Chap. 24. An Expofition upon the Boor; el' Jo 15. Verf.2:. 6 Firfc, He maketh peace in the high places ofthe world, as peace is oppoled to any kind of trouble, or effliaiion. Peace is ufually accompanyed with profperity, and peace fignifles any kinde of fr profperity. Peace in this extent is of umed by God himfelfe as his proper worke (1¡a. 45,.7.) I forme the light and create darknejfe, I makepeace andcreate evill. I the L'.rd doe all theft things ; that is, I doe them and none can doe them without me, or but by me. Secondly, God maketh peace as peace is (more flrietly) ta- ken in oppoficion to wart eand tumulrs;Hecaufethwarre to orafe in all the world, (Pta1. 46. 9 ) Hemaketh warre to ce je unte the- endofthe Earth;He breakerh the bow, and cutteth thefpeare infun- der, he burneth theChariots in the fire. He that deftroyeth all the Inftruments ofwarre,doch (tardy make peace;and he that maketh warre to ceafe, doth certainly make peace begin. Peace is made twowayes; flrft,by raking up the differencesand reconciling the Spirits of men ; fecondly, b,, breaking the power and takingaway all provifions ofwa re fro 1) men.TheLord maketh peace by both. thefe wa es, or by either of them. Thirdly, God maketh peace as peace is oppofed to perfecuri- oh ; There may ae nowarre in a Nation, and yet no peace to the peopleofGod by reafon of fore and fiery perfecutoon ; yea a ge- neral! peace is the very opportunity which perfecutors looke for,. tobreake the peace of particu'ar men. The m.dt bloody times that theChurch ever had, have been the moft peaceable times of Nati,ans. And when nations are moft troubled,then Churches, ufually get their liberties, and are moll quiet. Such a peace as this theChurches had, though I cannot fay they had it upon this oc cation, ( 9, 3 t.) Then had the Churches refi (or pe ce,, than is, they were quiet from their cruel perfecutors) throughout all fiedea, andC,al,te, and Sacraria, and were edifjed, and walking in thefear ofThe Lord, and in the comfort of the holy Chaff, were multiplyed. This pence doth Godmake for his Saints, his little.: flocke,that they may fumerime- lye down in Gcene paftures,and betide the /fill waters,without feat oftt,e Wolves and Lions, who would alw,o es tear and wor y them; Thus theLord promifeth Ifa. 60. 17, 18.) I will make thy ,fctrspeace, tend thine exa- (burs righter'ulneffs. vi,lence /hall romore beheard in thy land,wa,- fiing nor deTíructson within thy berders4 Fourthly;;, 7
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