'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — August 12

If God is our heavenly Father we will have a peaceful spirit. Grace infuses a sweet and pleasant disposition and files off the ruggedness of men's spirits. It turns the lion-like fierceness into a lamb-like gentleness. The Father is called the 'God of peace' (Heb. 13:20). The Son is called the 'Prince of peace' (Isa. 9:6). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of peace (Eph. 4:3). The more a person is peaceable, the more he is like God. God is not the Father of those who are fierce and cruel, as if, with Romulus, they had drunk the milk of a wolf. They sport in mischief, and have a persecuting and divisive spirit. The way of peace they have not known, like Maximinus, who, as Eusebius says, took more tedious journeys, and ran more hazards in vexing and persecuting the Jews, than any of his predecessors had done in seeking victories. Such cannot call God—Father. If they do, they will have as little comfort as Dives had in hell when he said, 'Father Abraham' (Luke 16:24). Those born of God are peacemakers. Mark those who cause divisions, and avoid them (Rom. 16:17). Can they call God—Father? The devil made the first division in heaven, so let them call the devil their father. Their music is in a discord key, and they unite to divide. Samson tied together fox tails only to set the Philistines' corn on fire (Judg. 15:4). Satan's kingdom grows only by making divisions. In the Corinthian church, Satan knew no better way to dam up the current of blessing than to throw in an apple of strife, and divide them into parties; one was for Paul, and another was for Apollos, but few for Christ. Surely God will never be Father to those who are not sons of peace! God hates those who sow discord among brethren (Prov. 6:16, 19).

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Watson, The Lord's Prayer, pp. 12-13
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