128 An Expofition upon Chap.5, a reafon from them to prove, thatjufti- fication is by faith : the reafon is this That jollification which breedeth and bringeth forth peace and the reft of thefe cffe&=, that is true .juftification. But jufiification by faith , bringeth forth peace, and the refs of thefe effehls, therefore it is the true jollification. The fecond ufe is this ; by there effefts in our felves,we try out the truth and cer- tainty of our jollification before God. Where thefe cfff &s be found in any trite fu re, there thecaufe, which is jufiification, muff go before. T h M. Wbat it the fìrfl of thefe effeait ?. S i L. Peace with God, by which {tome think) is meant mutuall concord and amity among(] men, and theb they doe read it exhortatively, [ Let us have peaces] but this cannot here be under- flood,for then he would have faid,Peace with men ; neither would he have laid in the firft perfon[we have.]But by peace with God , is einderftood Reconciliati- on,not humane, but divine atonement, whereby our finneswhich breed enmity, and feparate God from us, being for- given us, we have him now pacified to- wards us, and of a more then` terrible Judge, he is become a'moft'kindc and amiable Father, TI M. T hen our fins had made a divifion between u1 and God? Si L They had fo, but the guilt of them being done away and pardoned through faith in Chrifts death , now God is one with us, and we with him, even fo many as have faith to beleeve.in Chrift, who was dead and rifen for them. T i M. Where doe ye "fi Aede peace put or ufed for truce or atonement with God? S r L. In many pb+ces of Scripture,as where Chris is called cur peace,and the Prince of peace, and our Peace- maker, Efg.6.9. Eph.2.2 x. Co1.1.18. Ti M. Is this a great benefit to have God reconciled unto at ? S r L. Yea furely,for all our happines flandeth in it, and without it there is nothing but mifery. For, in his favor is life, and death in his difplea'ure. From which benefit Both follow a tranquility and peace within our (elves , which is called peace of confcience, upon which doth follow another outward peace, even agreement among brethren. T i M. What callye peace of confcience? Si L. VVhen the wounds and terrors of the confcience,caufed in us by the fear. of Gods judgments for fin, being healed by the death of Ch rift, in Read of accu- fng and terrifying, it doth excufe & ac- quit us before God,whereof follows un- speakable quietnefs and reft in the foul. TIM. What difference put ye between a true peace of a-good confcience, and a falfe peace of a dead and fenummed confcience? Si L. They agree in this, that both', are quiet, but in other things they differ much;as firf},thedead confcience is quiet becaufe it bath no feeling of fin at all, and of the terror of Godswrath for the fame: but a good confcience is quiet, becaufe it feeleth fin to be forgiven, and God pacified. Secondly, a dead confci- ence fèareth not fin, but a good confci- ence is awfull of fin, Lafily, a dead con- fcience though it be quiet , yet it conn- forteth not; but a pacified confcience hath unfpeakablecomfort within it felt. For it is a continual) Feaft, chearing the heart amidit dangers. Tim. How it Chit peace of confcience got- ten and preferved? S i L. It is gotten two ways : Firft,by grieving for our fins part, done agaiult Gods law. Secondly, by beleeving she promifes of the Gofpel touching the forgivenefs offins. Alfo,it is two ways prefèrved. Firft, by avoyding all, but efpecially known fins. Secondly, by doing every duty uprightly,though not perfe&ly. Thirdly, by often confefftng our fins,and carneft'asking of pardon, and forgivenefs for them. TIM. May not this peace withGod be 1 11? S s L. The fenfe of it may be loft, but the thing it felf cannot be loft: the fenfe of it may be loft, either by force groffe aftuall finne, or by Ionic ftrong fit of temptation , oe when men wax proud or fecure. This may be declared by the comparifon of the Sun under clouds, of fire covered under afhes, of teces dead in the VVinter, of a man in a trance. Alfo
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