The Beatitudes, Discourse · Chapter 18

The Beatitudes · Discourse · Chapter 18

p. 269MATTH. 5.9.

Bleſſed are the Peace-makers, &c.

CHAP. XVIII.

Concerning Peaceableneſs.

THIS is the ſeventh ſtep of the golden Ladder which leads to bleſſedneſs, foreign. The name of peace is ſweet, and the work of peace is a bleſſed work. Bleſſed are the Peace-makers. Obſerve the Connexion, the Scripture links theſe two together, Pureneſs of heart, and peaceableneſs of ſpirit. Jam. 3.17. The wiſdom from above is first pure, then peaceable. Hebr. 12.14. Follow peace and holineſs; and here Chriſt joyns them together, Pure in heart, and Peace-makers; as if there could be no purity, where there is not a ſtudy of peace; that Religion is ſuſpitious, which is full of Faction and Diſcord.

In the words there are three parts.

1. A Duty implied; viz. peaceable-mindedneſs.

2. A Duty expreſſed; to be Peace-makers.

3. A Title of honour beſtowed; foreign, They ſhall be called the children of God.

1. The Duty implied, peaceable-mindedneſs; for before men can make peace among others, they muſt be of p. 270peaceable ſpirits themſelves; before they can be promoters of peace, they muſt be lovers of peace.

Doctr. 1 Doctr. 1. That Chriſtians muſt be peaceable-minded; this peaceableneſs of ſpirit is the beauty of a Saint, 'tis a jewel of great price. 1 Pet. 3.4. The ornament of a quiet ſpirit which is in the ſight of God of great price. The Saints are Chriſts ſheep, John 10.27. the ſheep is a peaceable creature; they are Chriſts Doves, Cant. 2.14. therefore they muſt be ſine felle, without gall; it becomes not Chriſtians to be Iſhmaels, but Solomons: Though they muſt be Lyons for courage, yet Lambs for peaceableneſs; God was not in the Earth-quake, nor in the fire, but in the ſtill, ſmall voyce, 1 Kings 19.12. God is not in the rough, fiery ſpirit, but in the peaceable ſpirit. There is a four-fold peace that we muſt ſtudy and cheriſh.

1. An Oeconomical peace, peace in Families; it is called vinculum pacis, the bond of peace, Eph. 4.3. Without this all drops in pieces; peace is a girdle that tyes together members in a Family; it is a golden Claſp that knits them together that they do not fall in pieces; we ſhould endeavour that our houſes ſhould be foreign houſes of peace: 'Tis not fairneſs of Rooms makes an houſe pleaſant, but peaceableneſs of diſpoſitions; there can be no comfortableneſs in our dwellings, till peace be entertained as an inmate into our houſes.

2. There is a Parochial peace; when there is a ſweet harmony, a tuning and chiming together of affections in a Pariſh. When all draw one way, and as the Apoſtle ſaith, are perfectly joyned together in the ſame mind, 1 Cor. 1.10. One jarring ſtring brings all the Muſick out of tune; one bad Member in a Pariſh endangers the whole: 1 Theſ. 5.13. Be at peace among your ſelves. 'Tis little comfort to have our houſes joyned together, if our hearts p. 271be aſunder; a Geometrical union will do little good without a Moral.

3. There is a Political peace; peace in City and Countrey, this is the faireſt flower of a Princes Crown;foreign. peace is the beſt bleſſing of a Nation. It is well with Bees when there is a noiſe; but it is beſt with Chriſtians, when (as in the building of the Temple) there is no noiſe of Hammer heard. Peace brings plenty along with it; How many Miles would ſome go on pilgrimage to purchaſe this peace! therefore the Greeks made peace to be the Nurſe of Pluto, the God of wealth. Political plants thrive beſt in the Sunſhine of peace. Pſal. 147.14. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the fineſt of the wheat. — Omnia pace vigent. — The Ancients made the Harp the Emblem of peace; How ſweet would the ſounding of this Harp be after the roaring of the Canon! — Pacem te poſcimus omnes. — All ſhould ſtudy to promote this Political peace; the godly man when he dyes, enters into peace, Iſa. 57.2. But while he lives, peace muſt enter into him.

4. There is an Eccleſiaſtical peace, a Church-peace: When there is unity and verity in the Church of God; never doth Religion flouriſh more, then when her children ſpread themſelves as Olive-plants round about her Table: Unity in Faith and Diſcipline is a mercy we cannot prize enough; this is that which God hath promiſed, Jer. 32.39. and which we ſhould purſue, Zach. 8.19. Saint Ambroſe ſaith of Theodoſius the Emperour, that when he p. 272lay ſick, he took more care for the Churches peace than for his own recovery.

The Reaſons why we ſhould be foreign, peaceable-minded, are two. 1. We are called to peace, 1 Cor. 7.15. God never call'd any man to diviſion; that is a reaſon why we ſhould not be given to ſtrife, becauſe we have no call for it; but God hath called us to peace. 2. It is the nature of grace to change the heart, and make it peaceable: By nature we are of a fierce cruel diſpoſition; when God curſed the ground for mans ſake, the curſe was, that it ſhould bring forth thorns and thiſtles, Gen. 3.18. The heart of man naturally lies under this curſe, it brings forth nothing but the Thiſtles of ſtrife and contention; but when grace comes into the heart, it makes it peaceable, it infuſeth a ſweet loving diſpoſition, it ſmooths and poliſheth the moſt knotty piece, it files off the ruggedneſs in mens ſpirits; grace turns the Vulture into a Dove; the Bryar into a Myrtle Tree **Iſa. 55.13.Isa 55:13; the Lyon-like fierceneſs into a Lamb-like gentleneſs. Iſa. 11.7, 8. The wolf alſo ſhall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard ſhall lie down with the Kid, &c. It is ſpoken of the power which the Goſpel ſhall have upon mens hearts, it ſhall make ſuch a Metamorphoſis, that thoſe who before were full of rage and antipathy, ſhall now be made peaceable and gentle; The Leopard ſhall lie down with the Kid.

SECT. 1.

Peaceableneſs a Saints Character.

Uſe 1 IT ſhews us the Character of a true Saint; he is foreign,Inform. given to peace; he is the Keeper of the peace; he is filius pacis, a ſon of peace.

p. 273Caution. Not but that a man may be of a peaceable ſpirit, yet ſeek to recover that which is his due; if peace hath been otherwiſe ſought, and cannot be attained, a man may go to Law, and yet be a peaceable man. It is with going to Law, as it is with going to War, when the Rights of a Nation are invaded; as 2 Chron. 20.2, 3. and peace can be purchaſed by no other means than War, here it is lawful to beat the Plough-ſhare into a Sword; ſo when there is no other way of recovering ones right, but by going to Law, a man may commence a ſuit in Law, yet be of a peaceable ſpirit. Going to Law (in this caſe) is not ſo much ſtriving with another, as contending for a mans own; it is not to do another wrong, but to do himſelf right; it is a deſire rather of equity than victory: I ſay as the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 1.8. The Law is good if a man uſe it lawfully.

Queſt. Is all peace to be ſought? how far is peace lawful?

Anſw. Peace with men muſt have this double limitation.

1. The peace a godly man ſeeks, is not to have a league of amity with ſinners; though we are to be at peace with their perſons, yet we are to have war with their ſins; we are to have peace with their perſons as they are made in Gods image; but to have war with their ſins as they have made themſelves in the Divels image: David was for peace, Pſal. 120.7. but he would not ſit upon the Ale-bench with ſinners, Pſal. 26.4, 5. Grace teacheth good nature; we are to be civil to the worſt, but not twiſt into a cord of friendſhip; that were to be Brethren in iniquity. Eph. 5.11. Have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs. Jehoſhaphat (though a good man) was blamed for this, 2 Chron. 19.2. Shouldſt thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? The fault p. 274fault was not that he entertained civil peace with Ahab; but that he had a league of friendſhip, and was aſſiſtant to Ahab, when he went contrary to God; therefore there was wrath upon Jehoſhaphat from the Lord, Ver. 2. We muſt not ſo far have peace with others, as to endanger our ſelves: If a man hath the plague, we will be helpful to him, and ſend him our beſt Receits, but we are careful not to have too much of his company, or ſuck in his infectious breath: So we may be peaceable towards all, nay helpful; pray for them, councel them, relieve them; but let us take heed of too much familiarity, leſt we ſuck in their infection: In ſhort, we muſt ſo make peace with men, that we do not break our peace with conſcience: Hebr. 12.14. Follow peace and holineſs; we muſt not purchaſe peace with the loſs of holineſs.

2. We muſt not ſo ſeek peace with others, as to wrong truth. Prov. 23.23. Buy the truth, and ſell it not. Peace muſt not be bought with the ſale of truth; truth is the ground of faith, the rule of manners; truth is the moſt orient gem of the Churches Crown; truth is a depoſitum, or charge that God hath intruſted us with; we muſt God with our ſouls, he truſts us with his truths; we muſt not let any of Gods truths fall to the ground**Petius ruat coelum, quam pereat una mica veritatis▪ Luth.; the leaſt filings of this gold are precious; we muſt not ſo ſeek the flower of peace, as to loſe the pearle of truth.

Some ſay let us unite, but we ought not to unite with Errour. What communion hath light with darkneſs? 2 Cor. 6.14. There are many would have peace with the deſtroying of truth; peace with Arminian, Socinian, Antiſcripturiſt; this is a peace of the Divels making. Curſed be that peace which makes War with the Prince of peace; though we muſt be peaceable, yet we are bid to contend for the faith, Jude 3. We muſt not be ſo in love with the golden Crown of peace, as to pluck off the jewels p. 275of truth; rather let peace go than truth; the Martyrs would rather loſe their lives, than let go the truth.

SECT. 2.

Containing a Reproof of ſuch as are unpeaceable.

IF Chriſtians muſt be peaceable-minded, what ſhall we Uſe 2 ſay to thoſe who are given to ſtrife and contention?Exhort. who like Flax or Gun-powder, if they be but touch'd, are all on fire! how far is this from the ſpirit of the Goſpel? 'tis made the note of the wicked, Iſa. 57. They are like a troubled Sea; there is no reſt or quietneſs in their ſpirits, but they are continually caſting forth the fome of paſſion and fury. We may with Strigelius, wiſh even to dye, to be freed from the bitter ſtrifes which are among us: There are too many like the Salamander, who live in the fire of broyles and contentions. Jam. 3.14, 15. If ye have bitter envying and ſtrife, this wiſdom deſcends not from above, but is Divelliſh; the luſtful man is Brutiſh, the wrathful man is Divelliſh. Every one is afraid to dwell in an houſe which is haunted with evil ſpirits; yet how little afraid are men of their own hearts, which are haunted with the evil ſpirit of wrath and implacableneſs.

And which is much to be laid to heart, the diviſions of Gods people; Gods own Tribes go to War. In Tertullians time it was ſaid, See how the Chriſtians love one another; but now it may be ſaid, See how the Chriſtians ſnarle one at another! p. 276—Saevis inter ſe convenit Urſis.— Wicked men agree together, when thoſe who pretend to be led by higher principles, are full of animoſities and heart-burnings. Was it not ſad to ſee Herod and Pilate uniting, and to ſee Paul and Barnabas falling out? Acts 15.39. When the Diſciples called for fire from heaven, Ye know not (ſaith Chriſt) what manner of ſpirit ye are of, Luk. 9.56. As if the Lord had ſaid, This fire you call for, is not zeal, but is the wilde-fire of your own paſſions; this ſpirit of yours doth not ſuit with the Maſter you ſerve, the Prince of peace; nor the work I am ſending you about, which is an Embaſsage of peace; 'tis Satan who kindles the fire of contention in mens hearts, and then ſtands and warms himſelf at the fire. When boyſtrous winds are up, we uſe to talk of Conjurers: Sure I am, when mens ſpirits begin to bluſter and ſtorm, the Divel hath conjured up theſe winds. Diſcords and Animoſities among Chriſtians, bring their godlineſs much into queſtion; for the wiſdom which is from above, is peaceable, gentle, and eaſie to be entreated, Jam. 3.17.

SECT. 3.

Containing an Exhortation to peaceable-mindedneſs.

Uſe 3 BE of a peaceable diſpoſition. Rom. 12.18. If it be poſsible, Exhort.as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. The Curtains of the Tabernacle were to be looped together, Exod. 26.3, 4. So ſhould the hearts of Chriſtians be looped together in peace and unity. That I may perſwade to peaceable-mindedneſs, let me ſpeak both to Reaſon and Conſcience.

p. 2771. A peaceable ſpirit ſeems to be agreeable to the natural frame and conſtitution; man by nature ſeems to be foreign, a peaceable creature, fitter to handle the Plough than the Sword; other creatures are naturally arm'd with ſome kind of weapon wherewith they are able to revenge themſelves: The Lyon hath his Paw, the Boar his Tusk, the Bee his Sting; only man hath none of theſe weapons, he comes naked and unarmed into the world, as if God would have him a peaceable creature. — Candida pax homines, trux decet ira feras. — Man hath his Reaſon given him that he ſhould live amiably and peaceably.

2. A peaceable ſpirit is honourable. Prov. 20.3. It is an honour for a man to ceaſe from ſtrife. We think it a brave thing to give way to ſtrife, and let looſe the reins to our paſſions; oh no, it is an honour to ceaſe from ſtrife: Noble ſpirits are ſuch lovers of peace, that they need not be bound to the peace; 'tis the bramble that rends and tears whatever is near it; the Cedar and Fig-tree, thoſe more noble Plants, grow pleaſantly and peaceably; peaceableneſs is the Enſign and Ornament of a noble mind.

3. To be of a peaceable ſpirit, is highly prudential. Jam. 3.17. The wiſdom from above is peaceable. A wiſe man will not meddle with ſtrife; it is like putting ones finger into an Hornets Neſt; or to uſe Solomons ſimilitude, Prov. 17.14. The beginning of ſtrife is as when one letteth out water. To ſet out the folly of ſtrife, it is as letting out of water in two reſpects.

1. When water begins to be let out, rhere is no end of it; ſo there is no end of ſtrife when once begun.

p. 2782. The letting out of water is dangerous: If a man ſhould break down a Bank, and let in an Arme of the Sea, the water might overflow his Fields, and drown him in the Flood: ſo is he that intermeddles with ſtrife; he may miſchief himſelf, and open ſuch a Sluce as may ingulph and ſwallow him up. True wiſdom eſpouſeth peace; a prudent man will keep off from the bryars as much as he can.

4. To be of a peaceable ſpirit, brings peace along with it; a contentious perſon vexeth himſelf, and eclipſeth his own comfort; he is like the Bird that beats it ſelf againſt the Cage, he troubleth his own fleſh, Prov. 11.17. He is juſt like one that pares off the ſweet of the Apple, and eats nothing but the Kore: So a quarrelſome man pares off all the comfort of his life, and feeds only upon the bitter Kore of diſquiet, he is a ſelf-tormentor; the wicked are compared to a troubled ſea, Iſa. 57.20. And it follows, there is no peace to the wicked, Ver. 21. The Septuagint renders it foreign, there is no joy to the wicked; froward ſpirits do not enjoy what they poſſeſs; but peaceableneſs of ſpirit brings the ſweet Muſick of peace along with it, it makes a calm and harmony in the ſoul; therefore the Pſalmiſt ſaith, it is not only bonum, but jucundum; not only good, but pleaſant to live together in unity, Pſal. 133.1.

5. A peaceable diſpoſition is a God-like diſpoſition.

1. God the Father is call'd the God of peace, Hebr. 13.20. Mercy and peace are about his Throne, he ſigns the Articles of peace, and ſends the Ambaſſadors of peace to publiſh them, 2 Cor. 5.20.

2. God the Son is call'd the Prince of peace, Iſa. 9.6. His name is Emmanuel, God with us, a name of peace; his Office is to be a Mediatour of peace, 1 Tim. 2.5. He p. 279came into the world with a ſong of peace; the Angels did ſing it, Luk. 2.14. Peace on Earth; he went out of the world with a Legacy of peace: John 14.27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.

3. God the Holy Ghoſt is a Spirit of peace, he is the Comforter; he ſeals up peace, 2 Cor. 1.22. This bleſſed Dove brings the Olive-branch of peace in his mouth; Now a peaceable diſpoſition evidenceth ſomething of God in a man, therefore God loves to dwell there. Pſal. 76.2. In Salem is Gods Tabernacle: Salem ſignifies peace, God dwells in a peaceable ſpirit.

6. Chriſts earneſt prayer was for peace; he prayed that his people might be one, John 17.11, 21, 23. that they might be of one mind and heart: And obſerve the Argument Chriſt uſeth in prayer, (it is good to uſe Arguments in prayer; they are as the feathers to the Arrow, which make it flie ſwifter, and pierce deeper; Affections in prayer are as the fire in the Gun; Arguments in prayer are as the Bullet) the Argument Chriſt urgeth to his Father, is, Ver. 22. That they may be one, even as we are one. There was never any diſcord between God the Father and Chriſt; though God parted with Chriſt out of his boſome, yet not out of his heart. There was ever dearneſs and oneneſs between them: Now Chriſt prays, that as he and his Father were one, ſo his people might be all one in peace and concord. Did Chriſt pray ſo earneſtly for peace, and ſhall not we endeavour what in us lies to fulfill Chriſts prayer? how do we think Chriſt will hear our prayer, if we croſs his?

7. Chriſt not only prayed for peace, but bled for it. Col. 1.20. Having made peace through the blood of his Croſs: Pacem omnimodam; he dyed not only to make peace between God and man, but between man and man. Chriſt ſuffered on the Croſs, that he might cement p. 280Chriſtians together with his blood; as he prayed for peace, ſo he payed for peace; Chriſt was himſelf bound to bring us into the bond of peace.

8. Strife and contention hinder the growth of grace: Can good ſeed grow in a ground where there is nothing but thorns and bryars to be ſeen? Matth. 13. The thorns choaked the ſeed. When the heart is as it were ſtuck with thorns, and is ever tearing and rending, can the ſeed of grace ever grow there? Hiſtorians report of the Iſle of Patmos, that the natural ſoile of it is ſuch, that nothing will grow upon that Earth. A froward heart is like the Iſle of Patmos, nothing of grace will grow there, till God changeth the ſoile, and makes it peaceable. How can faith grow in an unpeaceable heart? for faith works by love. Impoſſible it is that he ſhould bring forth the ſweet fruits of the Spirit, who is in the gall of bitterneſs; if a man hath received poyſon into his body, the moſt excellent food will not nouriſh, till he takes ſome antidote to expel that poyſon. Many come to the Ordinances with ſeeming zeal, but being poyſoned with wrath and animoſity, they receive no ſpiritual nouriſhment. Chriſts body myſtical edifieth it ſelf in love, Eph. 4.16. There may be praying and hearing, but no ſpiritual concoction, no edifying of the body of Chriſt without love and peace.

9. Peaceableneſs among Chriſtians is a powerful loadſtone to draw the world to receive Chriſt; not only gifts and miracles, and preaching may perſwade men to embrace the truth of the Goſpel, but peace and unity among the Profeſſors of it: When as there is one God and one faith, ſo there is one heart among Chriſtians; this is as Cummin ſeed, which makes the Doves flock to the windows. The Temple was adorn'd with goodly ſtones, Luk. 21.5. This makes Chriſts ſpiritual Temple look beautiful, and the p. 281ſtones of it appear goodly, when they are cemented together in peace and unity.

10. Unpeaceableneſs of ſpirit is to make Chriſtians turn Heathens; 'tis the ſin of the Heathens, foreign, implacable, Rom. 1.31. They cannot be pacified, their hearts are like Adamant, no oyle can ſupple them, no fire can melt them; 'tis a Heatheniſh thing to be ſo fierce and violent, as if with Romulus, men had ſuck'd the milk of Wolves.

11. To adde yet more weight to the Exhortation, it is the mind of Chriſt that we ſhould live in peace. Mark 9.50. foreign, have peace one with another. Shall we not be at peace for Chriſts ſake? if we ought to lay down our life for Chriſts ſake, ſhall we not lay down our ſtrife for his ſake?

To conclude, if we will neither be under counſels nor commands, but ſtill feed the peccant humour, nouriſhing in ourſelves a ſpirit of diſſention and unpeaceableneſs, Jeſus Chriſt will never come near us. The people of God are ſaid to be his houſe, Hebr. 3.6. Whoſe houſe are we, &c. When the hearts of Chriſtians are a ſpiritual houſe, adorned with the furniture of peace, then they are fit for the Prince of peace to inhabit; but when this pleaſant furniture is wanting, and inſtead of it nothing but ſtrife and debate, Chriſt will not own it for his houſe, nor will he grace it with his preſence; who will dwell in an houſe which is ſmoaky, and all on fire?

SECT. 4.

Shewing ſome helps to peaceableneſs.

Queſt. HOW ſhall we attain to peaceableneſs?

1. Take heed of thoſe things which p. 282will hinder it. There are ſeveral impediments of peace which we muſt beware of; and they are either outward or inward.

1. Outward; as whiſperers, Rom. 1.29. There are ſome who will be buzzing things in our ears, purpoſely to exaſperate and provoke; among theſe we may rank Tale-bearers, Lev. 19.16. The Tale-bearer carries reports up and down, the Divel ſends his letters by this Poſt; the Tale-bearer is an Incendiary, he blows the coals of contention. Do you hear (ſaith he) what ſuch an one faith of you? Will you put up ſuch a wrong? will you ſuffer your ſelf to be ſo abuſed? thus doth he by throwing in his fire-balls, foment differences, and ſet men together by the ears; we are commanded indeed to provoke one another to love, Hebr. 10.24. but nowhere to provoke to anger: We ſhould ſtop our ears to ſuch perſons as are known to come on the Divels Errand.

2. Take heed of inward lets to peace.

As 1. foreign, ſelf-love. 2 Tim. 3.2. Men ſhall be lovers of themſelves: And it follows, they ſhall be foreign fierce, Ver. 3. The ſetting up of this Idol of Self hath cauſed ſo many Law-ſuits, Plunders, Maſſacres in the World. All ſeek their own, Phil. 2.21. Nay, it were well if they would ſeek but their own. Self-love angles away the Eſtates of others either by force or fraud. Self-love ſets up Monopolies and Encloſures; it is a Bird of prey, which lives upon rapine. Self-love cuts aſunder the bond of peace; lay aſide Self. The Heathens could ſay, Non nobis ſolum nati, we are not born for our ſelves.

2. foreign, Pride. Prov. 28.25. He that is of a proud heart, ſtirreth up ſtrife. Pride and Contention like Hippocrates Twins, are both born at once. A proud man thinks himſelf better than others, and will contend for p. 283ſuperiority. Joh. 3.9. Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preheminence: A proud man would have all ſtrike ſail to him. Becauſe Mordecai would not give Haman the Cap and Knee, he gets a bloody Warrant ſigned for the death of all the Jewes, Eſther 3.9. What made all the ſtrife between Pompey and Caeſar but pride? their ſpirits were too high to yield one to another. When this wind of pride gets into a mans heart, it cauſeth ſad Earth-quakes of diviſion. The Poets fain, that when Pandora's box was broke open, it fill'd the World with diſeaſes. When Adams pride had broken the box of Original righteouſneſs, it hath ever ſince fill'd the World with debates and diſſentions. Let us ſhake off this viper of pride; humility ſoders Chriſtians together in peace.

3. foreign, envy; envy ſtirreth up ſtrife; the Apoſtle hath linked them together: 1 Tim. 6.4. Envy, ſtrife: Envy cannot endure a Superiour; this made the Plebeian faction ſo ſtrong among the Romans, they envied their Superiours: An envious man ſeeing another to have a fuller Crop, a better Trade, is ready to pick a quarrel with him. Prov. 27.4. Who can ſtand before envy? Envy is a vermin that lives on blood; take heed of it; peace will not dwell with this inmate.

4. foreign, Credulity. Prov. 14.15. The ſimple believeth every word. A credulous man is akin to a fool, he believes all that is told him, and this doth often create differences. As it is a ſin to be a Tale-bearer, ſo it is a folly to be a Tale-believer. A wiſe man will not take a report at the firſt bound, but will ſift and examine it before he gives credit to it.

2. Let us labour for thoſe things which will maintain and cheriſh peace.

As, 1. Faith; faith and peace keep houſe together; faith believes the Word of God; the Word ſaith, Live p. 284in peace, 2 Cor. 13.11. And aſſoon as faith ſees the King of heavens Warrant, it obeyes; faith perſwades the ſoul that God is at peace; and it is impoſſible to believe this, and live in variance; nouriſh faith; faith knits us to God in love, and to our Brethren in peace.

2. Chriſtian communion: There ſhould not be too much ſtrangeneſs among Chriſtians; the primitive Saints had their foreign, love-feaſts **Tertul.. The Apoſtle exhorting to peace, brings this as an Expedient, Be ye kind one to another, Epheſ. 4.32.

3. Look not upon the failings of others, but their graces; there is no perfection here. We read of the ſpots of Gods children, Deutr. 32.5. The moſt golden Chriſtians are ſome grains too light: Oh let us not ſo quarrel with the infirmities of others, as to paſs by their vertues. If in ſome things they fail, in other things they excel. 'Tis the manner of the world to look more upon the Sun in an Eclipſe, than when it ſhines in its full luſtre.

4. Pray to God that he will ſend down the Spirit of peace into our hearts; we ſhould not as Vultures, prey one upon another; but pray one for another. Pray that God will quench the fire of contention, and kindle the fire of compaſſion in our hearts one to another: So much for the firſt thing in the Text implied, that Chriſtians ſhould be peaceable-minded. I proceed to the ſecond expreſsed, That they ſhould be foreign Peace-makers.

SECT. 5.

Preſſing Chriſtians to be Peace-makers.

Doctr. 2 THAT all good Chriſtians ought to be peace-makers; Doctr. 2 they ſhould not only be p. 285peaceable themſelves, but make others to be at peace; as in the body, when a joynt is out, we ſet it again; ſo it ſhould be in the body Politick: When a garment is rent, we ſowe it together again; when others are rent aſunder in their affections, we ſhould with a ſpirit of meekneſs ſow them together again: Had we this excellent skill, we might glue and unite diſſenting ſpirits. I confeſs it is oft a thankleſs office to go about to reconcile differences**foreign. Gr. Naz.: Acts 7.27. Handle a bryar never ſo gently, it will go near to ſcratch; he that goes to interpoſe between two Fencers, many time receives the blow; but this duty, though it may want ſucceſs as from men, yet it ſhall not want a bleſſing from God: Bleſſed are the peace-makers. O how happy were England if it had more peace-makers. Abraham was a peace-maker, Gen. 13.8. Moſes was a peace-maker, Exod. 2.13. and that ever to be honoured Emperor Conſtantine, when he called the Biſhops together at that firſt Council of Nice to end Church-controverſies, they having inſtead of that prepared bitter invectives, and accuſations one againſt another, Conſtantine took their papers and rent them, gravely exhorting them to peace and unanimity.

Uſe 1. Reproof. It ſharply reproves them that are ſo Uſe 1 far from being peace-makers, that they are peace-breakers: Reproof. If bleſſed are the peace-makers, then curſed are the peace-breakers: If peace-makers are the children of God, then peace-breakers are the children of the Divel. Hereticks deſtroy the truth of the Church by Error; and Schiſmaticks deſtroy the peace of it by diviſion; the Apoſtle ſets a b…nd upon ſuch, Rom. 16.17. Mark thoſe which cauſe diviſions and avoid them: Have no more to do with them, than with Witches or Murderers: The Divel was the firſt peace-breaker, he divided man from God; he like Phaeton, ſet all on fire: There are too many make-bates in p. 284duplicate page p. 285duplicate page p. 286England, whoſe ſweeteſt Muſick is in diſcord; who never unite but to divide; as it was ſaid of one of the Arian Emperours, he procured unity to prevent peace**Unitatem procurat ne pax ſit.: How many in our dayes may be compared to Sampſons Foxtails, which were tyed together only to ſet the Philiſtines Corn on fire! Judges 15.4, 5. Sectaries unite to ſet the Churches peace on fire; theſe are the perſons Gods ſoul hates. Prov. 6.19. Sowers of diſcord among Brethren; theſe are the children of a curſe. Deutr. 27.24. Curſed be he that ſmiteth his neighbour ſecretly. That is, who backbites, and ſo ſets one friend againſt another; if there be a Divel in mans ſhape, it is the Incendiary.

Uſe 2 Uſe 2. It exhorts to two things.

Exhort.1. Let us take up a bitter lamentation for the diviſions of England; the wild Beaſt hath broken down the hedge Branch. 1 of our peace; we are like an houſe falling to ruine, if the Lord doth not mercifully under-prop, and ſhore us up. None of the ſons of England comfort her, but rather rake in her bowels: Will not an ingenuous child grieve to ſee his mother rent and torn in pieces? It is reported of Cato, that from the time the Civil Wars began in Rome between Ceſar and Pompey, he was never ſeen to laugh, or ſhave his beard, or cut his hair. That our hearts may be ſadly affected with theſe our Church and State-diviſions, let us conſider the miſchief of diviſions.

1. They are a Prognoſtick of much evil to a Nation; here that Rule in Philoſophy holds true, omne diviſibile eſt corruptibile. When the vail of the Temple did rend in pieces, it was a ſad omen and fore-runner of the deſtruction of the Temple; the rending the vail of the Churches peace, betokens the ruine of it. Joſephus obſerves that the City of Hieruſalem, when it was beſieged by Titus Veſpaſian, had three great factions in it, which deſtroyed more than the enemy, and was the occaſion of p. 287the taking it: How fatal inteſtine diviſions have been to this Land? Cambden and other learned Writers relate, our diſcerptions and mutinies have been the ſcaling ladder by which the Romans and the Normans have formerly gotten into the Nation. How is the bond of peace broken? we have ſo many Schiſms in the body, and are run into ſo many particular Churches, that God may juſtly unchurch us, as he did Aſia.

2. It may afflict us to ſee the garment of the Churches peace rent, becauſe diviſions bring an opprobrium and ſcandal upon Religion; theſe make the ways of God evil ſpoken, as if Religion were the fomenter of ſtrife and ſedition. Julian in his invectives againſt the Chriſtians, ſaid, they lived together as Tygers, rending, and devouring one another; and ſhall we make good Julians words? 'Tis unſeemly to ſee Chriſts Doves fighting; to ſee his lilly become a bramble. Alexander Severus ſeeing two Chriſtians contending, commanded them that they ſhould not take the name of Chriſtians any longer upon them; for (ſaith he) you diſhonour your Maſter Chriſt. Let men either lay down their contentions, or lay off the coat of their profeſſion.

3. Diviſions obſtruct the progreſs of piety; the Goſpel ſeldom thrives where the apple of ſtrife grows; the building of Gods ſpiritual Temple is hindered by the confuſion of tongues. Diviſion eats as a worm, and deſtroys the peaceable fruits of righteouſneſs **Hebr. 12.11.Heb 12:11. In the Church of Corinth, when they began to divide into Parties, one was for Paul, and another for Apollo, there were but few for Chriſt; confident I am, Englands diviſions have made many turn Atheiſts.

2. Let us labour to heal differences, and be repairers Branch. 2 of breaches; Bleſſed are the peace-makers. 1. Jeſus Chriſt was a great peace-maker, he took a long journey from p. 288heaven to earth to make peace. 2. Peace and unity is a great means for the corroborating and ſtrengthning the Church of God; the Saints are compared to living ſtones, built up for a ſpiritual houſe, 1 Pet. 2.5. You know the ſtones in an Arch or Fabrick do help to preſerve and bear up one another; if the ſtones be looſned, and drop out, all the Fabrick falls in pieces: When the Chriſtians in the primitive Church were of one heart, Acts 4.32. what a ſupporting was this? how did they counſel, comfort, build up one another in their holy faith? We ſee while the members of the body are united, ſo long they do adminiſter help and nouriſhment one to another; but if they be divided and broken off, they are no way uſeful, but the body languiſheth; therefore let us endeavour to be peace-makers; the Churches unity tends much to her ſtability.

3. Peace makes the Church of God on earth in ſome meaſure like the Church which is in heaven; the Cherubims (repreſenting the Angels) are ſet out with their faces looking one upon another, to ſhew their peace and unity; there are no jarrings or diſcords among the heavenly ſpirits; one Angel is not of an opinion differing from one another; though they have different orders, they are not of different ſpirits; they are Seraphims, therefore burn, but not in heat of contention, but love: The Angels ſerve God, not only with pure hearts, but united hearts; by an harmonious peace we might reſemble the Church Triumphant.

4. He that ſowes peace, ſhall reap peace. Prov 12.20. To the Counſellors of peace is joy. The peace-maker ſhall have peace with God**Tranquillus Deus, tranquilli… omnia.; peace in his own boſome; and that is the ſweeteſt Muſick which is made in a mans own breaſt; he ſhall have peace with others; the hearts of all ſhall be united to him; all ſhall honour him, he ſhall be called inſtaurator ruinae, the repairer of the breach, Iſa. 58.12. p. 289To conclude, the peace-maker ſhall dye in peace, he ſhall carry a good conſcience with him, and leave a good name behind him. So I have done with the firſt part of the Text, Bleſſed are the peace-makers. I proceed to the next.