will accrue to God by it. It is an argument God will not deny. ' This,' said Abigail to David, ' shall be no grief to thee nor offence of heart unto my lord,' 1 Sam. XXV. ; she meant, he should never have cause to repent tliat he was kept from shedding blood. Thus mayest thou plead with God, and say, O Lord, when I shall with saints and angels be praising thy pardoning grace in heaven, it will not grieve thee, that thy mercy kept thee from shedding my blood, damning my soul in hell. But now it is evident, that many who seem to seek peace, and pursue it too, very strongly, yet do not take overmuch care for God's honour in the thing ; because they are earnest with God to pai'don them in a way that were to him dishonourable : pardoned they would be, though wholly ignorant of God and Christ : they would have God to be at peace with them, while tliey are enemies to him. Like a thief at the bar, he would have the judge spare his life, right or wrong, legally or illegally; what cares he? doth this wretch consider the honour of the judge? or that sinner, who, so he be saved, cares not how unrighteous God is in the act of mercy ? O, deceive not yoiu'selves, poor souls ; God will not make war between his own attributes, to make peace with you. Secondly, You must desire to be reconciled to God, that you may have fellowship with God. Certainly, a soul sensible what the loss of commimion with God is, counts it hath not all her errand done, when it hath naked peace given it : should God sa}^. Soul, I am friends with thee ; I have ordered thou shalt never go to hell, here is a discharge under my hand, that thou shalt never be arrested for my debt more ; but as for any fellow.ship with me, or fruition of me, thou canst expect none; I have done with thee, and shall not hold any acquaintance more with thee : certainly the soul would take little joy in her peace; were the fire out as to positive torments, yet a hell would be left in the dismal darkness which the soul would sit under, for want of God's presence, Absalom knew no middle condition that could please him, betwixt seeing the king liis father's face, and being killed ; 2 Sam. xiv. 32 : ' Let me see the king's face, and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.' If I be not worthy to enjoy my father's love and presence, neither do I desire to live ; whereas a naughty heart seeks reconciliation without any longing after fellow- ship with God : like the traitor, if the king will but pardon and save him from the gallows, he is ready to promise him never to trouble him at court ; it is his own life, not the king's favour, he desires.
Section III. — Thirdly, Throw down thy rebellious arms, and luunbly sub- mit to his mercy. God will not so much as treat with thee, so long as thy sword is in thy hand: ' Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord,' Isa. i. 18. Mark when the parley begins ; ' Put away the evil of your doings,' ver. 16. Now come and treat with God about a peace.
First, God is a great God, and it doth not become his sovereignty to treat his sorry creature on equal terms, as a king doth with his feUow-prince, who, if he cannot have peace on his own terms, is able probably to revenge himself by force of arms; but as a mighty king with his rebel subject, whom he hath fast bound witli chains in prison, and can at pleasure hang up for his treason. The great God will have thee know that. Let those capitulate, who can retire to their strength, and live without peace. But as for tiiee, poor sinner, thou dost not, I hojje, think thou art in a capacity to meet God in the field, or to thrive by this trade of war against God. No, thy only way is to conquer him upon thy knees, to lay thy neck at his foot, and say, Lord, I put my life in thy hands, thy true prisoner I will be, choosing rather to die by the hand of thy justice, than to continue fighting against thy mercy. Now, poor soul, thou art in the path that leads to peace. ' Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up,' James iv. 10 ; that soul shall not hmg be out of his arms, that is prostrate at his foot. But tliough the high and lofty One can stoop to take up a penitent sinner into the arms of his pardoning mercy, yet he will not debase his sovereignty to treat with a wretch that stands to his arms, and stouts it out with him. There is one red letter in God's name ; ' He will by no means clear the guilty,' Exod. xxxiv.
Secondly, The holy nature of God requires this : sin is that which made the breach, and caused (Jod to take arms against his creature ; how canst thou rationally tliink to make thy peace with liim, and keep this source of conten- tion in thy bosom? God is willing to be reconciled with thee, but wilt thou have
fiQq^ THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.