The Practice of Peaceableness

However pleasant and desirable peace may be, we must nevertheless be on our guard that we do not pursue and maintain it at the expense of truth and godliness. In our definition we therefore added the following limitation: “in the way of truth and godliness.” There are people who are fearful of experiencing the displeasure and opposition of someone else, and therefore, however much they may be set in their ways and will protect that, so to speak, with a knife in their hands, they nevertheless easily yield that which is not theirs but was entrusted by God to their safekeeping, namely, truth and godliness—even if this would mean the loss of everything, yes, even their life. Such people will then hide themselves behind the phrase “peace, peace.” This is clear proof that they neither belong to the peacemakers in Israel, nor do they truly have a peaceable heart. They do not seek peace, but their own expedience, and therefore they say, “Peace, peace,” even if this would mean peace with the devil and the world and that they would eternally have to miss peace with God. If new errors manifest themselves, such people insist that they must be silent and give in, for else there would be unrest; peace is best. If there is a sinner who needs to be converted from the error of his ways by way of exhortation and rebuke, one must refrain from this; he might become angry and cause us trouble. If the world insists that rather than manifesting godliness we conceal it, conforming ourselves to the world, such people will be prepared again to do so, for they do not wish unrest and therefore they say by renewal, “Peace, peace.” God says, however, that peace and truth, peace and godliness, must go hand in hand. If injury is done to one of those, we must neither set aside our peaceable heart, nor refrain from pursuing peace from our side. Instead, we are to oppose error and protect the truth. We shall thus oppose ungodliness and adhere to godliness. If others cannot endure this; if this displeases them and they cause trouble and create difficulties—then this is for their account. A peacemaker will nevertheless adhere to truth and godliness, for God wills that these be conjoined. “Therefore love the truth and peace” (Zech 8:19). Athanasius would rather lose his position than to depart from one letter of the truth. Luther was accustomed to say: “I would rather have the heavens fall down, than that one crumb of truth would perish.” “Follow peace with all men, and holiness” (Heb 12:14); “Righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Ps 85:10). The ungodly Jehu answered the question of Joram very well: “Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many” (2 Kings 9:22). “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

This is the virtue which is so earnestly commanded and insisted upon everywhere in God’s Word: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called the children of God” (Matt 5:9); “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace” (Rom 14:19); “Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess 5:13).

Are We Peacemakers?

Behold, here is a clear mirror in which you may behold not only your obligation toward peaceableness, but in which you may examine your own disposition and doings. Is peace with God, on the basis of the satisfaction of the Lord Jesus, your portion, having received this by faith unto justification, and does your peaceableness flow from that fountain? Do you know the distinction between the godly and those who are without grace? Is your soul one with the godly in Christ, and does your exercise of peace proceed from this unity? Do you maintain a peaceable disposition from your side and still strive to be at peace when natural man comes against you with much evil? Is your heart at rest, content, and pleased as far as your neighbor is concerned when you think of him in seclusion—or if you see or speak with him? Or, are there alien, antagonistic, angry, envious, and discontented motions within you? Do you endeavor to manifest your peaceable heart in deeds—even when others are angry at you and commit evil toward you? Do you love the truth and godliness so much that you do not wish to depart from it one iota, even if the entire world were to assault you, and do you nevertheless maintain a peaceable disposition of heart toward such, seeking by your deeds to manifest peace from your side? How does your soul respond to this in the presence of God? Do you belong to the peacemakers? Do you truthfully possess this in principle, and do you observe your deficiency with sorrow?

Or are you convinced that you are truly destitute of this disposition and its resultant deeds? How happy you would be if you were to be convinced of this and were to remain under such conviction until you would be desirous to earnestly seek the Lord Jesus, attain peace with God, and be peaceably inclined toward your neighbor! To that end, reflect for a moment upon the conviction of this sin, and consider at once how God views you, and the judgments which will come upon you. I am addressing you who, when you are in seclusion, are as cruel wolves and tigers; who are as a turbulent sea which cannot be at rest; whose heart is filled with hateful, angry, envious, and quarrelsome thoughts and motions. I am addressing you who are increasingly provoked whenever you see him whom you consider to have offended you, and who explode as gunpowder as soon as someone speaks inappropriately to you or harms you. I am addressing you who not only personally live in discord within and without, but also cause discord between others, and repeatedly and increasingly fan the fire of dissension; and you who have peace in your mouth but discord in your heart. Jeremiah speaks of such: “One speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait” (Jer 9:8). Hear now what God says concerning you.

Threatenings Against the Unpeaceful

First, you are without grace, for you deny everything which denominates you a Christian. God, whom you claim to be your Father, is a God of peace, and you are void of it. Christ, whom you call your Savior, is the Prince of Peace, and you live in continual discord. The Holy Spirit, of whom you claim to be a partaker, works peace, and you live in dissension. The gospel by which you claim to have been regenerated is a gospel of peace, and yet you live in hatred, anger, envy, and discord. You call yourself a child of God; however, such are peaceable and you are not peaceable. You partake of the Lord’s Supper by which the hearts of the godly are knit together, whereas your heart is divided against everyone. You will thus perceive that you have no part in all these matters of which you are boasting.

Secondly, you bear the image of the devil and his children. Your heart and countenance are the express image of Satan, the murderer of men. You are what the ungodly are described to be. The first world was full of violence (Gen 6:12), and so are you. Ishmael was a wild man; his hand was against every man and every man’s hand was against him (Gen 6:12); such is your condition. Hypocritical and ungodly Israel served God in an external sense; however, they lived in strife and debate, and in fighting and smiting (Isa 58:4); such is true of you.

Thirdly, God abhors you and will exercise vengeance upon you: “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: … A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Prov 6:16,19); “Their tongue is as an arrow shot out. … Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the Lord: shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this” (Jer 9:8-9).

Since discord, dissension, and quarreling are evidences of an evil and murderous heart which is filled with anger, envy, vengefulness; since such will not inherit the kingdom of heaven, but rather will have their portion in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, you cannot expect anything else. You who live in discord with men, be afraid of yourself and of the wrath of God. God also lives in discord with you and He will prevail over you—which He will cause you to experience.

A Deficient Peaceableness

And you, who truly—and in principle—have a peaceable heart (with so little evidence of it) the foregoing is also meant to be a mirror for you. How little do you resemble this disposition and the life of peacemakers! How many discordant thoughts do you have, and how sharp and biting are your words! How readily do you quarrel and entertain animosity within your heart! How this ought to grieve you! Mourn over this and earnestly seek to banish all discord, striving to have a peaceable heart and to live peaceably, for:

First, the absence of peace in both your heart and deeds will hinder you in all your religious exercises and will contaminate them.

(1) Your heart will lose its disposition to approach unto God, to pray, and to have fellowship with Him. “… that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Pet 3:7). Therefore, Paul says, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim 2:8).

(2) It causes those who are without and within to be greatly offended. Everyone will be disturbed when they hear a godly person quarrel and argue, for everyone is fully convinced that such is contrary to the nature of the godly and is not becoming for children of God. What does the Lord Jesus say about those who give offense? “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt 18:6). You who are godly, ought not this to deter you from discord?

(3) You thus become incapable of being of benefit to others, while using all your energy to cause discord in the church. “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16).

Secondly, all that is in and related to the church counsels you to be peaceable.

(1) You have been born in the church and have been received as her member. However, the church is called Shulamite, that is, the peaceable one (Song 6:13). Is it then becoming to you to live in discord and disharmony? Does it not behoove you to live in peace?

(2) God, who, while you were yet enemies, has reconciled you to Himself, is the God of peace (Rom 16:20). He desires peace and finds delight in those who are peaceable. Since this God is your Father and you address Him as “Abba, Father!,” then how do you dare to come to Him with a heart void of peace and a quarrelsome tongue? How can you have communion with Him while being in such a disposition?

(3) The Lord Jesus—your Bridegroom who embodies all your comfort, delight, and love—is the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6), and has reconciled you to God with the blood of His cross (Col 1:20). He commands you: “Have peace one with another” (Mark 9:50); therefore, “Be at peace” (1 Thess 5:13).

(4) The Holy Spirit, who resides in you, has regenerated you, teaches you, and guides you, engenders a peaceable heart within you (Gal 5:22). He warns you against discord, and continually stirs you up to be at peace. Should you not follow Him? Should you grieve Him who calls you to be at peace (1 Cor 7:15)?

(5) The gospel, which is the seed of regeneration and your spiritual nourishment, is the gospel of peace (Eph 6:15). How it therefore behooves you (in harmony with this gospel) to live in peace!

(6) The members of the church with whom you interact as family members—whom you love, and in whose presence you rejoice—are peaceable; their heart has a peaceable disposition, and their objective and activity are the pursuit of peace. Would not you offend and grieve them by your discordant behavior? Should you corrupt and stir them up to be quarrelsome as well?

(7) The Lord Jesus denominates you as His dove and sheep (cf. Song 2:14; John 10:27). They are among the most peaceful of animals; would a sheep assume the nature of a wolf? Should you then be present among the sheep as if you were a bear?

(8) The sacraments are not only seals of your peace with God but also engender mutual union—not only as brothers and sisters, but even as members of one body who live by one and the same Spirit. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body … and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:13); “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (1 Cor 10:17). How then do you dare to entertain a discordant thought; how do you dare to open your mouth to quarrel, and show an unfriendly face to someone?

Peaceableness Adorns the Christian

Thirdly, consider furthermore the glory of this virtue. It is an extraordinary ornament for a Christian.

(1) It is the manifestation of a meek and quiet spirit, being an incorruptible ornament “which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Pet 3:4).

(2) It displays a denial of self whereby we overlook the failures of our neighbor and ignore the wrong done to us. “It is his glory to pass over a transgression” (Prov 19:11).

(3) Herein heavenly wisdom is manifested; quarreling is the work of fools. “A fool’s lips enter into contention” (Prov 18:6). However, to be peaceable is the work of the wise: “But the wisdom that is from above is … peaceable” (James 3:17); “For wisdom is better than rubies” (Prov 8:11); “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!” (Prov 16:16); “Wisdom is better than strength” (Eccles 9:16). Wisdom causes the countenance of man to be radiant: “A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine” (Eccles 8:1). However, all these delightful matters are comprehended in peaceableness.

(4) When the church manifests herself as adorned with the ornament of peaceableness, she is a lovely and delightful object to all who observe her. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 133:1). Therefore, shine forth in the church with the eminent ornament of peaceableness.

Fourthly, peaceableness has most eminent rewards.

(1) A peacemaker is joyful: “To the counsellors of peace is joy” (Prov 12:20).

(2) Peacemakers are fit to engage in all spiritual exercises toward God and man. Their heart does not condemn them and they therefore have confidence toward God (1 John 3:21). All their words and actions are pleasant, for they proceed from a heart which is at liberty. They are seasoned with salt, that is, with wisdom; salt and peace are therefore conjoined (Mark 9:50).

(3) The Lord dwells with peacemakers in His love and favor. “Live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Cor 13:11). To enjoy the presence of God in the manifestation of His love toward us, is everything. If God is for us, who will then be against us? If He grants tranquility, who will then cause turmoil?

(4) God’s blessings are upon the peacemakers: “There the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Ps 133:3). Therefore, let him live in peace who desires to receive all manner of blessings from the Lord.

(5) In summary, God declares them to be His children and the heirs of salvation: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt 5:9). More we cannot desire; therefore, be diligent to live in peace.

Means to Cultivate Peaceableness

If you are desirous to live in peace:

(1) Crucify your desire for money, honor, and love; it is impossible to have and maintain a peaceable heart without self-denial. Or else you yourself will be the cause of others quarrelling with you, since you are seeking after what they pursue. It can easily be that you will encounter them while in such a disposition, and your inner peace will thereby be disturbed. Whatever stirs in the heart will soon spill forth from our mouths. Greediness is a breaker of the peace. “He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house” (Prov 15:27). Ambition begets strife: “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife” (Prov 28:25). Wherever there is envy toward the honor, gain, and love that others enjoy, the heart cannot but be restless, and this will readily burst forth one way or the other. Envying and strife are therefore conjoined, for together they are a fountain of confusion and every evil work (James 3:16).

(2) Keep to yourself and let others govern their own matters. Do not appoint yourself as a detective and judge concerning the deeds of others; close your ears for backbiters. Do not listen for what is being said about you. “A whisperer separateth chief friends” (Prov 16:28); “Where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth” (Prov 26:20). Solomon therefore wisely counseled: “Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee” (Eccles 7:21). And regarding you, remain silent in order that you speak no evil about your neighbor, for that will continually bring you in trouble and frequently stir up discord. “He that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” (Prov 13:3). If you hear others quarreling, see to it that you do not involve yourself in this quarrel. Do not appoint yourself as judge, and then immediately execute your sentence by rendering assistance to the one party. It is an entirely different matter when you counsel others to be at peace. “He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears” (Prov 26:17). Such a one (who minds the matters of others) is thus in peril of being bitten. “But let none of you suffer … as a busybody in other men’s matters” (1 Pet 4:15).

(3) Be always the least—both in your own eyes as well as in your conduct toward others. Endure being wronged, and forgive such deeds (Col 3:13). In all things yield to the will of others, insofar as this is not contrary to the will of God, following Abraham’s example: “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee … if thou wilt take the left hand, then I shall go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I shall go to the left” (Gen 13:8-9). In this respect one will become rich by giving. By yielding in some measure one will gain peace and a peaceful heart, which is more precious than gold, rubies, and power. “Seek peace, and pursue it” (Ps 34:14).

(4) If someone else encounters you in an unpleasant manner, or if you detect the first stirring of displeasure, arm yourself at once and resist strife at the very outset; be completely silent. For, if you are not on your guard, the quarrel will increase hand over hand and you will not be able to hold it back. “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water” (Prov 17:14).