The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

(2) Peace is taken for a peculiar Fruit of the Spirit, consisting in a gracious Quietness and Composure of Mind, in the midst of Difficulties, Temptations, Troubles, and such other things as are apt to fill us with Fears, Despondencies, and Disquietments. This is that which keeps the Soul in its own Power, free from Transports by Fears or Passions, on all the abiding Grounds of Gospel Consolation. For although this be a peculiar especial Grace, yet it it that which is influenced and kept alive by the Consideration of all the Love of God in Christ, and all the Fruits of it.

(2) Peace is taken for a peculiar Fruit of the Spirit, consisting in a gracious Quietness and Composure of Mind, in the mid'st of Difficulties, Temptations, Troubles, and such other things as are apt to fill us with Fears, Despondencies, and Disquietments. This is that which keeps the Soul in its own Power, free from Transports by Fears or Passions, on all the abiding Grounds of Gospel Consolation. For although this be a peculiar especial Grace, yet it it that which is influenced and kept alive by the Consideration of all the Love of God in Christ, and all the Fruits of it.

And whereas Peace includes in the first Notion of it, an inward Freedom from Oppositions and Troubles, which those in whom it is are outwardly exposed unto, there are two things from which we are secured by this Peace which is an Effect of being Spiritually Minded.

The first is Offences. There is nothing of whose Danger ⟨p. 324⟩we are more warned in the Gospel, than of Offences. Woe to the World, saith our Saviour, because of Offences. All Ages, all Times and Seasons, are filled with them, and they prove pernicious and destructive to the Souls of many. Such are the Scandalous Divisions that are among Christians; the endless Differences of Opinions, and diversity of practices in Religion and the Worship of God; the Falls and Sins of Professors, the fearful ends of some of them; the Reproaches that are cast on all that engage into any peculiar way of Holiness and strictness of Life, with other things of the like nature, whereby the souls of innumerable Persons are disquieted, subverted, or infected, are to be reckoned unto this Head. Against any hurtful or noxious Influence on our Minds from these things, against Disquietments, Dejections of Spirit, and Disconsolations, are we secured by this Peace. So the Psalmist assures us,