to their jewels and gold, oh that I could ſave that. The worſt perſecutors can do is to take away life, when the body dies it's like the ſetting of the Sun, which in ſhort time riſes again. Therefore in all perſecutions commit your ſoul to God in welldoing, 1 Pet. 4.19. as into the hands of a father. We reade of many deceits in Scripture, but we never reade of a father that beguiled his childe. We muſt alſo commit our bodies and goods to God, but we muſt be at a point with theſe, if God will have them, but we muſt not be ſo with our ſouls.
6 Beware of indirect means of eſcaping that perſecution which providence caſts thee into. In particular, beware of cowardlineſs, compliancy to great friends and kindred, baſe ſhiſting tricks and diſtinctions, gluedneſs of heart to earthly things, 2 Tim. 4.16. Imitate Antipas who held the faith, though ſure to die for it, Revel. 2.13.
7 Conſider that all ſecond cauſes are onelyonly inſtruments in the hand of God. The wicked are called Gods ſword, Pſalm 17.13. the ſtaff in their hand is Gods indignation, Eſai 10.5, 6. Who gave Jacob to the ſpoil, and Iſrael to the robbers? did not the Lord? Eſai 42.24, 25. 2 Samuel 16.12.
2 Uſe. Conſolation. In ſufferings and perſecutions you have a kingdome.
1 That as ſuch ſufferings abound, ſo ſhall conſolations abound, 2 Cor. 1.5. ſo that what ever they loſe, they have an hundred fold with perſecutions, Mark 10.29, 30.
2 It's no new thing to be perſecuted. Abel was perſecuted of Cain, 1 John 4.12. Iſaac of Iſhmael, Gal. 4.29. As he that was born after the fleſh perſecuted him that was born after the ſpirit, ſo it is now, yea, whoſoever will live godly, ſhall ſuffer perſecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. ſo that we are not to count fiery trial a ſtrange thing, 1 Pet. 4.12. Brother ſhall perſecute brother, Matth. 10.21. and three ſhall perſecute two in the ſame family, Matth. 10.35.
3 In the greateſt violence perſecutors can inflict, believers ſhall not be forſaken of God, 2 Cor. 4.9. perſecuted, but not forſaken, not tempted above ſtrength, 1 Cor. 10.13. 2 Tim. 4.16, 17. All men (ſaith Paul) forſook me, but the Lord ſtood with me, when he came before Nero that Lion. Matth. 10.17. Ile give you a mouth that all your adverſaries ſhall not be able to reſiſt.
4 God is wont to deliver his people from perſecuting hands. Perſecutions befe… Paul at Iconium, Lyſtra and Derbe, but out of them all the Lord delivered him, 2 Tim. 3.11. God delivers, 1 Sometimes by ſetting one wicked man againſt another, Acts 23.6, 7, 8. the Phariſees contended againſt the Sadduces for the reſurrection, and ſo took Pauls part. 2 Sometimes by making the earth to help the woman, Revel. 12.16. 3 Sometimes by providing ſome City of reſuge, Matth. 10.23. If they perſecute you in one City ſtye to another. 4 Sometimes by death, when the death of his Saints ſhall ſet forth Gods glory, John 21.18.