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THE

PIOUS COMMUNICANT.

Lecture VI.

ON THE PEACE, JOY AND TRIUMPH OF FAITH.

HAVING, in the preceding lecture, treated of

the LIFE OF FAITH, and delineated the course which the Chriftian pursues, in his journey towards the heavenly Canaan, we purpose, now, to invite your attention to some of the BLESSED EFFECTS, which a life so holy, and a course so pleasing to God, produce. The effects to which we particularly allude are, the peace, the joy, and the triumph of faith. Our defign, in treating on these subjects, is, on the one hand, to encourage the children of God, who have commenced travelling the road of faith, to proceed in it with ardour and zeal; and on the other, to allure fuch as are yet in a state of nature, to make choice of a courfe, in which they may meet with peace and joy, both in life and death.

We shall reduce what we have to say on these subjects, to the three following heads:

1. We shall explain the NATURE of the peace,

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joy, and triumph of the Chriftian, and fhew how they proceed from faith.

2. We fhall enquire, whether thefe fruits of faith are found in ALL believers, at ALL times, with a view to adminifter comfort to the weak and diftreffed Christian.

3. We fhall then attempt an application suitable to various cafes and circumftances of men.

But before we proceed to confider these several fubjects, we would remark, that if it be asked, "Why we confine ourselves to the peace, joy, and triumph of faith, fince there are many other fruits, "which the life or walk of faith produces?" we reply,

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1. Because, in the lectures which have preceded, we have occafionally mentioned many of the bleffings which faith brings in its train.

2. Because, in the prefent lecture, which will conclude the interefting fubject of faith, we propose exhibiting that grace in its highest degrees, as in the laft, we pointed out its loweft exercises.

3. Becaufe, the PEACE, JOY, and TRIUMPH of faith include all the other fruits which refult from it.

Having premised this, agreeably to the FIRST thing which was proposed, we now folicit your attention to each of the fruits of faith, above mentioned.

The FIRST in order is PEACE; by which we underftand, "That gracious work of God in the heart "of a believer, by which, his former enmity being " removed, a mutual friendship takes place between "him and his God; from which flows a holy composure of mind, in every viciffitude of life, as well "as peace with all creatures."

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According to this defcription, we fhall confider what this peace PRESUPPOSES; then fpeak of the PEACE ITSELF; and laftly, its effects.

1. It presupposes, that man, by nature, is an enemy to God; for were there no enmity, there would be no neceffity of making peace: the idea of peace also implies, that the enmity which once exifted is removed.

Man, at first, created in the image of God, enjoyed fellowship, and held fweet converse with his Maker, as with his most intimate friend; but by the intervention of fin, this friendship was deftroyed, and man hath become an enemy to God; he lifts up the weapons of rebellion against him; he ftretcheth out his hand against God, and ftrengtheneth himfelf against the Almighty; he runneth upon him, even on his neck, and upon the thick boffes of his buckler, and faith, depart from us, for we defire not the knowledge of thy ways, Job xxxv. 25, 26. And God, on the other hand, who cannot but hate fin, and whofe holiness and justice are difhonoured by it, is become an enemy to man; for the foolish fhall not ftand in his fight; he hateth all workers of iniquity, Pfalm v. 6. As an enemy to God, man comes into the world, and in this awful ftate he lives; for, fays Paul, Rom. viii. 7. The carnal mind is enmity against God. Yes, and in this awful ftate he must have died, if God himself, even from eternity, had not entertained thoughts of peace, and arofe to deliver him from his wretched condition. It was his infinite WISDOM that devised the plan of setting apart the Son of his love as mediator and furety; and his unspeakable GOODNESS and infinite power, that executed redemption's glorious and aftonishing plan, when he actually fent him into the world; for then it was the

treating a return of his favour, and giving themfelves up to him anew, after having backflidden; and by persevering in pleading his promises.

3. This peace and friendship with God, produce a variety of bleffed effects; hence proceeds,

a. Peace oF CONSCIENCE; for when the foul is reconciled to God, and enjoys fuch familiar intercourse with him, conscience does not accufe; but as the deputy of God, proclaims, in the name of God, Peace, that peace which passeth all understanding, Phil. iv. 4. and which is the anfwer of a good con fcience towards God, 1. Pet. iii. 21. And, whenever this peace of mind is experienced, then nothing can give the believer any disturbance; but in all circumftances in which he may be placed, he can, with a holy boldness, lift up his head. When SATAN brings any accufation against him, he will be able to fay with Paul, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juftifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Chrift that died, yea, rather that is rifen again; who is even at the right hand of God; who alfo maketh interceffion for us, Rom. viii. 33, 34. Under a feeling sense of INDWELLING fin, the believer flies to the righteoufnefs of Jefus, to be found in that alone. Does he ENJOY temporal prosperity? he finds a double fatisfaction; for his mind being at peace with God, he is certain that what he receives, comes from a father's hand, and views it as a pledge of his paternal affection; and befides, the gifts of that heavenly parent, communicated in providence to him, produce that exquifite delight in the foul which believers always experience, when feeling their obligations to God, they are enabled to speak in the grateful language of the Pfalmift: "What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits.

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" towards me? I will take the cup of falvation, and "call upon the name of the Lord." In adverfity, this peace makes the mind calm and compofed; and is the sheet-anchor on which the believer quietly rides in the midst of the fevereft gales. When this peace is interrupted, the believer enjoys no comfort, until he can fay, "Return to thy reft, O! my foul; for the "Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." In a word, this peace is the fortrefs in which the Christian is fafe, when ASSAULTED by enemies, or THREATENID with dangers.

b. From peace with God, proceeds not only peace with conscience, but also, PEACE WITH ANGELS, who are miniftering fervants, fent forth to minifler to them that are heirs of falvation, Heb. ii. 14. These heavenly hofts are conftantly employed in guarding the elect; for we read, Pf. xxxiv. 7. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him. As chariots and horfes of fire, they preferved Elifha from falling into the hands of the king of Affyria, 2 Kings vi. 17. Yes; they wait to escort the fouls of believers, at death, from earth to Abraham's bofom; to that heavenly state of glory, in which they shall be kept in everlasting security.

c. All the FRIENDS of God, as well those in heaven as those on earth, are at PEACE with those who have peace with God; they are fellow-citizens of the faints, and of the household of God; they have one and the fame mediator, who reconciles them to God; one and the fame fpirit who works in them; they travel one road; have one end in view, and fhall at last enjoy the fame glory.

d. They have peace with all the CREATION OF GOD. Nothing which the eternal hath formed can injure them; for all things work together for their

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