A Body of Practical Divinity

Resp. They have a Title to it; they have the Ground of it; Grace is the Seed of Peace, and it will in time turn to Peace, as the Blossoms of a Tree to Fruit, Milk to Cream. They have a Promise of it, Psal. 29.11. The Lord will bless his People with Peace: They may have Peace with God, though not Peace in their own Conscience; they have the initials and beginnings of Peace. There is a secret Peace the Heart hath in serving God, such Meltings and Enlargements in Duty, as do revive the Soul, and bear it up from sinking.

Quest. 7. But why have not all Believers the full enjoyment and possession of Peace? Why is not this Flower of Peace fully ripe and blown?

Resp. Some of the Godly may not have so full a degree of Peace. 1. Through the fury of Temptation; the Devil if he cannot destroy us, he will disturb us: Satan disputes against our Adoption; he would make us question the work of Grace in our Hearts, and so troubles the Waters of our Peace: Satan is like a subtle Cheater, who if he cannot make a Mans Title to his Land void, yet he will put him to many troublesome Suits in Law. If Satan cannot make us Ungodly, he will make us unquiet: Violent Winds make the Sea rough and stormy; the Winds of Temptation blowing, disturb Peace of Spirit, and put the Soul into a Commotion. 2. The Godly may not enjoy Peace, through mistake and misapprehension about Sin. They find so much Corruption, that sure if there were Grace, there would not be such strong Workings of Corruption: Whereas this should be so far from discouraging Christians, and hindering their Peace, that it is an Argument for them. Let me ask, whence is it that you feel Sin? no Man can feel Sin but by Grace. A wicked Man is insensible; lay an 100 weight upon a Dead Man, he doth not complain, but the being sensible of Corruption, argues a Gracious Principle,