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leaves behind it is love. It makes a man more inflamed with love to God. If a man do not love God more after such an enlightening, it is false and counterfeit: "I will love thee dearly, O Lord, my God, because thou hast heard my voice." And says the apostle, "They love of Christ constraineth me." And therefore if we be obedient sons, we will show it in loving and honouring our Father more and more, as the prophet speaks: "Az son honoureth his father, and a servant his master, if then I be a father, where is mine honour ?" These are the trials before and after a true illumination to try it from the counterfeit, which that we may always find and observe in ourselves let us pray, O Lord our God, &c.

* Psalm 116. ver. 1.

z Malach. chap. 6.

y 2 Cor. chap. 5. ver. 14.

A SERMON

PREACHED

BEFORE THE KING,

AT

GREENWICH,

SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 1627.

SERMON

PREACHED

BEFORE THE KING,

&c. &c.

1 COR. CHAP. XIV. VER. 33.

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

THE holy apostle in the words going before doth set down a course for ordering of the exercises of prophesying in the Church; a thing not being well ordered brings all to confusion in the Church; therefore the apostle, though he commends prophesying, yet he would have it done in order; and therefore saith in verse 29. "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge." Though they have liberty to deliver that doctrine they may learn out of the word, yet they may not challenge to themselves such a power as they may not be censured for, but let others judge; but how? the answer is in verse 32. "Let the spirits of the prophets be subject to the prophets." First, let the fewer be content to submit themselves to be ordered by the greater company of prophets; for, saith my text, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace:" for if

VOL. XIII.

every man may teach what he list, and men shall not submit to one another, there must needs be confusion, but God is the author of peace.

I will begin with the latter part first; "God is the author of peace." From whence observe;

DocT. All sound peace hath its rise and ground from heaven, from above.

In the Scripture, therefore, God is called the God of peace; "The God of peace shall be with you:" "The God of peace shall tread down Satan under your feet shortly:" "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly." So for his power; "His name is the Prince of peace." Therefore those two types of Christ, Melchisedeck and Solomon bore the name of peace; Melchisedeck is called king of Salem; that is, the king of peace. And therefore, when the Lord brings his first begotten Son into the world, this is one part of the angels' adoration; "Gloryf be to God on high, and on earth peace." Peace, it was the song of heaven. And when our Lord was to depart out of the world, he takes his leave thus; "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:" this was the last legacy he bequeaths unto his disciples. And so his kingdom, it is a kingdom of peace, in Rom. chap. XIV. ver. 17. "The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace:" and in Isaiah, chap. IX. ver. 7. " Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." Other kings, the more their kingdoms are enlarged, the more ado they have to maintain peace: his way is a way of peace: "To guide our feet into the way of peace." So that the way to the kingdom of Christ is not a troublesome, contentious and bitter way; but the way of peace. His Gospel is the Gospel of peace; "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace." His officers, they

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