A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 134 (Question 36 cont.)
SERMON CXXXIV.
WE have conſidered of the firſt of theſe Benefits, viz. Aſſurance of God's Love. I proceed to the Second, which is, Peace of Conſcience. This is no ſmall part of incheate Glory. As there is not a greater repreſentation of Hell in this world, then one under the extream Agonies of an accuſing & condemning Conſcience; ſo there is not any thing that more reſembleth Heaven, than one that enjoys the tranquility of a pacifyed Conſcience. And this very Methodicelly follows …jter Aſſurance, in as much as it is built upon it. For as all trouble of mind which diſquiets the Conſcience, ariſeth from the apprehenſion of God's Wrath, parting the man in expectation of his fiery indignation; and as long as this remains the man can have no peace: ſo Conſcience is alone really pacifyed, by the evidence which it hath of being reconciled to God, and our being entitled to his Love. When therefore we are aſſured that we have Peace with God. the proper reſult of it is, Peace in Conſcience. Not is is poſſible that we ſhould enjoy this, till firſt we have obtained that.
THAT we may take a diſtinct Account of this Benefit, I ſhall offer this Deſcription of it, Peace of Conſcience is a part of Glory begun, principally flowing from Justification, whereby the man apprehending the Pardon of his Sins, and his Reconciliation to God, and thereby compoſed, and guieted in this from fear of evil.
IN order to the laying open of this Deſcription, let it be premiſed: That there is a double Conſideration of the Peace which belongs to the People of God, viz there is a state of Peace, and the apprehenſion of that state. The former of thoſe may be, where the latter is in a great meaſure wanting; whereas the latter cannot be, till the firſt be made. If men cry, Peace, Peace, when there is no Peace, it is a deluſion & vain preſumption. But when God hath given his peace to the man, and then proclaims it in him, and his Conſcience reſents it, that is Peace indeed. It is therefore the latter of theſe which now lieth before us to Contemplate, but ſtill as it depends upon, and flows from the former. Let us then take an account of the Severals contained in it.
1. HERE is the General Nature of it; it is a part of Glory begun. And herein it agrees with Aſſurance, under which this was conſidered. In a word then, whatſoever derives preſent Conſolation to the Souls of God's People, belongs properly to Glorification: inaſmuch as the man is ſo far happy as he doth injoy it. Now nothing doth at preſent contribute more to this, then the Peace under Conſideration. He is an happy man whoſe Heart condemns him not, 1 Joh. 3.21. Then have we confidence towards God. He that knows this bleſſed ſound, may walk in the Light of God's Countenance, and rejoyce in his Name all the Day.
2. WE have the Foundation of it; it flows principally from Juſtification. There muſt be a state of Peace, before there can be a Publication of it in the Conſcience: in order of Nature at leaſt, it muſt firſt be made, before it can be proclaimed. Now our Peace of Conſcience muſt needs derive from our Peace with God. And this is the proper reſultancy from Juſtification, Rom. 5.1. Therefore being juſtified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. It is true, the knowlege of our Adoption, will give this Peace, … it may be referred to that; but this … ground of it is in the knowlege of our Je… tion, from whence this Peace truly … and on which it depends. As therefore referred the foregoing Aſſurance uni…. Adoption, ſo we may this Peace to … cation.
3. WE have the Special Nature of it, … tained in the reſt of the Deſcriptions the Man's Apprehending the Parden of his S… his Reconciliation to God, is thereby co…p… and quited within from fear of evil. I … endeavour to lay this open in the ſoll… Propoſitions.
1. THAT Conſcience is properly a … reflecting upon himſelf, and accordingly ju… of himſelf, as be is accountable to God as a …. I am not here to treat of the nature of … cience at full; that belongs to another …. However, becauſe that it is the ſubject … Peace, it is requiſitethat we conſider … is, how elſe ſhall we underſtand where … Peace is? Conſence bath the Office of e… in a Man, and on that account it is con… in two things, viz. the Man's Actions … state, and it is the latter of theſe w… are now to conſider. Now there is a … ſtate, one whereof belongs to every O… Adam, viz. a ſtate of Enmity, or a ſtate of … either God and he are at variance, or … atoned. Now this ſtate is to be known … man, and he is to judge of it by the … which God hath given man to be judge … for as he ſtands related to the Rule … Sanctions of it, ſo is his ſtate either p… ble or peaceleſs. Hence we have … expreſſed. Iſai. 57 ult. There is no peace … my God, to the wicked. Pſal. 119.165. … Peace have they who love thy law.
2. THAT hence the Sentence which … ence as a Judge paſſeth upon the Man … of thoſe two, viz. either of Condem… Abſolution. Rom. 2.15. Their conſe… … bearing witneſs, and their thoughts …spand… while accuſing, or elſe excuſing one …. And there is no middle between the… …. And this is according to the Sanction … Rule to which this judgment is re… Either upon enquiry, it finds him wi… compaſs of the threatning of Death, … by the Covenant of Works, and not … by the Covenant of Grace, and ſo it … him; or elſe it finds him gotten … promiſe of Life, and owner of tho… … that accompany Salvation, and ſo it … him. So that this Sentence proceeds … Trial made, and it is the very … Conſcience to proceed to the paſſing … Sentence, according as it finds, or … it hath found the caſe.
3. THAT the Reſult of this Se… … needs be, according as the matter is ſ… either Trouble of Mind. or Peace of …. Theſe two ſtand in oppoſition each to … according as the Sentence proceeds to … demanation or Abſolution, and will … in thereupon. As will be evident if … conſider,
(1) THAT the Subject of this Judgment is … …an's ſelf. He doth not now ſit upon … Trial of another perſon, about whom he might poſſibly not be very …llicitous, or greatly …cerned, whether he be found guilty, or …ned. But when a man's own ſtate is …ed, it muſt needs affect him; becauſe … muſt either ſuffer the Evil, or enjoy the Good which is conſequent upon it. For,
(2) GOD bath planted in all men's Nature, a …ple deſirous of Good, and abhorring of Evil. And this is tooted in them, ſo as it cannot … …dicated or extinguiſhed. Every man …eth a well-being to himſelf, and ſhuns … or miſery; and his Nature muſt be …ed before this Principle can ceaſe in …. All men are bound for Happineſs, what cauſe ſoever they take to obtain it. Every … enquiring after Good. Pſal. 4 6. Many ſay, who will ſhew us any good?
(3) HENCE, when be apprehends Evil coming …, it cannot but trouble him, and proportio…y, when be apprehends Good belonging to …, is cannot but comfort him; and when be is … that it ſhall certainly come, it muſt … give him Quiet within. Apptehended … gives a man moleſtation, it makes him …, Iſai 33.14. The ſinners in Zion are …. And apprehended Good compoſeth …, it makes him confident and joyful. … 1. O Lord, I will praiſe thee: though … angry with me, thine anger is turned … thou comforteſt me.
(4) AND this will hold proportion with the … Evil reſented. If theſe be little and … great Concernment, and he thinks them … is not much moved with them, but if they … and momentous, and he ſo reſents th…, he cannot but take them to Heart ac…y. Now the affair in which Conſci… …cerned, about the man's ſtate, is … moment. It not only tells him … is, but how it is like to be with … …er. It gives him Light to diſcern … …ing eſtate. If Conſcience condemns … …ells him that unleſs he get out of … in time, he muſt ſuffer Eternal …ce, and that is a fearful thing. If it up… him, it aſſures him, that he is ſafe …, and ſhall be happy Everlaſtingly. … what Peace muſt that neceſſarily afford …?
…. THAT in order to true inward Peace of …, it is requiſite that we be at … all that can do us any real barm. … would never fall out with the …ſelf, or give him any inward moleſta…, … it did not apprehen danger from … for tho' it is ſin, that gives the riſe to …uble, and if man had not finn'd, he … known what a diſquiet mind had …er the fears and terrors of it are … by the foreſight he hath of the … …iſery, which by it he is expoſed unto. Hence Sinners, whiles they can put away from them the fear of evil, live at quiet: Sin it ſelf doth not trouble them. But when once they are perſwaded of the danger they are expoſed unto, now they are diſturbed. That then they may enjoy quier, this hazzard muſt be put our of the way, and they muſt have ſome good aſſurance of it. Now thoſe that can hurt him, are either ſuch as can only do it inſtrumentally, as they are uſed in the hand of another, to execute his righteous diſpieaſure upon us withal; or be who bath the power in his own hands, either to employ thoſe inſtruments to this purpoſe, or to with-hold them from it. As to the former of theſe, our Peace or Controverſy with them, is but conſequential, and turn as the Affair goes between him whoſe they are, and us, ſo that it is in vain for us to ſeek Peace with them, whiles we have him for our Enemy: They can afford us none. Our agreement with them is but a combination againſt him, and ſhall not ſtand, and he will ſtill uſe them as Inſtruments to do us hurt, and they wil fulfill his pleaſure in it. Whereas, if our Peace be made with him, that will bring with it a Peace with them, ſo far as they ſhall never be able to do us hurt. Job 5.25. Hence therefore, there is only God and the Law, or rather God in reſpect of his Law, whom we are thus concerned withal, and if once our Peace be ſettled here, we have a Peace that will be our full ſecurity againſt all that would offer to moleſt us, Job 34.29. When he giveth quietneſs, who then can cauſe trouble. Here then lies the ſecurity of this Peace of Conſcience: When a man apprehends himſelf to be out of the reach of all danger of harm, he is not then afraid, but ſits down at reſt. When therefore he hath a good Aſſurance, that He who governs the whole World, and without whoſe leave, neither Men nor Devils, not any other Creature can touch him, is his Friend, and hath received him into his Favour, how confident can this man be? Pſal, 27.1, 2. — Whom ſhall I ſear?—
5. THAT the whole Progeny of fallen Adam, are by Nature without this Peace. There was once a happy Combination between God and Man, when God plighted the firſt Covenant with Man, which if Man had ſtood to, and not apoſtatized from, he ſhould have had God for his Friend forever: But it is otherwiſe ſince the fall. Every man is by nature a Child of wrath, Eph. 2.3. And this Condition continues as long as men abide under the Convenant of Workds. So that all unregenerate men are God's Enemies, He hath a juſt controverſy with them, and is armed againſt them with Wrath and Revenge. There is a Curſe that is fallen upon them, and they li… under the ſentence of Death, which the Juſtice of God ſtands engaged to excute upon them, if they ſo abide.
6. THAT which makes this Controverſy between God and Man, is Sin, the Guilts whereof is upon them. God hates none of his Creatures as ſuch, but ſin hath made the diſtance. Iſai. 59.2. Y…ur iniquities have ſeperated between you & your God. And it is the quarrel of his holy Law which God here ſtands engaged in, that was by man's ſin violated, to the maintenance whereof he obliged himſelf in the firſt Covenant. God made Man to be an active Inſtrument of his declarative Glory, and having every way fitted and furniſhed him for ſuch a Service He gave him a Law to be the Rule of his Obedience, in perfect conformity whereto, he was to glorify him. And becauſe he would have this to be the Rule of Relative Juſtice between him and man, he annexed both a Promiſe and a Threatning to it, unto the performance whereof, according as man ſhould behave himſelf with reſpect to that Rule, hi firmly obliged himſelf. So that his Truth and Holineſs, as well as his Juſtice, ſto…d concerned in the Sanctions of this Law. When therefore man had by ſin brought himſelf under the Threatning, and ſo made himſelf a man of Death, the Curſe contained in the Threatning falls upon him, and God purſues it againſt him. And now there is no Peace between them. As long therefore as this Wall is kept up, and the Curſe of the Law ſtands out againſt the man, he is far from Peace. The Law muſt be fulfilled in every …t and tittle of it, Mat. 5.18. Man's eſtate therefore, as long as he is under the Covenant of Works, remains a peaceleſs ſtate.
7. HENCE till God is reconciled to the Man, be can have no ground of Peace of Conſcience. As long as he ſaith to the Sinner, I am againſt thee, what Peace can he enjoy, or how can his Conſcience declare him ſafe? While God hath a Controverſy with the man, he lies open every moment to all the miſeries recorded in the Word of God. It is vain for him to fortify againſt God, whoſe Arm is able to cruſh the whole World into nothing, or to hide away from him, whoſe infinite Omnipreſence fills Heaven & Earth & Hell. Whence then ſhould his Conſcience fetch any Arguments to quiet him withal? If once he can truly ſay that God is atoned to him, he may then beat a Challenge to the whole Creation, as, Rom. 8.31. If God be for us, who can be againſt us? But as long as God is angry, he is liable every moment to ruine. What ſaith David, Pſal. 76.7. Who may ſtand in thy ſight w…en once thou art angry? Hence, this is the only grand Encouragement to a Sinner, to hope for Peace, that there is a Reconciliation to be obtained; that Jeſus Chriſt is the Mediator of it, and that by getting an intereſt in him by faith, our Sins may be pardoned, and our Perſons accepted, and a Covenant of Peace be plighted between him and us. The evidence of this is that alone on which Conſcience can build …ts Conſolation; and no farther then we can be ſatisfyed in the reality of it, can we have true Peace within.
8. THIS Reconciliation and Peace is applied and ratified to us in our Justification. We are are therefore told, Rom. 5.1. Therefore being juſtified by ſaith, we have peace with God … our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And this is upon …. Believing on Chriſt, who is therefore … our Peace, Eph. 2.14. It is true, there was a Reconciliation purchaſed by Chriſt for us, in and by his Righteouſneſs. Hence that … 5.14. To tell, that God was in Chriſt reco… the world unto himſelf, not imputing their …ſpaſſes unto them. He ſatisfied the Juſtion of God for us, and received an acquittance in … name, and was juſtifyed for us. He beca… the Prince of Peace, and had the diſpenſ… of it put into his Hands. But this notwithſtanding, till we are alſo reconciled actually to God, by accepting the terms of Peace perpoſed to us in the Goſpel, which is by … lieving on him, we remain in a peaceleſs …. There is therefore an Invitation built … the former, in order to our coming by … ver. 20. And till this be complied wi…, we are told how it is with us, Eph. 2.3, …. There is a Sentence of Death upon …, which holds us bound under Guilt, till … taken off, and that is done by an act of Juſtification which paſſeth upon us. Whe… giveth a free Pardon to a Sinner, he … frees him from the Condemnation that … upon him, and receives him into …. And now his ſtate is re…dred peaceable … therefore a Pardoned man, is pronounced a … ſed man, Pſal. 32.1, 2. And this Pardon … to Juſtification. When once this is … mans Sins are to God's Juſtice, as if … never been. Then is that a truth … them, Numb. 23.21. He hath not behold inqui…y in Jac…b, neither hath be ſeen per… in Iſrael. Now the man paſſeth from … to Life.
9. THIS Peace comes into the Conſci… way of Reflection. Peace in Conſcience … part of Juſtification, but it is a Benefit … quent upon it. It is indeed built upon …; but a man may be in a ſtate of Peace, … want the witneſs of his own Conſcie… …. When God changeth the ſtate of the … and blots out the hand writing that is … him, he is then in Peace: But this … and the man not ſatisfyed about it; hi… … cience is diſquiet and full of fears. … Peace may be proclaimed in Heaven, … be glorious Angels may be acquainted …, before he himſelf is ſatisfyed in it. … therefore in which the Conſcience … to be at quiet about it, is by reflecti… … and it is after this manner: Them … Terms of Peace that are declared in … … pel, and the Promiſe of it ſecured to … who do cordialy comply with tho… … that hath ſaid, Joh. 3.16. For God … world, that he gave his only begotten … whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould … but have everlaſting life. Now, as … Author of that Grace, whereby we … to accept of and cloſe in with theſe … ſo, our having thus done is our Evid… the Peace that is engaged to all that … Conſcience therefore reading of the … of the …, and comparing the man ſelf there…; …deth thoſe things in him which … Salvation, and unto which God … a firm promiſe of Pardon, & Peace, … Glory, whereupon he concludes himſelf … juſtifyed Perſon, and this gives him … Peace.
10. THE R…riſication of this Peace in Conſci… … be by the Witneſs of the Spirit of God. … …old, Rom. 8.16. The Spirit it ſelf … witneſs with our ſpirit, that we are the … of God. And indeed, though our … built on the things that God hath … for us, yet our Settlement and … from it, muſt be confirmed by … we ſhall be in doubts and fears. … help us to read our Evidences, and … ſoul to them, elſe we ſhall not he …. He therefore muſt give us this … well as lay the foundation of it in … 17.1. Per… the fruit of the lip…; … to him that is for off, and to him … ſaith the Lord. So that we ſee, … depends upon, and flows from the … …rance, and it is eſtabliſhed on the … with tha…, and holds an exact … with it. For when I know that … …e Pardoned, that God is atoned, … hath appointed me to Salvation, … certainly being me to Eternal Life, … …joy the very grounds and reaſons … Peace; and if I am in doubt or ſuſ… … theſe, my Peace muſt needs be ſo ….
… fruit or effect of this Peace is, that … …poſed and quieted from fear of … is true, there is a carnal Security, … unquily man do enjoy & pleaſe them… before God comes to awaken their …, and give them …ſtur…ance: But … of a vaſtly different nature from this … …ſideration; it is from a ſtupid, … Conſcience. It is but like … man when hit Houſe is on Fire … who will er…long wake in a fright. … Peace in a Godly man, is a Settle… … …ath gotten after ſuch a time as God … him to for his miſerable eſtate. … into … of it, and he could … until … betook himſelf to Chriſt, … the ſhadow of his Wings. And … flows from the Light of God's …; the 8 miles of his Favour, the … his Spirit. From whence he is … of any thing that ſhould offer him …. Let the World rage, and Hell vent … never ſo much, yet in all this he …; and let him encounter never ſo … from abroad, all is calm with… … is gotten under the Feathers of …ghty, where he is forever ſafe. This … the Benefits which follow upon … Calling in this Life. And if it be … then is it, that the Children of … often in Trouble and fear about … of Favour, and enjoy ſo little Quiet …. It may be anſwered; Not only that it is a Benefit belonging to this Life, which Chriſt diſpenſeth to his Children in manner and meaſure as his Wiſdom ſees meet, and he is not to be contended with about it; but there are few, if any true Believers that do not enjoy it, at least in ſome degree, ſo far as to have ſo much Comfort from it, as they would not port with it, for all that the World can afford. And uſually, that they enjoy no more of it, is ſome way their own fault, and their being without it, is a righteous Chaſtiſement of them: Either they too much neglect the great Work of Self-Examination, whereby they ſhould be confirmed in the grounds of their Peace, and by not eſtabliſhing their Aſſurance, they …iſs of this Comfort of it: Or elſe they have by ſome Follies of theirs, wounded their own Conſciences, darkned their Evidence…, provoked the Spirit of God to withdraw his Teſtimony. And now God puts them to Trouble; and whiles it is ſo, their Peace is very unſettled. But this will be to humble them, and in that way to fir them for a better uſe of it; and he will reſtore to them the Joy of his Salvation.
USE. IS there ſuch a Benefit …s this? Let thoſe that went it ſeek after it, and thoſe thus Enjoy it highly print it, and ſe… more and more to establiſh in it. Remember, Sin hath deprived all of it, the World cannot give it. Jeſus Chriſt is the only diſpenſer of it, you muſt get into him by Faith, if ever you be entitled to it. Reſt not there in … Unconverted ſtate, nor take up with a falſe Peace, as … titudes do, which they will … at laſt. And doth God vouchſafe us to enjoy any comfortable meaſures if this Peace lot us rejoyce in it at all times, let it carry as cheerfully through the moſt difficult Duties, and enlighten us with Conſolation u…der the darkneſs Providences. Let the Peace of God be a continued Feaſt to us, and enable us to triumph over all that world ſeelt our harm. And let us be tender of it: Beware of doing any thing that may diſturb our own Conſciences, and make them to give us moleſtation, or that may provoke an Holy God to withdraw from us that Light by which alone this Peace can be maintained. Let us be tender of our own Conſciences, and that is the way to have God continue Peace in them, by which we may enjoy and Heaven upon Earth.
[JULY 4. 1699.]