Meditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many years sinceMeditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many yeares since

A third effect of Faith is joy, and peace of ⟨p. 233⟩Conscience,^b for being justified by faith we have peace with God. The mind is by faith, and the impression of sweetness in Gods Promises, composed unto a settled calmness, and serenity. I do not mean a dead peace, an immobility, and sleepiness of Conscience, like the rest of a dreaming prisoner: but such a peace as a man may by a syllogism of the practic judgment upon right examination of his own interest in Christ, safely infer unto himself. The wicked often hath an appearance of peace as well as the faithful: but here is the difference. Between a wicked mans sin and him there is a Door shut, which will surely one day open, for it is but either a door of Error, or the door of Death: for sin lieth at the door, ready to fly at his throat as soon as it shall find either his eyes open to see it, or his life to let it in upon the soul: but between a faithful man, and his sin, there is a Corner-stone, a Wall of fire, through which Satan himself cannot break, even the merits of Christ Jesus. Briefly, the peace which comes from Faith hath these two properties in it, tranquility and serenity too; otherwise it is but like the calmness of the dead Sea, whose unmoveablenesse is not Nature, but a Curse.

A third effect of Faith is ioy, and peace of ⟨p. 233⟩Conscience,^b for being iustified by faith we have peace with God. The minde is by faith, and the impression of sweetnesse in Gods Promises, composed unto a setled calmenesse, and serenity. I doe not meane a dead peace, an immobility, and sleepinesse of Conscience, like the rest of a dreaming prisoner: but such a peace as a man may by a syllogisme of the practicke judgment upon right examination of his owne interest in Christ, safely inferre unto himselfe. The wicked often hath an appearance of peace as well as the faithfull: but here is the difference. Betweene a wicked mans sinne and him there is a Doore shut, which will surely one day open, for it is but either a doore of Error, or the doore of Death: for sinne lieth at the doore, ready to flye at his throate as soone as it shall finde either his eyes open to see it, or his life to let it in upon the soule: but betweene a faithfull man, and his sinne, there is a Corner-stone, a Wall of fire, through which Satan himselfe cannot breake, even the merits of Christ Iesus. Briefly, the peace which comes from Faith hath these two properties in it, tranquility and serenity too; otherwise it is but like the calmenesse of the dead Sea, whose unmoveablenesse is not Nature, but a Curse.