or wearied of the world, that older persons learn to value in some measure as they ought these blessed treasuries of calm words, calm thoughts, calm deeds.

Now, it would be well, my brethren, if each of us would examine ourselves, whether we love the calmness of the Gospel narratives, because it may be a good index whether we really value that peace which Christ has left to His Church. Of course what He bestows upon His people is really good, but many persons are utterly careless as to what His gifts are; and besides this, some of His gifts, when known, are not such as men naturally and usually desire. It is so with the gift of peace.

But surely, dear brethren, nothing can be more wretched for us than that we should undervalue and despise our dying Saviour's bequest of peace, and there must be some way of learning to esteem it more justly. Let us then turn to the consideration of this subject with an earnest prayer that God would give us wisdom to "love the truth and peace ;"1 and that we may know how great is the value of this bequest, let us consider the circumstances under which it was promised. For it was upon a remarkable occasion that our Saviour made this promise. These words were spoken at a time of peculiar perplexity for the disciples-a time of sorrow, doubt, and fear. "Now I go My way to Him that sent Me; and none of you asketh Me, Whither goest Thou? but because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." They sorrowed because He was going away; they were perplexed at 2 St. John, xvi. 5, 6.

1 Zech. viii. 19.

the reason of His departure, nor could they understand His words of explanation and comfort. "What is this that He saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while, and ye shall see me and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that He saith, A little while? We cannot tell what He saith." How, then, does He console them in this great trial? By this one promise repeated in many forms: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.'

994

Now, I have said peace is not what men are satisfied with by nature; they want something more positive; they learn indeed to long for it at last, but this wisdom comes only by experience, when more eager enjoyments have failed, except when the love of it is implanted by grace. The young and light-hearted long for pleasure and joyous gaiety. They turn away from the calm stillness of peace, to seek for present enjoyment. And men of full age are not satisfied with peace; they seek after excitement the excitement of gaming, or speculation, or politics. Yes, and sometimes this bad love of excitement takes the form of religion; and then it is doubly dangerous, because men imagine, as Saul did when he persecuted the Church of Christ, that they are doing God service, whilst, in truth, they are rejecting, and turning away with distaste from, the peace of God, which alone can keep them in the knowledge and love of God, and of Christ. Yet there are those who never think of religion except

3

St. John, xvi. 17, 18.

I

4

* St. John, xiv. 27.

as connected with great excitement and clamour; who know nothing between the dejection of despair and the exultation of certain assurance; who cannot pray in calmness of spirit, with quietness of manner; nor speak soberly and gently of the things of heaven. What would such persons have done in the days of our Lord's preaching? How would they have borne to learn to pray, in those calm, peaceful, simple words which our Lord taught? How could they have listened with silent gladness to Him who spake gently and slowly, with holy reserve, opening out His hidden meaning as men were able to hear it? He did not strive, nor cry, nor cause His voice to be heard in the streets, but He gathered round Him those who were willing, and withdrew with them to a mountain, and sat down, and waited until they were arranged in order; and then He opened His mouth and pronounced His blessing on the poor in spirit, and the mourners, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the purehearted, the peace-makers, and the persecuted. Surely the whole teaching of our Lord, when He was on earth, tended to prepare His disciples to be satisfied with His bequest of peace, when He should leave them. They led, with Him, a quiet and retired life, and He taught them gradually, and without excitement, concerning the kingdom of heaven and the world to come. So that when He left them they were prepared for a life of peace within, along with trouble from without, waiting for His second appearing to introduce them to a life of unmingled enjoyment.

5 Isaiah, xlii. 2; St. Matt. xii. 19.

The

Consider how frequently this gift of peace is spoken of in the Bible in connection with our Lord's work, and you will see that it is the great boon which He bestows at once, even in this life, upon His people. Perfected salvation, glory, the company of angels, and the Presence of God's Brightness, shall be hereafter; but peace we may have, even in this lower world. So sang the blessed angels when Jesus was born, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men." And Zacharias speaks of the visitation of "the dayspring from on high” as intended "to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." prophet Isaiah had foretold that the like blessing would attend His coming, "I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord," adding, by way of contrast, "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." So likewise St. Paul promises this as a blessing immediately consequent upon reconciliation with God. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." In accordance with this, when, after His resurrection, our Lord first came among His assembled Apostles, "when the doors were shut... came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you," and immediately afterwards, "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you." After this ex

6 St. Luke, ii. 14. i. 78, 79; Isaiah, lvii. 19–21; Rom, v, 1.; St. John, xx. 19-21.

ample the Church directs her ministers to bestow the blessing of peace in the name of Christ upon those who come together to commemorate, in the Holy Communion, the death of Christ; they are also enjoined, on entering the dwellings of the sick, to say, "Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell in it." And the saints of God who have received these benedictions in humble faith, have in all ages experienced the truth of the promise, "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.""

What, then, is that peace of which so much is said in Holy Scripture? It is evident that the peace which our Lord promised is not freedom from outward difficulties. On the contrary, He assured His disciples, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword;" that is, He came not to send outward peace, freedom from opposition, and friendliness with the world; but rather, He came to set families "at variance, by teaching a doctrine which some would receive and some would reject; a doctrine which they who rejected would hate, and which they who received, must accept along with hatred and persecution.

998

It is with the servants as it was with the Master. He was opposed and resisted, hated, derided, and persecuted; yet He was eminently peaceful; ever calm and unmoved, whether by the bitter opposition of His enemies, or the rash zeal of His friends when they desired to take Him by force and make Him a king. From both He retired, "withdrew Himself from thence" to some distant place, or retired alone 8 St. Matt. x. 34, 35.

'Isaiah, xxx. 15.