Robert Leighton
Verses 12, 13, 14.
12. By Sylvanus a faithful Brother unto you (as I suppose) I have written briefly, exhorting and testifying, that this is the true Grace of God wherein ye stand. 13. The Church that is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you, and so doth Marcus my Son. 14. Greet ye one another with a kiss of Charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Iesus. Amen.
THIS, a kind of postscript, and hath its testimony of the bearer and the Apostolick form of saluting. Withal he expresses the measure of his writing, that it was brief, and the end of it, that it was to testify, &c. And this indeed the end of our preaching, and we ought each to seek it by the word and by mutual exhortations, and sometimes a few words may have much to this purpose, to have our hearty establishment in the faith, and not only to believe, but remember that we have the best of it, that there is truth in our hopes, and they shall not deceive us; they are no fancy as the World thinks, yea when all things else shall vanish, their truth shall most appear in their full accomplishment.
The entertainment and increase of Christian love, of esteem of one another, and affection one to another is no matter of empty compliment, but is the very stamp and badge of Jesus Christ, upon his followers; therefore most carefully to be preserved entire, and unhappy they that by any means do willingly break it. Oh! let us beware of it, and follow peace, even when it seems to fly from us.
This Peace, that is the portion of those in Christ, is indeed within them, and with God, but through him ‘tis likewise one with another, and in that notion to be desired and wisht joyntly with the other.
They that are in Christ are the only Children and heirs of true peace; others may dream of it, and have a false peace for a time, and wicked men may wish it to themselves and one another, but ‘tis a most vain hope and nought, but to wish it to them that are in Christ hath good ground, all solid peace founded in him, and flows from him. Now the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Iesus Christ. Amen.
FINIS.
