3 He diflwades not from a ſpiritual care ariſing from a vood principle, according, to a right rule, for a good end ; this carc of diligence in a due manner within our own {phere is incumber.t on us both for Spirituals and Temperals, as c<. 2. 20. with Rem. 12. 11s 2 Cor. 11.29, and 12. 14. 2Thefſ. 2. 10. 1 Tim. 5. $. 2 7:3. 3 15. yct he earneſtly difſwades from, and prohibits all carnal ſolicitude, or carking dittruſtful worldly care, which doth divide and as it wer: {plit the heart in pieces, that anxious ſolicitude which doth torture the mind, with ſuch thoughts as our blefſed Lord will not allow lo much as one of them to be predominant in his real Diſciples, Mar. 6. 25. becauſe ſuch immoderate dittri&ing care, is on our part a diſparagement to our Heavenly Father's good Providence, verſe 32. with Pſalm 55. 22. and 127. 1, 2. Mar. 4.18, 19. 1 Peter 5-7- +} Lhe remedy againſt which he doth here ſubjoin. Put in all things, or in every occurring neceſſity, whether proſperous or adverſe ; ſacred or civil; publick or private; ſome render it every time, in every condition, on every occation. 4 By petition or apprecation of good to our ſelves, or others; mercies or blefii::5s temporal, ſpiricual and et:rnal. 5 And by a deprecation of Evils felt or feared, wrath and judgments deſerved. «© With a orateful acknowledgment of mercies receiv'd, benefits conferr'd, and dc-
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6 Be carctal for notiiing JF
God, without thi. 'ngredient of thankful reſentment of his fa- rours.) d Our affettionate deſires ſhould bz opened to God, and poured forth before him, not that he is 1znorant of us, or our wants 1n any circumſtaaces, but that he accounts himſelf glorified by our addrefles to him, in ſeeking to be approv'd and affifted of, him in every condition.
7 And the peace of God e which paſſerch all under- ſtanding f ſhall keep s your hearts and minds through Chriſt Jeſus.
e He adds as an encouragement to prayer, the peace of God who was in Chrift reconciling the World unto himſelf, to that upon belicving, and obeying the Goſpel; they who really do ſo are reconciled to him, 2 Cor. 3. 19, 20. and at peace with him, Rom- 5. 1. through Chriſt who leaves and gives peace to his, Fobn 14. 27» It is then the peace of God, in that he is th2 Obje&, the Donour, the Author of it by his Spirit to thoſe who perſevere in the Com- munion of ChriRt, as in ve-ſe 9. have the God of peace with them, and a ſenſe thereof in their own ſpirits. f And hy it tranſcends 4 finite underſtanding? may be anſwered, 1. Inthat he who hath per- ceived it, betore he had done ſo, could not ſathciently conceive in his own mind what at length it might be, 1 Cor. 2. 9. Hence 2. after it is perceiv'd it cannot. be that any one ſhould efteem and expres the Power and Virtue of it, according to the Worth and Excellen- cy of the matter. Not that the peace ſhould affett the heart, the will without the intervention of the underftanding ; fith *tis ſaid to keep the heart and mind, and Rev, 2. 7, The white ftone given tO believers (whereby this peace ſignified) is of that kind which no man knoweth, ſave he that receiveth it; And it is no new thing in Scripture to fay that doth exceed all underſtanding, which humane underftanding doth not ſo ftridtly conceive as to be able to ex- preſs it, as, Eph. 3. 19. So Man's mind doth receive that which 15 taken into admiration, that it perceives ſomething always to remain, which it hath notice of, yet cannot ſo perceive as to ex- preſs the whole of it. g Wherefore they who are really interreſſed in this peace ſhall be kept as in a Garriſon, 1 Per. 1.5. So their whole Souls ſhall be in ſafety, againſt the Afaults of Satan, their affections and reaſoning ſhall be ſo kept in order, that through Chriſt they ſhall not finally fall.
3 Finally brethren h, whatſoever things are true z, whatſoever things are * honeſt k, whatſoever things
things are lovely z, whatſoever things are of good re- ports: If chere be any virtue p, if there be any praiſe qz think on theſe things r.
þ As to what remains, he doth with the fair compellation of Brethren furthermore propole to their ſerious contideration living in the neighbourhood of the Genri/-s what h2 doch here, haſtening to a conclufion heap up and fold together, eſpecially wharever, i A- grees with truth in doctrin, in word and converſation, which ſhew candour and fincerity of Conſcience, both with reference to belie- vers and to infidels, *ſilm 15. 4+ Eph. 14, 15,25. k Venerab!z and grave as becometh the Goſpel, ch. 1. 27. to adorn the Goſpel of God our Saviour, Roe 12. 17. and 13+ 12. 7ir. 2. 10. avoiding What may argue levity or diſhoneſty in gefture, apparel, words and deeds, 2Cvr. $8. 2. I Giving what is due to every one by the law of Nature, or Nations, - or the Country, without guile 2nd not injuring any one, Kuth 3. 13 Neh. 6. 11. Mar. 22. 21. Rom. 13.7, 8, Col. 4. 1. 1 Tim. 5. $. Tit. 1. S. and 2.12. m Keeping themlelves undefiled in the way, 7ſz!. 119.1. from the pollution ot Sin, 1 Fob 3- 3- and the blemiſhes of filthy words and deeds, Eph. 4. 29. and 5. 3,4z5- # Whatſoever may gain the real reſpect of, and be gratetul to good Men in an affable deportment acceptable to God, 7:7. 3. 2. o Whatſoever is in a tendency to maintain a good Name; hot to court vain glory or popular applauſe, G7. 1. 19, but that which may be for the honour of Chriſt, and reputation of the Golpel among the Gentil.s, Rom. 15. 3. 1 7er. 2. 12. 1 agreement With the word of God, otherwiſe we muſt pats throug|1 evil as well as go0d report, 1uke 16. 15. 2 Cor. 6. 5. q And upon ſuppotition there be really any other commendable practice among ay z any praiſe-worthy deportment, 7 Dilig-aziy contder and proie.ute thele things.
Ln od
Chap, LY.
liverances vouchſafed (implving that no prayer 1s acceptable to -
are jult /, whatſoever things are pure m, whatſoever ze
"Sk! P, IVY.
* 1 Tim. G, 8,9.
EFRETLIP
o Tio ihings which ye have both Icarncd /, received, and heard 7, and feen 1a me #, do w : tho God of peacc ſhali be w
C and e WILN YOu x,