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love, that it makes it rest secure in God, and delivers it from distress of mind, or anxious cares about anything; keeping out the dominion of all perplexing and distrustful thoughts.

The strength which this peace has, whereby it keeps the heart and mind as with a garrison, is impregnable. It is derived from Christ, it has it in and from Christ: the text saith, through Christ, that is, through the power of Christ's Spirit. For as we are kept by faith, from which this peace springs, as with a strong garrison, by the power of God to salvation, 1 Peter i. 5; so, by the same power of Christ, our hearts and minds are kept by the peace of God, as with a garrison, from discouraging, distracting, and uncomfortable thoughts. For what is this peace else but a beam from the object of our faith, proceeding from the love of God to us ward, and the fruit of faith, as we feel it wrought in us by God?

This peace of God is two-fold, or one and the same in different degrees.

The first is an actual entering into, and mutual embracing of peace between God and man.

The second is the manifestation and expression of this peace.

The first is when God and man are made friends; which is, when God is pacified towards man, and when man is reconciled unto God, so that now God stands well affected towards men, and man has put off enmities against God; which mutual atonement and friendship, Christ Jesus, the only mediator between God and man, 1 Tim. ii. 5, has, by his satisfaction and intercession wrought for man, and by his Spirit applies unto, and works in man. For until this atonement be applied, God, in his just judgment and holy displeasure, is an enemy unto man for sin, Psa. v. 5; Rom. v. 10; and man in his evil mind, and unjust hatred is an enemy unto God, Col. i. 21, and unto all goodness, through sin.

The first peace, is peace of God with man, inherent in God, working the like disposition of peace in man