The Thebans made Harmonia a goddess,1 they accounted her the defender and patroness of their City. Harmonious, peaceable, uniting dispositions, have much of God in them; if not from sanctifying grace, yet it is from a common work of the Spirit of God: there is a nobleness in such a heart. By the Laws of England Noblemen have this privilege, that none of them can be bound to the peace, because it is supposed that a Noble disposition will never be engaged in brawls and contentions, it is supposed that the peace is always bound to him, that of his own accord he will be careful to preserve it. It is the base Bramble that rends and tears. Nazianzen reports of Alexander, who having taken a City, and consulting what to do, one Parmenius answered, If he were King he would raze the City to the ground.2 Alexander answers, So would I too, if I were what you are; rigour may become you, but gentleness becomes me. Gentleness, mercy, goodness, love, tenderness of others sufferings, are the greatest ornaments to a noble spirit. If this be sanctified, the glory of God shines bright indeed in such a heart. For God glories in this, to be the God of peace and love. 1 Thess. 5. 23. The very God of peace. 2 Thess. 3. 16. The Lord of peace himself. Jesus Christ in being the Prince of peace; the holy Ghost in being like a Dove that hath no gall: the Gospel is the ⟨p. 300⟩Gospel of peace; the Kingdom of God is peace as well as righteousness; the legacy that Christ left is a legacy of peace; the Apostolical benediction is grace, mercy, and peace: the glory of the Church is in this, that it is a City compact at unity within it self. Yea this will be the glory of that glorious Church, that God is raising a new Jerusalem, there shall be no more crying there, Apoc. 21. 4. Ezech. 14. 9. The Lord shall be King over all the earth, in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name shall be one. There is but one Lord now, but he is called by different names, but in that day his name shall be but one. Zeph. 3. 9. Then will I turn to a people of pure language, that they may call upon the name of the Lord, and serve him with one consent. The Hebrew word is with one shoulder, now we shoulder one another, but then all shall serve the Lord with one shoulder. This love and peace is compared to the most delightful, and the most profitable things;
The Thebans made Harmonia a goddesse,1 they accounted her the defender and patronesse of their City. Harmonious, peaceable, uniting dispositions, have much of God in them; if not from sanctifying grace, yet it is from a common work of the Spirit of God: there is a noblenesse in such a heart. By the Lawes of England Noblemen have this priviledge, that none of them can be bound to the peace, because it is supposed that a Noble disposition will never be engaged in brawles and contentions, it is supposed that the peace is alwayes bound to him, that of his own accord he will be carefull to preserve it. It is the base Bramble that rends and teares. Nazianzen reports of Alexander, who having taken a City, and consulting what to doe, one Parmenius answered, If he were King he would raze the City to the ground.2 Alexander answers, So would I too, if I were what you are; rigour may become you, but gentlenesse becomes me. Gentlenesse, mercy, goodnesse, love, tendernesse of others sufferings, are the greatest ornaments to a noble spirit. If this be sanctified, the glory of God shines bright indeed in such a heart. For God glories in this, to be the God of peace and love. 1 Thess. 5. 23. The very God of peace. 2 Thess. 3. 16. The Lord of peace himselfe. Jesus Christ in being the Prince of peace; the holy Ghost in being like a Dove that hath no gall: the Gospel is the ⟨p. 300⟩Gospel of peace; the Kingdome of God is peace as well as righteousnesse; the legacy that Christ left is a legacy of peace; the Apostolicall benediction is grace, mercy, and peace: the glory of the Church is in this, that it is a City compact at unity within it selfe. Yea this will be the glory of that glorious Church, that God is raising a new Jerusalem, there shall be no more crying there, Apoc. 21. 4. Ezech. 14. 9. The Lord shall be King over all the earth, in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name shall be one. There is but one Lord now, but he is called by different names, but in that day his name shall be but one. Zeph. 3. 9. Then will I turne to a people of pure language, that they may call upon the name of the Lord, and serve him with one consent. The Hebrew word is with one shoulder, now we shoulder one another, but then all shall serve the Lord with one shoulder. This love and peace is compared to the most delightfull, and the most profitable things;
- 1Plutarch in the life of Pelopidas.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew]. Nazian. carm. Jamb.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Nazian. carm. Iamb.
