4. God being reconciled in Christ, all things else are at peace with us: For his League with us is offensive and defensive. 1My horses are as thy horses, and my chariots as thy chariots: God and all his Confederates are in the League, or rather God and all his Subjects: as a Prince doth not only contract for his person, but his subjects and estates. Angels are at peace with us; in stead of being Instruments of Vengeance, they become ministering Spirits, Heb. 1. 14. A Christian hath an invisible guard; Satan is sensible of it, though we be not; he saith of Job, Thou hast hedged him round about: Gods heirs are well attended; Angels wait upon them at Christs direction. Other creatures serve us, as if they were in League and Covenant with us; Stars, Winds, Seas, Beasts: Job 5. 23. Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts shall be at peace with thee: They are included in Gods League; which is as much as if there were an express Covenant between us and them, that they shall not do us harm; they are at the beck of Providence, and therefore so far as it conduceth to our good, at our service: So Hosea 2. 18. I will make a Covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the Heaven, &c. So for men, they are wolves one to another, yet God can change them: The Gospel civilizeth, and pulleth the beast out of mens bosoms where it worketh least: see Isai. 11. 7▪ 8, 9. The hearts of men are in Gods hands; he can either destroy their persons, or restrain their rage, or turn out their respects to you: When a mans ways please the Lord, he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him, Prov. 16. 17. We think to carry all by force and violence many times, but obedience to God is the best way to gain the respects of men; as a key openeth a door sooner then an Iron bar: If you be in with God, you stop enmity and strife at the Fountain head. So for peace with the Saints; Jesus Christ ⟨p. 92⟩breaketh down the partition wall, Ephes. 2. 16, 17, 18. removeth prejudices and jealousies, changeth interests, cleareth up truths, and by his Spirit meekeneth their hearts that they be at one: Surely *his Blood is the best cement and bond of friendship: Christ hath called us into a Body, that there might be peace in the Church, Col. 3. 15. Brothers have defaced the feelings of Nature, but fellow-members are wont to care one for another:
4. God being reconciled in Christ, all things else are at peace with us: For his League vvith us is offensive and defensive. 1My horses are as thy horses, and my chariots as thy chariots: God and all his Confederates are in the League, or rather God and all his Subjects: as a Prince doth not only contract for his person, but his subjects and estates. Angels are at peace vvith us; in stead of being Instruments of Vengeance, they become ministring Spirits, Heb. 1. 14. A Christian hath an invisible guard; Satan is sensible of it, though vve be not; he saith of Job, Thou hast hedged him round about: Gods heirs are vvell attended; Angels vvait upon them at Christs direction. Other creatures serve us, as if they vvere in League and Covenant vvith us; Stars, Winds, Seas, Beasts: Job 5. 23. Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts shall be at peace with thee: They are included in Gods League; vvhich is as much as if there vvere an express Covenant betvveen us and them, that they shall not do us harm; they are at the beck of Providence, and therefore so far as it conduceth to our good, at our service: So Hosea 2. 18. I will make a Covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the Heaven, &c. So for men, they are wolves one to another, yet God can change them: The Gospel civillizeth, and pulleth the beast out of mens bosoms vvhere it vvorketh least: see Isai. 11. 7▪ 8, 9. The hearts of men are in Gods hands; he can either destroy their persons, or restrain their rage, or turn out their respects to you: When a mans ways please the Lord, he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him, Prov. 16. 17. We think to carry all by force and violence many times, but obedience to God is the best vvay to gain the respects of men; as a key openeth a door sooner then an Iron bar: If you be in vvith God, you stop enmity and strife at the Fountain head. So for peace with the Saints; Jesus Christ ⟨p. 92⟩breaketh down the partition wall, Ephes. 2. 16, 17, 18. removeth prejudices and jealousies, changeth interests, cleareth up truths, and by his Spirit meekeneth their hearts that they be at one: Surely
- 1Tranquillu• Deus tranquillat omnia.
- *Eodem sanguine Christi g•u•••ti. Aug. Confess. de seipso & Alipio.
