And what are his Commandments, but those expresses of himself, wherein we are to be like him, 1and conform to his will? The Kingdom of God (that holy order which he settles in the spirits of men; his Law transcribed and imprest upon the soul, which is nothing else but its conformation and likeness to himself) is righteousness, 2and then peace. The [Greek or Hebrew], (That notion, and judgment, and savour of things, that excellent temper of mind and heart (for that is the extent of the expression) whereof the holy Spirit of God is both the author, and pattern) is life, and peace; involves them in it self. When one thing is thus in casu recto, predicated of another, it speaks their most intimate connection, as Rom. 14. 7. above, so 1 Joh. 5. 3. This is love that, &c. So here, such a mind is life, and peace (though the copula be not in the original, it is fitly supplied in the translation) you cannot separate (q. d.) life, and peace from such a mind. It hath no principle of death, or trouble in it. Let such as know any thing of this blessed temper, and complexion of soul; compare this Scripture, and their own experience together, when, at any time, they find their souls under the blessed Empire, and dominion of a Spiritual mind; when wholly spirituality rules and denominates them: are not their souls the very region of life and peace? both these in conjunction, life and peace, not raging life, not ⟨p. 109⟩stupid peace; but a placid peaceful life, a vital vigorous rest and peace; 'tis not the life of a fury, nor peace of a stone: Life that hath peace in it, and peace that hath life in it. Now can the soul say, I feel my self well; all is now well with me, nothing afflicts the Spiritual mind,3 so far, and while 'tis such: 'Tis wrapped up, and clothed in its own innocency, and purity, and hereby become invulnerable, not liable to hurtful impressions; Holiness (under the name of light, for that is by the context the evident meaning of the word there) is by the Apostle spoken of as the Christians armour. Put on, saith he, the armour of light (in opposition to the works of darkness which he had mentioned immediately before) strange armour! 4that a man may see through. A good mans armour is,5 that he needs none, his armour is an open breast; that he can expose himself, is fearless of any harm. Who is he that shall harm you, 6if ye be followers of that which is good?
And what are his Commandments, but those expresses of himself, wherein we are to be like him, 1and conform to his will? The Kingdom of God (that holy order which he settles in the spirits of men; his Law transcribed and imprest upon the soul, which is nothing else but its conformation and likeness to himself) is righteousness, 2and then peace. The 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, (That notion, and judgment, and s•vour of things, that excellent temper of mind and heart (for that is the extent of the expression) whereof the holy Spirit of God is both the author, and pattern) is life, and peace; involves them in it self. When one thing is thus in casu recto, predicated of another, it speaks their most intimate connexion, as Rom. 14. 7. above, so 1 Joh. 5. 3. This is love that, &c. So here, such a mind is life, and peace (though the copula be not in the original, it is fitly supply'd in the translation) you cannot separate (q. d.) life, and peace from such a mind. It hath no principle of death, or trouble in it. Let such as know any thing of this blessed temper, and complexion of soul; compare this Scripture, and their own experience together, when, at any time, they find their souls under the blessed Empire, and dominion of a Spiritual mind; when wholly spirituality rules and denominates them: are not their souls the very region of life and peace? both these in conjunction, life and peace, not raging life, not ⟨p. 109⟩stupid peace; but a placid peaceful life, a vital vigorous rest and peace; 'tis not the life of a furie, nor peace of a stone: Life that hath peace in it, and peace that hath life in it. Now can the soul say, I feel my self well; all is now well with me, nothing afflicts the Spiritual mind,3 so far, and while 'tis such: 'Tis wrapt up, and cloath'd in its own innocency, and purity, and hereby become invulnerable, not liable to hurtful impressions; Holiness (under the name of light, for that is by the context the evident meaning of the word there) is by the Apostle spoken of as the Christians armour. Put on, saith he, the armour of light (in opposition to the works of darkness which he had mentioned immediately before) strang armour! 4
- 1Rom. 14. 17.
- 2Rom. 8 6.
- 3Invulnerabile est no• quod non feritur, sed quod non laeditur. Sen. de constantiâ sapientis, sive quòd in sapientem non cadit injuria.
- 4Rom. 13. 12.
- 5Integer vitae scelerisque pu•us, &c. Hor.
- 6[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
