Peace is a fair Virgin, every ones Love,1 the praise of all tongues, the object of all eyes, the wish of all hearts; Pacē •te poscimus omnes. She hath a smiling look, which never frowned with the lest scowl of anger: snowy arms, soft as Down, and whiter then the Swans feathers; always open to pious embracements. Her milken hand carries an Olive branch, the Symbol and Emblem of quietness. She hath the ⟨p. 4⟩face of a glorious Angel, always looking towards righteousness, as the two Cherubins looked one upon the other, and both unto the Mercy-Seat. Her Court is the invincible Fort of integrity; so guarded by the divine providence; that Drums, Trumpets, and thundering Canons, those loud Instruments of war, (I mean Blasphemy, Contention, Violence) may affront her, but never affright her. She hath a bounteous hand, virtual like the Garment of ⟨p. 5⟩Christ; if a faithful soul can come to touch it, to kiss it; all her vexations are fled, her conscience is at rest. Her bowels are full of pity: she is always composing salves for all the wounds of a broken heart, Sedition and tumult her very soul hates: she tramples injuries and discords under her triumphant feet. She sits in a Throne of Joy, & wears a Crown of Eternity: and to all those that open the door of their heart to bid her welcome, she ⟨p. 6⟩will open the door of Heaven to bid them welcome, and repose their souls in everlasting Peace. 2In these continual Dog-days of ours, wherein love waxeth cold, and strife hot, we had need set our Instruments to the tune of Peace. This was the blessed legacy which Christ bequeathed to his Church: the Apostle from his Master sent it as a token to the Corinthians: and I from the Apostle commend it as a Jewell to all Christians;3 Live in ⟨p. 7⟩Peace, and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you. Which conclusion of the Epistle contains the blessing of the Apostle': a Valediction, and a Benediction. They are in part Hortatory, in part Consolatory: the virtue to which he persuades them, and the reward which he promiseth them. There is a sweet symphony, and respondent proposition between the Counsel and the Comfort; the Active Peace, and the Factive Peace: for seeking peace on Earth, we ⟨p. 8⟩shall find peace in Heaven: for keeping the peace of God, we shall be kept by the God of peace.
Peace is a faire Virgin, euery ones Loue,1 the praise of all tongues, the obiect of all eyes, the wish of all hearts; Pacē •te poscimus omnes. She hath a smiling looke, which neuer frowned with the lest scowle of anger: snowy armes, soft as Downe, and whiter then the Swannes feathers; alwaies open to pious embracements. Her milken hand carries an Oliue branch, the Symbole and Embleme of quietnesse. She hath the ⟨p. 4⟩face of a glorious Angell, alwaies looking towards righteousnesse, as the two Cherubins looked one vpon the other, and both vnto the Mercy-Seate. Her Court is the inuincible Fort of integrity; so guarded by the diuiue prouidence; that Drummes, Trumpets, and thundring Canons, those lowd Instruments of war, (I meane Blasphemy, Contention, Violence) may affront her, but neuer affright her. Shee hath a bounteous hand, virtuall like the Garment of ⟨p. 5⟩Christ; if a faithfull soule can come to touch it, to kisse it; all her vexations are fled, her conscience is at rest. Her bowels are full of pitty: shee is alwayes composing salues for all the wounds of a broken heart, Sedition and tumult her very soule hates: shee tramples iniuries and discords vnder her triumphant feet. Shee sits in a Throne of Ioy, & weares a Crown of Eternitie: and to all those that open the doore of their heart to bid her welcome, shee ⟨p. 6⟩will open the doore of Heauen to bidde them welcome, and repose their soules in euerlasting Peace. 2In these continuall Dogge-daies of ours, wherein loue waxeth cold, and strife hote, wee had need set our Instruments to the tune of Peace. This was the blessed legacie which Christ bequeathed to his Church: the Apostle from his Master sent it as a token to the Corinthians: and I from the Apostle commend it as a Iewell to all Christians;3 Liue in ⟨p. 7⟩Peace, and the God of Loue and Peace shall bee with you. Which conclusion of the Epistle containes the blessing of the Apostle': a Valediction, and a Benediction. They are in part Hortatory, in part Consolatory: the vertue to which he perswades them, and the reward which hee promiseth them. There is a sweet symphony, and respondent proposition betweene the Counsell and the Comfort; the Actiue Peace, and the Factiue Peace: for seeking peace on Earth, we
- 1The Picture of Peace.
- 2The requisitenesse & reward of Peace.The requisitenesse & revvard of Peace.
- 32. Cor. 13. 11
