A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

If Peace be such an excellent Blessing, and a main privilege¹ of the Gospel, then it puts us upon trial; Are we at peace with God through Christ? If it be so, then, 1. Enmity is laid aside; Gods enemies vvill be yours, and yours vvill be Gods; otherwise what peace? What do we talk of peace with God, as long as we are in league with Gods enemy? What peace as long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel are so many? Our League with God is defensive and offensive: ^*There is a war with Satan, if we be at peace with God: The spiritual conflict is the best evidence we have of our unity with God. With the wicked God is at open war; There is no peace, &c. Isai. 57. 20. The Devil may be at a secret peace with them, but God is at distance, and abhorreth all communion with them. Christ is called the Prince of Peace, Isai. 9. 6. but 'tis to those that submit to his Government, to his Subjects, he saith, Take my yoke upon you, and ye shall find rest, Mat. 11. 29. We are not in a capacity to receive this Blessing, till we take an oath of allegiance to Christ, and continue in obedience to him. 2. The next Note is, delight in communion with God: Job 22. Acquaint thy self with him and be at peace. A man that is at peace with God, will be often in his company: Bondage and servile awe keepeth us out of Gods presence; We cannot come to him, because we cannot come in peace. A man never delighteth in duties of commerce with God, ⟨p. 94⟩when either he hath a false peace or no peace: Duties disturb a false peace; and when we are raw and sour, we are unfit for work. When a Peace is concluded between Nations that were before at War, Trading is revived: so will it be between God and you; commerce will be revived, and you will be trading into Heaven, that you may bring away rich treasures of grace and comfort.

If Peace be such an excellent Blessing, and a main priviledg