Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
I wish the Reader to look at this verse by itself, as so much perversion hath been made of it, that it demands this attention. Follow peace with all men. What peace? If it be supposed to mean the peace of God in Christ, or Christ himself, who is our Peace; this cannot be a mere precept directed to all men; for all men have not faith; neither do all men follow peace, or Christ: neither is this scripture addressed to all men; but to the Church, who are supposed to be following Christ in the regeneration. And holiness. What holiness? Not, as some have supposed, holiness in the creature, for there is none holy, no, not one. And moreover, it would be in this sense, a precept to follow it, and not as if possessing it. The latter part of the verse, in my view, explains the whole, when it is said, without which, no man shall see the Lord. Now, the uniform language of scripture is, that without Christ, there can be no peace with God; neither any approach to God, but in the holiness of Jesus. No man, saith Christ, cometh to the Father but by me, John 14:6. And our entrance into the holiest is by the blood of Jesus; and in him we have boldness to enter, Hebrews 10:19 etc. Christ, therefore, is our peace, by the blood of his cross; and through him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father, Colossians 1:20; Ephesians 2:18. Hence, the Church, (and it is the Church all along in this Epistle which is spoken to), is called in one whole body to follow Christ, who is both the peace, and the holiness of his people; and without which, no man shall see the Lord, 1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 7:26.