Peace of Conscience

    "Would you have peace of conscience?

    1. You must break off all your sins by repentance. This is the "good old way." There is no peace in the way of sin, Isa. xlviii. 22. The foundation of "peace with God" is laid in true repentance; made up of contrition, confession, conversion. Sin must be bewailed. None reap in joy but those that sow in tears. None are comforted but those who mourn for sin. And he that truly repents makes confession, acknowledges his sin fully, freely, particularly; aggravating all against himself. While the psalmist "kept silence" his "bones waxed old;" but when he confessed, he was healed. If there be no opening of a wound there will be no healing. "He that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall find mercy," and peace.

    How long must I try whether I truly leave my sin, after I have confessed and bewailed it, before I can have peace? The Scripture limits no time; but as soon as a man hath confessed and bewailed his sins, and is broken off from them in the sincere purpose of his soul, for anything I know he hath an immediate title to the peace of God through Jesus Christ. And if he continue, and it appears by the change of his way that his heart is changed, his peace will be c strengthened and increased thereby.

    2. "Would you have peace of conscience? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for justification, acceptation, reconciliation, and salvation: "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Have you peace then, and not a believer? It is none of the "peace of God." What is believing? It is a poor sinner's seeing himself lost, who hearing the report of the gospel concerning Christ, and having an offer made of him, doth thereupon heartily close with him; taking Christ to be his, and giving up himself to him. Is this done? I hope it is. But is there no peace? Why so?

    You say, If I did but know that I believe, I should have peace. But fear I do not believe. Now, in other things we can know what we close with, and what we reject. And if we are faithful to ourselves, why may we not know that we truly reject sin when we do so; and close with Christ when we do so?

    3. Would you have peace? Betake yourselves to the throne of grace, and beg of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, that he who hath "given to believe," would give also the knowledge, sight, and comfort of believing. It is one thing to have an estate, and another thing to use it well. So it is one thing to believe, and another to know you believe. Beg this of God—that he would "speak peace," and make you to "hear joy and gladness." And then, when you have done thus, it is your duty to be assured in your souls that, through Christ Jesus, you are "accepted." It is your duty to be comforted. We are sinners against our own souls, if we are not. We have a promise: "Ask"—in prayer—"and it shall be given you. Seek"—in the use of means—"and you shall find. Knock"—in respect of importunity—" and it shall be opened unto you." God's word speaks plain: "I will hear what God the Lord will speak; for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly."

    What is the reason why so many praying, believing, repenting souls have not peace? It is because they do not "hear what God the Lord" says. We must look upon "peace with God" as a legacy left us by Jesus Christ when he made his will, John xiv. 27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.—Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." This was spoken to his disciples, who were penitent believers. If you are so, it is spoken to you. Say then—Lord, I come to thee for the legacy which thou hast left me. He dying made his will, and rose again to execute it. Go to him, to be put in possession. Go to the executor, and make your claim.

    You ask, What must they do who have this "peace," to keep it? If you would maintain a constant, perpetual calm in your souls, take these rules.

    1. Bottom your peace upon your justification, and not upon your sanctification. It may be described a sweet tranquility of mind, arising from a sense of our justification before God. "Justified by faith, we have peace "—"through our Lord Jesus Christ." Christ'* righteousness and merit imputed, and applied to us, is the ground of our peace, and not any righteousness of our own.

    2. Labor to understand, and be sure to take heed of, that which will break the peace. We must "walk circumspectly." We must not turn aside to the ways of sin and folly. Peace will never follow us out of the way of duty. Avoid places and company that most endanger. Take heed of snares, and temptations; of presumptuous sins.

    3. If at any time guilt be upon thy soul, make haste to repent. Delay not, for fear of the worst. If thou art "fallen," arise by repentance. There was a great difference between David's case and Peter's. They were both good men, and sinned greatly. David was long in trouble, without peace; because he lay long under guilt unrepented of—near three-quarters of a year. But Peter no sooner sinned, than he went out, and wept bitterly. He was soon refreshed with a comfortable message from Christ: "Go tell my disciples," particularly Peter.

    Renew your repentance solemnly at the end of every day. Take no guilt unrepented of to bed, lest it break your peace before morning.

    More solemnly renew your repentance at the end of every week. Cast up your account. Set all straight between God and your souls in the blood of Christ. Oh how sweet will the sabbath then be to the soul.

    Most solemnly do so when you are to come to the Lord's supper. Without this you cannot be prepared for it, nor improve it to your peace. In your work of preparation, you will find that one quarter of an hour spent in serious reading and reviewing the records of your own heart, and the course of your life, will be of greater advantage than reading a good book for many hours without doing so.

    4. If we would keep the peace, we must understand on what terms we are with God. We must look on him as our Father, reconciled in and through Jesus Christ; and believe that, "As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear" and "trust in him." The want of good thoughts of God occasions many a poor soul to be without the peace of God. If we can but call, and come to him as a Father, and trust in him as children do their father, which he would have us do, we may keep our "peace." And, we must keep in mind that he is a God in covenant with us through Jesus Christ; and the covenant between God and us is an "everlasting covenant." It is a marriage covenant. Every breach in it is not a breach of it. Every unkind carriage doth not break this bond. For we have "an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

    5. We must take heed of misinterpreting God's providences in our afflictions. The rod is on our backs; trouble in our families; crosses; losses; burdens; disappointments. And we are apt to conclude God is angry. This breaks and interrupts our peace. But is there no such thing as afflicting for trial? Yes. Sometimes God does it to try the graces of his people; to burnish and make them bright. And, when he doth so, is there any reason why we should interpret it to the breaking of our peace?

    But my afflictions are for my sin. It may be so. What must I do then? Pray to God to cast a perfect lot. To discover it to you. Then repent of it. Flee to Christ. Accept pardon in and through his merit and mediation. When you have done so, return to the "good old way." "Rejoice in God. Though he afflicts, he never does it but for our profit. Do not argue from affliction, therefore, the breach of the peace.

    6. Do not misinterpret the word of God. Many put far from them that which belongs to them, and take that to themselves which is not spoken to them. It is a common thing with sinners to take the children's meat—the promises—to themselves; and with the saints to speak terror to themselves from what belongs not to them. It is a great work to hear well, so as to take our own portion from the word: "Take heed how you hear." And, if you would keep your "peace," take no more to yourselves than belongs to you.

    But, suppose my peace broken, pray set me in a way to recover it again. I hear it may be lost, and so as never to be recovered. Many go halting to the grave. They never regain their peace. I would not do so. What must I do that it may be with me "as in the days past, when the light of the Lord shone on my tabernacle?"

    Why, what would you do if you had lost a jewel, or thing of great value? Would you say, Let it go? No. You would inquire after it. You would take pains to find it. Tour peace is a jewel worth looking after. Think it so. And look after it.

    But, where doth a man think is the most likely place to find his lost jewel? Where he had it last. So do you. Remember where it was. Perhaps in your closet. There you lost it by cold, careless performances. You are not so frequent, nor so fervent, nor so solemn there as you were wont to be. If so, go to your closet again. Seek to recover it there. Repent of your deadness, formality, or neglect.

    Another may say, The last time I had my peace was in the solemn assembly. I lost it by neglect of the house of God, or unsuitable attendance in it; either going to it or coming from it. Then seek it there. Attend more constantly; more carefully; more conscientiously.

    Another says, I lost mine in my shop, or when about my secular employment: by overreaching; or by over-eager pursuit of my worldly affairs. Seek it there. Bethink yourselves what broke it. Repent of it. Leave it. Turn into the way again.

    The Bible is a book of receipts for our souls. And there are receipts against all maladies. Among the rest, one for setting broken bones. "Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works." Bethink yourselves, how it was with you while you had peace; and how since you wanted it. Remember from what tranquility and calmness of soul you are fallen, and then repent. Confess, bewail, turn from your sin. Go to God. Tell him you are sorry you have offended: that you are come to make peace. Beg of him that you may make, and that he would speak, peace. And, do your "first works." Do as you did when first converted. Repent. Believe. Renew your covenant with God. The same thing must be done to recover a broken peace as to get a peace we never had before. Tea, recover your "first love" also. Be lively and serious again. Set God always before you. Then, "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."