A64642:668
Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…
Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification, by Christ. By the Right Reverend James Usher, late Arch-bishop of Armagh in Ireland. Published by Jos: Crab. Will: Ball. Tho: Lye. ministers of the Gospel, who writ them from his mouth, and compared their copies together. With a preface concerning the life of the pious author, by the Reverend Stanley Gower, sometime chaplain to the said bishop.Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification, by Christ. By the Right Reverend James Usher, late Arch-bishop of Armagh in Ireland. Published by Jos: Crabb. Will: Ball. Tho: Lye. ministers of the Gospel, who writ them from his mouth, and compared their copies together. With a preface concerning the life of the pious author, by the Reverend Stanly Gower, sometime chaplain to the said bishop.
London: printed by S. Griffin for Will, 1660
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.
Now there is a great difference between the peace of Gods children, & this little cessation of war in the consciences of wicked men: When the strong man armed, keeps the house, the goods that he possesseth are in peace: When Satan is the Master, and thou dost his will, and he hath thee at command, he doth not trouble thee; ⟨p. 449⟩when he keeps the house, the goods are in peace; but when a stronger than he comes, and puts him out of possession, then comes the strife and debate. Look therefore to thy peace; is it such a peace as thou hast never found any conflict, any stirring, striving betwixt the strong man and the weak? suspect that peace; that's not the peace of a justified man, but of such a one who is held by the Prince of darkness.
Now there is a great difference between the peace of Gods children, & this little cessation of war in the consciences of wicked men: When the strong man armed, keeps the house, the goods that he possesseth are in peace: When Satan is the Master, and thou dost his will, and he hath thee at command, he doth not trouble thee; ⟨p. 449⟩when he keeps the house, the goods are in peace; but when a stronger than he comes, and puts him out of possession, then comes the strife and debate. Look therefore to thy peace; is it such a peace as thou hast never found any conflict, any stirring, striving betwixt the strong man and the weak? suspect that peace; that's not the peace of a justified man, but of such a one who is held by the Prince of darknesse.
2. Again, how comes this peace to wicked men? they consider not the wrath of God, nor the danger of sin; they consider not that Tophet is prepared of old; if they did but consider this, it would spoil their sport, and break their peace; but now a justified man, he knows what sin is, and what hell is, and at that very time when he is thinking of his sins, and of damnation, when he knoweth that this is the reward of Gods enemies, he hath peace even then. The other, they shut their eyes that they may not see their danger, and because they discern it not, therefore they are at peace. A man in a dark night going over a dangerous Bridge, that if he miss but a step he is drowned, yet he passeth over securely, and is not afraid, because he wanteth light to discover the danger; but bring him the next day, and show him what a danger he escaped, and the thoughts of it will make him quake and tremble, though the danger be past; So these men, being in darkness see not their danger, and (therefore) do not fear; but Gods child having his eyes in his head, discerns the danger, and sees also how he is delivered by Jesus Christ; he is at peace, not because he seeth not the danger of the way, but because he knows that God hath made the way broad by Jesus