through thy own melancholy fancy, and the sophistry of Satan, who coins distinctions for thee, evade the arguments that Christians and ministers bring for thy comfort; yet when the Spirit comes himself, all disputes end : the devil cannot argue with him ; no, then the lying spirit vanisheth, and our own fears too, as the darkness flees before the sun : so sweetly and powerfully doth the comforting Spirit overrun the heart with a flood of joy, that the soul can no more see her sins in the guilt of them, than Noah could the molehills, when the whole earth was under water.
CHAPTER IX.
A REPROOF TO THREE SORTS OF PERSONS THAT OFFEND AGAINST THIS PEACE WHICH THE GOSPEL BRINGS.
Use 1. First, Is peace of conscience the blessing of the gospel ? this reproves three sorts of persons.
Section I. — First, The papists, who interpretatively deny this, in denying that any person can know in this life, unless by an extraordinary revelation, that he is a child of God, and one that shall be saved ; which, if true, would stave all to pieces the vessel in which the Christian's joy and inward peace are kept. Whence comes the peace we have with our own consciences, but from the knowledge we have of our peace with God? Rom. v. i.: ' Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, by whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.' If the poor soul be left at uncertainties here, and the gospel cannot resolve it, what its state is, for hell or heaven, farewell to all inward peace ; the poor Christian then may say of himself, with a trembling heart, what St. John saith in another case of him that hateth his brother, 1 John ii. 11 : ' He walks in darkness, and knows not whither he goes :' truly then it might rather be called the gospel of fears and doubts than the gospel of peace. But is that the top of the blessing the gospel brings to saints, which was almost the bottom of the curse that the law denounced against sinners ? Deut. xxviii. G6, that ' their life should hang in doubt before them, and they should fear day and night, and should have no assurance of life.' Bold men, that dare so wretchedly disfigure the sweet face of the gospel ! making Christ, in his precious promises, speak as doubtfully to his saints, as the devil did in his oracles to his devotees. Because their hypocrisy makes them justly question their own salvation, and will not suffer them to apply the comfort of the promises to themselves, must they therefore seal up these wells of salvation from those that are sincere, and then lay the blame on the gospel, which is due only to their own wickedness? But there is a mystery of iniquity which hath at last been found to be at the root of this uncomfortable doctrine of theirs. They are a little akin to Judas, who was a thief, and carried the bag. These have a bag too, into which they put more gold and silver that this doctrine brings them in, than ever Judas had in his : though the doctrine of gospel grace to poor sinners would bring more peace to others' consciences, might it be seen in its naked glory among them ; yet the superstitious fear which they keep ignorant souls in, brings more money to their purses ; and this lies so near the heart of their religion, that gospel, Christ, heaven, and all must bow unto it.
Section II. — Secondly, Those are to be reproved who frame very unlovely images in their own foolish imaginations of the gospel, as if there was nothing less than peace of conscience and inward comfort to be found in it ; and all because they see some that profess it who cannot shew that they have got any more peace and comfort since their acquaintance with the gospel than they had before, or than themselves have, who are yet strangers to it ; yea, may be, discover more trouble of spirit. Such I would desire to take these following particulars, by way of answer, into their serious consideration.
First, Consider all are not true Christians that hang upon the gospel by profession ; and no blame can be laid on the gospel, though it doth not lavish out this treasure to every one that scrapes acquaintance with it. The Spirit of God is too wise and faithful to set his seal to a blank. The minister indeed offers peace to all that will accept it ; but where the peace of the gospel meets with a false heart, it will not stay there, Matt. x. 13 : ' If the house be not
ggQ THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
worthy, let your peace return unto you.' As the dove returned to the ark again, when it found the earth imder water, so doth the Spirit of God carry his comfort back with him to heaven from a soul that is yet in the suds of sin, soaking in his abominations. Where can this heavenly dove find rest for the sole of her foot in such a soul ? And will he speak peace to that soul in which himself can find no rest?