23 4 The Life ofFaith. Ice by Faith, toe gooanefs di tticit Author, and the goodnefs of thereward and end, more fully than by reafosa only : And a B,:.. litver bath found by fad experience, how bad and bitter the waies of fin are, and by Tweet experience, how gand and pleafant the waits of God are. H2 bath found that it is the way to peace, and hope, and joy, to deny hip lulls, and obey his Maker and Redeemer,: And it is the way to terrour and a troubled foul, and a broken heart,to tin and rogratifie his fen - fuality, Prov. 3.17. .d;i her waies are pleafan:nrf and all her paths are peace. Hal. 1 19. 165. Great peacehave thy which love thy Law, andnothing.t en offend them. Pfal. 37 37 . Mark the upright maso, and b,hald the j»,t, for the end of that man is peace.. Rom. 14.. 17. ïcighteoufnefs, and peace, and j?y in the á-IolyGhoff, are the Kingdom of God. Grace, Mercy and Peace' are Gods entertainment of the faithful foul, Titus I. 4. a Tim. i.2. & ;Tim. 1. 2. t Cor. 1. 3., &c. But there is no peace to the .wick 'd, faith my God, 1lä. 57. 21. 8C4.8. 22. For the way of peace they havenot known. I hey have mad: them crookydpaths whofoevergoetb therein, (hall not know peace, Ifa. 5..1. 8. Dirc6f. 3. M:arkrvell bow tbóle Corirmendf of God, which form not neceffary fsr your flves, are plainy nec', fary for the good of ei hers, and for ihepublickwelfare, whifb G.dmuff provide for as well asyours. He is not your God only, but the God ofall tiled/odd. And the Welfare ofataa;sy, efpici =fly of Kingdoms ant ocieties, is more to be tcgordod than the welfare (much more than the humouring or ?leafing) ofany one. You may- think that ifyou had )(aye to be fornicators, and adulterers, tobe riotous, and cxarriples ofevil, to be covetous, and todeceive, and. fleal, and lye, that it would doyou no harm : But fupfofe it were fo, yet a little wit may ferve to Phew you, how pernicious it would be to others, and to focicties. And Faith can tell a true Believer, what is like to be the end : And that tic is, a reproach to any people, Prov. aq.. 34. You may think perhaps that ifyou were excufed fromma-. ny duties of Charity and Juflice, in Minifiry, Magifiracy, or a more private flare, it would be no harm to your felves. But fuppofe it were fo, mull not others be regarded ? If God Mould regard but one, why thould it fait toyour lot rather than to.
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