The peace-maker, or, Two farewell-sermons preached at St. Dunstans in the West, London, August…The peace-maker, or, Two farewel-sermons preached at St. Dunstans in the West, London, August…

[1 Use] Is by way of Conviction. This may discover to us how distant their temper is from God, who are enemies to peace: We unman our selves, we unchristian our selves, so far as we are opposite to this blessed temper of peace. Certainly, as disturbed water cannot make any reflection unto us of that face that looks into it, so when our Spirits are disturbed by animosities, exasperations heats and divisions, 'tis impossible for us to see the Image of God, as he is the God of peace. And certainly, there is no more doleful consideration in the world than this, That Man, whom God made a sociable creature, who hath all the engagements and endearments laid upon him, which may cause him to live in peace and gentleness towards those who are of the same nature with him, yet that in fierceness our heats should exceed those of the most salvage creatures. Man comes into the world naked, and altogether unarmed, as if he were designed for the Picture of peace; but could you look into the hearts of men, you would find there such tumults, ⟨p. 11⟩divisions, such seeds of enmity against their fellow-creatures, that Tigres and Lions are calm and peaceable in comparison of them. Now, how is this distant from the temper of the God of peace? 'Tis very strange to consider, that when promises are made to bury all differences, as rubbish under the foundation, that nevertheless the great work of many persons should be, only to revive those former animosities, to make those exasperations fresh and keen upon their own spirits: but is this to imitate the God of Peace? These, to promote divisions and disturbances amongst us, clothe their enemies with the Livery of shame and reproach, that so they may be baited by their fury; that make it their design to represent that party, which they think is dissonant from them, with the most odious appearances, (you know this is the old Art) and those showers of calumnies which are in the world, they usually precede the storm of persecution. The devil was first a Liar, and then a Murderer; and those who are of his seed, they follow his Art. In the primitive times, all the Persecutions of the Heathens arose from the reproaches of Christians; so it is now. It is an easy thing to blast the name of those persons, who are designed for ruin.

[1 Vse] Is by way of Conviction. This may discover to us how distant their temper is from God, who are enemies to peace: We unman our selves, we unchristian our selves, so far as we are opposite to this blessed temper of peace. Certainly, as disturbed water cannot make any reflection unto us of that face that looks into it, so when our Spirits are disturbed by animosities, exasperations heats and divisions, 'tis impossible for us to see the Image of God, as he is the God of peace. And certainly, there is no more doleful consideration in the world than this, That Man, whom God made a sociable creature, who hath all the engagments and endearments laid upon him, which may cause him to live in peace and gentleness towards those who are of the same nature with him, yet that in fierceness our heats should exceed those of the most salvage creatures. Man comes into the world naked, and altogether unarmed, as if he were designed for the Picture of peace; but could you look into the hearts of men, you would find there such tumults,