Easter-Friday — On the Peace of a Christian

Consider, first, that as our Saviour, the night before his passion, bequeathed his peace to his disciples, saying, (St. John xiv. 27,) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you: so 1C7 also, after his resurrection, he three times wished them his peace, saying. Peace be to you St. John xx. But what kind of peace is this that he so much inculcates, and so earnestly desires to im« part to us? Not the peace which the world pretends to give, which is false and deceitful, like itself; they say. Peace, peace, and there is no peace, Ezec. xiii. 10; but the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding; Philip, iv. 7; — a three-fold peace, viz. a peace of the soul with God, a peace with every neighbour, and a peace with herself. It is both the duty and the happiness of a Christian, to maintain this triple pace. And first, whosoever desires any degree of happiness, either here or hereafter, must take care to keep an inviolable peace with God, by ever fleeing wilful sin, which is at enmity with God. For how can there be any good for them that are at war with God? Who hath ever resisted him, and hath had peace? Job ix. 4. The wicked are like the raging sea, which cannot rest: and the waves thereof cast up dirt and mire: there is no peace for the wicked, saith the Lord God, Isai. Ivii. 20, 21.

Consider, secondly, that the Christian cannot maintain his peace with God, if he does not also follow peace with all men, (Heb. xii. 14,) and, as much as lies in him, keep peace with all men. Rom. xii. 18. For as no man can love God, that does not love his neighbour, (1 St. John iv,) so no man can be at peace with God, that breaks peace with his neighbour. It is, then, another branch, both of the duty and of the happiness of a Christian, to be at peace with every man, at least as far as lies in him, and in the unfeigned disposition of his soul; to renounce all animosity and rancour, all discord and contention, all malice and envy, and whatsoever else is opposite to fraternal charity; and to learn to hear and to forbear, which are the two great means of keeping peace with our neighbours, when, on our parts, we forbear giving them any offence or provocation, either by word or deed, and, at the same time, bear, with Christian meekness and charity, with all the offences of provocations we receive at their hands, and strive to overcome them, by rendering good for evil. O how amiable is this character of the peaceable Christian 1 O how much happier is such a soul, than one that is always in war, with one neighbour or another, and always in a storm at home, in his own interior I

Consider, thirdly, that another necessary branch of the Chris tian’s peace, is to be at peace within himself, by striving to banish from his own interior whatsoever may disturb the tranquillity of his soul. This inward peace, when it is perfect, is a ''certain foretaste of heaven; it is a kind of heaven upon earth. In sueh souls God is pleased to dwell; of whom the royal prophet sings, Ps. Ixxv, that his place is in peace, and his abode in Sion. To come at this happy peace, (besides taking care to keep peace with God, by a clean conscience; and with every neighbour, by concord and charity,) we must have our passions mortified, our affections well ordered and regulated, and our desires restrained; we must banish all hurry and over eagerness, all sadness and melancholy, all scrupulous fears, anxious cares, and uneasiness about the things of the world, and, above all things, and in all things, we must conform ourselves to the holy will of God. Practise these lessons, my soul, and thou wilt be at peace, at least as far as the condition of thy mortal pilgrimage will allow of.

Conclude ever to aim at this three-fold peace, with thy God, with thy neighbour, and with thyself: pray daily for it; and whatsoever fear, affection, or desire, or any other thing whatsoever, offers to disturb thy heart, shut the door against it, as an enemy, as a messenger of Satan, who comes to rob thee of thy treasure, the peace of thy soul. -