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☞Vera copia, Cupiditatis inopia.☜Vera inopia, Cupiditatis copia.
Who hath set peace in thy borders.
WHo hath set peace in thy borders. How much have yee all rejoyced? Love this, my Brethren. Wee are much delighted, when this love of Peace cryeth from your hearts. How much hath it delighted us?
Having as yet said nothing, expounded nothing, but on∣ly pronounced this verse, yee have even cryed out. And what is it that hath cryed from you? the love of peace: what doth it present unto your eyes? Whence doe yee cry, if yee do not love? Whence doe yee love, it yee doe not see? Peace is invi∣sible. Where is that Eye, by which it is seene, that it may be lov'd? Neither would it be cryed upon, unlesse it were lov'd. These are those representments of invisible things, which God exhibits unto us. With what beautie hath the conceit of Peace sei∣zed on your hearts? What then shall I now speake of Peace, or of the praise of
peace? Your affection pre∣venteth all my words: I shall not performe it, I am not able to undergo it, I am too weake to doe it. Let us de∣ferre all our praises of peace to that Countrey of peace. There shall wee more fully praise it, where wee shall more fully possesse it. If wee thus love peace begun in us, how much shall we praise it when perfected in us? Be∣hold, this I say, my beloved Children, Children of the Kingdome, Citizens of Hie∣rusalem, because in Hierusa∣lem is the Vision of peace, and all those who enjoy and love peace are made blessed in it. This, which ye so much love and affect to heare named, pursue it, desire it, love it in
your House, love it in your Businesse, love it in your Wives, love it in your Children, love it in your Servants, love it in your Friends, love it in your Enemies. This is that peace which Heretiques have not. Now what doth peace here amidst the uncertainties of this Region, in this Pilgri∣mage of our mortality; where, as yet, no one is transparent to another, none seeth the heart of another, what doth peace? It judgeth not of things uncertaine, it confirmes not things un∣knowne. It is apter to con∣ceit well of man, than evilly to suspect him. It grieves her not much to have erred, in conceiving a good opinion
of him that was ill-affected. But dangerous it is, to con∣ceit ill of him who (per∣chance) is good, not knowing how hee is disposed whom we so rashly judged. What doe I lose, if I beleeve such an one is good? If it be un∣certaine whether he be evill, (albeit you are to be cautelous whether this be so,) yet are you not to condemne him as if it were so. this Peace commandeth,* 1.1 Seeke peace, and ensue it. Heresie, what doth it teach? It condemnes those it knowes not, it con∣demnes the whole World. We do now desire that peace which we have here in hope. For as yet, what peace is there in us?* 1.2 The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against
the flesh. Where is there full peace in any one man? when shall it be full in any one man? Even then, when it shall be full in all the citi∣zens of Hierusalem. When shall there be full peace?* 1.3 When this corruptible hath put on in∣corruption, and this mortall hath put on immortality, then shall there be full peace, then firme peace. Nothing then con∣testeth against the soule in man, shee is not against her selfe, nor in any part woun∣ded; there is no frailty of the flesh, no corporall want, no hunger, no thirst, no heat, no cold, no wearinesse, no want, no provoking to wrath, nor surely any cautelous care of avoyding a foe, or affecting a friend.
All these things, my Bre∣thren, fight against us, wee have not yet full and perfect peace. In that ye have cryed, (who even now hearing the name of peace out of your de∣sire to peace have cryed) this cry of yours proceeded from thirst, not from ful∣nesse.
THe same Father Augu∣stine, a glorious Light of the Church, a constant Champion for the truth, and a powerfull evincer of all such Errors as opposed the Truth, in his love to peace, composed likewise this sweet Meditation, to beget in every devout heart the like affection: Gathered out
of his Tract upon the 36. Psal. Upon these words: Meeke men shall possesse the Earth, and shall have their delight in the multitude of peace. Ver. 23.
Upon which, with a pas∣sionate devotion, an affecti∣onate passion, hee analiseth thus: This Earth, whereof we have so often spoken, is holy Hierusalem. The Meeke shall be delivered from this their pilgrimage, and shall live for ever with God, and of God. Therefore shall they possesse the Earth for an inheritance. And what shall their riches be? They shall be delighted in the multitude of peace. For the wicked, hee may be delighted in the mul∣titude of Gold, in the multi∣tude of Silver, in the multi∣tude
of Servants, lastly in the multitude and store of Wealth, of delicious Wines, sumptuous and luxurious Feasts. But admit, hee should be alwayes stored, al∣wayes in these suted, were not his case to be lamented? But what shall be thy riches, what shall bee thy dainties? Multitude of peace: Thy Gold shall bee peace, thy Sil∣ver peace, thy Farmes peace, thy Life peace, thy God peace. Whatsoever thou desirest shall be to thee peace. That which is here Gold, cannot be unto thee Silver: That which is Wine, cannot bee unto thee Bread: That which is unto thee Light, cannot be drinke: whereas thy God shall bee to thee
all things. Thou shalt eat him, and never hunger: Drinke him, and never thirst: Be enlightned by him, and never become blind: Bee supported by him, and never faile: Hee wholly shall possesse thee wholly and entirely. Thou shalt suffer there no extremi∣ties for another: have him, with whom thou shalt possesse all: enjoy all, and hee enjoy thee all, who is all in all: because thou, and hee, who is joyned in societie with thee shall be one: Which one, God himself shall wholly enjoy in you,* 1.4 who shall possesse you. This is the end of a man that loveth peace.
Psal. 33.
Galat. 5.
I Cor. 15.
Psal. 36.