CONFIRMRD CHRISTIAN, 561 enemies by heaping kindness upon them when they arewrathful, and proud, and contentious, and do him wrong, or use provoking words against him ; he is not overcome of their evil to imitate them, but he overcometh their evil with his good; ver. 20, 21. IfGod bath given him more knowledge and abilities than others, he doth not presently set up himself to be admired for it, nor speakdisdain- fully or contemptuously of those that are not of his mind. But he shöweth the eminencyof his wisdom, " with meekness by the works ofa good conversation," and by doing better than the unwiser do ; James iii. 1 -13. He is endued with the "wisdom from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality," (or wavering in persecution, as Dr. Hammond renders it,) and without hypocrisy. And Thus the "fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace ; " James iii. 17; 18. As he is " taughtof God to love his brother;" (1 Thess. iv. 9.) so that same teaching with experi- ence of the effects assureth him, that they that pretend to be wiser and better than others, when " theyhave bitter, envious zeal and strife in their hearts, they vainly glory and lie against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and everyevil work ; " James iii. 14, 15,#.6. (Read but the story of the Jewish zealots in Josephus, and the heretical zealots in all ages of the church, and you will perceive the truth of this.) When such quarrelsome spirits are filling the church with contentions, or vexations about their meats and drinks, and days, &c., the Chris- tian indeed understandeth that ' the kingdomof God consisteth not of such things as these, but `in righteousness and,peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ;' and he that in these things serveth Christ, is ac- ceptable to God, and approvedof (wise and sober) men. Therefore he followeth after things which make for peace, and things where- with one may edify another and will not for meats, &c. destroy the work of God ;" Rom. xiv. 17 -20. He stayeth not till peace be offered him, or brought home to him, but " he followeth peace with all men, as well as holiness ;" Heb. xii. 14. If it. fly from him, he pursueth it; if it be denied him, he seeketh it, and will not refuse to stoop to the poorest for it, and to beg it of his inferiors, if it were upon his knees, rather'than be denied it, and live an un- peaceable, disquiet life ; Psalm xxxiv. 14. For he believeth that "blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God ;" Matt. v. 9. 2. And the weak Christian bath the same spirit, and therefore the love of peace is most predominant in him. But, alas ! he is too easily tempted into religious passions, discontents, contentious disputations, quarrelsome and opprobrious words; and his judg- VOL. L 71
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