The path-way to peace. Or, The only assured and most certain means, whereby to heal the sores, make up the breaches, remove the fears, prevent the ruine, reconcile the differences, and put a finall end to the manifold divisions of this famous (though now much distracted) kingdom. By that faithfull and painfull preacher of Gods Word, Thomas Gardener, late pastor of St Maries in Sandwich. It is ordered this thirteenth day of February, 1642. by the committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning printing, that this book, intituled, The path-way to peace, be printed. John White.:

The first Point.

The proof of the Doctrine out of Gods Word. This we will expresse 1. Affirmatively, shewing, That when our wayes please the Lord, he makes our enemies at peace with us. 2. Negatively, or by way of contraries, to make the truth more evidently appear; namely, That when our actions and life are displeasing to God, he makes our very friends at enmity with us.

Affirmatively, and that by sundry examples; for they are more familiar and convincing.

The first is between Abimelech King of the Philistims, and Isaac the faithfull seed of Abraham. Isaac was hated of this Heathenish King, and driven away; yet in processe of time, the Lord apparently shewed his blessings upon him, that the King could not but perceive it, and is constrained to come and seek to make a League with him.

The second is of Jacob, who thought his sons had so ty∣rannously slaughtered a whole City of men, the inhabitants of Shechem, that there could be nothing expected of upright Jacob, but that the neighbouring Nations should have reven∣ged their cruelty, with the like slaughter of him and his houshold; yet the terrour of the Lord fell upon the people round about them as they travelled, that they suffered them peaceably to take their journey, without making any pursuit after them.

The third unto the Israelites, when the Lord gave them fa∣vour in the eyes of the Aegyptians, their cruell enemies.

The fourth. This promise was also made good unto Jere∣my, when (being ungently used of his own people) in the ge∣nerall Captivity of the Jews, he was restored to liberty, and kindely entreated of the enemies.

The fifth. But never was this truth more compleatly ac∣complished, then when the Lord made Esau at peace with his brother Jacob; for where there is hatred betwixt brethren, its usually most extreme, as the wise man teacheth; the bro∣ther offended is harder to be won then a strong City, and their contentions are like the bars of a Castle. This is more marvel∣lous, if we consider, That he was even then in his march with four hundred men towards his brother, to revenge him∣self of his long unforgotten injuries, when he was reconciled unto him.

Negatively. When we displease God, he makes our very friends at enmity with us; whereof we have also pregnant examples:

The first, of Saul, because his wayes were rebellious against the Lord, his own servants, his own Tribe, his son in law, David, and his own son out of his bowels, all were against him; yea, Jonathan did favour David, his greatest adversary, whereof he himself did pitifully complain.

The second, of David, under whom the Lord had subdued all all his enemies, till such time as he sinned against God in the matter of Ʋriah the Hittite, and then the Lord raised a∣gainst him his own darling Absalom, to conspire against him for his Kingdom.

The third, of Solomon. All the while his heart was perfect with his God, he had peace within his own Dominions from Dan to Beersheba; but after he multiplies women to himself and sacrifices to strange gods, then God stirs up Hadad and Rezon, such as were formerly at peace with him; yea, even his own servant and favourite Jeroboam.

The fourth, of Joash, who thrived while he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord; but falling to Idolatry, and hatred of Reformation, his own servants conspired against him, and flew him.

Thus have we the truth of the doctrine, both affirmatively, and negatively.

Notes

• Proved.
• Affirmatively by examples.
• The 1 example Gen. 26.16.27, 28.
• The 2 example Gen 35.5.
• The 3 example Exod. 12.26.
• The 4 example Jer. 39.11, 12.
• The 5 example Gen. 33 4.
• Prov. 18 19.
• Negatively by examples.
• The 1 example 1 Sam. 15.23.
• Sam 22 7, 8.
• The 2 example
• 2 Sam. 15.10.
• The 3 example
• 1 King 4 24.
• 1 King 11.14.23.26 28.
• The 4 example 2 Chron. 24.18.25.