pardoning love of God, shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, may well be supposed to hold a most distinguished place. Besides, it combines with other mixed feelings of gratitude and hope, and thus acquires additional richness from the several perceptions of its own immediate effects. The ancient Jews observed, that the recitation of the Scriptures produced in their minds the "kingdom of heaven," by which they meant "devotional feelings," as distinguished from a merely intellectual or natural state of the mind. It was expected, that religious feelings and practices would be perfected in the Messiah; and hence the Gospel dispensation was called "the reign of the Messiah," or the "kingdom of God;" which, St. Paul says, expounding the phrase in its noblest sense, consists, not in any outward thing, but "in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost;" meaning, it is heavenly and divine. It also rules by its intensity. There are degrees, as well as kinds, of pleasure. Simply pleasant, and extremely so, are two distinct things. The greatness of this peace is not only asserted frequently in Scripture, but is also abundantly verified by experience. How transporting the harmony of that oneness with God and his kingdom, which, while it excludes all dissonance and jarring, consists of the most delightful and proportioned agreements; and is, therefore, deeply penetrating; and is justly termed "concord," as descriptive both of its nature and power! These agreements are as numerous as they are harmonious. The whole soul is full of them. An extensive class exists in the mutual relation and operation of her powers among themselves: Another, in the correspondencies between all these and God. A third is seen in those of the soul and her local state and circumstances. An infinity of such agreements is enjoyed in the serious perusal and study of the Scriptures: "Great peace have they that love God's law: And nothing shall offend them." Thus the immensity, as well as sweetness, of this music of the mind, of which, as we have said, the commanding part is peace with God, may well be supposed to produce a very strong emotion. The pardoned sinner best can tell how sweet, how strong. He endured the dreadful storm; but in its dismal extremity, and from its thickest darkness, and far above its mountainous and monstrous waves, a gentle voice "said unto the sea, Peace, be still; and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." If power is to be measured by its effects, he best, indeed, can tell how deep the emotion of the wondering soul, who thus by faith beholds his Saviour in smiles, as if the sun at midnight, in mid-heavens, and in a moment, had burst upon his view. We "are kept by the power of God through faith." What strength is in this twofold chain of faith and power! It is the peace of reconciliation, however, that draws the charming bond still closer, yes, and closer still, in our union with Christ, till we are truly one with him as he is one with the Father. From these reflections we perceive the range of this incomparable peace. It rules by its universality. It has reference to all things, and draws continual supplies from all; all of scenery, of society, and of the world's past, or passing, or prospective history. What gives the crowning interest (we repeat the mighty truth) to all these collectively, or to any the minutest particle of the great mass, is the predominant idea, the secret charm of the conviction,-that we are now at peace with God. This peace is, therefore, not a single sentiment, but the essence, the concentrated sweetness, the radiancy of all other sentiments; or, rather, it dilates and elevates itself to the extent of the knowledge we possess of God, of his records, of his plans and purposes, and of the worlds which he has made and governs. Such are its dimensions; and such, therefore, the breadth and scope of its impressiveness and power upon the heart. It rules by its perpetuity. It is not an individual and transient act or passion, but a calm and settled state of the mind; and the constancy of its operation, though often silent and unnoticed, like the dew of the morning, cannot fail in course of time to produce the most important habits, and other valuable consequences. Unlike the loveliness of a song, and the passing of a bird through the air, it leaves its track behind, and still continues to print fresh power upon the heart. Both by sap and by assault, it steadily brings on the total ruin of the kingdom of unrighteousness; which ruin is indispensably necessary to the full establishment of the kingdom of true peace in the mind. This peace gives evidence of its power in its effects, not merely on the conscience, its proper seat and throne, but in the sanctity and serenity which it diffuses over the imagination, the thoughts, the passions, and every single faculty of the soul. In particular, it gives the understanding an experimental proof of the truth of Christianity, and leads it to form its estimate of all things which make any pretensions to advance our happiness, according to their agreement or disagreement with this peace. It disposes the mind to dwell on the most pleasant aspect of objects, and instinctively to seize on whatever circumstances tend to improve our own happy temper, and that of those around us. Its influence in aiding us to soften the asperities, and conciliate the differences, of those who are contentious, is sometimes truly marvellous: The softness of its words has turned away the storms of wrathful passion with a power almost miraculous. It also constrains the joyful believer to use his best endeavours that all mankind, especially those whom he most dearly loves, might be put in possession of so rich a treasure. Its tendency to holiness is very strong. The more it is cultivated, the more our faith and love, and every other grace, are strengthened. It draws us nearer to Christ from whom it came, and who is the great fountain of the spiritual life in general. The deceitful peace of this world leads to sloth and vice; but peace with God is always truly tested by the promptness with which it carries out the mind to all holy obedience. And the peace itself increases by this means. As clouds supplied from the sea, and carried by prevailing winds, break in torrents on the mountains, and returning by the vales fall again into the ocean, to feed the source from which they came; so peace and purity are mutually dependent on each other. "And the work of righteousness shall be peace: And the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." "He will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, but let them not turn again to folly ;" or, as the words have been read, "that they may not turn again to folly." "I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love;" that is, as some translate the text, "I drew them with the cables of a man, with the thick-twisted ropes of love." By these, which are proper to the nature of man, and not with the chains of an unreasonable and senseless beast, does he draw us along, as the word means, in the high way of holiness. And these thicktwisted ropes are by learned men interpreted to signify a sense and assurance of the pardoning love of God. "WHAT then is Taste, but these internal powers Active, and strong, and feelingly alive To each fine impulse ? a discerning sense AKENSIDE. |