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Friends,—Seek the peace of all men; which peace is in Christ, which is a peace that the world cannot take away. And blessed are the peacemakers [Mat 5:9], that make peace among the brethren and people; these shall have a blessing from the Lord, the king of peace [Heb 7:2]; but wo be unto them that cause strife and offence [Mat 18:7]. And all walk in the righteousness of Christ the Lord, over your own righteousness, and do, and act, and speak in his righteousness; then you act, and do, and speak, and walk in that, in which you have peace, and then God will delight in you, and you will be loved of him, for he loveth the righteous.
And let it be below any of God's people to raise an evil report [Exo 23:1] on his people, or any others, or to give both their ears to any one's report of his people or matter, till they have heard both parties; so that righteousness, and truth, and judgment, may be kept up, and not fall. And in your men and women's meetings, you are in and about the Lord's business [Luke 2:49], and not your own; and therefore let the Lord be in your eyes [Ezek 38:23?], that all of you his presence, and power, and wisdom, and judgment may receive, to do, and act, and speak in. And this keeps all in his fear, to be careful of their words and doings, and keeps all solid, and virtuous, and sober; and then whatsoever is of a good report, and is decent and comely, and whatsoever is virtuous, and tends to virtue, and is lovely, that to follow after and cherish [Phil 4:8]. And here your eyes are kept open, to see that nothing be lacking [1 Th 4:12], and that you stand in that which shall never fall, in the power, and spirit, and seed Christ, who is the sure foundation [Isa 28:16], and the rock of ages [Isa 26:4 KJV margin].
G. F.
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