The Path-way to Peace.
When a mans wayes pleaſe the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
THe righteous have ſo many and ſo exceeding great encouragements, to ſtrengthen them in the proſecution of a religious courſe of life;The godly have manifold encouragements to ſtrenthen them in their religious courſes. ſo ſweet invitations, and ſtrong allurements, with ſuch glorious promiſes, that if they be not very heartleſſe cowards, they cannot but be reſolute, in the declaration of the powerfull profeſſion of the grace of Chriſt Jeſus; for to let paſſe thoſe unſpeakably ſweet and comfortable promiſes of grace in this life, and its conſequents; and of glory hereafter, and its concomitants; not to ſpeak of them (for indeed they are inexplicable, and if I had the tongue of men and Angels, I ſhould but bungle in ſetting them forth unto you) I ſay, beſide theſe ſpirituall and heavenly bleſſings appropriated unto the Saints, there are alſo many temporall priviledges, which more peculiarly belong unto them; all which compared together, makes their preſent condition (though outwardly never ſo baſe and deſpicable) to tranſcend and over-top the Bay-flouriſhing eſtate4 of the ungodly ſons of Belial, though they bathe themſelves never ſo plenteouſly in the rivers of the pleaſures of this life, and be never ſo much encompaſſed with the reſtleſſe deſires of their own carnall heart. Amongſt thoſe promiſes, this may not undeſervedly be ranked, which the wiſeſt of meer men propounds unto us in this proportion of holy Scripture, which as a coſtly jewell in a Ring of fine gold, or as a glorious gliſtering Star fixed in his Orb, offers it ſelf unto our conſideration, containing thus much in effect; That when a mans courſes,The ſum and ſubſtance of the promiſe here laid down. proceedings, and all his actions; his carriage towards God, his intercourſe and converſation with men: When (I ſay) theſe his wayes are ſo equally and evenly levelled and ſquared, that they are well-pleaſing to the eyes of the Almighty, the Lord doth ſu proſper him in all his affairs, that if he get not the love and hearty affection of his enemies, yet at leaſtwiſe he ſo orders it, that be makes them to be outwardly at peace with him.
The Diviſion of the Text.The words being thus unfolded, we may conceive two generall parts therein:
1. An Exhortation to a godly life, viz. That our wayes may pleaſe the Lord; which is propounded by way of ſuppoſition, When a mans wayes pleaſe the Lord.
2. A Motive to enforce the ſame, from the benefit enſuing thereupon; Our enemies ſhall be at peace with us: When a mans wayes pleaſe the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
The Expoſition of the words with the particular obſervations included therein.In theſe two generall points, there are many particulars obſervable, included as hand-maids to the main point, and are wrapped about the body of the Text, as the Ivy about the tree; But becauſe they are not ſo directly incident to the Text, I will but touch them, and ſo leave them.
What we are to underſtand by Wayes. Wayes. Men actions, motion of their affections, and common courſe of life, are uſually called wayes in the Scriptures, in regard of the neer reſemblance of each to other; for as by the way which a man travelleth, we may conjecture whither he goeth, Eaſt-ward or Weſt-ward, ſo our actions ſhew wither we are going, to infernall AEgypt, or to5 the celeſtiall Canaan; whether to Hell or Heaven: There's no third way.
Mans wayes. Mens wayes of themſelves cannot pleaſe God,Mens wayes o themſelves cannot pleaſe God. Rom. 8 7. Iſa. 64 6. for the moſt Reformed are abominable before the Lord. The very wiſed in of the fleſh is enmity againſt God; and, We all are as an unclean cloth, and our righteouſneſſe is as filthy rags ▪ We are therefore here to underſtand mans wayes ſanctified and directed by the ſpirit of the Lord.
The wayes of the true convert are pleaſing wayes.Pleaſe the Lord. The wayes of the true convert are pleaſing wayes, pleaſing in their own nature, as being the actions of divine grace in their Originall, as proceeding from an upright heart, and faith unfaigned; and in their effect, as being very delightfull and comfortable unto us in the performing of them; and therefore in Scripture the wayes of wiſedom, that is,Prov. 3.17. of him that is truely wiſe, are called wayes of pleaſantneſſe, and King Solomon admires this pleaſingneſſe of Chriſts Spouſe, ſaying, How fair, and how pleaſant art thou, O Love,Cant. 7 6. for delights.
Again,The wayes of the godly are pleaſing to the Lord. Iſa. 62.4. Though diſtaſtefull to the wick•d. Prov. 29.27. Cant. 4.9. The wayes of a righteous man are indeed pleaſing unto the Lord; and therefore he calls his Church Hepbzibah, that is•, My delight is in her: But contrarily they are unſavoury and diſtaſtefull to the wicked, who finde no more taſte in ſuch wayes then in the white of an egge. He that is upright in the way, is an abomination to the wicked.
The Lord, The Object of all the righteous mans actions muſt be Jehovah, our God. We muſt not regard our ſelves, nor the world. As we are the Spouſe of Chriſt, ſo we muſt behave our ſelves as the chaſte Spouſe, whoſe care is, how ſhe may pleaſe her Bride-groom, who hath betrothed himſelf unto her; other mens love ſhe mindes not: So we, if we can pleaſe God, no matter whom we diſpleaſe.
The godly have many enemies.His enemies. The godly have their enemies, not one, but many, enemies, in the Plurall number: Wicked Angels and men, men both without and within the Church.
The extent of Gods goodneſſe to his.Even his enemies, Or, his very enemies. This is to expreſſe the extent of Gods goodneſſe unto us, by way of emphaſis; ſome are friends to the faithfull, oth•rs are enemies, others are Neuters, like Gallio the Deputy,Act. 18.16, 17. caring neither for6 the wicked Jews, nor zealous Paul; now the Lord will not onely make ſuch at peace with us, who as yet are indifferent, but even our very profeſſed enemies.
The wicked can never truly love the godly.At peace. The wiſe man doth not ſay, That the Lord will make his enemies love him; no, for the unſanctified heart cannot truely love a righteous man, as righteous (that is the property of the faithfull ſoul) but he will make him at peace with him; that is, Outwardly there ſhall be quietneſſe, and profeſſion of love.
He maketh;Its of the Lord, not from the wicked, when they are at peace with the godly. Iſa. 57.19. namely, The Lord. It's not any naturall inclination, or vertuous diſpoſition the wicked have to the righteous, but the Lords work. He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Again, Who is the author, who worketh our Peace? It's the Lord that createth Peace for us, whether it be peace within, or peace without us. The wicked have peace, ſuch as it is, inward and outward, but not from the God of peace. There were that propheſied,Jer. 14.13. Ezek. 13 16. 1 Theſſ. 5.3. That the Jews ſhould have aſſured peace, whoſe Propheſies were found Lyes; God having ſaid, That there was no peace for them. When the wicked ſhall ſay peace and ſafety, then ſudden deſtruction cometh upon them, as travell upon a woman with childe, and they ſhall not eſcape. This is the comfort of the faithfull, That what they have of theſe temporall bleſſings, it's from the Lord.
So long as our wayes are pleaſing to God, this promiſe belongeth unto us.When a mans wayes, &c. This promiſe is warranted unto us, during our continuance in well-doing: while our wayes are ſo undefiled, that they be acceptable before God. If we forſake this ſecure way, we forſake our own mercy.
Thus of the Particulars obſervable from the words ſeverally confidered:Jonah 2.8. Come we now to the two Generalls of the Text, which have been already propounded, namely 1. The duty of every Chriſtian, To order his wayes ſo, that they may pleaſe God. 2. The reward of the duty; namely, That then the Lord will make the enemies of theſe his friends to be at peace with them;Joh. 15.14. both which may be reduced into this one Point, which is here chiefly aymed at, and the principall ſcope of the whole Text; namely, That
The Doctrine.When our converſation is pleaſing to the Lord, and we ſo live,7 as walking with God, he brings it to paſſe, that our very enemies are at peace with us.
This Doctrine will be ſufficiently laid open unto us, if we ſhall examine, 1. The truth of it by Scriptures. 2. The manner how the Lord doth make our very enemies at peace with us. 3. The reaſons why he doth thus ſhew his love to his Saints. Then 4. Anſwer ſuch places of Scripture as ſeem to oppoſe this truth. 5. Make uſe and application of this comfortable promiſe.
The firſt Point.
The proof of the Doctrine out of Gods Word. Proved.This we will expreſſe 1. Affirmatively, ſhewing, That when our wayes pleaſe the Lord, he makes our enemies at peace with us. 2. Negatively, or by way of contraries, to make the truth more evidently appear; namely, That when our actions and life are diſpleaſing to God, he makes our very friends at enmity with us.
Affirmatively by examples.Affirmatively, and that by ſundry examples; for they are more familiar and convincing.
The firſt is between Abimelech King of the Philiſtims,The 1 example Gen. 26.16.27, 28. and Iſaac the faithfull ſeed of Abraham. Iſaac was hated of this Heatheniſh King, and driven away; yet in proceſſe of time, the Lord apparently ſhewed his bleſſings upon him, that the King could not but perceive it, and is conſtrained to come and ſeek to make a League with him.
The ſecond is of Jacob,The 2 example Gen 35.5. who thought his ſons had ſo tyrannouſly ſlaughtered a whole City of men, the inhabitants of Shechem, that there could be nothing expected of upright Jacob, but that the neighbouring Nations ſhould have revenged their cruelty, with the like ſlaughter of him and his houſhold; yet the terrour of the Lord fell upon the people round about them as they travelled, that they ſuffered them peaceably to take their journey, without making any purſuit after them.
The third unto the Iſraelites,The 3 example Exod. 12.26. when the Lord gave them favour in the eyes of the Aegyptians, their cruell enemies.
8The fourth. The 4 example Jer. 39.11, 12.This promiſe was alſo made good unto Jeremy, when (being ungently uſed of his own people) in the generall Captivity of the Jews, he was reſtored to liberty, and kindely entreated of the enemies.
The fifth. The 5 example Gen. 33 4.But never was this truth more compleatly accompliſhed, then when the Lord made Eſau at peace with his brother Jacob; for where there is hatred betwixt brethren, its uſually moſt extreme,Prov. 18 19. as the wiſe man teacheth; the brother offended is harder to be won then a ſtrong City, and their contentions are like the bars of a Caſtle. This is more marvellous, if we conſider, That he was even then in his march with four hundred men towards his brother, to revenge himſelf of his long unforgotten injuries, when he was reconciled unto him.
Negatively by examples.Negatively. When we diſpleaſe God, he makes our very friends at enmity with us; whereof we have alſo pregnant examples:
The firſt,The 1 example 1 Sam. 15.23. of Saul, becauſe his wayes were rebellious againſt the Lord, his own ſervants, his own Tribe, his ſon in law, David, and his own ſon out of his bowels, all were againſt him;Sam 22 7, 8. yea, Jonathan did favour David, his greateſt adverſary, whereof he himſelf did pitifully complain.
The 2 exampleThe ſecond, of David, under whom the Lord had ſubdued all all his enemies, till ſuch time as he ſinned againſt God in the matter of Ʋriah the Hittite, and then the Lord raiſed againſt him his own darling Abſalom,2 Sam. 15.10. to conſpire againſt him for his Kingdom.
The 3 exampleThe third, of Solomon. All the while his heart was perfect with his God, he had peace within his own Dominions from Dan to Beerſheba;1 King 4 24. but after he multiplies women to himſelf and ſacrifices to ſtrange gods, then God ſtirs up Hadad and Rezon,1 King 11.14.23.26 28. ſuch as were formerly at peace with him; yea, even his own ſervant and favourite Jeroboam.
The fourth,The 4 example 2 Chron. 24.18.25. of Joaſh, who thrived while he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord; but falling to Idolatry, and hatred of Reformation, his own ſervants conſpired againſt him, and flew him.
Thus have we the truth of the doctrine, both affirmatively, and negatively.
The ſecond Point.
THe manner how the Lord doth make our very enemies at peace with us. The Lord makes our enemies at peace with us, by changing their affections. Prov 21 1. Gen. 41.38.39. 1 Sam. 29.6.9.This he bringeth to paſſe divers wayes:
1. By altering and changing their affections (for he turneth mens hearts as the rivers of water, which way it pleaſeth him) and working in them an admiration of his hidden ones. Thus Pharaoh King of Aegypt wondered at the wiſedom of Joſeph, and his gift in the interpretation of dreams. So was David admired of Achiſh King of Gath, an Heathen, as if he had been an Angel of God. This effect was moſt illuſtrious in the Officers which were ſent by the Scribes and Phariſees to apprehend Chriſt, and went to ſeek him for that very purpoſe; but when they came and heard him preaching to the people, they either forgot their errand, or willingly diſobeyed the command of their maſters, and fell into admiration of our Saviour, ſaying, Never man ſpake like this man. John 7 46 Converting them. Iſa. 11.5, 6.
2. By converting their wicked hearts, to become godly Saints: for JEHOVAH, by the power of his Word, can change the ſavage Leopard, into an harmleſſe Kid; and the ravening Wolf, into an innocent Lamb. Thus perſecuting Saul,Acts 9.1.6. who breathed out nothing but threatnings and ſlaughter againſt the diſciples of the Lord, was made a true convert, and a preaching Paul. And thus the Jaylour, who once impriſoned, ſtocked, and whipped Paul and Silas,Acts 16.24 33, 34. was converted to the faith, and became a friend to thoſe whom formerly be hated, waſhing their ſtripes, and ſetting meat before them.
3. By a divine terrour which the Lord ſtriketh into the hearts of their enemies. Striking terror into their hearts. Gen 31.24.Thus the Lord dealt with the fury of Laban, when he and his company purſued after Jacob, in all probability, intending to offer violence unto him, he charged him that he ſhould not ſo much as ſpeak ought but good unto Jacob. This terrour was wrought in Jeroboam,1 Kings 13 48 by withering of his arm miraculouſly, when he intended evill againſt the man of God, who ſpake to him in the Word of the Lord, and thereby Jeroboam was conſtrained to receive him courteouſly.
Deſtroying them.4. By deſtroying them, that their irreconciliable hatred may periſh with their lives, if their heart be ſo hard that it will not be10 made pliable to his will. Thus dealt the Lord with Senacherih, and his Hoſt,2 Kin. 19 35 37 when they encamped againſt his people, he ſlew him by his own ſons, and of his Army 185000 men by an Angel. Thus doth the Lord with the enemies of his Church, when they will needs band themſelves againſt his anoynted Ones. Iſa. 8.9.Let them aſſociate themſelves, they ſhall be broken in pieces; let them gird themſelves, they ſhall be broken in pieces, ſaith the Lord by his Prophet.
5. By working (as we ſay) againſt the hair, when by permitting of the wicked to be at enmity with us,Suffering them to do their worſt. he procures our peace and proſperity. Satan was at enmity with man-kinde, and the Lord permitted him to do his worſt: He thought to bring everlaſting contempt upon all man-kinde,Rom. 5.15. through Adams fall, but God made it an occaſion of the greater exaltation of his Church. God ſuffered the AEgyptians to afflict his people; but the more they were afflicted,Exod. 1.12. Deut. 23 5. Gen. 50.20. Rom. 8.28. the more they multiplied. Balaams curſe was turned into a bleſſing. The hatred of Joſephs brethren, turned to his greateſt advancement. Thus all things conſpire for the welfare of Gods beloved ones. Thus of the manner how the Lord maketh our very enemies to be at peace with us.
The third Point.
The Lord doth thus deal with his own, 2 Sam 19.36.WHy the Lord doth thus graciouſly reward his ſervants. As B•rzillai ſaid to David, Thy ſervant will go with thee this little way, and why ſhould the King recompence it me with ſuch a reward? So may we ſay in this caſe: Behold, we have done the Lord this little piece of ſervice, and why ſhould be recompence us thus bounteouſly? Surely not for this our ſervice (for is it any pleaſure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him that thou makeſt thy wayes perfect? Job 22 3. Luke 17.10.And when we ſhall have done all thoſe things which are commanded us, we may ſay, We are unprofitable ſervants, we have done that which was our duty to do) nor for the righteouſneſſe of our wayes in pleaſing him. Deut. 9 4, 5.The Scripture teacheth us another leſſon. The main reaſons are theſe:
For the manifeſtation of his goodneſſe.1. His goodneſſe and kindeneſſe towards us free and undeſerved, whom it pleaſeth to reward his own gifts, and to11 crown his own graces in us. 1 Cor. 15.10.That we can do any thing well pleaſing to God, it's his gift, and that while we do thus pleaſe him, he makes our very enemies to be at peace with us, is alſo from him, who neglecteth nothing that might be an encouragement unto us in well-doing.
For the demonſtration of his power.2. The neceſſity of conſequence; for if the Lord be once our friend, who can, or dare be our enemy? This the Apoſtle ſheweth: Having evidently demonſtrated, That God hath reconciled us unto himſelf in Chriſt Jeſus, and is become our friend, he doubts not of the infallibility of this conſequence, If God be for us, who can be againſt us? Rom. 8 31.As if he ſhould have ſaid; I ask you all, if you can name that creature, that can be at enmity with us; no, ye cannot: He is the Lord of Hoſts, namely, Of the Armies of his Creatures, and he rules over them with more then Imperiall Authority; And if he be on our ſide, the very ſtones of the ſtreet,Job 5.22, 23. Simil. and the beaſts of the field ſhall be in league with us. It's not with the favourites of the King of heaven, as with the favourites of the little kings of the earth; Theſe may be in great favour with their Prince, and yet one of the ſubjects of the ſame Prince may lay violent hands upon them, even to the deprivation of their life, as was long ago exemplified in Abner, who though in league with King David, and entertained into his favour,1 Sam. 3.27. yet was treacherouſly ſlain by Joab, Davids ſubject:Iſa. 37.38. Yea, even Kings themſelves cannot in this caſe protect their own perſons from the injury of their own ſubjects; but thoſe are in a more ſafe condition. And in this reſpect, he that hath a care that his wayes may be pleaſing to God, hath more ſecurity and ſafety for his perſon, then even the greateſt Monarchs that are without this care. The Lord is a ſure Bulwark to all thoſe that are his precious treaſure.
For the accompliſhment of his promiſes. 1 King 8.49. 1 King 9.3.3 That he might fulfill his promiſe which he made unto Salomon, when he prayed, That if his people ſhould ſin againſt him, and he given over into the hands of their enemies, that then if they ſhould repent them of their evill wayes, the Lord ſhould give them favour in the ſight of thoſe which had carried them captives. How this prayer was heard of God, as the Lord teſtified unto him in a Viſion. Thus why the Lord doth thus gratiouſly reward his ſervants.
The fourth Point.
THe cleering of ſuch places of Scripture as ſeem to oppoſe this truth, nay, to imply the direct contrary; viz. Object. That when our wayes pleaſe the Lord, our very friends are at emnity with us. Thus Jeremiah's brethren,Jer 12 6. Jer. 15.10. and they of his fathers houſe, dealt treacherouſly with him; and though he had done no evill, yet every one curſed him, whereof he himſelf complaineth. Alſo the Prophet Iſaiah ſaith,Iſa. 59.15. He that departeth from evill, maketh himſelf a prey. Our Saviour alſo foretold, That even they of our own houſhold ſhould be our enemies,Mat. 10.3, 36. all wch ſeem to thwart this truth.
For Anſwer unto theſe, and ſuch like places, we are.
Anſwer. 1. To ſearch our ſelves, whether there be not ſome ſpeciall ſin abiding within us, deſerving this ſpeciall puniſhment, that God ſhould with-hold the fulfilling of this promiſe from us.
2. To confider, That as God hath made this promiſe, ſo he hath appointed the uſe of all lawfull means conducing thereunto. Thus Jacob,Gen. 32.28. though he had a promiſe from Chriſt, (wreſtling with him in the form of a man) That he ſhould prevail with man,Gen 35.8. and conſequently, with his brother Eſau, yet he prepare; a Preſent, that he might thereby reconcile himſelf unto his brother Eſau. Thus alſo did Jacob ſend a Preſent unto his ſon Joſeph, who did then govern in Aegypt under Pharaoh,Gen. 43.11.14. conceiving him to be his enemy. So muſt we uſe all lawfull means to have the good will of all men. Heb 12 14.
3. To comfort our ſelves: Foraſmuch as however the wicked are at variance with us for our ſincerity, yet this enmity proceedeth from their own hearts, and not from God.
4. To conceive of all temporall promiſes made unto us in Scripture, that we are not to expect them as abſolute promiſes, but conditionally made unto us, ſo far forth as they ſhall be for Gods glory, and our comfort and ſalvation; and if promiſes be not ſanctified to theſe ends, we are far better without them then with them. Pſal 119.7•.It's good for us ſometimes to be afflicted, ſometimes to be perſecuted of enemies, that we might have the ſtronger evidence, that we are not of the world, becauſe it hated us:Joh. 15.19. Yea, it is good for us ſometime that we ſhould be ſuffered of God to fall into ſin, though not in it ſelf, yet bee uſe it makes us more fervent in prayer, more13 wary and faithfull. It may be demanded, Whether we ought (being hated for righteouſneſſe ſake) to ſuſpect that our wayes are not pleaſing to God,Queſt. becauſe of this promiſe made of peace with our enemies, and the Command of our Saviour, That we ſhould rejoyce when we ſuffer perſecution for his Names ſake. Matt 5.11 12.
As this promiſe made in this Text ſhould not make us deſpair of the uprightneſſe of our wayes,Anſw. ſo neither ſhould that rejoycing which our Saviour commands us, reſtrain us from en•ring into an examination of our own wayes, and the true cauſe of our ſuffering the hatred of others, that thereby we might take occaſion to magnifie Gods goodneſſe unto us in tranſlating the puniſhment of our ſins upon an unjuſt cauſe, that we ſhould ſuffer for righteouſneſſe ſake, when as at other times, many ſins have paſſed from us, for which we might juſtly have ſuffred the malice of the wicked.
The fifth Point.
THe Ʋſe and Application of this comfortable promiſe. This may be branched into divers particulars:
1. Is it thus, That the Lord, if our wayes pleaſe him, will make our very enemies at peace with us? Uſe 1 ▪ When our friends are at enmity with us, we have then cauſe to ſuſpect the upr•ghtneſſe of our wayes.•hen what ſhal we think of our ſelves, when not only our enemies, but our very friends are at debate & variance with us, and ready to do what miſchief they can unto us? When ſervants, children, & wives conſpire againſt the Maſter of the family? when Prince and ſubjects are againſt each other? Have we not here juſt cauſe to ſuſpect the uprightneſſe of our wayes, and that we walk contrary unto God, and that therefore God walks contrary to us, and croſſeth us even in thoſe things which ſhould be bleſſings unto us? Lev. 26 23, 24.Yet we impute theſe things uſually unto the ſecond cauſes; as to the wickedneſſe and bad diſpoſition of ſuch as are becom our enemies, as if the Lord had no ſtroke in this. Who ſtirred up Abſalom againſt his father? was it not the Lord? yes, I will ſtir up an enemy againſt thee out of thine own houſe, ſaith the Lord to David;2 Sam 12.11 and yet we in ſuch caſes cry out upon the unnaturalneſſe of children, wickedneſſe of ſervants, perverſeneſſe of wives, churliſhneſſe of huſbands, &c. whereas we ought principally to look up unto God, warning us of our ſins by ſuch like caſtigations, intimating unto us thereby, That ſomething is amiſſe in the family, good duties are neglected, ſervants not inſtructed, Sabbath not wholly14 ſanctified, or ſomething there is, not as it ſhould be: This I am ſure, here lies the cauſe, Our wayes are not pleaſing to the Lord;Lam. 3 39. Uſe 2. When our wayes pleaſe God, our friends ſhall be at peace with us. Luk. 15 20.22. for man ſuffers for his ſins.
2. Shall our enemies be at peace with us if our wayes pleaſe the Lord? then ſurely much more our friends, and ſuch as have been well-willers of the houſhold of faith unto us in the time of our unregenerate eſtate, whether fathers, brothers, or other friends. If the father bear a naturall affection to the prodigall, whilſt he is waſting his ſubſtance amongſt harlots, how much more will he run unto him, when he is yet afar off, after he repenteth, and is come to himſelf? As the Apoſtle ſpeaks in another caſe not much unlike to this; If when we were his enemies,Rom. 5 8, 9, 10. God loved us, and ſent his Son to redeem us, much more now will he be affected towards us, and ſave us?
3. If our enemies and our friends be at peace with us, then what can be againſt us? Uſe 3. When our wayes pleaſe God, nothing can be againſt us.What can Satan, hell, death, and all the armies of darkneſſe (for they alſo are of the number of thoſe, which ſhall, will they, nill they, be at peace with us alſo) prevail againſt us? Oh how comfortable is the ſtate of a Chriſtian in this regard! Come war, the ſword, captivity, yea, and death is ſelf, or any outward calamity through enemies oppoſition, yet here a word of ſure comfort, That if our wayes ſhall be ſo ordered, that we may have peace with God, he will ſo bring it to paſſe (one way or other, as hath been already ſhewed) that our enemies ſhall be at peace with us. The Lord will be that unto us, which he promiſed to be unto his elect, under the Babyloniſh Captivity; Though I ſcatter them into the furthermoſt parts of the earth,Ezek. 11.16. yet I will be a little ſanctuary unto them in the midſt of their enemies. Oh how ought this to ſtir us up to be undefiled in all our wayes (eſpecially in theſe times of the generall combuſtion of Gods Church, wherein the time is come,1 Pet. 4 17. whereof Saint Peter ſpake, That judgement ſhould begin at the houſe of God) that ſo in the times of diſtreſſe we may have boldneſſe towards God, and challenge the Lord of his promiſe here, and in other places of Scripture, That he would be a ſanctuary to us in the midſt of troubles, and that we may ſay as good Hezekiah; Remember,Iſ•. 38.3. O Lord, that I have walked before thee with a15 perfect heart, and fulfill thy promiſe to thy ſervant.
4. Since it is a confirmed truth,Uſe 4. We muſt labour that our wayes may pleaſe the Lord. Pſal 120.7. That they whoſe wayes pleaſe the Lord, he will make their very enemies at peace with them: Is there any that with David, are for peace, or that would be freed from the grievances of outward enemies, here's the way chalkt out unto him by Salomon, to ſtrive that all his wayes may pleaſe the Lord. Moſt of us, when we ſeek the favour of others, trie all wayes; but this true way, this comes laſt, or never into our mindes; and yet ſure I am, it's the moſt cheap and husbandly of all wayes.
Queſt. But ſome will ask me,Joh. 6 28. What wayes are thoſe which are pleaſing to God, as the Jews ſaid to Chriſt, What ſhall we do that we may work the works of God? For we may be deceived in the choice of our way. Prov. 14 2.There is a way (ſaith the wiſe man) ſeems good unto us, and the end thereof is death.
Anſwer. Anſw. The Scriptures are the onely lantern and light to direct us into the true way; they muſt be our guide,Pſal, 119.105. Wayes pleaſing to the Lord. and they will inform us that theſe are the wayes muſt be our wayes we muſt walk in, if we will pleaſe the Lord; namely,
1. The way of faith (for without this (whatever we do) it is impoſſible to pleaſe God) not onely a bare knowledge of the lawfulneſſe of ſuch actions as we perform to be pleaſing to God, but alſo faith to do them,The way of Faith. Heb. 11 6. even for this very reſpect that God requires them; and yet ſo doing them, as expecting only ſalvation by Chriſt.
2. The way of Gods Commandments;The way of his Commandments. Matth 15.9. Pſal 119.1.3. not mans inventions of will-Worſhip, nor humane preſcriptions; they are all vain, if we may believe him in whoſe mouth there is no guile: but Bleſſed are they that walk in the Law of the Lord, and they do no iniquity that walk in his wayes.
3. The ſtrait and narrow way:The ſtrait and narrow way. Matth 7 14. Strive to enter into the ſtrait gate; for ſtrait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life. This is not the way of the looſe Libertines, and profane perſons of theſe times.
4. The old way. Stand ye in the wayes,The old way, Jer. 6.16. and ask for the old way, where is the good way, and ye ſhall finde reſt for your ſouls. This old way is the way of faithfulneſſe and truth, which are called Gods counſells of old, as being that eternall truth of16 God, written in the heart of Adam, in the ſtate of inno•••cy, and after revealed in Scripture, and more briefly unfold••in the ten Commandments, oppoſed to the new deviſed doctrines of the Popiſh Church, ſo ſtrictly binding the conſci••ces of ſimple people.
5. They muſt not be unequall and uneven wayes (ſwelling with the high mountains,The way of humility. and pride and preſumption, either of Gods mercy, or our own merit) but plained and made equ••with a ſanctified humilty of heart. When Iohn the Baptiſt wa•to prepare the way of the Lord,Iſa. 40.4. he cryed out, That every valley (of deſpair) ſhould be exalted; and every mountain (of pride and preſumption) ſhould be made low. Theſe are the wayes wherein we muſt walk; wherein if we ſhall walk, we ſhall pleaſe the Lord; and if our wayes pleaſe the Lord, he will make our very enemies to be at peace with us.
Laus Domino Chriſto. Amen.