A29709:134
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favourable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favorable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
(We have peace with God) All within a believer is at peace, a peaceable God makes all at peace•; 1when our peace is made in the Court of Heaven (which is upon the first act of believing) then follows peace in the Court of Conscience. Peace, which passeth all understanding; and all below a believer is at peace with him, 2he has Peace with all the Creatures; when we are friends with God, then all the Creatures are our friends. The stones of the field shall be at league with thee, the beasts 3of the field shall be at peace with thee, &c. The peace that Christ gives, is the inheritance of Saints only, 'twas all the Legacy which the Prince of peace l•ft to his subjects, and this Legacy none can take from them. Persecutors may take away my goods, but they cannot take away my peace; they may take away my estate, but they cannot take away my peace; they may take away my liberty, but they cannot take away my peace; they may take away my good name, but they cannot take away my peace; they may take away my relations, but they cannot take away my peace; they may take away my life, but they cannot take away my peace. I grant that the best have no perfection of peace, because they have no perfection of grace. If there were a perfection of grace, then there might be a perfection of peace, but the perfection of both is reserved for another world; and it must be granted that though sometimes a believer may want the sense of peace, the sweet of peace, yet the grounds of his peace are still sixth, certain and constant; they are like mount Zion, that cannot be removed. Now the grounds of a Christians peace are these, viz. Interest in Christ, reconciliation with God, justification, remission of sin, adoption, the Covenant of grace & peace, &c. Now these are always sure and everlasting, though the sense of peace may ebb & flow, rise and fall in a believers breast, especially when he is a combating with strong corruptions, or high temptations, or under sad desertions, or when unbelief has got the throne, or when their hearts are quarrelsome, for commonly a quarrelsome heart is a troublesome heart; or ⟨p. 89⟩