Chap. 34. An Expofition upon the Book,of J o a. Verf. 29. 753 Firfi, Becaufe, as God is foveraigne and fo may difpofe peace and quietnefs, towhom he pleafeth, or at his pleafure, when he will, or towham he will ; fo he bath an all- lufficiency to main- taine and confìrme, to preferve and prole& the outward peace of any man, againfi all the powers of this world; and the inward peace of agodly man againft all the powers of hell , ,again{? the terrors of the Law, and the accufations whether ofSatan or of his owne Confcience. Secondly , Nonecande(iroy the peace of a godly man , be- caufe it isa perfe& peace, as was (hewed before from that pro- mife in the Prophet (Ifa z6. 3.) Himwilt thou keepe in perfebl- peace whole mind isflayed su tbee.For,being apet feel peace it will not decayof it felfe ; and becaufe'tis perfect God will neither deftroy it himfelfe, nor ful+er any elfe to defiroy it. Marke the perfeït man (faith David, Pfal: 37. 37. ) and behold the upright, for the endofthat man is peace. He is a perfe&man whole end is peace, and that is perfe& peace whichholds to theend, or which ihall never end. The peace whichGod giveth is perfe& ; Firf$, becaufe 'tisefiablifhed upon perfe& righteoufneffe , the righte- oufneffe of God. That righteoufneffe which is the route of our peace is called the righteoufnelfe of God,both becaufe Godbath appoynted ir, and becaufe God bath wrought it. Jefas Chrifi Clod-man is the Lord our righteoufneffe, and the Prince of our peace ; or as the Apofile expreffeth it (Heb:.7. 1,2.) He is Mel- chifedec, being by interpretation King ofrighteoufneffe, and after that alfo King of Salem, which is King ofpeace. (Ifa. 3 2.17.) The workofrighteoufneffe ispeace, and the fruit ofit is quietneffe and4. furance for ever., Righteoufnefle is filcha foundation of peace, as cannot be (haken, and therefore that peace which is built upon k cannot beutterly overthrowne, how much foever it may be thakem. Secondly , 'Tis a perfe& peace, becaufe itwas obtained byan abfolute vi&ory over all the enemies of it. That people muff needs be in perfe& peace who have got a perfe& conquefi over all their enemies, and have got their oppofers under their feet.. 'Now the fpiriruall peace which God giveth his people, arifeth from a perfe& conqueft over all their enemies. Pita, the world is perfe&ly conquered byChrif (John 16.33.) Beofgood cheare, 1have, overcome theworld. Secondly, theDevil" is perfe&1y con- D.d d.d.d . quered
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