An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

But to direct you to this Peace, which is a spiritual Philosophers […] turning all into gold; if we have this peace, then they are afflictions of peace, exercises of peace; yea death is peace then. This quiets and composeth all.

But to direct you to this Peace, which is a spiritual Philosophers 〈…〉 turning all into gold; if we have this peace, then they are afflictions of peace, exercises of peace; yea death is peace then. This quiets and composeth all.

Let us first take notice of the nature of it briefly. And

First, This peace lieth in the favour and grace of God, so that his anger and ¹wrath, because of sin, is wholly removed. For where Gods wrath is upon a man, where his face is set against him, that man hath no peace, Isa 57. 21. There is no peace, saith my God to the wicked. Therefore though wicked men are for a while in carnal jollity, and in much security, crying, Peace, peace to themselves, as 1 Thess. 5. 3. even then destruction shall suddenly surprise them. The very Heathen could say of a wicked man, That though he might be securus, yet he was never tutus: Though he might cast away all care and fear, bidding his soul, as Dives, to take its ease, yet he is never safe; for in the midst of this security, he heareth that dreadful voice, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be taken away. Let then the wicked men tremble and quake like Belshazzar, for they may see, not one, but many hand-writings, not in a wall, but in the word of God, fore-telling them without repentance of their certain damnation. This peace therefore begins first in Heaven, and so descends into a mans heart. God removeth his anger, because of our sins; he is become a gracious and reconciled Father, and hence we have peace. Therefore