Millions of those that bear the name of Christ are cheated and eternally ruined with a false peace

Objection. But I have heard these men speak of their hopes and confidence in the Lord, and bless God for their assurance of the pardon of their sins; and ask them if they have made their peace with God, and they will answer, that they thank God, that's a work not now to be done; I pray therefore show us the difference between these two sorts of men, which seem to be very unlike one another in their lives.

There is as much difference between their peace, as there is between light and darkness, heaven and hell, something and nothing.

1. They differ in their original and foundation; the rise of the peace of a saint is from the promise, his comforts are Scripture consolations; he finds that rich grace hath wrought in him the condition of the promise, and upon a serious debate with his own spirit, and through discoursing the matter with his own heart, it brings in this witness for him, that he hath had a discovery of his poor, lost, undone state, that he hath in some measure been convinced of sin and misery, that he hath been convinced of his own utter inability to save himself, that he hath seen an absolute necessity of Christ, an infinite fulness and excellency in him, that he hath been enabled to receive him upon his own terms, and to resign up all to him, that he hath been made to leave sin, as to the love and liking of it, and to be affectionately willing to take God the Father for the ultimate happiness and portion of his soul, God the Son for the only way to the Father, and his Redeemer, God the Holy Ghost, to enlighten, sanctify, and comfort him, and to endeavour to give up his whole man, body, and soul, to the obedience of his whole will, with the utmost intentness of spirit, with deliberation, judgment, and resolution to stand by this choice, by the strength of God, for ever. And this he hath frequently found upon inquiry, to be the constant frame of his spirit; and therefore the Scripture pronouncing such blessed, he is humbly bold to own what grace hath done for him. Now this man's hopes and confidence have a good foundation, it is built upon the foundation of prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone; it is a peace of God's approbation, of God's signing and sealing.

But now on the other side, the peace which the hypocrite hath is built upon the sand, he hath not one promise that he can rationally lay any claim to; nay, the whole word of God assaults him, and tells him how vain his confidence is; and that if, for all this, he will speak peace to himself, that he must try shortly whether he can make it good, when conscience, Scripture, law and gospel, God and man, appear in the field against him. In a word, the cause of his peace is ignorance, hardness, deadness. The god of this world hath blinded his eyes; God is author of the saint's peace, and the devil of the sinners, Matt. vii. 24, &c. Phil. iv. 7. Luke xi. 21. Rom. xv. 4.

2. They differ in their concomitants and effects. The saint hath always these things accompanying his comforts; admiration of God's pardoning grace, and wonder that there should be such a thing as mercy for him; magnifying of the blessed Jesus, who was the great manager of that great affair, the peace between God and his soul; a holy, thankful, fruitful life; a humble judging of himself, and a pitying of others; when the Spirit hath grafted true peace in the soul, these are the fruits which it bears. But is it thus with the formal hypocrite; judge, I pray, rightly, and see what fruits his peace brings forth; are they not the grapes of Sodom and the fruits of Gomorrah? Doth he indeed admire and adore the patience of God towards him? Doth he not rather make bold with God, and turn his grace into wantonness? How little doth he esteem his omniscience, power, spirituality, purity! how far is he from sanctifying the Lord in his heart, and making him his fear and dread! how vilely doth he undervalue and prostitute his holy name, using it only in an oath, or when he taketh it into his filthy mouth without any reverence or sense of his excellency! And as for Christ, he makes light of him, and prefers every cursed lust, any vile companion, yea, the dirt he treads on, shall I say more, the devil himself, before him. What else is the meaning of his service, activity, and constancy to carry on the interest of hell, and the unsuitableness, contempt, and opposition that he makes against the advancing of the interest of the Lord Christ? I need say no more. In a word, for all his peace with God, he is at war with his nature, laws, Son, Spirit, service; and yet how foolishly doth he boast of peace, comfort, hopes, and justify himself and censure his betters! James iii. 18. Gal. v. 19, &c. Deut. xxxii. 32.

3. The saint's joys and comforts differ in their very nature; the saint's joys are spiritual, the hypocrite's carnal and sensual; the saint's rational, the formalist's brutish, and against both Scripture and reason; the saint's joys are solid, great, and glorious, the hypocrite's are frothy, small, and shameful, Deut. xxix. 19. Eccl. ii. 2. Jam. iii. 15. Jude 19.

4. Their comforts differ in their growth and continuance. The believer's comforts were a great while under the clouds of fear, and that Divine seed was long sown before it grew up to such a harvest; and although he be still reaping, yet a fresh harvest is still growing, and he shall never make an end of gathering them in; his peace and comforts grow stronger and stronger, as troubles, and sickness, and trials come upon him, and at death they are greatest of all; for then he enters into his Master's joy, and enjoys his peace till the Almighty hath lost his power, which will last till the infinite riches of heaven's glory are spent, and eternity is at an end. As for the hypocrite, his peace is short lived; at the furthest death will put an end to it, and then you shall see what is become of all his peace, joy, hopes; when instead of comfort he shall lie down in shame, and awake in eternal horror. And who would desire such deceitful joys, that, ere a man is aware, leave him in everlasting torments? I have been the longer in the answering of this objection, because it is common, and millions of those that bear the name of Christ are cheated and eternally ruined with such a false peace. And what sayest thou that readest these lines, which of these two is thy peace? Lay down the book, and consider, and let not thy heart be quiet till thou understand what foundation its quiet rest is built upon. Tell it that many times it is a sign that the strong man armed hath got possession, when all things are in peace. Ask thy soul, whether it ever understood its natural enmity against God, whether that be in any measure laid down. Art thou reconciled to the holy nature, laws, and service of God? And hast thou commenced an irreconcilable war against sin? Is Christ thy captain, the Spirit thy assistant? And who usually carries the field, the flesh or Spirit? O be not contented till you have a good account given in from conscience and experience in this great affair; for it is a matter of life or death, and a business of the highest consequence imaginable; and till this witness be well settled, I will not give a rush for all thy comforts, peace, and hopes, Job viii. 13. Isa. xxxiii. 14. Job xx. 5. Prov. xiv. 32. Isa. xxxv. 10.

~James Janeway, The saint's encouragement to diligence in Christ's service