VeR. 2.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 69
to US, and we love and serve him. Only observe, that God beginneth first, though he be the wronged party ; he ' was reconciling.' And mark again, it is ' in Christ ' to show it is sure. Those that are reconciled to men are still in umbrage and suspicion with them ; they that have once been enemies, they may be again ; therefore they do not return to perfect grace ;^ when the wound is cured, the scars remain. But our reconciliation with God, it is like the soldering of a vessel, which is strongest in the crack ; or as a leg broken, if well set, it is the stronger ; so are we upon firmer terms than we were in innocency ; there was a possibility of being at odds with God, which is now taken away.
[4.] God being reconciled in Christ, all things else are at peace with us, tranquillus Deus tranquillat omnia. For his league with us is offensive and defensive : ' My horses are as thy horses, and my cha- riots 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 ; instead of being instruments of vengeance, they become ' minister- ing spirits,' Heb. i. 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.' God's heirs are well attended ; angels wait upon them at Christ's direction. Other creatures serve us, as if they were in league and covenant with us ; stars, winds, seas, beasts : Job v. 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 God's 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 provi- dence, and therefore, so far as it conduceth to our good, at our service. So Hosea ii. 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 civil- iseth, and pulleth the beast out of men's bosoms where it worketh least,2 see Isa. xi. 7-9. The hearts of men are in God's hands ; he can either destroy their persons, or restrain their rage, or turn out their respects to you : ' AVhen a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him,' Prov. xvi. 7. 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 than an iron bar. If you be in with God, you stop enmity and strife at the fountainhead. So for peace with the saints ; Jesus Christ breaketh down the partition wall, Eph. ii. 16-18, removeth prejudices and jealousies, changeth interests, cleareth up truths, and by his Spirit meekeneth their hearts that they may 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. iii. 15. Brothers have defaced the feelings of nature, but fellow-members are wont to care one for another. Peace with fellow-saints was his dying charge, his legacy, John xiv. 27, his prayer, John xvii., and his constant care now he is in heaven. Then for peace with ourselves. Sin rendeth and teareth a man from himself; it maketh a mutiny in his own heart,
1 Qu. ' peace ' ?— Ed. - Qu. ' lust ' ?— Ed.
' ' Eodem sanguine Christi glutinati.' — Aug. Confess, de Seipso et Alipio.
70 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 2.
Eom. ii. 15, ' thoughts accusing and excusing by turns/ /xer aXXTjXav. A man and his conscience are at odds, and a man and his affections. Now, we being reconciled to God, the foundation is laid for peace of conscience, that we and our hearts may talk together as loving friends, without scolding, without rej^roaching. And then grace giveth us a calm and contented spirit, which easeth us of a great deal of trouble, for a discontented man is his own burden. We need the peace of God not only in our consciences, but to bear rule in our hearts. Col. iii. 16, that we may refer all matters to God's disposal, Ps. iv. 8.
[5.] Though all things are at peace with us ; yet some troubles are left for our exercise, but not for our hurt and destruction. The peace of God it is a very riddle : Phil. iv. 7, ' It passeth all understanding.' To sense who more wretched than God's children, hated, reviled, persecuted, afflicted ? How are they at peace with God and all his creatures ? I answer — The privilege^ of Christ's kingdom are spiritual : whatever troubleth the saints, nothing can harm them, 1 Peter iii. 13. They may harm the man, but not the Christian. All things are at peace with them, because they are at the disposal of a wise and gracious providence, and cannot do hurt to the better part : they work for good. Death is at peace with them, which doth the greatest hurt to the body. Ask old Simeon and he will toll you so : Luke ii. 29, ' Lord, now lettest thy servant depart in peace,' &c. They are sent for by their friend ; the king of fears is a grim messenger, but they know his errand, and therefore are not afraid.