Fortified by the Word of God's Truth
"I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword." —Matthew 10:34 [KJV] Is not our Saviour the Prince of peace? Hath He not made peace between God and man, by the blood of His cross? Doth He not give peace in the conscience, and establish peace among His people? Is it not the essence of the gospel to preach peace by Christ? All this is true. Why then doth my Lord say, "I came not to send peace, but a sword?" Conceive not of the meek Lamb as though His soul delighted in war, and that the sword of slaughter should be drunk with human blood. No: He came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Therefore this sword is no other than the "sword of the Spirit, the word of God." It is rendered in St. Luke, DIVISION. This sword divides and separates a Christian from his carnal friends and relations; yea, divides asunder flesh and Spirit. Hence open war commences, and hostilities begin; for there never, never can be any peace, harmony, and a