N02150:53
Religious societies. Proposals for the revival of dying religion, by well ordered societies for…
Religious societies. Proposals for the revival of dying religion, by well ordered societies for that purpose. : With a brief discourse, offered unto a religious society, on the first day of their meeting. : [One line from I Thessalonians]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland for John Phillips, 1724
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.
YOU shall hear what the chief of them are.
THE First is, FAITH. GOD and the Unbeliever, are in Ill Terms with each other. As the Carnal Mind is Enmity against GOD, so, GOD is angry with the Wicked every Day. Yea, such is His Anger as to Swear in His Wrath against him, [Heb. III. 18.] if he continue so. The Unbeliever, if he continue such, is indeed as sure of Damnation, and of a Wrath unto the Uttermost, as if he were already fast bound in the dark Fetters and imprisoned in the Tophet ordained of old. When CHRIST is offered, then a Peace is offered. The offer of a CHRIST, is an offer of Peace, to unbelieving Rebels. When a CHRIST was born, the Morning-Stars that sung for Joy, triumphed in the mention of, Peace on Earth, upon it. Our JESUS is indeed, Isai. IX. 6. The Prince of Peace. And He is called, Eph. II. 14. Our Peace. Because, I will not say, When the Assyrian comes into our Land, but, when the Almighty comes down in the black Garments of His Vengeance, with the Keen Darts of Justice in His Hand, ready to strike and tread us down in the Place of Dragons. Then! This Man (who is more than a Man) shall be our Peace! Now by Faith it is, that we get an Interest in a CHRIST, and in the Peace which He has wrought; an Interest in Peace with GOD; For, Rom. V. 1. Being justified by Faith, we have Peace with GOD, through our Lord JESUS CHRIST. This infers Peace of Conscience; For, Faith and a Good Conscience go hand in hand. Most certain it is, the Aversion of GOD for us, would have been Irreconcilable; ⟨p. 4⟩His Wrath against us Irremediable and Unappeasable; and the Never-Dying Worm, would be an Ever-gnawing one: But, FAITH, Faith, is that which brings all to Peace; And it may be said of the Believer, as it was of Solomon, He has Peace on all sides round about him. If a Soul become in this way a Son of Peace, then Peace will rest upon it. But if it be not so, then shall be heard a Voice of Trembling and Fear, and not of Peace. I conclude this Article as Peter concludes his Epistle: Peace be with all them that are in CHRIST JESUS.