444. Ephefaan,r Chap. 4, VS And not loc- kers after peace. ID'fe s. Our duty is to feek peace,but in the Lord. Two roles to he kept in fucking peace. Aofius radi fublenption by him much .repented. Duct, A peaceable affeftion is an excellent man of Concord. r Cor. 3. t Cá.t;.S. unto and intreated to be at peace, we arc fo much the work and fur- theroff. Many idle ones that will fay, they love peace afwcll as any and would not live at difcord, yet they will not friendly debate mat. ters, nor break the neck of that which occafioneth the difcord. Nay they will proudly nand upon termes, Let them feek that are in fault, I rakenot my kite bound, unlefle I knew wherein I had offended. But you are bound, though youhave done nothing againft him , yet if he have any thing againft you, to repaire to him, and fo much as in you lyeth, not to fit Rill, but to follow peace and purfue it when it flyes from you. Itmutt teach us our duty, we muff diligently endeavour to get and maintaine Chriftian concord, yet in the Lord, we muff fu fare feek peace with man, as that we doe not make warte with God, and there. fore the Apoftle joyneth peace and holineffe together, peace muff not be taken with toile of purity and holineffe, men would thus thruft peace upon us,and fay, Thenwe may have peace with Rome; God forbid. Many abufe there fentences; Blefedare the Peacemakers; endeavour af,er vnity; what then! Therefore we mutt not trouble the peaceof the Churches, by impugning doctrine or ceremonies , but fufpend, tolerate and conforme in fuch things. This was the Plea ofthe politick Papifts when fire their Religion was rifled. But two things mutt bee anftvercd. r. That it is not everyagreement, but a Vnion of the fpirit which we muff feek, not a Concord in error, or idolatrous worfhip. z. We muff feek fomuch as in us lyeth, not to doe ill that good may come thereof; whichwe fhould doe, if we fhould preferre tranquillity before the confefling of Gods truth to his glo- ry, or the keeping our felves unfpottedof the garment defiled. A man may buy gold too deare. Some ofyou have read the ftoryof old Hof/us who for fubfcribing to that flexible word é'xo,e-, was fo grieved after, that it brought his gray head with forrow to the grave. Betide the right way ofmaking Vnion is fet downe , Luke T. 57, by turning the di[-obedient to the wifdome of the prudent. By making the ProphetsandApoftles acknowledgeus as conformableto them. Thirdly,it is to be marked,What as an excellent mean ofholding concord, even this,to beofa peaceable affeClìon,to be peaceably difpofed. For this is like a chaine that will notlet it ftartfrom us; and ifhappily it be a little departed , it will fetch it back againe prefently. For a peaceable affection, r. Will give no occafron of breaking the Peace, but will fayas Paul cloth inmatters of things indifferent, I wouldrather never eat firth then offend my brother. z. Apeaceable difpofition will fruftrate provocations to difcord that they fhall not have their purpofe. When flint lighteth on wooll there commeth forth no fparkle, Lave will not be provoked. 3. A peaceable difpofition will give and forgive any thing, and fo buy peace after a manner; as ofuffacar it is faid ; He loved peace amt tailed
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=