Peace- mal¿ina a d. f cult mark,. 45 5 on, yet through mans corruption if heed be not taken,as i c bath been made ufe of,fo may be further,for as great breaches as can be ; Now to come as it were between parties that are at vari- ance and "divifion, 0 how fhould a man behave him felfe,truly, thinking of it at firf}, J was almof} diî couraged to Beak any word about it, becaufe of the indifpof tion of men. hearts at this time for peace ; 'fhe Prophet H®fea faith (Hof 7. 7,)- thatthe-people were hot as an Oven : The meaning is this, That the people had their hearts fo fet upon that way and courle which they were in, that what ever the Prophet fpaiKe to them it was in vain : As if a man should throw a few flicks into an Oven when it was red hot, they are devoured pr en.- ly and confumed into aihes ; As if the Prophet fbo::ld f2V, my fpeech to themhath no more eftec}, and there appears no more of what I fay to them, then there will appear of a 1.h de. f}raw that is cafi into a hot Oven: And truly my Brethren, are not mens hearts heated in their. way of diviliions, form: in one way and force in another, and feem to be refolute, and even fet on fire almofi at this time, that what is faid to. them is as prefently devour ed and comes to nothing, as I fay, a little (haw or Rubble in a hot Oven, and therefore like to be as un- profitable at fuch a time as this, as any thing, though nothing more needful : But though it may be fo Unprofitable , yet be- caufe there is fo muchblefïednefle in it, I (hall addref?e my felf to (peak a little: It's a bleffed thing to be a peace - maker, now certainly thofe that can carry it we!,1hew that they have a. gracious temper of heart, and therefore are bleffed, it cloth argue a very gracious an4 holy fpirirualtemper of heart to be a peace -maker between man and man, if it be done in a fpiritual Fvay, for fpiritual ends : That man that would meddle in point of peace with others, he had need have all wel between Goa - and his own foul firf}: -- And had need be of a very peaceable difpofitionhihfelf,for 'any dne that' is' art froward or turbulent difpofition himfelfe, if he should come to talke of peace, and cry out of- divifions, every one would, be.' ready to fly in his face:- -- He need have much felf-denyal; not at all to look at hitnfetfe, at his own party anyway in refpea to himfelfe, but
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