The Peace here spoken of,1 is our reconciliation with God. In the beginning God made man after his own Image, by virtue whereof, there was a sweet harmony and concord betwixt God and man; God having revealed unto man what was his good will, pleasing and acceptable unto him; man being both able, and also willing to do that which was acceptable to God. But long this Peace did not last: it was soon broken, and that wholly, and only through mans default. For man wittingly sinned against his Creator, and thereby justly provoked his wrath: thus came enmity betwixt God and man. Such a breach was made by mans rebellion, that all creatures in Heaven and earth were not able to make it up. Christ therefore, the eternal, true, natural, proper, only begotten Son of God, took upon him to be a Mediator betwixt God and man. He satisfied his Fathers Justice, pacified his wrath, procured his favour towards man, whereby God was moved to offer reconciliation unto man;2 withal he gave unto man his sanctifying Spirit, to breed faith in him, that thereby man might receive and embrace this reconciliation. In this respect God is called the God of Peace (Rom. 16. 20.) and Christ our Peace, (chap. 2. 14.) Prince of Peace (Isa. 9. 6.) And God is said in Christ to reconcile the world unto himself, ⟨p. 167⟩(2 Cor. 5. 19.) Thus through the mediation of Christ, God offering, and man accepting reconciliation, a most perfect and inviolable peace is made betwixt them, and this is the peace here meant. As fruits of this peace there flow from it remission of sins, quietness and comfort of conscience, joy of heart, willingness and ability to do that which is pleasing unto God, freedom from the dominion of sin, from the power of the Devil, from the evil of all crosses, from the sting of death, and of the grave, and from the fear and fire of Hell.
THe Peace heere spoken of,1 is our reconciliation with God. In the beginning God made man after his owne Image, by vertue whereof, there was a sweet harmony and concord betwixt God and man; God hauing reuealed vnto man what was his good will, pleasing and acceptable vnto him; man being both able, and also willing to doe that which was acceptable to God. But long this Peace did not last: it was soone broken, and that wholly, and onely through mans default. For man wittingly sinned against his Creator, and thereby iustly prouoked his wrath: thus came enmity betwixt God and man. Such a breach was made by mans rebellion, that all creatures in Heauen and earth were not able to make it vp. Christ therefore, the eternall, true, naturall, proper, onely begotten Sonne of God, tooke vpon him to be a Mediator betwixt God and man. Hee satisfied his Fathers Iustice, pacified his wrath, procured his fauour towards man, whereby God was moued to offer reconciliation vnto man;2 withall he gaue vnto man his sanctifiing Spirit, to breed faith in him, that thereby man might receiue and embrace this reconciliation. In this respect God is called the God of Peace (Rom. 16. 20.) and Christ our Peace, (chap. 2. 14.) Prince of Peace (Isa. 9. 6.) And God is said in Christ to reconcile the world vnto himselfe, ⟨p. 167⟩(2 Cor. 5. 19.) Thus through the mediation of Christ, God offering, and man accepting reconciliation, a most perfect and inuiolable peace is made betwixt them, and this is the peace here meant. As fruits of this peace there flow from it remission of sinnes, quietnesse and comfort of conscience, ioy of heart, willingnesse and ability to doe that which is pleasing vnto God, freedome from the dominion of sinne, from the power of the Diuell, from the euill of all crosses, from the sting of death, and of the graue, and from the feare and fire of Hell.
- 12 What peace is here meant
- 2Deus appellatur pacis quia per Christum ei reconciliati sumus, qui est pax nostra, Hieron. Hedib. quaest. 12.
